Imagine if we lived this....

Great Quote

"We often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." - Alexander Graham Bell

Church Myths to Relearn

Everyone of us throughout our ministry will have Damascus moments. Paul the Apostle was evident to this experience in Acts 9. These thoughts come from Pastor Greg Surratt of www.seacoast.org. Enjoy! Some of my comments are below the statements.

Here are some Myths we have to relearn:

1. The Senior Pastor is the "Goal" of ministry and other ministries are stepping stones.

a. be excited and content with what God has called you to do at this season of your life. The Church is not corporate America prying for positions.

2. A gifted speaker makes a good Senior Pastor.

a. A gifted speaker is a gifted speaker, not and effective pastor. Leadership, vision, & the Team makes a pastor effective

3. A Pastor does all the care giving

a. Pastor's responsibility is to make sure people are cared for. He does this by raising up staff, and training people within the church

4. Lay people are way to busy to do ministry

a. Give people vision and they will be fueled to see the vision completed

5. The church down the street is not our competition

a. 50-60% of Americans never go to church
b. Our competition is the golf course, the bed, fishing, Tv, etc....
c. Pastors should not fear other churches or pastors. We are on the same team.

6. A church meets only on Sunday morning

a. church is about doing life together. Community and relationships, not events.

7. The Key to church growth is getting big church buildings

a. It is building and growing people. (Example - Saddleback church, rented in a school for years and grew to over 5000 with not owning their own building
b. You can do multiple services or do what Seacoast Church does, multi-site church campus’s.

A Great Movie to See

I took my boys this past Sunday night to the movies to see Invincible. It was simply AWESOME!

Here is the story: In 1976, Vince Papale was thirty, a former schoolteacher and part-time bartender, and a season ticket-holder for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles. When he heard that Coach Dick Vermeil was holding open tryouts, he decided to give it a shot. Shocking himself and the coaches, he ran an explosive 40-yard-dash in just 4.5 seconds -- a world-class time -- and was offered a contract on the spot. When he joined the team, Papale became the oldest non-kicking rookie in NFL history, a fan favorite who played for four years and was named a team captain.

Invincible is Vince Papale’s story, and a tie-in to the Disney Pictures film of the same name starring Mark Wahlberg as Papale and Greg Kinnear as Vermeil. But more than just a tie-in, it tells Papale’s story in his own words, covering subjects not included in the film. Like Rudy, Glory Road, and Rookie, it is the true story of an ordinary man who achieves an extraordinary goal.

This is a MUST SEE MOVIE!

My Greatest Calling in Life

You may think it is being the Grand Puba of some organization, or a big time athlete, or the CEO, etc...But it is not. To me my greatest calling is being a father to my five kids. I am a Dad. I read this question the other day in a book; "Imagine what it's like to have you for a father." It really moved me. I want to be the best dad I can be to my kids. What does that require? It requires my time. This is something most individuals don't want to give. It takes more than just love, it takes our time. I was once told that to achieve success we must give ourselves to long hours. Will this really bring success? If we give 20 hours a day to work, careers, hobbies, etc...what would it do to our families? I think we are to be productive not just busy. Work smart not just hard.

I have two daughters and the most valuable gift I can give them is confidence. Confidence to believe the impossible and do whatever they put their minds to do. I have 3 sons, If I can teach them to respect women, I have given them the gift of stepping outside oneself. I can teach them to care for people who, in many ways, they have nothing in common with. Imagine the implications?

One other thing I am learning....Don't take yourself too seriously. Goof around with your kids. It is good for them. It's good for you.

Thank God for Friends

The scripture says, "If you want to have friends you must show yourself friendly". This is something I have tried to live by ever since I could remember. As I have journeyed through life God has put great friends in my life. I was talking to someone the other day and we were talking about major cities & states in America, and it came to my mind that I have friends in most of them and if I was stuck in one of those cities all I would have to do is call. I keep in close contact with friends and they with me. It has been very encouraging when you are going through something and then a friend calls to encourage. People need to learn and cultivate friendships. Jesus knew how to do this and so should we.

Here are ways to cultivate friendships:

1. Be there when you are needed
2. Call or Email often
3. Encourage them when they are down
4. Laugh with them when they are up
5. Have a cup a Starbucks often
6. Be honest with them, even if it hurts
7. Be Friendly

I have been truly blessed with Great friends. Thank God For Friends!

33 Tips to Dig Yourself Out of Credit Card Debt

When you have buried yourself under a mountain of credit card debt, it can feel as though you'll never get out from under it. The thought of owing so much money while being pummeled every month by high interest rates is overwhelming. But the truth is that people like you do pay off their credit card debt every year, and you can too (with a bit of discipline). Here are 33 tips to help you get through this tough time and come out the other side debt-free.

33 Tips to Dig Yourself Out of Credit Card Debt

Bono's thoughts on Religion

In an interview with a long-time friend, international pop superstar Bono, of the hit band U2, responded to the sometimes-stained reputation of the church throughout history:

Religion can be the enemy of God. It’s often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship.
Michka Assayas, Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas (Riverhead Books, 2005)