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Archive for the ‘Motivational’ Category

On The Verge of Death

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions, Motivational on February 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »

On the way to the office today, a song was playing on the radio that has stayed with me.  The song is by Kris Allen titled, Live Like We’re Dying.  Not to be confused with Tim McGraw’s song, Live Like You Are Dying – both songs have much of the same emphasis of making the most of our time on earth.   If you knew you had only 3 days to live, would it change you the way you live right now?

What caught my ear is the chorus of Kris’s song.  The words remind us that we only have 86,400 seconds in each day to turn the world around or to throw it all away.  It’s our choice.  Kris urges us to tell people that we love them and make a difference in the world around us while we have the chance.

The point is this: we should live each day as if we were on the verge of death.

So here is my challenge for you:  What are you going to do, today, with your 86,400 seconds of life God has given you.  Will you be selfish or will you spend some of those seconds showing God’s hope and love – making the world a better place?

Live like you are dying!

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Successful vs. Faithful

Posted in Community, Formation, Grace, Motivational on February 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I was reminded of a vital truth that we all need to remember if we are seeking to follow in the Way.  Western culture is results driven.  You and I, if you live in the US particularly, are products of this culture.

We are not satisfied if we don’t see results from our efforts.  When we commit time and energy to something, we want to know it counted for something.  I always tell those who participate in mission trips that we may never see the fruits of our labor.  But we are not naturally conditioned by our culture to live that way.

Here is the truth for today: God does not expect us to be “successful” but God does expect us to be faithful.

Yesterday, I was leaving a local store after picking up some things for the church.  I followed a lady out who had a big bag of Ole’ Roy dog food in her electric scooter basket.  So I followed her to her car and offered to put her items in the car for her.  After loading her things, I said, “have a nice day,” and she said, “thank you.”  I walked away and she went about her day.

I did not hear an angelic chorus and the lady did not fall to her knees and begin to worship God.  It was just a simple act with no real apparent impact.  But that is the point, God does not expect us to be concerned with results – God just wants us to simply live in service to God and others.

Be faithful today – even in the small things.

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Jesus Isn’t Looking for Converts

Posted in Community, Formation, Motivational on January 20, 2010| 2 Comments »

Tonight I am beginning a study on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.  We are going to look at several things over the next few weeks on Wednesday nights dealing with discipleship.  As I have been reading and preparing for this first session, something very startling has become very clear to me.  2000 years ago, Jesus was not looking for converts.  Jesus isn’t looking for converts today either.

The majority of those who proclaim to be believers stop short of what Jesus is really looking for in a follower.  Jesus’ ministry was centered around a group of 12 people.  Obviously he touched many thousands of people during his short 3 years on earth, but his most devoted followers were few – but that was just fine.  In fact, Jesus designed it that way.

You see, for Jesus’ mission to be carried out, he needed fully committed, passionate and disciplined followers.  Nominal followers would not have carried out his mission once he was gone.  He needed people he could entrust with the very plan of God.

Today is no different.  Jesus is not looking for mere converts.  Jesus is looking for committed, passionate and disciplined people to carry out his mission – people who are so focused on following and serving Jesus that nothing else will do.

Are you that person today?  Did you ever have that passion – that drive?  What happened?

If you are in the Levelland vicinity, stop by First Baptist Church tonight at 6:00 and join the conversation.

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Mirror of Opportunity

Posted in Leadership, Motivational on January 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »

In leadership positions we must learn the importance of seizing opportunities.  We train ourselves to be sensitive to those opportunities when they arise because we know that, normally, opportunities are time sensitive.  With most opportunities there is a window.

As I think about all the windows of opportunity I am faced with on a daily basis – opportunities to reach out to others, to show Jesus’ love to them, to grow to be more of the leader God wants me to be – I am reminded that windows not only offer a view of what is on the other side of the glass.

Have you ever noticed that while you are looking out a window, you not only see what is outside but also a reflection of what is on your side of the glass as well?  The lighting has to be just right for this to happen, but it requires you to concentrate on what is on the other side of the glass because you are having to look through the images reflecting on it.

The reflection we see when we look out windows is who?  Ourselves (unless you live in a different plane of existence)!  I would suggest to you that opportunities arise each and every day – all kinds of opportunities.  But the real issue is what is in the mirror not the window.

In every window of opportunity, there is also a mirror.  What we have to remember is that regardless of the opportunity, the responsibility to seize that opportunity falls squarely to the image in the mirror.

Get busy!

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It’s a Big Ocean

Posted in Formation, Motivational on January 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I have to thank my wife for this post today.  I had always been a camping, hiking, hunting, mountain kind of guy before marrying her.  It did not take her long to get me to include the beach and the sun and the sand to my loves in life.

There is something spiritual about standing at the edge of the ocean.  The picture of the vastness of the sea makes me feel small.  My thoughts then turn to God, the creator of all that I see and I realize just how big God must be – and just how small I am in comparison.

I am reminded that the world does not revolve around me.  I am reminded that there is something bigger than my needs and desires.  I am refreshed in my commitment to live with a passion to please the creator.

How about you?  What makes you feel this way?

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Perception or Reality

Posted in Formation, Motivational on January 6, 2010| 1 Comment »

I am sure you have heard the phrase, “perception is reality.”. There is a lot of truth to that statement but we must always remember that perception isn’t necessarily truth.

I ran across this quote today in “A Guide to Prayer For All Who Seek God,” and the quote is from Norman Shawchuck. He said, “To view reality from a slightly different perspective often yields a view of things totally unlike what they appeared to be. If we take just a couple of steps in another directon, what we view as reality is often profoundly changed.”

This thought is relevant on several levels but today I want to focus on only two. The first is this: if you disagree with a person about something important to you, before you close your mind to the possibility that person might be right, try viewing the issue from their perspective.

