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Archive for January, 2011

Importance of Clarity

Posted in Formation, Leadership on January 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »

One of the additions to my spiritual reading routine these days is reading through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament) with one sole question in mind.  That question?  What was important to Jesus?

It gives an interesting lens through which to view the life and ministry of Jesus.  Today, I began chapter 4 of the book of Matthew.  I didn’t get very far – all the way through verse 2. As I pondered these first two verses with my question in mind, I realized just how important it was to Jesus to have a clear vision in his mind of what his mission would be for the next couple of years.

Leadership requires clarity.  These verses show us the importance Jesus placed on spending time alone with God and working through things in our hearts and minds to clarify who we are to be for God.

How clear are you on what God expects of you?  How solid is your vision for your life as you follow The Way?

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Waiting On My iPad

Posted in Formation on January 14, 2011| 2 Comments »

Hello.  My name is Brian and I am an addict.  I am a tech junkie.

Seriously,  I am a techie to some degree.  Laptop, iPhone, iPod, eReaders – they all have found their way into my daily routine.  In fact, for those who know me well, you know that if my phone goes down, so does my brain.  I access my calendar, To Do list, address book, email and everything else from my phone.  I am addicted.

Thanks to one of my former pastors, I am also a loyal Apple nerd.  So when they introduced the iPad last year, my salivary glands went into overtime.  I would make sure, if ever near an Apple store, to go in and check out the device.  I struggled for several months on how I could justify getting one.  Then as some of my friends began getting them, I developed iPad envy.  So I began saving my money – a little here, a little there.  Finally, just before Christmas, I had saved enough.  Then I read the rumor that the iPad 2 would be in the stores sometime after the first of the year – so I have been waiting.  The latest rumor is that it will be sometime in April before we see them.

So I wait.

Our life in The Way is often like this – if we aren’t careful.  We feel God moving us in a direction and we find ourselves waiting on the opportunity to spring into action.  But what do we do in the meantime – during the wait.  The correct answer is not normally, “nothing.”

God gave us gifts and talents and passions and the last time I checked, there are lots of opportunities to serve.  So what God is teaching me (as painful as it is) is that even though I may be waiting, I don’t have the luxury of sitting.

How about you?  What are you waiting on?

(Unfortunately, I do have to continue to wait on my iPad – hurry Apple, hurry)

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Do You Have Time?

Posted in Hope, Missions on January 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I was in the Las Cruces, New Mexico area meeting with county officials about building restrictions.  Our church mission team tries to go and build a home each summer for a family in need  in the Rio Grande Valley.  We have extended our efforts just across the state line into New Mexico on a couple of occasions but found that their requirements were a bit different when it comes to constructing a home.  So yesterday, I went to talk to the officials to get an idea of what we will need to do if we build another home there.

Over the last three years or so, we have had the distinct privilege of working with a lady in the Las Cruces area who has helped us identify families who need assistance.  This lady comes closer to being recognized as a saint than anyone I know.

Sofia is a social worker through the school system.  Her job is to work with the under-privileged children and families in the school district.  She does an unbelievable job!  From teaching sewing and cooking classes to mothers, to feeding the children on the weekends and summer, to helping families find decent housing.  Sofia has dedicated her life to helping others.  Sofia went with me to meet with the county yesterday.

Our meeting with the county helped me realize just how much leg work will be involved in making preparations for our group to arrive as well as how much time would be required of Sofia both before we started and after we leave – pulling permits, meeting inspectors and filing all the paperwork.  As we drove away I asked Sofia if she understood what it would take from her to make this happen.  She understands.  Knowing all that she does on a daily basis, I asked her if she would have the time to take on this added job.

This was her response: “As long as there is life, there is time.”

After I dropped her off at the school, I had to pull over and write that down so that I wouldn’t forget.  As long as there is life, there is time!  What an amazing resolve to help others.  As long as I have breath, I can do what is necessary to make the time for what is important.

Sofia is an inspiration!  When I refer to her as a saint, she gets very embarrassed, but in my eyes – she is there!

Thank you Sofia for giving of yourself to help others day in and day out!

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Misguided Prayer

Posted in Formation, Grace on January 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Today in my prayer and reflection time, I was reminded that my prayer is often misguided.  I was reminded that my prayer should not be for God to look at my plans and bless them but rather it should be for God to work in my mind and heart to mold me into someone useful for God’s plan.

Jesus didn’t come to sanction our activity.  Jesus came to call us to a new way of living.

Remember to turn your plans over to God today.  Remember to live as Jesus taught us to live.

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We Do Some Weird Things

Posted in Humor on January 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Every once in a while, I ponder over things that make me go, “huh?”

We do some weird things in our culture.  Things like:

  1. Say we need to exercise more but fight over the parking spot closest to the front door of the store.
  2. Drive to three different gas stations comparing prices in order to save $.01 cent per gallon on gas (saving an average of $.15 cents) but burn $.20 cents worth of gas finding the cheapest price.
  3. Move to the desert and then pray for rain.
  4. Eat more food in one meal than many around the world eat in two days and then blame the fast food industry for our own obesity.
  5. Pray for God to make us stronger Christ followers but fail to put in the time in Bible reading and prayer to actually grow.

These are just a few of the things that cause me to ponder.

What are some things that make you go “huh?”

 

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The Invisibles

Posted in Church, Community, Hope on January 10, 2011| 2 Comments »

It sounds a little like the next Pixar film doesn’t it?  The Invisibles!  Woody and Buz and all their friends could discover a world of toys they never knew existed.  I don’t know, it might sell tickets . . . nah,  probably not.

