The Frankenleader Fad

I recently read a very interesting article in Fast Company by Marcus Buckingham on the FrankenLeader Fad. He said in the article that the core characteristics of leadership are self-assurance and authenticity. The best way to achieve those qualities, I said, isn't by developing what you lack but by amplifying the areas where you are most true to your best self. I believe this will remove the majority of frustrations from leaders in any organization. I have even recalled spending more time in the past on things I am not supposed to verses spending quality, productive time on doing what I am good at. The result: stress and frustration. Marcus goes on to say "Be authentic. To become a leader, identify where you are strongest and most confident, and then work to expand in those areas. If you want to be a better leader, don't try to be all things to all people -- no one will believe you. You will lead best by following who you are." Thank you Marcus Buckingham.

New Addition to the Yanok's

OK, We didn't have another child, but we did get a dog. I know it is crazy with 5 kids already in the house, but we love dogs. Tricia saw him on the McNairy County Humane Society website. So we drove 3 miles down from our house and took him home. He is either a Silky or Australian Terrier. House broken, great with our kids, and he is already spoiled. We do have one dilemma. We are not sure what to name him. Tricia wants to call him "London", Cierra wants to call him "Tobey", I wanted to call him "Bogey or Sammy" but they looked at me like I was crazy. So I don't care and not willing to fight that battle. I just want the dog to have a name. What are your thoughts?

I Am David

I just watched I Am David and I loved it! This is a movie that is so full of the human spirit that you can't help but cry and be moved. And Cry I did. This is a movie that was amazing, just raw human emotion about a young boy who is trying to find life. I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to watch a movie with their entire family! I Am David is adapted from Anne Holm's internationally acclaimed novel North to Freedom. It is the story of a 12-year-old boy, David, who escapes a Communist concentration camp with little more than a compass, a sealed letter, a loaf of bread, and instructions to carry the letter to Copenhagen, Denmark. David is thrust into the free world for the first time in his young life as he travels across Europe. It is a spiritual voyage of discovery, where David slowly loses his instinctual mistrust of humanity and begins to smile, share, trust and ultimately, love. I Am David addresses the cruelties, politics, and suffering of warfare while celebrating the resilience of youth and the unbreakable spirit of a child.

40 Days as a Catholic?

I read this interesting blog entitled 40 Days as a Catholic. It's written by an Apostolic twentysomething that did something new and different this year— He observed Lent. He hasn't become Catholic, but he did engage in some Catholic practices over the past several weeks prior to this past Easter that were actually life changing for him. It was quite interesting to read his story. If your not so closed minded I think you may find it interesting.

A Call to Radical Christianity

Relentlessly Pursue Truth & Purpose, No Apology, No Regrets, Press toward that mark. Every person who is truly called of God will, at one point or another, be required to leave the comfort zone in order to fulfill the will of the Lord. As Abraham had to leave the House of Terah (Gen. 11:26-31), As Joseph left the Land of Canaan (Gen. 37:1), Gideon the Winepress (Judges 6:11), and Elijah left the Brook of Cherith (I Kings 17:1-6), We too must leave our comfort zones

Here is what I have realized, Mediocrity and the love of the status quo will always spell death to God’s divine destiny for your life. When we become radical revolutionaries, we pursue to obey the perfect will of God without fear, favor, or regard to men. Radical Christianity is not measured by great feats of religious activity, it is measured by simple obedience.

The Call to the disciples was a divine decree, not a sweet suggestion. Jesus didn't give them an option when He called them in the work of the Kingdom. He simply passed by and said, "Follow me" (Matthew 4:19-22) No promise of profit sharing, stock options, retirement plans, fringe benefits, just a simple, "Follow me."

I challenge you to come out of the comfort zone and live your life onthe cutting edge. Because once you experience radical christianity, you will never again be content with mediocrity.

Prayer Power Quote

“Properly understood and applied, prayer is the most potent instrument of action.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

Draw Me Nearer

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee. -Fanny Crosby

Katrina was Nature’s Upheaval, Nothing More, Nothing Less

Hurricane Katrina has devastated New Orleans, Biloxi, and the surrounding area.  It may be months before the final count of those who lost their lives and destruction costs are know.  Rumors are everywhere.  Some declare Katrina to be the judgment of God on a wicked city, referring to New Orleans.  Others state, Wrath of God!

The Truth, based on the Holy Scripture is; Katrina was neither Judgment nor Wrath of God.

God convinced Abraham, in Genesis 19, that He has no wish Judge.  Remember, Sodom was a wicked and immoral city.  But God was willing to spare the city if there were only ten righteous people in the city. 

