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Christian Devotional - Contentment

2010-10-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

October 26, 2010

Contentment
by Charles R. Swindoll
(Reading - Philippians 4)

Laurence J. Peter and I are close friends. Although I've never laid eyes on him, I've smiled at his comments and nodded at his conclusions . . . amazed at his remarkable insight into my own life and those around me.

The simple answer to the riddle is this: I own a copy of his book The Peter Prescription, and you should too! It's an insignificant looking paperback filled with significant, sound principles. He says it talks about "How to Be Creative, Confident, and Competent," but I think he overlooked a better word: how to be Content.

Isn't it strange that we need a book to help us experience what ought to come naturally? No, not really. . . not when we've been programmed to compete, achieve, increase, fight, and worry our way up the so-called ladder of success (which few can even define).

Face it. You and I are afraid that if we open the door of contentment, two uninvited guests will rush in: loss of prestige and laziness. We really believe that "getting to the top" is worth any sacrifice. To proud Americans, contentment is something to be enjoyed between birth and kindergarten . . . retirement and the rest home . . . or (and this will hurt) among those who have no ambition.

Stop and think. A young man with keen mechanical skills is often counseled against being contented to "settle" for a trade right out of high school. A teacher who is competent, contented, and fulfilled in the classroom is frowned upon if she turns down an offer to become a principal. The owner of Super-Duper Hamburgers on the corner has a packed-out joint every day, but chances are selfish ambition won't let him rest until he opens ten other joints and gets rich---leaving contentment behind.

Now, listen to Jesus: "Be content with your wages" (Luke 3:14). Hear Paul: "I am well content with weaknesses," and, "If we have food and covering . . . be content!" (2 Cor. 12:10; 1 Tim. 6:8). And hear another apostle: "Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have" (Heb. 13:5).

I warn you: This isn't easy to implement. You'll be outnumbered and outvoted. You'll have to fight the urge to conform. Even the greatest of all the apostles admitted, "I have learned to be content" (Phil. 4:11). It's a learning process . . . and it isn't very enjoyable marching out of step until you are convinced you're listening to the right drummer.

When you're fully convinced, however, you'll be free, indeed!

"Striving to better, oft we mar what's well" (William Shakespeare).

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Psalm 37 - Just seemed right

2010-10-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

I just needed to post this one, because it seemed so right - to help me keep focus & to help keep my business thoughts on the right path...

Psalm 37

Of David.

1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;

22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be cut off.

23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.

27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29 the righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.

31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking their very lives;

33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Wait for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

2010-10-11T08:18:00.001-07:00

October 11, 2010

Simplify!
by Charles R. Swindoll

John 17

High-tech times lead to high-stress tension. The never-ending drive for more, mixed with the popular tendency to increase production and intensify involvement, leaves most folks in the workplace not only exhausted but dissatisfied.

Instead of Saturday being a change-of-pace day, it has become an opportunity to squeeze in a second job. And Sundays? A time for renewal and refreshment? You're smiling. No, it's the day most type-A high achievers start another to-do list in preparation for the new week.

Every time I officiate at a funeral, I'm reminded of the things that really matter . . . things that last. Stuff that seemed so all-fired important yesterday loses its steam when you stand on a windswept hill surrounded by weather-beaten grave markers.

At that moment, something within you cries: Simplify!

Jesus mastered the art of maintaining a clear perspective while accomplishing every single one of His objectives. Though we never read of His hurrying anywhere, He managed to fulfill the complete agenda. Just before the agony of the Cross, He told the Father that He had "accomplished the work which You have given Me to do" (John 17:4). And only seconds before He drew His last breath, He made that epochal statement, "It is finished" (19:30). Nothing essential was left undone.

I believe that a major reason for His being able to say those things was that He simplified His life. Jesus followed His own agenda instead of everyone else's. He set predetermined limits: He chose twelve (not twelve hundred) whom He trained to carry on in His absence. He maintained His priorities without apology. He balanced work and rest, accomplishment and refreshment, never feeling the need to ask permission for spending time in quietness and solitude. He refused to get sidetracked by tempting opportunities that would drain energy and time. He was a servant of His Father, not a slave of the people.

He was firm yet kind and gentle, quick to hear and slow to speak. The complexities that tie us into knots never complicated His life or cramped His style.

What's happened to us? When did we buy into all this hectic hassle that steals so much of the joy of just plain living? Who convinced us to feel guilty for taking time to balance work with play? Get off the treadmill and reorder your life. Go back three spaces and clean out the clutter that led to all this nonsense of busyness. Simplify!

How much longer will we keep adding nonessentials to our agenda? Simplify!

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Gumption

2010-10-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Gumption
by Charles R. Swindoll

We don't hear much about gumption anymore. Too bad, since we need it more than ever these days. I was raised on gumption (my parents also called it "spizzerinctum")---as were my own children, especially when I was trying to motivate them.

Can't you just see it as a whole new academic field---"Gumptionology 101"---in some college catalog? That will never happen, however, since gumption is better caught than taught.

Most folks get a little gumption in their initial birth packet, but it's a tool that rusts rather quickly. Here are some pointers that will help you keep it well oiled:

Gumption begins with a firm commitment. Daniel "made up his mind" long before he was dumped in a Babylonian boot camp (Dan. 1:8). Joshua didn't hesitate to declare his commitment in his famous "as for me and my house" speech (Josh. 24:15). You want gumption to continue to the end? Start strong!

Gumption means being disciplined one day at a time. Rather than focusing on the whole enchilada, take it in bite-sized chunks. The whole of any objective can overwhelm even the most courageous.

Gumption requires being alert to subtle temptations. Gumption plans ahead, watching out for associations that weaken us (Prov. 13:20), procrastination that steals from us (24:30-34), and rationalizations that lie to us (23:4; 25:28). People who achieve their goals stay alert.

Gumption requires the encouragement of accountability. At David's low-water mark, his friend Jonathan stepped in. When Elijah was ready to cash in everything, along came Elisha. With Paul it was Timothy . . . or Silas or Barnabas or Dr. Luke. People need people, which is why Solomon came on so strong about iron sharpening iron (Prov. 27:17).

Gumption comes easier when we remember that finishing has its own unique rewards. Jesus told the Father He had "accomplished" His assignment (John 17:4). On more than one occasion, Paul referred to "finishing the course" (Acts 20:24; 2 Tim. 4:7). Desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.

If the journey seems extra long today, enjoy a gust of wind at your back from these words out of The Living Bible. It's one of those spizzerinctum Scriptures: "Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up" (Gal. 6:9).

Gumption may be hidden, but it always shows.

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

The Main Thing...

2010-09-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Another great blog entry re-posted from Tony Wood's blog:

One of the troubles with launching a church (and I’m assuming launching anything) may be that at times the process gets so overwhelming you forget what you struck out to launch in the first place.

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing is an old term. But, a good old term.

In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul says that we can do lots of things, and in fact, many of these are great things. Feeding the poor, preaching great sermons, writing a few books, going to school, writing songs, making (and even giving) some money, putting on stellar events, and being a downright jolly-good human being.

But, he says if we forget love, we didn’t do much at all.

So, in your effort today, keep the Main Thing the Main Thing. And be sure that your Main Thing is love. A heart that views others as God views them and hands that hold others as only you may be able.

About Tony:
Tony has been part of the Crossroads Church team in Corona CA for 3 years and is the founder of Generate, a next-generational gathering that weekly attracts over 2000 students and young adults. Tony (and wife Bre) decided in early 2010 it was time to write a new story of hope and carry their passion to an ever expanding portion of Southern CA as the Teaching Pastor of the new Moment Church of Orange County, coming Spring 2011.

Check Him Out:
Facebook
Church Website
Tony's Blog

Great night at step study... City of Humble.

2010-09-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

Great discussions on Victory and Amends tonight. One of tonight's verses really struck a chord with me:

"But he gives us more and more strength to stand against all such evil longings.. As the Scripture says, God gives strength to the humble, but sets himself against the proud and haughty. So give yourselves humbly to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:6-7 TLB)

We discussed humility and what it means to be humble... and it was a tough one to solidly define.

Of course the dictionary defines humility as "a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride;"... but how do you define humble? Again, the web dictionary defines humble as "a modest man of the people"... but that still is vague.

After confused looks, textbook answers and jumbled words, we discussed it, and in the context of Christianity, and our goals to live a selfless life; 'humility' - the disposition of being humble, can be summed up as (in my summation, that is):

1. Life is not about me.
2. Live a selfless life.
3. Live a life without judging.

Gonna try...every day, to live this way.

Humble... funny how God reminds us in many ways to live this way (take for example these hard times)... and funny how most of the time we don't listen.

Maybe one day listening to Him will be easier for me.

Stuff They Don't Tell You #2 (thanks Tony)

2010-08-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

(BY TONY WOOD) original post on tonywood.tv

http://tonywood.tv/uncategorized/stuff-they-dont-tell-you-2/

A few more things they don’t tell you in “launch-school” about starting a new organization, church, initiative, or ministry. If you have more please share them to encourage us all!

1. There is no perfect decision. Prayer is important, wise counsel is mandatory, and patience is key but end of the day you’ll trek more ground by 100 revised imperfect decisions then nailing the perfect big daddy. So get incremental and advance the ball! The world of “new” has plenty of creatives but needs more creators. My discipline of late is learning how to limit my reactive work, (i.e. emails, facebook, Twitter, THIS BLOG) where I feel busy but didn’t produce one darn thing, and focus on proactive work where I move something or inspire someone.

2. Everything rises and falls on KIND leadership. Sorry to change this age old Maxwellism but dictatorial leadership is out and relationship is in. People no longer slave long hours out of fear or money but will follow someone anywhere for cause. Learn to be kind. I’m trying to truly talk and care more for flight attendants, call centers, front desks, assistants, grocery checkers, etc. Kindness is king so bind it around your neck!

3. Poo Poo on Popular. If you’re launching something new to be popular you got a train wreck coming! When critics come, learn to find the truth behind criticism, while also learning to ignore the assault that’s out front of it. I think it’s funny that even the most popular U.S. president’s had half the country despise them. Comes with the territory, be prepared.

4. Look for lasers. There’s an often used analogy that shares how light dispersed (like the sun) can be useful but not powerful compared to light focused (like a laser) which can cut steel. New things are certain to attract some bright lights, big talent, motivated promises, and influential people but be careful and be sure to invest mostly in the lasers. Those who show up daily are focused, available, giving, and ready to do their job. Bright lights rarely cut long term impact.

5. Don’t quit. One of my favorite leaders (as you may be able to tell) is Perry Noble and he always says that around every corner you’ll find a reason to quit. Don’t! Might as well quit because I’m broke. Don’t! Might as well quit because I’m tired. Don’t! Might as well quit because my board is upset. Don’t! If you’re doing this for God it’s not about you and YOU can’t quit HIS vision!

Stuff They Don't Tell You

2010-08-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things no one tells you when you launch something that you believe is valuable, important, and critical to the welfare of the human soul. This could be a church, initiative, small business, or organization…

Just be aware.

1. Your own soul will be attacked daily. There isn’t one day that the demons of pride, jealousy, lust, defeat, or pity don’t creep their very unsterile head into the dark cabin of your heart.

