If you think your to small to have an impact. Try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.
The first night of Fed Ex operations in April 1973, 14 planes in 14 cities all landed in Memphis to count the 12 packages they were delivering that day. 12 packages for 14 planes. It was a long night. Things were so tough in the early day of Fed Ex some of the pilots used their own credit cards to fuel the planes they were flying. Today with 300,000 employees and revenues of 50 billion those early days seem along way off.
You have to start somewhere. Start today!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Fip Side
Every coin has two sides. While there are some alarming shifts in the way things seem to be heading in the church world, it is also true that the church is poised for some of the most amazing growth in its history. The best days of the church are right ahead of her. We are seeing some very innovative ways that people are being engaged to hear the gospel.
Twitter, Facebook and video are exposing people to the good news of Christ daily. Teaching, preaching and worship are readily available online. I am excited about all the possibilities that are before us. The key is to capitalize on them.
Twitter, Facebook and video are exposing people to the good news of Christ daily. Teaching, preaching and worship are readily available online. I am excited about all the possibilities that are before us. The key is to capitalize on them.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Unsettling Shift Part 2
We live in a world that has lost the meaning of loyalty and that same mentality has entered the church. It has become increasingly difficult to get a true commitment from believers. In fact in is not uncommon for a person to belong to several churches at the same time. The sad truth is many Christians do not see the missional importance of the church and have a lone ranger attitude. It is true to say that some of the blame goes to the church for not discipling believers about the mission of the church. But every christian should understand the importance and the purpose of the church.
There is a blurred vision when it comes to understanding how to reach those around us. Most leaders and churches are in the dark when it come to reaching this generation (I include myself). We must commit ourselves to change. We need to change our methods.
There is a blurred vision when it comes to understanding how to reach those around us. Most leaders and churches are in the dark when it come to reaching this generation (I include myself). We must commit ourselves to change. We need to change our methods.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Unsettling Shift (part 1)
It is clear that a shift has taken place in the Christian World that I have known. This shift is still in process and I don't know when it will settle and then stabilize. The shift that I speak of is listed.
The vocabulary(use of words)of Christians is no longer considered. Terminology is no longer tempered and slang is now the norm for the family of faith. It seems that even sermons are peppered with words that at one time were deemed "worldly". Some of the young leaders in the church today are calling this shift into question and maybe we will see a move back to the middle for a balanced vernacular.
The embracing of a "whatever you believe is fine mentality" is taking the place of a firm Biblical based set of beliefs. This shift is causing believers to incorporate non Biblical doctrines into their own world views. In the "seeker driven" world of of church growth churches are now backtracking to a better follow up process for new believers. The question is how do we challenge the unfocused belief system of the Oprah Church.
more to come...
The vocabulary(use of words)of Christians is no longer considered. Terminology is no longer tempered and slang is now the norm for the family of faith. It seems that even sermons are peppered with words that at one time were deemed "worldly". Some of the young leaders in the church today are calling this shift into question and maybe we will see a move back to the middle for a balanced vernacular.
The embracing of a "whatever you believe is fine mentality" is taking the place of a firm Biblical based set of beliefs. This shift is causing believers to incorporate non Biblical doctrines into their own world views. In the "seeker driven" world of of church growth churches are now backtracking to a better follow up process for new believers. The question is how do we challenge the unfocused belief system of the Oprah Church.
more to come...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
When You Get Knocked Down, Get Up
How many times have you heard someone say, Life is not fair!? It is not about whether life is fair or not; it is about the reality of what has happened. Life may not be fair, but life is life. Things will happen without your permission. You will find yourself in situations you didn’t plan on being a part of. Yes, you will be handed a left turn when you had planned on going straight.
Reality is in life you will get knocked down. There will be times and situations where your life will take a left turn without your permission. When it happens, it will be a wake up call. You will open your eyes and find yourself standing in an emotional field you didn’t anticipate. Here are some principles to help you get back up when you get knocked down.
Principle #1: Don’t deny what is happening in your life.
Principle #2: Be honest about how you got knocked down.
Principle #3: Don’t be afraid to ask the right people for help.
Principle #4: Find the lesson that goes with the fall.