The second thought I have is this: many of us are faced this very day with circumstances that seem overwhelming. But before you throw in the towel, try taking a few steps to the side and looking at the situation again. Never forget that God sees the big picture. God loves you and has your back. What you perceive to be reality might not be real at all.

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Progression of Becoming

Posted in Formation, Hope, Motivational on January 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »

So have you given yesterday’s post much thought?  What are some specific things you are going to do this year in an effort to become more like Jesus?  Here are a few ideas:

Simplify – sometimes our lives are too cluttered to hear from God, what are some areas of your life you could organize to create more “space” for God?

Silence – it is hard to hear from God if we are always talking – learn to be still and listen

Space – set aside a place and a time for you to meet with God at least 3 days per week for at least 20 minutes

Service – we really don’t understand God’s love for us until we put it into practice – find a way this year to serve regularly out of sheer love and not out of what you can get out of it

Now a word of encouragement – you don’t have to reach the fullness of Christ today.  The worst thing you can do is try and make major life changes all at once.  In fact, if you try and do all these things to the fullest today, by the end of the week you will probably be burned out, feel guilty and give up.  The life of following in the Way is a journey, a progression.  We often get discouraged when we don’t see dramatic results in a week but let me assure you, if you begin a little at a time to implement these suggestions, a year from now you will be amazed at the progress God has granted you!

Take heart and get going!

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The Most Important Resolution

Posted in Formation, Motivational on January 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I have taken some time off this past week and it has been good to shut down and get some things done around the house.  To be honest, I could use another week or so to get it all done.  But one thing I have not enjoyed about my few days off is that our internet has been down at home.  So no blog posting.

I had planned to post something on New Year’s Eve regarding the coming year and possible resolutions.  But, given the lack of a connection, you are getting that post today.

It is hard to believe 2010 is already here.  The new year means re-focusing our attention on things that maybe we have let slide over the past few months.  Many people go so far as to make commitments or resolutions that things are going to be different in some way this year.  We resolve within ourselves that we are going to lose weight, or start exercising or become more active in church or other organizations.

Regardless of what the “thing” is, we make up our minds that “I’m going to change” and “things will be different.”  But what happens to most of us?  Let me ask you more specifically, here it is January 4th, if you made resolutions, how is that working out for you?  Still keeping them?

All of those things are worthy, but before you start a guilt trip, let me offer a suggestion.  As Christ followers, the most important change any of us can make in this fresh, new year is to strive to be more like Jesus on December 31, 2010, than we are on January 4, 2010.

That is very easy for us to agree to but without accountability, “it ain’t gonna happen!”  So here is my challenge for each of us today:  resolve to strive to be more like Jesus this year – now be specific as to how you are going to do it.  Once you have specific ideas, let someone know what you are going to do to make it happen and ask them to check up on you throughout the week.

In fact, I would like to hear what your ideas are so please leave comments as not only a way of accountability but also as a means of sparking ideas in each of the rest of us.

Come on, take the challenge!

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Christmas Aftermath

Posted in Formation, Motivational on December 28, 2009| Leave a Comment »

I am on vacation this week and so this morning I have been sitting in my comfortable chair, drinking a cup of coffee and listening to the silence.  The boys are still in bed and my lovely bride has to work today – so as I said, silence.

But as I look around the room, I see the remnants of Christmas.  The tree is standing there but dark.  There are still boxes scattered around the tree but they are empty.  Christmas is over.  As I sit here, there is a sense of sadness that the big day has come and gone.  Now I am faced with the clean up.  Depressing!

But I have had something stuck in my head since yesterday (not associated with the head cold I have been dealing with).  Christmas day is not the end but rather the beginning.  We build up to Christmas day starting in October or early November (unless you are like me and then it is much later).  We shop, we decorate, we plan, we cook, we wrap and we get excited.  Then once the day comes and passes, we feel let down a little, as if everything culminated on that one day.

But remember, Christmas day is our way of celebrating the birth of our Savior; an event when Jesus was born – the beginning of his life on earth.  He then grew and gathered disciples and taught them, and us, how to live and love.

So here is my challenge to you today.  Christmas day is not the end but rather the beginning.  How are you going to live today based on the knowledge that Jesus was born?  What are you going to do differently today to show the world that you follow Jesus?

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Now That Is Leadership!

Posted in Leadership, Motivational on December 11, 2009| 1 Comment »

This week we have been focusing on the topic of leadership.  I thought I would finish the week with something for you to think about for the next few days.  In his book, Good to Great and in other works such as Level Five Leadership, Jim Collins talks about his research into what makes a good leader.  He defines the qualities of a leader in terms of levels.  Level five is the top level.  The primary characteristics he outlines of a level five leader have to do with seemingly contradictory character traits.

The traits he focuses on the most are humility and intensity.  He points out that the strongest leaders he has found possess the unique combination of a sincere humility coupled with an insatiable intensity to succeed in their mission.  As I think about that I can really only think of one leader who truly embodies this combination.

John Maxwell, another leadership guru, was asked years ago where he gets his information for his leadership training.  He smiled and answered, “The Bible.”  Isn’t it amazing that the Bible and ultimately the life of Jesus, has more to teach us about leadership than all the books written since!

Jesus was completely humble in his approach and character.  He never tried to lead from ego or position.  But at the same time, his intensity toward the success of his mission was unstoppable – he lived and breathed his mission.  And look at the results.  A poor, working class man born in a cave among animals into a socially questionable situation; in a small, relatively insignificant country the size of a small state; over 2000 years ago; began a movement that has affected the entire world.  He was not the leader of a world power.  He was a carpenter on a mission.  He grew a small following, who in turn grew a small following and so on – to the point that the entire world was touched.

Now that is leadership!

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