I feel somewhat overwhelmed as of late...the summer has a way of doing that to you.
The kids (all 4) are headed off to camp next week, which means the house will be quiet...well kind of. My sister-in-law comes in next TUE with her husband and 3 kids. They will be staying with us until August 4th, when we leave for the National Fine Arts Festival. Yes, that really is 35 days! They live in Canada (Calgary), so they make it a long trip whenever they get to come! It's not so bad, though, since I'm her favorite and all...
The message on WED went great...response was good. I love preaching and teaching...
Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Part 2 is on for tomorrow...
I get to finish my message from last week, this week. I wasn't sure if I'd get the opportunity to finish right away or have to wait for awhile. Turns out, Pastor got back from vacation MON morning after driving through the night on SUN, then had presbyter meetings all day on TUE. I feel for the guy and am really excited about speaking again...
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sorry it's been a while...
I spoke on being an influence on WED. Here are some of the highlights:
All of you have a measure of influence, no matter where you work, where you live. You have influence on the lives of others. If you are married, you are an influence...If you have children, you are an influence...If you have a job, you are an influence...If you have a friend, you are an influence...You get the idea.
If you think about it…the entire New Testament models this concept. The process of relaying/advancing the gospel all lies in your ability to influences others.
Here's a diagram of what I call your “Sphere of influence”:
Here's a diagram of what I call your “Sphere of influence”:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tonights service...
I get to preach tonight...YEAH! I've been working on my message and it's just pouring out of me. My message is titled - "Living a life of influence - allowing your life to make a difference". It's been amazing, with all the research and study, how God has just put it all together. I've already warned pastor that it's going to take at least 2 weeks to get through all the material. If you get to read this before 7:30pm or so this evening - remember to pray for me!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Where has it gone?
2008 is nearly half way over...where has it all gone? It seems like the year just started and already we've started summer (well, officially in a few days, but you know what I mean).
My oldest turns 17 this coming weekend...hard to believe! She's so grown up and that makes me feel pretty old. She'll be a senior this year and then we have to do the whole college thing. I thought Jesus and I had a deal ... he was supposed to come back before any of my kids got this old. It's kind of hard to deal with - but it is exciting to see them take some steps of independence. Letting go isn't really the hard part - it's the internal debating as to whether or not I did a good enough job raising her so that she can survive in this world - and thrive in her relationship with God. That's the weight I feel now...
My oldest turns 17 this coming weekend...hard to believe! She's so grown up and that makes me feel pretty old. She'll be a senior this year and then we have to do the whole college thing. I thought Jesus and I had a deal ... he was supposed to come back before any of my kids got this old. It's kind of hard to deal with - but it is exciting to see them take some steps of independence. Letting go isn't really the hard part - it's the internal debating as to whether or not I did a good enough job raising her so that she can survive in this world - and thrive in her relationship with God. That's the weight I feel now...
Thursday, June 12, 2008
It's way too early
Love will make you do crazy things. Yes, it is just after 4am...and my wife is headed out of town. Her nephew graduates from high school in Virginia this weekend and she's headed there to celebrate. Of course, she had a 6am flight, so that means leaving the house at 4 to get there. Now that she's gone, I can't sleep. I started doing some work, but of course no one else is up working and I can't get any work done either.
I get to preach next WED at church. So maybe I will work on my sermon. Keep me in prayer the rest of this week with my wife out of town...things could get interesting.
I get to preach next WED at church. So maybe I will work on my sermon. Keep me in prayer the rest of this week with my wife out of town...things could get interesting.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Father's Day
We’re doing a special Father’s day service this year titled "Who's your daddy?". We've combined forces with an energy drink manufacture to provide thousands of free energy drinks as a promotional blitz of the area. One of their products is actually called "Who's your daddy?". [http://www.empirebeverage.com/]
Their legal department has even worked with us to provide free marketing materials that merge their logo and ours, as well as provide us their products at cost! It should be an interesting service…the pineapple cranberry flavored drinks we are passing out are really good.
Their legal department has even worked with us to provide free marketing materials that merge their logo and ours, as well as provide us their products at cost! It should be an interesting service…the pineapple cranberry flavored drinks we are passing out are really good.
Monday, June 9, 2008
From bad to worse...
Here I go with another rant.
I’m so sick of people that blame God for the position we are in here in America. It’s as though they forget that we (yes, Christian’s too) have played a big part in where we find ourselves. Our pastor is doing a series on Sunday nights called “Awakening”. He has even suggested that people get a copy of my book – “Wake Up, America!”, [http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60247-809-1] because he and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to the state of the church in America.
The church is in worse condition than it was 100 years ago…that in spite of “revivals” that have been ongoing during that time. The point of this series is that it’s too late for revival in America…we need an awakening! We need the spirit of God to change our entire cities…not just recycle a few Christians.