2. Many close to you won’t necessarily stay close. When you start something new, by definition, you step on the toes of what was old. Most people are comfortable in the old (just try on new socks or undies) and don’t like what you’ve made them wear.

3. Those far from you come close. Around every corner is a new friend, ally, teammate, and mind. If you share vision and share it passionately you’ll find dozens of new best friends.

4. God feels more real. The truth is that God is way real. In fact, more real than you or I. However, when we’re comfortable He’s easy to forget. There’s no question that His proximty seems ever more dear when launching something daring and formidable.

5. You have to ask a lot. There isn’t a day that goes by where I’m not asking for something (money, people, ideas, or encouragement). I’ve never had to do this, didn’t like it, and now am growing to accept and appreciate it a little. If you can’t ask for things forget getting things.

6. Your family fans the flame. I’ve never loved and needed Bre more. I’ve never loved and cherished my kids more. When you have nothing but future you’ll learn to stop more and appreciate the now.

7. Failure isn’t an option. When there is nothing you have nothing to lose. When you leave it all, risk it all, and jump out of the plane you get to wake each day expecting a fun view of the clouds because if it doesn’t work there’s only one big splat! Sounds morbid but end of the day it’s exciting, fresh, and enlightening.

8. Sacrifice isn’t new. Ask Jesus, Paul, the disciples, or 200 million martyred christians throughout time. Homelessness, poverty, persecution, and suffering is part of the game. Start living the uncomfortable life and thank Jesus everyday that you get to.

From Tony Wood's blog...

http://tonywood.tv/uncategorized/stuff-they-dont-tell-you/

THINK before you speak...

2010-08-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

another gem from the Central Christian Church service this weekend...

THINK before you speak.

T: is it True?

H: is it Helpful?

I: is it Inspirational?

N: is it Necessary?

K: is it Kind?

http://www.centralchristian.com/home.asp

...anyway

2010-08-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
(Forgive them anyway.)

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
(Be kind anyway.)

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. (Succeed anyway.)

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
(Be honest and sincere anyway.)

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
(Create anyway.)

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
(Be happy anyway.)

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
(Do good anyway.)

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
(Give your best anyway.)

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
(It was never between you and them anyway.)

-Mother Teresa

The Oak Tree...

2010-08-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

A neat tidbit I read in "Boundaries With Kids - How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children":

"You are like an oak tree that the child runs her head into over and over again, until she realizes that the tree is stronger than she is, an she walks around it next time."

and this is prefaced by the words: "No amount of nagging or lecturing would have ever accomplished this result." How true.

This passage was describing how as parents, we need to actually fulfill our words of established boundaries, by enforcing them. It may hurt a bit when our kids hit those boundaries, but eventually they'll learn that hitting those boundaries have consequences. And if they don't like the consequence, then they need to change course.

How easy it seems (in words), but it actually can work. With patience, of course.

Great book by Cloud & Townsend - glad I'm finally reading it! (Thanks, Lisa)
:-)

Another Repost from Tony's Blog...

2010-07-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

Each second trillions of ideas explode in brains across the planet. 99.9% of these ideas are never acted on, never worked towards, never realized.

I should have called her. He married her.

I wanted to invent that. He’s rich.

I should have saved her. She’s gone.

I hate death. He cured the disease.

I love the mixture. Peanut Butter & Jelly.

The difference between the 99.9% and the .1% is execution. There is plenty of inspiration in our world but who will go out and be diligent to see that inspiration become a reality?

(ORIGINAL POST)

Give thanks...

2010-07-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Words to live by - revisiting Paul, giving thanks to the Philippians...

¹⁰ How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. ¹⁴ Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

Proverbs 3 (NLT)

2010-07-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 3 (New Living Translation)

Trusting in the Lord

¹ My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
² If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
³ Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
⁴ Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

⁷ Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
⁸ Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
¹⁰ Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.

¹¹ My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
¹² For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

¹³ Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
¹⁴ For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
¹⁵ Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
¹⁷ She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
¹⁸ Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.

¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
²⁰ By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

²¹ My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
Hang on to them,
²² for they will refresh your soul.
They are like jewels on a necklace.
²³ They keep you safe on your way,
and your feet will not stumble.
²⁴ You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
²⁵ You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
²⁶ for the Lord is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.
²⁸ If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

²⁹ Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
for those who live nearby trust you.
³⁰ Don’t pick a fight without reason,
when no one has done you harm.

³¹ Don’t envy violent people
or copy their ways.
³² Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
but he offers his friendship to the godly.

³³ The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the upright.

³⁴ The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.

³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
but fools are put to shame!

2010-07-16T14:26:00.001-07:00

Original Post on Tony Wood's Blog: HERE

Awesome picture!

Some people run away from lions and bears. Others choose to go wrestle with them. Like David, these are great and courageous people who protect their families, jobs, and dreams (1 Samuel 17).

But, not many people choose to walk towards a giant.

Walking towards a giant takes lots of courage and a little insanity. Ignoring armor and bending over to pick up pebbles is a whole lot more insanity. Not only do people question your motives, they laugh behind your back, and take bets on the odds that stand against you.

Are you content today, tackling a few lions, or going after your giant?

“You come at me with sword and spear but I come in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel whom you have defiled…”

Go After Your Giant

Repost from POTSC on Listening

2010-07-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

Posted by Mike Foster:

This weekend I’m thrilled to be speaking at Central’s weekend services. I’m talking about TNT living. You can join us online or click here for service times.

So Jud left me a voicemail yesterday. Google Voice transcribed it for me. I laughed when I read some of the message.

Posture hey buddy. It’s just.
So, okay I can talk to you that we, I’ll check with Lawrence.
Hi Keith and make sure to. So where that is. Thanks buddy. Talk to you soon.

LET ME TRY AND TRANSLATE:

Posture=Foster
It’s Just=It’s Jud
Check with Lawrence=Check with Lori

The rest of it? Who knows? Anyways, you get the point. GOOGLE VOICE ISN’T LISTENING VERY WELL!

One of the most loving things we can do for people is listen. And to really hear them.

Let’s avoid being a “Google Voice” to those who trust us with their words, feelings, and their story.

So are you a good listener? How are you at remembering people’s names

Christian Daily Devotional Repost

2010-07-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

This one hit home...

Back-Door Blessing
by Charles R. Swindoll

James 1

I had lunch recently with a businessman who runs his own company. As we talked, the subject of wisdom kept popping up in our conversation. So I asked, "How does a person get wisdom? I realize we are to be men of wisdom, but few people ever talk about how it is acquired."

His answer was quick and to the point: "Pain."

I paused and looked deeply into his eyes. Without knowing the specifics, I knew his one-word answer was not theoretical. He and pain had gotten to know each other rather well.

It was then I quoted from the first chapter of James:
"When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots" (James 1:2-4, Phillips).

There is no shortcut, no such thing as instant endurance. The pain brought on by interruptions and disappointments, by loss and failure, by accidents and disease, is the long and arduous road to maturity. There is no other road.

But where does wisdom come in? James explains in the next verse:
"And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God---who gives generously to all men without making them feel guilty---and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him" (1:5).

As I see it, it is a domino effect. One thing bumps up against another, which, in turn, bumps another, and in the long haul, endurance helps us mature. Periodically, however, we will find ourselves at a loss to know what to do or how to respond. It's then we ask for help, and God delivers more than intelligence and ideas and good old common sense. He dips into His well of wisdom and allows us to drink from His bucket, whose refreshment provides abilities and insights that are of another world. Perhaps it might best be stated as having a small portion of "the mind of Christ."

When we have responded as we should to life's blows, enduring them rather than escaping them, we are given more maturity that stays with us and new measures of wisdom, which we are able to draw upon for the balance of our lives.

By accepting life's tests and temptations as friends, we become men and women of mature character.

Might As Well Quit

2010-06-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Might As Well Quit

Another good one - Thanks, Tony!!!

This post may seem intense but since this blog is for leaders, visionaries, and those striving to do something great please accept it’s reality.

It’s true that your vision or attempt at building what “could and should be” can survive peril! With God you can survive economic catastrophe, character attack, physical illness, and even moral failure! However, there’s one thing your vision will NEVER survive…

Waking up late.

It sounds like a joke but I’m serious. If you’re not willing to get up early, work late, plan often, and pray hard your dream will not succeed. You may win the lottery but trust me the lottery is not your dream.

Michael Jordan woke up before his peers.

Kobe hits the gym by 5am.

Tiger is on the course by 5:30am.

Part of being passionate and being a specialist means you care more than anyone else. This doesn’t mean you’re a workaholic but does mean your calendar matches your convictions! Don’t forget the prayer of Moses that “God confirm the work of our hands.” Pray as if it all depends on God and work as if it all depends on you!

5 Reminders for the Visionary

2010-06-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

5 Reminders for the Visionary

Five reminders for those willing to take steps towards their vision…

~ Success starts in preparation not declaration. David didn’t learn to use a sling-shot by magic. He practiced for years and killed a few lions long before the real beast yelled profanity at His God.

~ God big is often human small. Gideon didn’t win his battle due to strength and numbers but wisdom and insight. Often God amazes man with little things so they’ll recognize He’s the great thing.

~ God confirms the work of OUR hands. Don’t forget that in Psalm 90 Moses mentioned God’s confirmation but also man’s hard work. Our prayer must be “Lord help me to do what I can and please go ahead to do what I can’t!”

~ Crying isn’t a bad thing. In Exodus 4 and throughout scripture “crying out to God” always warranted a reaction from above. Pleading helps me realize my bleeding and my needing! Cry for people as God cries for people.

~ God will finish what He started. If your vision loves God and loves people you can be assured that God’s love will move you and move people toward it’s completion. Don’t quit.

(Thanks for posting, Tony!)

Trip down memory lane...how many remember this?

2010-06-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

The eleven General Orders to be memorized by all naval personnel.

1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

4. To repeat all calls from the post more distant from the guard house than my own.

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

6. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me all orders from the commanding officer, field officer of the day, officer of the day, and officers and petty officers of the guard only.

7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

9. To call the corporal of the guard in any case not covered by instructions.

10. To salute all officers, and all colors and standards not cased.

11. To be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

Repost: Couch Cushion Architecture; A Critical Analysis (pt2)

2010-06-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

APRIL 23RD, 2010
By BUILD LLC

Couch Cushion Architecture; A Critical Analysis 2

Part two of Couch Cushion Architecture expands on the known collection of significant couch cushion projects in the western hemisphere and continues the discourse. As with part 1 of the study, the basic DNA of design logic can be observed in these works. At the root of any great designer lies a strong connection to the fundamentals of couch cushion design and construction.