Unfortunately, invisibles are real and they are all around us.  They go about their daily lives completely unnoticed by mainstream society – by us.  Now before you become paranoid and think I am about to tell you about a new conspiracy theory or something, let me give you some examples of invisibles that might be in your path today.

  • The clerk behind the cash register at the convenience store where you stop to buy gas.
  • The waitress at your table at lunch.
  • The person walking down the street in the cold as you drove to work or school this morning.

These are just three examples of invisibles.  But here is the question:  Are they invisible because of something they do, or something we do (or don’t do)?  The answer: something we do!

This Sunday I will be preaching on the life of Jesus; particularly the way he connected with people.  He saw people – he really saw them.  He stopped to show compassion and love.  He literally had the emotional weight of the salvation of mankind on his shoulders everyday, but yet he took time out of his schedule and picked up a child or healed a blind man or touched a leper.

Do you really see the people God puts in your path?  Or do you simply look past or through them toward the next thing on your schedule or To Do list?

I have to confess, of all the people guilty of doing this, I am one of the worst.  But today, it will be different.  Today I choose to see.

How about you?

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Time to Rest

Posted in Formation on January 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Well, here we are – it’s Friday.  For many of us, it signals the end of the first full week back to our routine after the holidays.  I don’t know about you, but I need a break!

OK, maybe I don’t need a break, but it is the weekend.  I am reminded that after the sixth day of creation, we are told here that God rested.

Now if God needs to rest at the end of a week, then it is fair to say that we do too.

I encourage you to take some time off this weekend to rest – but not just lay around – take some time to seek out and rest in God.  If you can do that every weekend, I can guarantee Monday’s will be much different.

Have a great weekend!

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Leadership Lesson From a Dilated Pupil

Posted in Humor, Leadership on January 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Several days ago I received a courtesy letter from my eye doctor telling me it was time for my annual check-up.  Yesterday morning I decided I would attack my To Do list and get some quick “wins” by being able to check something off.  So I called the eye doctor to schedule an appointment – thinking it would surely be sometime late next week before I could actually get in.  Nope – they had an appointment for yesterday at 2:45.  I was already on the phone and committed so I took it.

I got there and filled out the usual paperwork and then was politely ushered back for the routine puff of air to the eye (Wow!  That’s fun!) and then on into an exam room.  The doctor came in and everything went like clockwork.  I even made it through all the:  “Better one . . . or two?  Three . . . or four,” routine pretty much unscathed.  But then came the dreaded question:  “When is the last time you had your eyes dilated?”  I tried to tell her it hadn’t been that long, but alas, she had my chart and could see it had been a number of years.  I had no excuse.  So five minutes later, there I sat with the eye drops in, waiting for my pupils to get to the size of frisbees.

Everything checked out fine, but the walk back to the office was excruciating.  I never noticed the sun being that bright!  Back in my office, I turned on a lamp and turned off the overhead lights and even the computer screen was too bright.  Couple that with the fact that I couldn’t focus my eyes and it made the rest of the afternoon a bit challenging.

Believe it or not, I have a reason for telling you this story.  Turns out that the reason one should allow an optometrist to dilate one’s eyes is to allow them to check the eyes for problems.  By forcing the pupil to dilate, the doctor is able to see what is really going on inside the eye.  The point is to determine how best to maintain good vision for the patient.

As I thought about it, I was reminded of a comment made in a book I am reading called, The Leadership Challenge.  One of the fundamental keys to good leadership is clarity.  As a leader, you must be clear about what needs to be done.  Part of that clarity is found by asking yourself the question, “What grabs me?”  Or another way of asking it is, “What fuels my passion?”  The answer to these questions can only be found when you look inside yourself and really think about what is going on inside you – the things that drive you and keep you up at night.

So just as the doctor dilated my eyes yesterday to see what was going on inside, I must spend some time looking inside myself and rekindling the spark that fuels my passion.  Only then can I lead from the heart and only then can I lead in a manner worthy of being followed.

Set aside some time to look inside yourself today!

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I Intend to Resolve

Posted in Community, Formation, Motivational on January 4, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I read an email today notifying me of a new blog post – one that I follow.  As I scanned through the excerpt to see if I wanted to take the time to link to the post, something interesting caught my eye.  The subject was on the new year and the content dealt with New Year’s “Intentions.”

Maybe it’s just me, but this struck me as funny.  Typically, at the beginning of the year people make “resolutions.”  The word carries the connotation that one has decided to do something and is committed or “resolved” to see it through.  Now I also realize that the largest percentage of resolutions never make it to the end of the year.  But it seems a little pointless to me to come up with a set of “intentions.”   That is like saying, “It’s the New Year – this year I might do something different . . . well, maybe . . . OK probably not.”

What about you?  Do you have resolutions or intentions?

Here are some pointers:

  1. Don’t set out to change the world – just make a difference where you are.
  2. Don’t set yourself up to fail with “2011 changes for 2011.”  Keep it to three or four.
  3. Make one of your resolutions something that will draw you closer to God.

I would love to hear what you resolve to do this year – please email me or comment here with your ideas.

Be blessed today!

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2010 Top Posts

Posted in Community, Motivational on January 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The holidays have seen some down time.  I gave myself some time off from writing but I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

This past year has been a roller coaster of a ride.  I have come to see my musings here as more of a ministry this past year.  I certainly appreciate your time in reading my ramblings.  I pray that in 2011, we will see this site grow to be more helpful to folks looking for hope, inspiration and an occasional laugh.

In looking back, here are the top four posts that received the most views this past year.

Attractions in 2010


1)  A Blind Date That Worked Out

2) Focus In A Smashed Mirror

3) The Church And The Forgotten God

4) Mold Me Lord Jesus

So let’s see what 2011 will bring – together.

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