Nahum 1:2 clearly states “God reserves His wrath for His enemies.”  Genesis 6:19 reveal the removal of the righteous prior to the Wrath of God.  May I remind you, God is perfect (Matt. 5:48) and His ways are perfect (II Samuel 22:31).  Therefore whenever God acts it is always within His perfection.  Notice when God used His wrath it brought total destruction. 

Katrina was an act of nature.  Jesus covers such events in Matthew 24:4-8.  Notice verse seven “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”  This verse covers UPHEAVALS OF NATURE.  Nature is generally the cause of famine and earthquakes.  Had not Jesus rebuked the waves and the wind, storms on the Sea of Galilee would have capsized their boat and drowned the Apostles.

Verse eight of Matthew 24 is key to understanding Upheavals of Nature and other destructive events.  Jesus introduces “Sorrows.”  He speaks of the beginning of sorrows and connects the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70 A.D., by Roman Legions.  There have been many events of Sorrows recorded in history.  In fact, the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York by terrorist was a sorrow.  Katrina was an act of nature and falls perfectly into the category of a sorrow.  One must be a reasonably good student of the Holy Scripture in order to distinguish between wrath, judgment, or a sorrow. 

The question has arisen, “Who is to blame?”  If one has been a student of the Bible, he or she knows the answer.  Genesis 1:26 tells us that God created man and gave him dominion over this planet.  When Adam disobeyed God, fallen Lucifer usurped much of Adam’s authority and became the “Prince of the power of the air.” (See Ephesians 2:2) Lucifer is better known as the Serpent of old, the Devil, and Satan. (Revelation 12:9) Satan, the Devil, was the cause of hurricane Katrina.  Jesus tells us Satan came to kill, steal, and destroy.  (John 10:10)  Katrina, Satan’s work, certainly produced death, theft, and destruction. 

Much blame is being cast upon President Bush and his administration, by his opponents and the media.  I am amazed at the incompetant leadership of the city of New Orleans, and the ignorant opinions of certain "celebrities". What a bunch of immature cry babies.  I am disgusted with the majority of the media as they lack intestinal fortitude to say anything except what their liberal owners allow.  Also many ministers and teachers are calling this upheaval of nature, a direct response by God due to the recent extraction of Jewish settlers in Gaza and the West Bank.  Such a statement only shows ignorance of the Word and history. 

Whose to Blame?

I am overwhelmed with the event of Katrina that has happened in New Orleans and Southern Mississippi. We have recently come in contact with families from there who evacuated here to west Tennessee. Our church is adopting a family and doing everything we can to reach out. To give and to share what we have as the scripture commands. But what concerns me is the leadership of New Orleans. I have lost much faith with Mayor C. Ray Nagin, who has shown signs of incompetant leadership in time of crisis. John Maxwell says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." It is amazing how he has not taken much responsibility in leading. The only thing that seems to come out of his mouth besides swear words & complaining about who didn't do what is attacking President Bush and blaming him for the disaster. This is amazing to me. But one wise elderly lady who I pastored said, "High man on totum poll gets hit first". It is obvious that the Mayor did not prepare his city for such an event in which he was warned of in the past. New Orleans is under sea level, warned of the results of a level 5 Hurricane, flooding, etc... I think he needs to take the example of Rudolph Guilianni as Great leadership in the time of crisis. No blaming or complaining. Just leading and getting the job done. Giving a city hope & faith in the midst of disaster. The truth: We are Americans. Micah 7:8 says, "Rejoice not against me oh my enemy, for when I fall, I shall arise." New Orleans, Southern Mississippi, the Gulf Coast will rise again. It is not what happens to us that defines us, but how we respond to what happens to us. As a nation, we have been there for other nations in pain, we will gather around our afflicted, bind their wounds, and reuild its ruins. Why? Because we are America, and she is beautiful!

My Boys first Visit to WWE

I had the privilege of taking my sons Christian & Grayson to their first WWE Wrestling Match held in Jackson, TN. It brought back alot of memories for me when my Dad & Grandpa took me when I was 10. It was amazing. Of course, the wrestlers were different: Andrea the Giant, Dominic DeNucci, Pedro Morales, Don Moraco, Ivan Putski, SD Jones, Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Ken Patera, Tony Atlas & Rocky Johnson, Captain Lou Albano, & The Samoans. I will never forget it. of course it is a new day, and my boys favorites are John Cena (WWE CHAMP), Shawn Michaels, Hurricane, and the legendary Hulk Hogan & The Rock. Watching their response & excitement was so memorable. I look forward to many more events with my boys. Seeing the joy on the their face made me so proud. My youngest Evan was just a little to young for this event, but he is looking forward to the next one.