A simple geometry and clear orthogonal moves allow this project to be a three-dimensional extension of Mondrian’s thesis. We admire the subdued palette of materials and ambitious structural cantilever. The nebulous entry, however, confuses the approach and subtracts from the compositional success. Grade: C+

An ambitious architectural statement, this structure takes its design queues from middle-east cave dwellings. The calculated addition of bold colors and rich textures softens the eye and puts one at ease despite the unknown variables in its structural system. Grade: B

The A-frame’s sound structural properties and ease of construction have long since proven their architectural merits. We applaud the use of red shag carpet as a departure from what would otherwise be a mere pedestrian form. Grade: B+

While typically the stacked foundation technique leads to a stable and impressive base, this particular application seems dubious. Fraught with apparent labor strikes the project is rumored to have developed irreconcilable technical inadequacies and unresolved scheduling conflicts. Grade: D-

The clear reference to pole barn framing resonates with us and we found amusement in the tongue-in-cheek dual structural system. The clever siting of the project is finished nicely with a deliberately draped, light-weight roof structure. A warm, modern color palette gives the project a handsome and approachable street front. Grade: A+

Drawing from the saw-tooth roof structures of industrial Europe, the orthogonal volume cleverly employs a swing hinge access door, popularized by the mid-century modern masters. Grade: B+

This whimsical project draws inspiration from the classic Tuscan stone towers of Italy; where a taller tower symbolized an owner’s power and prosperity over neighboring structures. Unfortunately the design falls short of greatness with its lackadaisical cushion placement and poor choice of plaid. Grade: C

Employing a northwest gable frame vocabulary, this structure initially impressed us with its optimal function per structure ratio. Unfortunate structural failures have since played a role in the demise of this particular project. Grade: C-

Although we’ve never been the post-modern movement’s biggest fans, the project is well planned and structurally efficient. Roof caps allow for natural ventilation and at the same time provide a deliberate change to the color palette. Grade: B

The project treads lightly on the land and gains enormous respect as a piece of true sustainable couch cushion architecture. Surprisingly, the minimal structure provides accommodations for a lone inhabitant. Grade: B

A rare example of cathedral buttressing, this project also employs a heavy medieval base. The interior incorporates a steel frame and establishes a “belt and suspenders” structural system. Technicalities aside, the project suffers from an inconsistent material palette attributed to coordination issues with the supplier. Grade A-

Repost: Couch Cushion Architecture; A Critical Analysis (pt1)

2010-06-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

APRIL 21ST, 2010
By BUILD LLC

Couch Cushion Architecture; A Critical Analysis

Before we were influenced by Mies van der Rohe or Frank Lloyd Wright, before we had seen the visual delights of Ronchamp, Pompidou Center and the Bauhaus school in Weimar, we were driven by a greater force of design inspiration. More primal and immediate than any of the previously mentioned examples, it was couch cushion architecture that established the basic building blocks of our design logic. Unrepresented and ignored for too long in the architectural industry, today’s post pays respect to the wonders of couch cushion architecture. We’ve rounded up a (mostly) admirable collection of projects, taken from a randomly conducted search on the internet. Join us as we take a critical analysis of the architecture, methods and design philosophies of living room furniture re-appropriation.

[Copyright Jennifer Larson]

A clear derivative of the Miesian box, this handsome project is “informalized” with the use of colorful, freeform roof panels. Taking further direction from the Archigram movement, the project explores architecture as body wrap and propels couch cushion architecture to new and exciting territory. Grade: A

At first glance the composition appears unintentional and the construction shoddy. But further investigation reveals a clear delineation between indoor/outdoor space with a design focus on protection through the use of barrier. Planes are shifted off the orthogonal to accommodate function; as a side effect it relieves inhabitants from a harsh Euclidian geometry. Grade B

Benefiting from the life work of structural engineer Heinz Isler, this lightweight roof shell structure creates a graceful span while fully sheltering the interiors. Massive counter-weights keep the structure taught while an entire façade remains open to the exterior. Grade: B

Mayan in geometry but American barcalounger in function, this hybrid design allows for both formality and comfort. To our disappointment, the plan design could have taken better advantage of the site opportunities and, ultimately, the fact that a roof structure was not included in the programming detracts from the overall project. Grade: C+

The crisp, clean, white planes, drawing clear influences from Richard Meier, are balanced with a splash of color offered by the roof membrane. The disciplined interiors offer relief to the eyes with a subtle yet intentional blue tone. Grade B+

Good God gentlemen, you’re a mess! You need walls, you need a roof. Get to work man! Grade: F

The crisp, orthogonal structure is, in a way, camouflaged by the informality of the landscaping. While a clear bifurcation exists between site and structure, we give high marks to the close coordination of architect and landscape architect in using similar materials to exaggerate the divergent design concepts. Grade: B+

We greatly admire the use of coffee table as lateral moment-frame in this application. The solution is both formal and fun, offering the users a sequence of experiences beginning with the entry to vaulted ceiling to raised deck. Grade A-

While foundation as roof structure may not create the most efficient tectonic solution, we applaud the geometric inversion and fresh perspective on the “form follows function” relationship. As a side note it’s always disturbing to see the finish details carried out with such haste in the presence of true structural achievement. Grade: B-

A brilliant synergy between the weighted foundation and the light tensile structure, this project impressed us with its attenuation of structure and bright interior spaces. The courtyard and formal entry are also well thought-out and provide a clear means of way-finding. Grade A+

(thank you Jim for this great link)

Diggin' the Lyrics...

2010-05-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

Britt Nicole - 'Walk on Water'

You look around
It's staring back at you
Another wave of doubt
Will it pull you under
You wonder

What if I'm overtaken
What if I never make it
What if no one's there?
Will you hear my prayer?

When you take that first step
Into the unknown
You know that he won't let you go

So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to alter you...

You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes and you can
Walk on the water too

Verse 2:
So get out
And let
Your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste
Don't wait
Don't you turn around and miss out
Everything you were made for
I know you're not sure
So you play it safe
Try to run away

If you take that first step
Into the unknown
He won't let you go

(step out)
Even when a storm hits
(step out)
Even when you're broken
(step out)
Even when your heart is telling you telling you to give up
(step out)
When your hope is stolen
(step out)
You can't see where you're going
You don't have to be afraid

So what are you waiting,
What are you waiting for?

So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to alter you...

You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes and you can
Walk on the water...
Walk on the water too

Christian Devotional - Anxiety

2010-05-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

The Hidden Causes of Anxiety

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READ | Psalm 94:19-22

Experiences affect how people think about themselves and what they choose to believe. Sometimes negative events create a hurtful thought pattern that can play in a person’s brain like a continuous tape loop. When that tape gets switched on, it triggers anxiety in the heart of the listener. Shutting it off permanently requires faith in the Lord.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. Suppose that little Tina’s efforts to do well were often rejected by her parents. She heard, “You can do better than that” or “Your sister did much better at your age.” Tina rarely received praise for a job well done. Now an adult, she refuses to apply for a job promotion, even though her boss is encouraging her to do so. Why? Because she fears being found inadequate. Tina may not be able to name her fear, but it certainly holds her back.

There are several other potential root causes of anxiety. An exhaustive list would not fit here, but the following are a few of the more common ones:

A belief that one can’t reach a set standard
Guilt over past sin
An erroneous idea of God as a punisher
Attitudes instilled during childhood

Even if one or more sounds familiar, don’t despair. These roots can be yanked out.

When feeling anxious, ask yourself what produced the uneasiness. Knowing which incidents nurture fear can point you to the underlying cause. Let God help you reject the unhealthy thought pattern and replace it with assurance that those who listen to Him live free from the dread of evil (Prov. 1:33).

Remembering why...the Lord's Supper

2010-05-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 11:17-31 (New Living Translation)

Order at the Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. ¹⁸ First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. ¹⁹ But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!

²⁰ When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. ²¹ For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. ²² What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!

²³ For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread ²⁴ and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.^a]">[a] Do this to remember me.” ²⁵ In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” ²⁶ For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

²⁷ So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against^b]">[b] the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. ²⁹ For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ,^c]">[c] you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. ³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

³¹ But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. ³² Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

³³ So, my dear brothers and sisters,^d]">[d] when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. ³⁴ If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.

1 Corinthians 11:17-31 (The Message)

^17-19Regarding this next item, I'm not at all pleased. I am getting the picture that when you meet together it brings out your worst side instead of your best! First, I get this report on your divisiveness, competing with and criticizing each other. I'm reluctant to believe it, but there it is. The best that can be said for it is that the testing process will bring truth into the open and confirm it.

^20-22And then I find that you bring your divisions to worship—you come together, and instead of eating the Lord's Supper, you bring in a lot of food from the outside and make pigs of yourselves. Some are left out, and go home hungry. Others have to be carried out, too drunk to walk. I can't believe it! Don't you have your own homes to eat and drink in? Why would you stoop to desecrating God's church? Why would you actually shame God's poor? I never would have believed you would stoop to this. And I'm not going to stand by and say nothing.

^23-26Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord's Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.
After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.
What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.

^27-28Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.

^29-32If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.

^33-34So, my friends, when you come together to the Lord's Table, be reverent and courteous with one another. If you're so hungry that you can't wait to be served, go home and get a sandwich. But by no means risk turning this Meal into an eating and drinking binge or a family squabble. It is a spiritual meal—a love feast.

The other things you asked about, I'll respond to in person when I make my next visit.

1 Corinthians 11:17-35 (King James Version)

¹⁷Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

¹⁹For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

²¹For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

²²What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

²³For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

²⁴And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

²⁵After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

²⁶For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

²⁷Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

²⁸But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

²⁹For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

³⁰For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

³³Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

³⁴And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Jesus is MORE than his homeboy...check out Bono...on Jesus Christ as his savior.

2010-05-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

Bono: Grace over Karma

book excerpt | posted 8/01/2005 12:00AM

There have been a number of books written about U2 and their iconic frontman, Bono, arguably the world's most famous rock star. But not till now has Bono himself come out to tell his own story. In the new book, Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas (Riverhead Books), the rocker shares his thoughts on numerous topics with a French music journalist and friend who has been with the band virtually since the beginning. In a series of honest conversations presented in Q&A format, Bono discusses, among other things, his upbringing (including the death of his mother when he was a teen and the ensuing rocky relationship with his father, who died just a few years ago), U2's beginnings, his bandmates, his marriage, fatherhood, his passion for social action, the effects of celebrity, and, fittingly, his faith and how it intersects all of the above.

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The following exchange between Bono and Assayas took place just days after the Madrid train bombings in March 2004, an act of terrorism that left 191 dead and more than 1,800 wounded. The two men were discussing how terrorism is often carried out in the name of religion when Bono turned the conversation to Christianity, expressing his preference for God's grace over "karma," offering an articulate apologetic for the deity of Christ, and giving a clear presentation of the gospel message.

Bono: My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean? What it means for me: a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honor. I don't let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that's my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now that's not so easy.

Assayas: What about the God of the Old Testament? He wasn't so "peace and love"?

Bono There's nothing hippie about my picture of Christ. The Gospels paint a picture of a very demanding, sometimes divisive love, but love it is. I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that's why they're so relatable. But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum, is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you're a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules. But with Christ, we have access in a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament, on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the Cross.

Assayas: Speaking of bloody action movies, we were talking about South and Central America last time. The Jesuit priests arrived there with the gospel in one hand and a rifle in the other.

Bono I know, I know. Religion can be the enemy of God. It's often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. [laughs] 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. Why are you chuckling?

Assayas: I was wondering if you said all of that to the Pope the day you met him.