Being knocked down doesn’t mean being knocked out. It is simply a pause in your journey that provides you with a test of commitment, character and confidence.
Reality is in life you will get knocked down. There will be times and situations where your life will take a left turn without your permission. When it happens, it will be a wake up call. You will open your eyes and find yourself standing in an emotional field you didn’t anticipate. Here are some principles to help you get back up when you get knocked down.
Principle #1: Don’t deny what is happening in your life.
Principle #2: Be honest about how you got knocked down.
Principle #3: Don’t be afraid to ask the right people for help.
Principle #4: Find the lesson that goes with the fall.
Being knocked down doesn’t mean being knocked out. It is simply a pause in your journey that provides you with a test of commitment, character and confidence.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
It's Time Part 1
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me- My personal walk, is life change happening, am I walking in empowerment, am I being used of the Lord.
Because He anointed me to preach the Gospel- The message, am I staying on message?
Tom Rainer writes: We have the greatest Hope in the world. We have the promise of the resurrection. We have Jesus. But we know the story. In too many churches minors become majors and focus is lost. Critics outnumber the messengers of hope. And “that’s the way we’ve always done it” becomes the death cry of too many congregations. People are looking for hope.
The Church must be the messenger of Hope. Time is too short. It’s time for hope.
Mark Batterson writes: The only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands. It was so inspiring and so convicting. We care so much about our reputation. We care so much about our approval ratings. We care so much about what people think. But we need to die to those things. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but we don't really care for people until we don't care what they think. We can't really help them until we've been crucified to their opinions. Only then do we preach with an anointed boldness. Am I saying what God wants That is the only litmus test when it comes to preaching. Was God pleased with my message? Unfortunately, many of us measure our messages by human applause. May we be deafened to human applause. After all, the only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.
The poor…the captives…the blind…the oppressed- The people, finding ways to reach the people, having a heart for those in need.
An Alarming statistic- only 13 churches out of 300 hundred in our association grew in the last 10 years. Do we have a whatever it takes mentality?
To proclaim The Favorable Year of the Lord- Your decision, will you claim this to be your year. Will you
God didn’t put you hear to build a steeple,
God put you here to plant a cross.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me- My personal walk, is life change happening, am I walking in empowerment, am I being used of the Lord.
Because He anointed me to preach the Gospel- The message, am I staying on message?
Tom Rainer writes: We have the greatest Hope in the world. We have the promise of the resurrection. We have Jesus. But we know the story. In too many churches minors become majors and focus is lost. Critics outnumber the messengers of hope. And “that’s the way we’ve always done it” becomes the death cry of too many congregations. People are looking for hope.
The Church must be the messenger of Hope. Time is too short. It’s time for hope.
Mark Batterson writes: The only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands. It was so inspiring and so convicting. We care so much about our reputation. We care so much about our approval ratings. We care so much about what people think. But we need to die to those things. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but we don't really care for people until we don't care what they think. We can't really help them until we've been crucified to their opinions. Only then do we preach with an anointed boldness. Am I saying what God wants That is the only litmus test when it comes to preaching. Was God pleased with my message? Unfortunately, many of us measure our messages by human applause. May we be deafened to human applause. After all, the only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.
The poor…the captives…the blind…the oppressed- The people, finding ways to reach the people, having a heart for those in need.
An Alarming statistic- only 13 churches out of 300 hundred in our association grew in the last 10 years. Do we have a whatever it takes mentality?
To proclaim The Favorable Year of the Lord- Your decision, will you claim this to be your year. Will you
God didn’t put you hear to build a steeple,
God put you here to plant a cross.
Friday, January 15, 2010
I went to see the "The Book of Eli". Aside from some of the vulgarities this could have been a Christian Film. The message given to the importance of the Word and a life of faithfulness were very strong and vivid. All of the quotes give by Eli were Bible quotes that were accurate and powerful. The movie had great depictions of good and evil as well lesson on living life during difficult time. It made you think about what really matters in life. One big theme of the movie was "don't take things for granted". another theme that was very powerful was "Don't abort your mission in life"and "Living Word is the point of knowing the Word".
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