You’d do yourself good to order these services on DVD or CD, they have been awesome. [http://www.victoriouslifechurch.com/]
I’m so sick of people that blame God for the position we are in here in America. It’s as though they forget that we (yes, Christian’s too) have played a big part in where we find ourselves. Our pastor is doing a series on Sunday nights called “Awakening”. He has even suggested that people get a copy of my book – “Wake Up, America!”, [http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60247-809-1] because he and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to the state of the church in America.
The church is in worse condition than it was 100 years ago…that in spite of “revivals” that have been ongoing during that time. The point of this series is that it’s too late for revival in America…we need an awakening! We need the spirit of God to change our entire cities…not just recycle a few Christians.
You’d do yourself good to order these services on DVD or CD, they have been awesome. [http://www.victoriouslifechurch.com/]
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Influence versus Dominance
I came across an interesting quote recently...
There is real difference between influencing and dominating. As a leader, you need to be careful to influence, but never dominate. Dominance creates a huge lack of respect on both ends (the dominator and the dominatee). A relationship governed by influence creates a sense of shared control and at least some level of satisfaction. Dominance destroys all of that!
You have to be able to give and receive influence. Refusal to receive influence simply says you are stubborn, must have things your way and that you are better and smarter than anyone else.
The only good ideas a dominator recognizes are the ones they come up with. If anyone else has an idea or is going to receive credit...then you can forget it. Just this year at work I had an idea to fix a problem we discovered during the end of year processing. It was shot down by a very dominating person, only to resurface as a "miracle" solution (while I was out of the office) that was credited to the very person that originally shot it down.
It's a very frustrating type of relationship to be involved in, so examine your relationships (marriage, friends, business) and make sure you are not dominating others.
Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say. (Marketing Executive from Citrix Corporation)
There is real difference between influencing and dominating. As a leader, you need to be careful to influence, but never dominate. Dominance creates a huge lack of respect on both ends (the dominator and the dominatee). A relationship governed by influence creates a sense of shared control and at least some level of satisfaction. Dominance destroys all of that!
You have to be able to give and receive influence. Refusal to receive influence simply says you are stubborn, must have things your way and that you are better and smarter than anyone else.
The only good ideas a dominator recognizes are the ones they come up with. If anyone else has an idea or is going to receive credit...then you can forget it. Just this year at work I had an idea to fix a problem we discovered during the end of year processing. It was shot down by a very dominating person, only to resurface as a "miracle" solution (while I was out of the office) that was credited to the very person that originally shot it down.
It's a very frustrating type of relationship to be involved in, so examine your relationships (marriage, friends, business) and make sure you are not dominating others.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Relationships
I guess all of you think I watch too much animal planet by now...but actually, I learned most of what I know about animals from reading books and observation. I used to go on nature excursions with my grandmother in the woods, down the beach and many other places. They always had a bird feeder and I just enjoyed watching.
Speaking of grandmothers...I want to just post a word about how important relationships are. Both of my dad's parents have passed and neither of my mom's are doing well. I often feel guilty about not seeing my grandparents more before they passed. With the busy life I lead, I have all the excuses in the world not to see them or even be in touch with them often. After all, there are about 900 miles between us! But, if you have a relationship that just isn't quite right - make it a priority to do what you can to make it right!
Let me give you a few powerful scriptures to ponder...
Speaking of grandmothers...I want to just post a word about how important relationships are. Both of my dad's parents have passed and neither of my mom's are doing well. I often feel guilty about not seeing my grandparents more before they passed. With the busy life I lead, I have all the excuses in the world not to see them or even be in touch with them often. After all, there are about 900 miles between us! But, if you have a relationship that just isn't quite right - make it a priority to do what you can to make it right!
Let me give you a few powerful scriptures to ponder...
- 1 Peter 3:7 - "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers"
- Matthew 5:23-24 - "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift"
- 1 Timothy 5:8 - "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever"
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Loyalty (part 5) - Following instructions
Loyalty illustrated through nature:
The grizzly bear has a daunting reputation for a mean streak. While certainly dangerous, the loyalty and care the female exhibits for their young is something to learn from. She provides extensive training for her cubs and expects them to pay attention. Part of the lessons learned include following instructions and understanding them completely. Her loyalty is so noteworthy that even Proverbs takes notice (Proverbs 17:12).
In the scriptures:
Elisha was a man that knew how to follow instructions. You can read some of his story in 1 Kings 19 and 2 Kings 2.
The grizzly bear has a daunting reputation for a mean streak. While certainly dangerous, the loyalty and care the female exhibits for their young is something to learn from. She provides extensive training for her cubs and expects them to pay attention. Part of the lessons learned include following instructions and understanding them completely. Her loyalty is so noteworthy that even Proverbs takes notice (Proverbs 17:12).
In the scriptures:
Elisha was a man that knew how to follow instructions. You can read some of his story in 1 Kings 19 and 2 Kings 2.
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