Bono Let's not get too hard on the Holy Roman Church here. The Church has its problems, but the older I get, the more comfort I find there. The physical experience of being in a crowd of largely humble people, heads bowed, murmuring prayers, stories told in stained-glass windows …

Assayas: So you won't be critical.

Bono No, I can be critical, especially on the topic of contraception. But when I meet someone like Sister Benedicta and see her work with AIDS orphans in Addis Ababa, or Sister Ann doing the same in Malawi, or Father Jack Fenukan and his group Concern all over Africa, when I meet priests and nuns tending to the sick and the poor and giving up much easier lives to do so, I surrender a little easier.

Assayas: But you met the man himself. Was it a great experience?

Bono … [W]e all knew why we were there. The Pontiff was about to make an important statement about the inhumanity and injustice of poor countries spending so much of their national income paying back old loans to rich countries. Serious business. He was fighting hard against his Parkinson's. It was clearly an act of will for him to be there. I was oddly moved … by his humility, and then by the incredible speech he made, even if it was in whispers. During the preamble, he seemed to be staring at me. I wondered. Was it the fact that I was wearing my blue fly-shades? So I took them off in case I was causing some offense. When I was introduced to him, he was still staring at them. He kept looking at them in my hand, so I offered them to him as a gift in return for the rosary he had just given me.

Assayas: Didn't he put them on?

Bono Not only did he put them on, he smiled the wickedest grin you could ever imagine. He was a comedian. His sense of humor was completely intact. Flashbulbs popped, and I thought: "Wow! The Drop the Debt campaign will have the Pope in my glasses on the front page of every newspaper."

Assayas: I don't remember seeing that photograph anywhere, though.

Bono Nor did we. It seems his courtiers did not have the same sense of humor. Fair enough. I guess they could see the T-shirts.

Later in the conversation:

Assayas: I think I am beginning to understand religion because I have started acting and thinking like a father. What do you make of that?

Bono: Yes, I think that's normal. It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.

Assayas: I haven't heard you talk about that.

Bono I really believe we've moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace.

Assayas: Well, that doesn't make it clearer for me.

Bono You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff.

Assayas: I'd be interested to hear that.

Bono That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I'd be in deep s---. It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity.

Assayas: The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that.

Bono But I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there's a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and, let's face it, you're not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That's the point. It should keep us humbled… . It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.

Assayas: That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?

Bono No, it's not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we've been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched …

Bono later says it all comes down to how we regard Jesus:

Bono: … [I]f only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would be transformed. …When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my s--- and everybody else's. So I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this man? And was He who He said He was, or was He just a religious nut? And there it is, and that's the question. And no one can talk you into it or out of it.

From Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas, by Michka Assayas, copyright © 2005 by Michka Awwayas. Used by permission of Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. For online information about other Penguin Group (USA) books and authors, see the website at www.penguin.com

Christian Devotional - Living our Faith

2010-04-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

April 30, 2010

The Way of Faith

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READ | Hebrews 11:23-28

Many people consider Moses a biblical “pillar” of Old Testament days—a man without equal in godliness. Most likely, he’d have laughed at such a thought. Sure, He was called to do mighty things with the Lord’s help. And he encountered the presence of the Almighty in a most unusual way. But like us, he was a normal, sinful human being. What the New Testament commends him for, though, was something we all can have: belief.

Today’s verses comes from the passage known as the Bible’s “Hall of Faith.” Those honored with inclusion in this chapter were chosen because they acted obediently and God achieved great things through them.

We, too, can watch His hand in our lives as we act on faith. When we trust and obey, God demonstrates His power and shows that He truly is Lord. By operating out of His strength and through our weakness, He teaches us to rely upon Him.

That’s not to say the path is easy; Jesus warned that the way of faith includes suffering. Indeed, many early Christians were beaten or killed for His sake, and faith is still met with harsh persecution in various places around the world. While that may not be our experience, each of us has encountered ridicule, misunderstanding, or lost friendships because we follow Christ.

Even mild persecution can cause us to question whether living out our faith is worth the sacrifice. Rest assured it is the best way to live. God responds to faith by enabling His children to endure difficulty, demonstrating His power in their circumstances, and providing contentment and joy.

Devotional Archives

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Christian Devotional - Strive for Contentment

2010-04-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

Enough Is Enough
by Charles R. Swindoll

1 Timothy 6:17-19

If there were one great message I could deliver to those who struggle with not having an abundance of this world's goods, it would be this simple yet profound premise for happiness: Great wealth is not related to money! It is an attitude of satisfaction coupled with inner peace, plus a day-by-day, moment-by-moment walk with God. Sounds so right, so good, doesn't it? In our world of more, more, more . . . push, push, push . . . grab, grab, grab, this counsel is long overdue. In a word, the secret is contentment.

Contentment is something we must learn. It isn't a trait we're born with. But the question is how?

First, it really helps us to quit striving for more if we read the eternal dimension into today's situation. We entered life empty-handed; we leave it the same way.

Second, it also helps us model contentment if we'll boil life down to its essentials and try to simplify our lifestyle: something to eat, something to wear, and a roof over our heads. Everything beyond that we'd do well to consider as extra.

It's foolish to trust in riches for security and they bring no lasting satisfaction. It is God alone who supplies us "with all things to enjoy" which leads to contentment.

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Christian Devotional - He likes to be devious...

2010-04-27T08:21:00.001-07:00

Satanic Rip-Off
by Charles R. Swindoll

1 Peter 5:8-9

A basketball fan at the Portland airport awaited the arrival of the Trailblazers following a victory over the Lakers and attempted to scalp a couple of tickets to the next game. As the shyster wormed through the crowd, he located a well-dressed man who listened to his offer.

"How much?" asked the gentleman.

"One hundred fifty bucks," the scalper replied under his breath.

"Do you realize you're talking to a plainclothes officer of the law?" the man asked. "I'm going to turn you in, fella."

Suddenly the seller began to backpedal. He talked about how large a family he had . . . how much they needed him . . . how he'd never do it again.

"Just hand over the tickets and we'll call it even," said the well-dressed man. "And I'd better never catch you here again!"

But the worst was yet to come. The man was no officer at all. Just a quick-thinking guy who used a little ingenuity to rip off two choice seats to the next playoff game (as he anonymously admitted in the local newspaper several days later).

Satan's strategy is just as ingenious and effective. For example, he hears what we hear from the pulpit on Sunday morning, and in the process he plans his approach. He baits the rip-off trap, then sets it up with just the right hair trigger:

An argument in the car after church over where to go for dinner.
Preoccupation with some worrisome problem during the message.
A personality conflict with another church member.

Silently Satan prowls around, camouflaged in the garb of our physical habits and our mental laziness, seeking to devour. Then, at the precise moment when it will have its greatest impact, he snatches away the very truth we need the most.

Remember that next Sunday morning. Prepare your heart and mind before the service, girding yourself with the armor of God.

Don't let Satan rip you off.

In case you question the effectiveness of Satan's strategy, think back just two or three weeks. Maybe even one will do. Do you remember the sermon title? How about the outline? Do you recall a couple of applicable principles? You see, his plan is working brilliantly.

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

God's Armor

2010-04-22T08:08:00.001-07:00

Ephesians 6:10-12 (New Living Translation)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we^a]">[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Christian Devotional - A Time to Suffer

2010-04-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

A Time to Suffer

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READ | James 1:1-4

James 1:1-4 (New Living Translation)

Greetings from James

¹ This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.

Greetings!

Faith and Endurance

² Dear brothers and sisters,^a]">[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Footnotes:

James 1:2 Greek brothers; also in 1:16, 19.

Yesterday’s devotion noted that Joseph suffered 13 years before he was pulled from adversity. God could have fixed that mess more quickly or, better yet, prevented Joseph from enduring it at all. But can you imagine a 17-year-old boy skipping into Egypt and sitting down at Pharaoh’s right hand? Certainly the Lord’s power could make such an unlikely event happen. But would a slightly arrogant, ignorant Hebrew teenager make a good leader? Not until God made him into one.

Our suffering lasts only as long as necessary for God to accomplish His purpose. He is interested in equipping servants and molding followers rather than in providing carefree lives. Yet the Father deeply loves His children—that’s why He shares in their hurts and limits the hardship so it doesn’t extend one moment beyond its usefulness.

Adversity is God’s sharpest and strongest tool for re-forming believers to Christ’s image, but He will not force change. The Lord molds His children in proportion to their willingness to be shaped for divinely appointed work. We can refuse to submit to His craftsmanship, but rebellion only prolongs the pain. The wise approach is to say, “God, I do not understand why You have allowed this hardship, but I am willing to follow You through it.”

The faithful child of God emerges from trials prepared and equipped to serve God. This is the believer who values obedience and prioritizes prayer and Bible study long before adversity comes. When the going gets tough, he knows that the Holy Spirit’s power is sufficient to carry him through.

Visually Insightful ?: The NEW (?!) Efficiency??

2010-04-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

Visually Insightful ?: The NEW (?!) Efficiency??

The NEW (?!) Efficiency??

2010-04-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

This was the header on a pad of paper that I received from a recent Windows 7 promo event.

I'm sure that Windows 7 is leaps and bounds above the previous versions (especially vista)...but this marketing campaign for the launch of Win7 missed the mark & shows how Microsoft again is still catching up...even on marketing.

Notice the CFL bulb as the center point of 'New' Efficiency?

I think Microsoft needs to research the model technology that they are using as an analogy...as the CFL is about 5-10 years outdated & has been shown to be more harmful than good (with the cost to manufacture & the damaging mercury far offsetting any operational benefit) to the environment.

..again, MS misses the mark by 5-10 years...still playing catch up to the superior OS complex...

...at least they didn't use an incandescent lightbulb or candle...

Christian Devotional - Be Humble

2010-04-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Today's Christian Devotional hit home...I pray that everyone who calls themselves a Christian, remember this passage & live it as true:

Philippians 2:3-11 (New Living Translation)

³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

⁶ Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Christian Daily Devotional - Relax

2010-04-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

Be real and be relaxed with God
by Rick Warren

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

"Take a deep breath and try to forget anyone or anything that's around you and just focus in on God for a minute."

Hurry is the death of prayer. If you rush through all your prayers, it will kill your prayer life.

I have a habit in my prayer life, before I pray any prayer -- it is almost spontaneous -- that I take a deep breath. I just relax, settle down, and let go of any tension. Then, I'm ready to talk God.

So, when you pray - relax. Take a deep breath and try to forget anyone or anything that's around you and just focus in on God for a minute.

Calm yourself down and get still: "Be still, and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10, NLT)

Jesus sat in Martha's house, but she was so busy, she couldn't stop to talk to him and enjoy his company. Jesus said, "Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her." Mary chose to relax at the feet of Jesus, listening to him while "Martha was distracted ...." (Luke 10:40, NIV)

Be real and relaxed, "go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6, TEV)

Putting Amazing back into Grace - Central Christian Church Las Vegas, NV

2010-04-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Jud Wilhite
AMAZING GRACE - Part 2: Putting Amazing Back into Grace

Ephesians 2:1, 2:4-5 (New Living Translation): Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

1. Admit my need for grace

Ephesians 2:8 (New Living Translation): God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

2. Receive the gift of grace

Ephesians 2:9 (New Living Translation): Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

3. Share God’s grace

Romans 5:20 (New International Version): But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.

TIGER

2010-04-08T09:10:00.001-07:00

TIGER’S DAD ASKS HIM A QUESTION

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OWN IT. AMEND IT. REINVENT IT.

2010-04-07T13:03:00.001-07:00

OWN IT. AMEND IT. REINVENT IT.

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from POTSC Junkyard today...

2010-04-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

If one thing I pulled from today's Junkyard session...(looking forward to next week)

JK Rowling: “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

http://bit.ly/oFIT

People of the Second Chance gives voice to a scandalous movement of radical grace in life and leadership. We challenge the common misconceptions about failure and success and stand with those who have hit rock bottom in their personal and professional lives. We are a community that is committed to stretch ourselves in the areas of relational forgiveness, personal transparency, and advocate for mercy over judgment.

http://www.mediasocial.tv/potsc
Next Week Tuesday, 9am Pacific Time

Doxology

2010-04-03T09:13:00.001-07:00

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Love will hold us Together...Matt Maher

2010-04-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

It don't have a job
Don't pay your bills
Won't buy you a home
In Beverly Hills

Won't fix your life
And find easy steps
Ain't the low or the limp
Or the government

But it's all you need..

Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm

And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone

It's waiting for you
Knockin' at your door!
Every moment of truth
When your heart hits the floor

When you're on your knees then...

Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm

And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone

This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright

This is the first, day of the rest of your life
This is the first, day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, s'gonna be alright

Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm

And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone

Crossroads

2010-03-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

At a crossroads it's difficult to focus on what to put faith in -

Much is shoved in my face: news, money, employment promises, job prospects, economic forecasts. governmental entitlements...and all fade just as fast as the sun sets in the evening, with promise to come again, new the next day...but all seem to fail in one form or another...

I need to keep my focus and faith on the one true thing that never will fail me - God's promise that he has a way for me...I need to keep my faith in His truth - and through that truth - he will provide.

All those other earthly things, hold false promise. Only HIS promise is true.

Basically, i need to move from fear to faith...

Generosity - Seth Godin

2010-03-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Generosity

by What Matters Now at 6:00 AM

When the economy tanks, it’s natural to think of yourself first. You have a family to feed a mortgage to pay. Getting more appears to be the order of business.

It turns out that the connected economy doesn’t respect this natural instinct. Instead, we’re rewarded for being generous. Generous with our time and money but most important generous with our art.

If you make a difference, people will gravitate to you. They want to engage, to interact and to get you more involved.

In a digital world, the gift I give you almost always benefits me more than it costs.

If you make a difference, you also make a connection. You interact with people who want to be interacted with and you make changes that people respect and yearn for.

Art can’t happen without someone who seeks to make a difference. This is your art, it’s what you do. You touch people or projects and change them for the better.

This year, you’ll certainly find that the more you give the more you get.

Seth Godin is a blogger and speaker. His new book Linchpin comes out in January.

As a Christian - This is what it should be all about...

2010-03-29T08:11:00.001-07:00

The Heart of the Cross

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READ | 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Consider how illogical Jesus’ crucifixion looked to first-century observers. The Romans, who were concerned with power, probably wondered how a mighty God could allow enemies to kill Him. The Greeks valued wisdom and no doubt thought, There must surely have been a better way than the cross! And the Jews, who longed for victory over oppressors, probably felt bewildered to see Jesus humbly let Himself be brutally killed.

Yet, what seemed foolish was actually a brilliant plan. Through the cross, the Lord powerfully revealed His character. First, we see His unconditional love in dying for those who sinned against Him (John 3:16). Second, His righteousness is apparent—only the perfect sacrifice of His own blood could satisfy the penalty for sin. Third, He shows His faithfulness by redeeming us at so great a cost. And fourth, Jesus demonstrates power by conquering sin and death.

In addition to all this, the cross exposed and disarmed Satan (Col. 2:15), who no longer has authority over Christians. Though he can tempt and try followers of Christ, the Holy Spirit is there to strengthen and guide believers to victory.

One last benefit of God’s remarkable plan is that we are eternally secure because of the price Jesus paid. That gives us hope and confidence about our future.

Though the cross seems absurd to those who don’t understand, God’s children know it is the Father’s wise design. We have assurance for today and security for tomorrow only because of this amazing event that occurred over 2000 years ago. We have no need to fear, but every reason to hope.

Colossians 2 (New Living Translation)

Colossians 2

¹ I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ² I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. ³ In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

⁴ I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. ⁵ For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

Freedom from Rules and New Life in Christ

⁶ And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷ Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

⁸ Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers^a]">[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. ⁹ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.^b]">[b] ¹⁰ So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

¹¹ When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.^c]">[c] ¹² For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

¹³ You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. ¹⁴ He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ In this way, he disarmed^d]">[d] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

¹⁶ So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. ¹⁷ For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. ¹⁸ Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels,^e]">[e] saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, ¹⁹ and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

²⁰ You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ²¹ “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? ²² Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. ²³ These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Christian Devotional - God's Grace

2010-03-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

A God of Grace

READ | James 1:17-18

The Lord’s character is often distorted by the world. To unbelieving eyes, God can appear as a harsh ruler who is quick to condemn any disobedience. Somehow that false view has infected our churches as well. There are believers who approach the Lord as if He were a stingy old man doling out shreds of love, grace, and forgiveness. But spiritual poverty is not the Father’s plan for His children!

At salvation, we received every good gift that God intends to give us: forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, a place in His family, and much more. There is a misguided notion among some believers that the Lord’s grace to us increases as our faith matures. If that were accurate, we would be earning His blessing though works. The truth is that spiritual growth broadens our capacity to recognize and enjoy His grace in our lives.

Sadly, plenty of people feel unworthy to enjoy the Lord’s blessings. Thankfully, we do not have to merit His goodness, because none of us would be able to do so. In fact, Ephesians 2:8-9 underscores the fact that God operates on the basis of His grace rather than our works. Think of how big, wide, and deep His love is—He adores, blesses, and showers us with grace because He wants to and not because we earn it.

Our heavenly Father is not stingy. He opens His hand wide to pour out grace upon us. Instead of sampling meager bites of His Word and His presence on Sunday, we ought to devour whole “meals” every day. Follow the psalmist’s advice to “taste and see that the LORD is good” (v. 34:8).

Christian Devotional - Trust

2010-03-19T09:07:00.001-07:00

A God We Can Trust

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READ | Psalm 37:1-9

Throughout Scripture, we are admonished to trust in the Lord. When times are good, this doesn’t seem like a difficult task. However, when trials arise, it is much more difficult to rely fully upon Him.

Yet it is always important for us to place our trust in the living God, especially when everything around us seems to be falling apart. That may well have been the situation that inspired the writing of Psalm 37.

Notice that in today’s passage, the psalmist mentions several times that we should not fret (vv. 1, 7, 8). Distress over a situation is the opposite of trust, and fretting has ill effects. For one thing, it can take a toll on physical and emotional wellbeing. Another problem is that feeding worry can lead to evildoing: by attempting to manage the situation quickly in our human way, we may miss God’s best solution. A third consequence is that others may not enjoy our company, so we could lose our effective witness for the kingdom.

What, then, is the antidote for worry and stress during a difficult time? Absolute trust in Christ. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” This means we are to lay all our burdens at His feet, believing that He is good, loving, and in control.

When trials arise, do you run toward the Lord? Or do you try to handle things yourself? He who created you can handle any difficulty and pain, even when it seems overwhelming. What He desires is your surrender and trust. It is in His arms that you will find rest for your soul.

Central Christian Church - Notes from today's service

2010-03-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

3-14-10

Central Christian Church, Las Vegas NV
Guest Speaker - Grant Fishbook

Who or what, gets the best of you? (Who do you serve?)
-your energy?
-your successes?
-your failures?
-your love?
-your resources?

Ephesians 5

Living in the Light
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Living by the Spirit’s Power

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is Love?

Are you living a life of Love?

We all can try, but it always will take work. Put others before ourselves.
...living out of our comfort zone, living a life of sacrifice, being wholly devoted to God. Living a life of Godly Risk. Love as Jesus loved, Love as God loves. Commit as Servants for Life. Do something. Make it happen.

It is your choice to follow.

If you have accepted Christ as your Leader...then God has Set You Free!

If you run from Christ, God will still follow you, for the time when you choose (in freedom) to follow Him.

1 Corinthians 13
Love Is the Greatest

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.

11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.[c] All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

1 John 4:7-21
Loving One Another

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

Christian Devotional - HOPE

2010-03-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

A Living Hope

READ | 1 Peter 1:3-9

Hope is both a strong belief and the anticipation that something good is going to happen. When our goals are not achieved, we may experience discouragement, which over time can turn into depression and even despair—the absence of hope.

How can we remain optimistic in the face of unmet expectations? First, we’re to remember the reason for our confidence: our relationship with Jesus. At salvation, we were born into a living hope (v. 3)—God made us a “new creation,” and we are no longer in bondage to the old sin nature (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV). His Spirit lives within us. We have been made co-heirs with Christ, and our true home is in heaven with Him. Nothing can alter our familial connection with the Lord.

Second, to maintain a positive outlook, we must spend daily time in the Scriptures. Romans 15:4 says that the Bible was written to give us encouragement and hope. The Psalms can be especially helpful in difficult times because they express the feelings we have and also tell us about the comfort available from God.

Third, we rely on the Lord’s faithfulness. Trusting in Him will never disappoint us because all of His promises are yes in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20).

Believers should not react to trials as the world does. We’re to live by faith—“being sure of what we hope for ” (Heb. 11:1 NIV). When circumstances overwhelm you, shift your focus to the Lord. Read the Scriptures to find encouragement, and be reminded of what is yours in Christ (Eph. 1:3-8).

Principle 3 Daily Prayer (CR)

2010-03-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

Dear God,

I have tried to do it all by myself, on my own power, and I have failed.

Today, I want to turn my life over to You. I ask You to be my Lord and Savior. You are the One and only Higher Power!

I ask that You help me start to think less about me and my will. I want to daily turn my will over to You, to daily seek Your direction and wisdom for my life.

Please continue to help me overcome my hurts, hang-ups, and habots and may that victory over them help others as they see Your power at work in changing my life.

Help me to do Your will, always.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Christian Devotional - Don't just believe - Belong!

2010-03-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Monday, March 08, 2010

Don't just believe. Belong!
by Rick Warren

God's family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15b (GW)

"None of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves."

You are called to belong, not just believe.

Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." (Genesis 2:18 NIV)

We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God's purposes by ourselves. The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits isolated from other believers and deprived of fellowship.

The Bible says we are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, and held together and will be caught up together. (1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:21, 22; 3:6; 4:16; Colossians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)

You're not on your own anymore!

While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. In God's family you are connected to every other believer, and we will belong to each other for eternity. The Bible says, "In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:5 NIV)

Following Christ includes belonging, not just believing. We are members of his Body—the church. C. S. Lewis noted that the word membership is of Christian origin, but the world has emptied it of its original meaning. Stores offer discounts to "members," and advertisers use member names to create mailing lists. In churches, membership is often reduced to simply adding your name to a roll, with no requirements or expectations.

To Paul, being a "member" of the church meant being a vital organ of a living body, an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ. We need to recover and practice the biblical meaning of membership. The church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization. (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:15; 12:12-27)

God's purposes for his church are identical to his five purposes for you. Worship helps you focus on God; fellowship helps you face life's problems; discipleship helps fortify your faith; ministry helps find your talents; power helps fulfill your mission. There is nothing else on earth like the church!

Notes from Today's service....

2010-03-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

Part 6: Hijacked by Greed

Greed is a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money or possessions) than is needed.

Often times, we recognize greed in others, but miss in ourselves. It is pure selfishness. We need to recognize it in ourselves beforeand strive to change it to Generosity.

Tim Keller: Over all the years of his ministry, people discuss their issues every day, but never, in his 30 years of ministry has anyone ever come to him to discuss their problems with greed.

Matthew 6:1-4 (New Living Translation):
Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

1. Check your motives.

-Why are you doing the things you do?

-Your motives matter - are they self serving, or God serving?

-Don’t be a religious show-off, do it for God, not for pride. Serve God, not pride.

-Do it in secret. Be quiet about it, because God knows of what you do.

IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT OTHERS THINK. Your relationship with God is the most personal, most personal relationship you should have. And don’t look down on those that don’t give - because you don’t know what their relationship with God is.

Church is not the place for status, or the place for Judgement - we’re all equals before God. We are to believe that we are all his children, and we all equally matter to him - no matter what our gender, color, race, sexual orientation, profession, wealth, etc..

In church we are all equals. No one person is better than any other. Give, serve, participate as you can, FOR GOD.

Generosity helps us to combat greed.

2. Check your treasures.

-What or Who do we serve?

-What do we hold closest, most dear & most important in our life? Worry, money, possessions?

We should treasure our love for God, Jesus, our Family and friends? And be generous with what we have.

Matthew 6:20-21 (New Living Translation):
Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

-Money is a tool - it is fluid. It comes and it goes. And, life goes on without it.

-Possessions are material, superficial and cannot be brought with us to Heaven when we die.

-Worry cloud reality. It clouds what is true. It clouds us from serving God to our fullest.

Money, Possessions and Worry - they truly don’t matter. Generosity and love do. Generosity and love, they leave a legacy. Bless others as you have been blessed. PUT GOD FIRST. Serve God, and God will provide.

Trust God, put Him first. And everything will eventually fall into place.

Malachi 3:10 (New Living Translation):
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Looking for a church? Check out Central Christian Church. Not in Vegas? Attend online!

Christian Devotional - Trusting God When I Don't Understand

2010-03-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Trusting God when I don't understand
by Rick Warren

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

When the children of Israel were finally set free from Egypt after 400 years of slavery, they started marching out to freedom and the first thing they came to was the Red Sea. There were impassable mountain ranges on two sides of them, the sea in front of them.

Behind them, in hot pursuit, was the Egyptian army because the Pharaoh had changed his mind about letting them go. The path before the Israelites looked like a dead end.

But God knew exactly what He wanted to do. He had not made a mistake. He could see what they could not see. He opened the Red Sea and they walked through to safety. Years later, the Israelites looked back and sang, "Your road led by a pathway through the sea—a pathway no one knew was there!" (Psalm 77:19 LB).

You may be facing a dead end right now—financial, emotional, relational—but God can see a path that you don't know about. If you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don't see a way, He will make a way.

It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day" (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You'll see God's purpose behind the path He specifically chose for you.

What do I do in the meantime? You do what Proverbs 3 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." What does He mean "don't lean on your own understanding"? You don't need to try to figure it out. In truth, you're not going to understand most of the things that happen in your life until you get to heaven.

Be patient. God knows what He's doing. God knows what's best for you. He can see the end result. You can't. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays -- all the things that make you ask "why" -- one day it will all be clear in the light of God's love.

But for now, we're learning to trust God.

Christian Devotional - Just Ask

2010-03-05T08:23:00.000-08:00

Just ask!
by Rick Warren

"If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him . . . but if you don't ask in faith, don't expect the Lord to give you any solid answer." James 1:5-6 (LB)

"Have you ever asked God for something and didn't expect to get it? That's why you didn't get it."

The Bible says when we ask God for guidance, we need to believe he will give us that guidance.

Jesus said, "Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door will be opened" (Luke 11:9 NIV). Ask, seek, knock—ASK. God wants you to learn to ask.

God is willing to give wisdom: "If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; but . . . if you don't ask in faith, don't expect the Lord to give you any solid answer" (James 1: 5-6 LB).

God wants to direct you in life, but two things need to line up: You have to ask the right person—God, and you have to ask with the right attitude—in faith, expecting an answer.

Have you ever asked God for something and didn't expect to get it? That's why you didn't get it. God works in our lives according to faith. So many times we say, "God, please guide me!" and we walk away not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work. We say, "God, I want you to give me wisdom, help me make the right decision." But we don't really expect Him to do that. We think it all depends on us.

God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God's point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions.

Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if we trust Him and listen to Him, He will guide us. But we must ask in faith.

Christian Devotional - You can't decide without a guide

2010-03-04T10:40:00.001-08:00

Thursday, March 04, 2010

You can't decide without a guide
by Rick Warren

"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." Psalm 25:9 (NIV)

The Bible says there are several things we need to do to receive guidance from God, but the very first thing is this:

I need to admit I need a guide!

Sheep, by nature, tend to wander off the path. The Prophet Isaiah says, "All of us like sheep have strayed away! We have left God's paths to follow our own." (Isaiah 53:6 NLT)

This is why we often don't know God's will. The truth is most of the time we don't want to follow God or anybody else. We want to go our own way. We don't want to admit we need direction or that we need a guide.

Another thing about sheep is that they have poor vision. They can't see very far ahead. That's why, on a path, they don't know if it is heading toward a cliff, and that's why they need a shepherd. We can't see the future. We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, much less next year or ten years from now. We don't even know what's going to happen this afternoon.

God made you so that you would not be able to see into the future no matter how much you try. Even with all the gimmicks to predict the future, you don't really know what's going to happen. Why did God do this? He did it so you would depend on Him.

Because we can't see into the future, we often stumble. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" (NIV). We've all made decisions that at the time seemed right but later on turned out to be wrong. Some paths lead to dead ends and we end up off track. That's why we need to admit, "God, I need help."

Christian Devotional - Why God Closes Doors

2010-02-25T08:51:00.000-08:00

Why God Closes Doors

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READ | Jeremiah 10:23-24

A blockaded opportunity is a useful teaching tool. God’s ultimate objective is to mold us into the image of His Son, and toward that end, He at times prevents us from doing or having something we desire.

Closed doors prevent mistakes. Just because a path is clear does not mean it is the one God intends for us to follow. Sometimes we won’t have the information we need to make a wise decision, so He bars the way either spiritually or physically. The Holy Spirit can see the whole road map for our lives, which is why we are to follow His guidance.
Closed doors redirect our walk. Rest assured, God never leaves a willing servant with nothing to do. The alternate opportunity He has in mind will yield bigger fruit, more satisfaction, and greater glory for Him.
Closed doors test faith and build perseverance. Waiting for the Lord to speak or act is hard, particularly when our desire has been denied. But we’ll learn wisdom, patience, and trust by pausing prayerfully until He reveals His will.
Closed doors buy us time. We are not always as prepared as we’d like to think. God may temporarily hold shut an opportunity for service until a believer is properly equipped for kingdom work.

In spite of the repeated use of “closed door” in this devotion, the real message is that God opens doors. He has created a perfect pathway for us to follow. Keep your feet on it, and you will walk over thresholds leading to service, satisfaction, and glory for your Lord.

Christian Devotional - Confronting Closed Doors

2010-02-24T07:06:00.001-08:00

Confronting Closed Doors

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READ | Acts 16:5-10

Facing a “closed door” can be extremely frustrating. The apostle Paul knew exactly how that felt. On his second missionary journey to share the gospel in Asia, he repeatedly found the way blocked by the Holy Spirit. Eventually the apostle was stuck in Troas with the sea before him and closed doors behind.

How strange it must have seemed to Paul that God would prevent him from spreading the gospel. But he knew this wisdom from the book of Proverbs: The Lord will make a straight path for anyone who chooses to trust God rather than himself (vv. 3:5-6). Instead of getting angry or trying to force his way into new territory, Paul got on his knees.

The Bible does not record how long he and Timothy lingered in Troas, but we can be sure that the apostle did not move until the Lord revealed the entrance to a new mission field. Christians in a period of watchful waiting should view the situation as a chance to seek not only God’s purpose but also His guidance. This is the time to ask the Lord why He has barred the way forward—perhaps the timing is wrong or we need to deal with unconfessed sin. Whatever the reason, we must be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. We want to be ready for the door that will open.

When an opportunity is blocked, God has a reason. And He is providing love and protection, even in your disappointment. The Lord is also keeping His promise to work everything for your good (Rom. 8:28). When one door has closed, a greater one is about to open. Be wise and watch for it.

Christian Devotional - The Holy Spirit

2010-02-22T08:09:00.000-08:00

The Holy Spirit: Giver of Gifts

READ | Romans 12:1-13

Do you feel ill equipped to serve the Lord? A sense of inadequacy is one of the many excuses people use to avoid ministering for Him, but it is not a valid one. Failing to follow His call has three consequences: 1) we hinder God’s work on earth, 2) we miss a blessing for obedience, and 3) we lose out on rewards in heaven.

Jesus Christ knew all about the human tendency to feel inadequate. That is why He assured His followers they would receive a Helper—the Holy Spirit—who would come to abide in them forever. The Spirit enables, energizes, and equips believers to serve the Lord. One of the ways He aids us is by providing spiritual gifts, which are special capabilities given to believers.

Our heavenly Father has a ministry in mind for each of His followers. Therefore, necessary spiritual “equipment” has been selected to help us carry out His work. These gifts will complement and augment the natural talents our Creator built into us before birth. It is His purpose that we combine the two in order to serve Him with all of our heart. Even the smallest job contributes to the Great Commission and the strengthening of Jesus Christ’s body, the church.

The Lord has a plan for every believer. To ensure that we can meet the Lord’s expectations, He first builds natural talents into us. At salvation, He adds a spiritual gift. Then God opens doors of opportunity and the Holy Spirit manifests His power so that we can carry out the work set before us.

Relax and Recharge Completely -- Brian Tracy

2010-02-19T08:23:00.000-08:00

February 19, 2010

Relax and Recharge Completely
By: Brian Tracy

Regular relaxation is essential for a long life and personal effectiveness. Here are some techniques for relaxing physically that are used by the most successful and highest paid people in America.

Take Time Off Every Week
First of all, work only five or six days per week, and rest completely on the seventh day. Every single study in this area shows that you will be far more productive in the five or six days that you work if you take one or two days off completely than you ever would be if you worked straight through for seven days.

Get Your Mind Busy Elsewhere
During this time off, do not catch up on reports, organize your desk, prepare proposals, or do anything else that requires mental effort. Simply let your mind relax completely, and get busy doing things with your family and friends. Maybe work around the house, go for a walk, engage in physical exercise, watch television, go to a movie, or play with your children. Whatever you do, discipline yourself to shut your mental gears off completely for at least one 24-hour period every seven days.

Get Away on Mini-Vacations
Second, take one three-day vacation every three months, and during that time, refrain from doing any work. Do not attempt to catch up on even a few small things. If you do, you keep your mental gears in motion, and you end up neither resting nor properly doing work of any quality.

Take Big Chunks of Down Time
Third, take at least two full weeks off each year during which you do nothing that is work-related. You can either work or relax; you cannot do both. If you attempt to do a little work while you are on vacation, you never give your mental and emotional batteries a chance to recharge. You'll come back from your vacation just as tired as you were when you left.

Give Yourself a Break Today
If you are involved in a difficult relationship, or situation at work that is emotionally draining, discipline yourself to take a complete break from it at least one day per week. Put the concern out of your mind. Refuse to think about it. Don't continually discuss it, make telephone calls about it or mull it over in your mind. You cannot perform at your best mentally if you are emotionally preoccupied with a person or situation. You have to give yourself a break.

Go For a Walk in Nature
Since a change is as good as a rest, going for a nice long walk is a wonderful way to relax emotionally and mentally. As you put your physical body into motion, your thoughts and feelings seem to relax all by themselves.

Eat Lighter Foods
Also, remember that the process of digestion consumes an enormous amount of physical energy. Therefore, if you eat lighter foods, you will feel better and more refreshed afterward. If you eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products, your digestive system will require far less energy to process them.

Be Good to Yourself
Since your diet has such an impact on your level of physical energy, and through it your levels of mental and emotional energy, the more fastidious you are about what you put into your mouth, the better you will feel and the more productive you will be. We know now that foods high in fat, sugar, or salt are not good for your body. The lighter the foods you eat, the more energy you have.

Action Exercises
Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action:

First, plan your weeks in advance and build in at least one day when you will relax from work completely. Discipline yourself to keep this date.
Second, reserve, book and pay for your three day vacations several months in advance. Once you've paid the money, you are much more likely to go rather than put it off.
Third, decide that you will not work at all during your vacations. When you work, work. And when you rest, rest 100% of the time. This is very important.

How is your Vision in Leadership?

2010-02-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

HOW'S YOUR VISION?

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
Proverbs 29:18

Robert Fritz wrote, “It is not what a vision is; it’s what a vision does.” What does a vision do? Vision is the ability to see. Helen Keller was asked, “Is there anything worse than being blind?” “Yes,” she replied, “having eyesight but no vision!”

Leaders imagine a preferred future. Vision is the stuff of the future. Vision is the vivid image of the compelling future God wants to create through you. Leaders can stand up and say this is where we are going.

Mike Vance tells of being at Walt Disney World soon after its completion when someone said, “It’s too bad Walt Disney didn’t live to see this.” Vance replied, “He DID see it—that’s why it’s here.”

What kind of vision do you have?

Myopic vision. Leaders with myopic vision are so terribly nearsighted that they live only for today. Their vision of the future is fuzzy. They can barely see beyond their noses.

Peripheral vision. Leaders with peripheral vision are blindsided by side issues. These visionaries are hampered in moving forward because they catch the threatening images of lurking problems in the corners of their eyes. They are fearful of shadowy difficulties and people lurking on the sidelines who will defeat their efforts. These folks are easily distracted.

Tunnel vision. Leaders with tunnel vision see only what’s dead ahead of them and assume that their slender view of reality reflects the whole world. They don’t see other persons or other issues.

Panoramic vision. Leaders with panoramic vision see the big picture. They see beyond today. They see what is ahead of them. They see what is to their sides. They have a basic understanding of the key ingredients of a healthy organization and know the steps that it will take to get them there.

Vision is perhaps the greatest need of leadership today. As someone said regarding the church but it pertains to any organization, “Our preachers aren’t dreaming. That’s why the church is such a nightmare.”

How’s your vision? Without it your organization will be like an unbridled horse. With it the organization will be focused, moving toward the fulfillment of the dream.

7 Ways to Become a Better Designer (Repost)

2010-02-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

7 Ways To Become A Better Designer

On 02.16.10, In Info, by Kvn

In this article you’ll find seven tips and tricks that can help you to become a better designer. These tips are meant to increase your creativity and your efficiency. But it doesn’t stop here. I’m sure you have some tips yourself that you can share with the rest of us.

1) Learn the basics

When you don’t know how to use the basic tools of photoshop, you’re severely limited in your workflow. A good understanding of these tools is essential to creating beautiful designs. Fortunately, you’ll find plenty of websites/blogs that explain every photoshop tool there is. If you’re new to photoshop, you should take a look at this article.

2) Follow some tutorials

Tutorials can be a great source of inspiration. Not only do they give you insight into the work flow of other designers, but they you can also learn some new techniques out of them. You’ll learn how the author achieved a certain effect or how they tackled a problem. The internet is filled with quality tutorials for photoshop, illustrator, flash… Some of the best sites for tutorials are PSDtuts, Tutorial9 and PSDfan.

3) Collect some resources

The third tip is actually twofold. First of all, you should collect useful design resources such as brushes, textures, fonts and patterns. The internet is packed with quality freebies. Sometimes you’ll have to invest some money in these assets, but it will probably be worth it in the long run.

By collecting resources I also mean collecting inspiration. Save inspiration from other artist by either bookmarking it (delicious, stumble…) or by saving it on your computer. A little bit of inspiration is often enough to jump-start your know creation.

4) Experiment

Try to do you own thing. Don’t try to copy other artists’ work but create something original. I know this is actually much harder than it sounds. Challenge yourself by thinking outside the box. Do some personal projects where you are free to do whatever you want.

5) Feedback

Don’t hide your designs from the world, but share them. Criticism is often one of the best motivators to becoming a better designer. This means that you have to find a way to share your artwork with the general public. You could create your own portfolio, or you could post your designs on Flickr, DeviantART or Behance. By listening to the feedback of other people you can sometimes take your design to the next level.

That’s why it’ so important to network. Get in touch with fellow designers, they can often give you great feedback and tips. Networking has never been easier, thanks to services like Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, Flickr….

6) Read some literature

Catch up with the latest trends by reading design books/magazines or design related blogs. These books and websites are filled with useful tips and tutorials. If you’re looking for a good design-related book, I suggest reading The Smashing Book. And to forget to read this article if you’re more interested in logo design books.

But if you prefer to read some design related blogs you should check out Six Revisions, Hongkiat, Noupe and Webdesigner Depot. There are a lot more quality blogs out there but it would take me ages to post them all here.

7) Organize

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have an organized work environment. Too much stuff on your desk will act as a distraction. And don’t forget to organize the files on your PC/Mac. We talked about collecting resources in one of our first tips, but they won’t do you any good if you can’t find them. Organize them in different folders so they can be accessed quickly. For example: you could sub-divide your fonts by type (serif, sans-serif, grunge, handwritten…

Christian Devotional

2010-02-16T10:15:00.001-08:00

The Truth About the Trinity

READ | John 14:26-27

The word “Trinity” cannot be found in the Bible, but the truth of it can. While there’s only one God, the Godhead consists of three distinct persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are equally omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal, and unchanging, but each one has unique functions.

Scripture shows how each member of the Trinity fulfills His specific role, and it also reveals how those three roles interrelate. Let me express this idea in simple terms: The Father creates a plan, Jesus Christ implements the plan, and the Holy Spirit administers the plan.

The way of redemption showcases these roles in a clear manner. The Father designed and organized how mankind would be redeemed (Gal. 4:4-5). He set into motion a complex set of events, actions, and prophecies which culminated in the life and death of a Savior. The Son carried out the plan (John 6:37-38). He followed the Father’s instructions to come to earth, even though that meant He would have to die. The Holy Spirit sees to it that every person feels a call toward God’s saving grace (John 14:26; 16:8; Romans 1:19-20). Furthermore, He transforms the lives and hearts of those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Father, Son, and Spirit are equal in their divine attributes. Yet each relates to mankind in a different way because He has a specific role. It’s very important to understand this distinction: We do not have three gods; we have one God in three persons functioning uniquely and perfectly.

BRAVE (lyrics) - Nichole Nordeman

2010-02-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

Brave
--Nichole Nordeman

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

Surf Art...

2010-02-14T14:37:00.001-08:00

Mermen Album...

2010-02-13T09:20:00.001-08:00

New Mermen Album...check it out!

The Mermen - In God We Trust

New...for the iPad...

2010-02-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

Song Lyrics that Hit Me...

2010-02-09T19:52:00.001-08:00

"Ocean Floor"
by Audio Adrenaline

Album: Lift

The mistakes I've made
That caused pain
I could have done without
All my selfish thoughts
All my pride
The things I hide
You have forgot about

They're all behind you
They'll never find you
They're on the ocean floor
Your sins are forgotten
They're on the bottom
Of the ocean floor

My misdeeds
All my greed
All the things that haunt me now
They're not a pretty sight to see
But they're wiped away
By a mighty wave
A mighty wave, mighty wave

They're all behind you
They'll never find you
They're on the ocean floor
Your sins are forgotten
They're on the bottom
Of the ocean floor

Take them away
To return no more
Take them away
To the ocean floor

Christian Devotional - When the Odds are Against You...

2010-02-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

When the Odds Are Against You

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READ | Judges 7:1-8

The story of Gideon offers scriptural guidance for times when the odds are overwhelming and defeat seems imminent. No matter what your challenges are, the Lord is able to demonstrate His awesome power and deliver you.

God uses difficulty to build faith. Gideon was willing to believe God and go up against an army four times larger than his own. Trusting the Lord is a process which must be learned through experience. At times God takes the people He uses and places them in impossible situations—in that way, they discover that He is faithful. We may prefer to acquire faith by reading a book, but the Lord knows that the best classroom is a place of utter helplessness.

God may require us to do what seems unreasonable. The Israelites were already outnumbered, but the Lord instructed Gideon to reduce the army to a mere 300 men. That made the odds 450 to one! Although God’s ways may seem illogical to us, His wisdom and power are far greater than ours, and His plan can be trusted.

God leads us to do that which brings Him glory. The army was now so small that its men could in no way take credit for the victory. The Lord delights in demonstrating His awesome power and glory through our weakness and inadequacy.

Consider life’s challenges as opportunities for the Lord to build your faith and prepare you for ministry. He uses those who are willing to obey Him even when the task seems illogical or impossible. And He takes pleasure in showing His faithfulness to those who trust in Him regardless of the situation.

Your Habits Define your Character (Rick Warren)

2010-02-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

Friday, February 05, 2010

Your Habits Define Your Character
by Rick Warren

Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress. 1 Timothy 4:15 (GW)

While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.

Let go of the fears that keep you from growing -- The truth will set us free but it often makes us miserable first. The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Only as God is allowed to shine the light of his truth on our faults, failures, and hang-ups can we begin to work on them. This is why you cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.

Stop basing your identity around your 'defects' -- We say, "It's just like me to be ..." and "It's just the way I am." The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habit, my hurt, or my hang-up, who will I be? This fear can definitely slow down your growth.

As I wrote yesterday, good habits take time to develop. Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits. You can't claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind you show kindness without even thinking about it. You can't claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your character.

There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them, and that takes time! There are no instant habits.

Paul urged Timothy, "Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress." (1 Timothy 4:15 GW)

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Creating Creativity - a repost

2010-02-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

How to Create Creativity

January 31st, 2010 by Martina Skender | 19 Comments | Stumble It! Delicious

‘Creative’ is the most popular adjective in the design world. Everybody wants to be a creative individual, find a creative solution, or discover a creative book. There are many synonyms for the word ‘creative’: ingenious, clever, prolific, innovative, gifted, inspired, inventive, original, stimulating. But what does this word really mean? And how can we activate our own creativity?

The Latin word creatio was originally applied solely to deeds of God. Only later, in The Renaissance Period – when man first recognized his own ability to create something new into existence – the word creativity became used for describing human accomplishments.

Creativity is a mental and social process involving the discovery of new ideas or concepts. It is the ability to make or otherwise bring into existence something new that has a value – be it a new solution to a problem, a new method or device, or a new artistic object, form or idea. Either way, the end result of creative thought is both original and useful.

A number of personality traits have been shown to be associated with creative productivity. A high degree of self-confidence is a basic need for an individual that aims to create something new, so is unconventional thought and curiosity. In order to practice creativity, one must be a master of his particular domain, while also having the autonomy to explore and the flexibility to step outside of the box.

However, having the right characteristics and even the most inspiring work conditions doesn’t guarantee a creative result. Creativity techniques are thought processes or methods used to generate divergent thinking – a form of thinking which aims to produce many different ideas in a short period of time. Creativity techniques are used to release the creativity out of our brains and put it into a practical solution. Let’s imagine them as "output techniques".

Three well-known techniques for igniting creativity:

Brainstorming

A term invented by Alex Osborn, and first used in his book "Applied Imagination"–Brainstorming works best in small groups of people, but can also be done individually.

The Brainstorming process starts off with the problem clearly stated and recognized by all participants. One person out of the group is chosen to write down all the ideas that are suggested in order to make them simultaneously visible to all others.

The Brainstormers suggest solution to the problem, starting from very obvious answers, and often going to the extreme.

Criticizing suggested solutions is not allowed. Every idea is accepted and written down.

Participants are to build on and develop each others’ ideas.

Jean-Michel Basquiat, an American artist and the first painter of African descent to become an international art star, depicted his own identity struggle using various symbols from Haitian, Puerto Rican and African American cultures in a brainstorming manner. Staring from simple elements – colors, shapes – later adding the more developed ones followed with words and lines connecting them.

Lateral Thinking

Lateral Thinking is a creative technique that encourages reasoning that is not immediately obvious, and ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic. It is about finding a solution to problems through an indirect approach.

Edward de Bono, who coined the term Lateral Thinking (acknowledged in the Oxford English Dictionary) is regarded by many as the leading authority in the field of creative thinking, innovation and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. De Bono claims that it is important to disrupt the conventional patterns adopted by the brain. In notes from definition on Lateral Thinking, De Bono states: "Lateral Thinking is used for changing concepts and perceptions instead of trying harder with the same concepts and perceptions".

To demonstrate this form of thinking, take for example a simple problem like opening a door. Now think of some new solution except the doorknob. This forces you to think about creative solutions that are close to or the extreme opposite of a doorknob. It promotes thinking outside of the box.

Albert Einstein, whose name is a synonym for genius of originality and creativity, once said: "The problems of today will not be solved by the same thinking that produced the problems in the first place". It is obvious that Einstein had used lateral thinking to go around existing paradigms. He used Lateral Thinking in coming up with his theories to explain the physics world to us.

Problem Reversal

In his book "What a Great Idea", Charles Thompson suggested that the only way to truly understand this world is to learn from positives as well as from negatives. Ying-Yang, Summer-Winter, Day-Night are just some examples of that.

Problem reversal method is based on stating the problem in reverse. Change a positive statement into a negative one. Next, try to define what something is not, change the direction or location of your perspective. This will give you the opportunity to look at your problem from radically different point of view, which might lead to completely new and unexpected practical solutions.

Rene Magritte, a famous Belgian surrealist painted this picture that shows a smoking pipe.

Below it, Magritte wrote – "Ceci n’est pas une pipe" (This is not a pipe). By explicitly stating that this is not a pipe, Magritte tricks the observer into posing a question to themselves: if it’s not a pipe, what is it actually?

Naturally, the answer comes: it is a painting. Magritte used the problem reversal technique to emphasize the real subject of his work: a painting, rather than what that painting is supposed to represent.

Conclusion

Sir Ken Robinson, a 20th century thinker in the development of innovation and human resources, claims that by the time kids became adults, most have lost their capacity to be creative; they have become frightened to be wrong – they get educated out of creativity.

Why does this happen? Is there a downside to being creative?

Encouraging creativity means encouraging departure from society’s existing norms and values. Creativity’s main goal is to question old ways and to find new and better ones, which is not always fitting to the world we live in. Conformity and creativity run in separate directions.

People working in the Creative industry know very good how big of a fight that is. However, don’t let it beat you, keep strong and keep demanding your freedom. Arrange your environments so that they encourage freethinking. Expand your mind and give it lots of input. Apply "output techniques" and let it all out.

Creativity is waiting to be awakened, enjoy it!

Sources

Image credits

About the Author

Martina Skender is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator from Croatia. She works for theater, print and web. She likes to observe, write, draw and post her drawings on her draw everything blog. You can take a took at here portfolio at mskender.info, follow her on Twitter @semiblancaand send her a note.

Christian Daily Devotional - The Cost of Our Salvation

2010-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Philippians 2:5-8

In our world of electronic banking and charge cards, it’s easy to ignore what things cost. The same is true with sin. Our culture enjoys temporary pleasures while disregarding what God says is the price of transgression (Rom. 6:23a).

The Bible tells us what it cost Jesus to pay for our sin. For our sake, He suffered . . .

Physical pain. In the hours leading to His crucifixion, Jesus was mocked, beaten, and humiliated. In His weakened state, He was forced to carry the instrument of His death—the cross. Then He was nailed to it and hoisted up to die an excruciating death.

Man’s sin. Jesus lived a perfect life on earth and never knew the disgrace of sin or the bitterness of regret. But at the cross, the Father placed all of mankind’s sins upon the Savior (2 Cor. 5:21). There, Christ experienced the fullness of our transgressions, guilt, and shame.

Abandonment. In the final hours, Jesus was separated from His Father (Mark 15:34), their fellowship broken for the only time since eternity past. Our sin became the barrier that kept them apart until Christ’s work of atonement was finished (John 19:30).

Divine judgment. God’s wrath was poured out upon our Lord because of man’s sin. Christ experienced the condemnation that we deserved.

Our Savior suffered greatly on our behalf. He gave His life so we might become part of God’s family (John 1:12). He calls us to a life of sacrificial service—doing the Father’s work and living to please Him. In light of what our salvation cost, how can we do anything less?

Artistic Quotes...

2010-01-30T08:56:00.001-08:00

DaVinci...

Einstein...

Job 12:13-25

2010-01-30T08:53:00.000-08:00

From God We Learn How to Live

^13-25 "True wisdom and real power belong to God;
from him we learn how to live,
and also what to live for.
If he tears something down, it's down for good;
if he locks people up, they're locked up for good.
If he holds back the rain, there's a drought;
if he lets it loose, there's a flood.
Strength and success belong to God;
both deceived and deceiver must answer to him.
He strips experts of their vaunted credentials,
exposes judges as witless fools.
He divests kings of their royal garments,
then ties a rag around their waists.
He strips priests of their robes,
and fires high officials from their jobs.
He forces trusted sages to keep silence,
deprives elders of their good sense and wisdom.
He dumps contempt on famous people,
disarms the strong and mighty.
He shines a spotlight into caves of darkness,
hauls deepest darkness into the noonday sun.
He makes nations rise and then fall,
builds up some and abandons others.
He robs world leaders of their reason,
and sends them off into no-man's-land.
They grope in the dark without a clue,
lurching and staggering like drunks."

These are the Words I Would Say...(Sidewalk Prophets)

2010-01-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

Three in the morning, and I’m still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing just what I’d say
If we were face to face

I’d tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord And never give up hope You’re gonna do great things I already know God’s got His hand on You So don’t live life in fear Forgive and forget But don’t forget why you’re here Take your time and pray These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke you said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
That love will find you where you are

I know

cause I’ve already been there
So please hear

these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got His hand on You
So don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

Say…

from one simple life to another
I will say…

come find peace in the Father

Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got His hand on You
So don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here...

Take your time and pray
And thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say

Spiritual Gifts

2010-01-21T08:59:00.001-08:00

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Spiritual gifts for serving God
by Rick Warren

Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (TEV).

You can't earn your spiritual gifts or deserve them -- that's why they are called gifts! They're an expression of God's grace to you: "Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us." (Ephesians 4:7, CEV)

Nor do you get to choose which gifts you'd like to have. Paul explains that God determines that, "It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have." (1 Corinthians 12:11, NLT).

Because God loves variety, and he wants us to be special, there's no one single gift given to everyone, and no individual receives all the gifts. If you had them all, you'd have no need of anyone else, and that would defeat one of God's purposes -- to teach us to depend on each other.

Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit. The Bible says, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church" (1 Corinthians 12:7, NLT). When we use our gifts together, we all benefit. If others don't use their gifts, you get cheated, but if you don't use your gifts, they get cheated. This is why God wants us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts.

Whenever we forget these basic truths about gifts, it always causes trouble in the church. Two common problems are "gift-envy" and "gift-projection."

The first occurs when we compare our gifts to others, feel dissatisfied with what God gave us, and become resentful or jealous of how God uses others.

The second problem happens when you expect everyone else to have your gifts, do what you're called to do, and feel as passionate about it as you do. The Bible says, "There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving" (1 Corinthians 12:5, NLT).

Sometimes spiritual gifts are overemphasized to the neglect of the other factors that God uses to shape you for service. So keep in mind, your gifts reveal one part of God's will for your ministry, but not all of it.

Christian Devotional

2010-01-21T08:07:00.001-08:00

Life After Death

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READ | Luke 12:16-20

The thought of dying frightens many people. But believers have no reason to fear. Jesus’ empty tomb proves that there is life after death!

Unbelievers who dread their demise have two different approaches to life. One group piles up wealth, good deeds, or worldly success in the hope of passing it on to their children or to charity. They expect to “live on” in the memories of those who benefit from their hard work. But it is the rare person who’s still remembered a few generations later. And none truly live on.

The other group chooses to laugh in the face of death. Their philosophy is “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” (1 Cor. 15:32). Their existence seems pleasurable from the outside, but can you imagine a more futile way to live? God does not intend for us to go through life with such meaninglessness.

Here’s the key to significance: fulfilling our unique, God-given, eternal purpose. In this life, we do not labor to leave a physical legacy or waste our days pursuing pleasure. Instead, we help those in need, influence our culture, and reach out to the lost. And when a believer enters the heavenly place Jesus has prepared, he or she keeps on working for Him.

For the believer, death is not a fearsome end. It is the doorway to a new life of serving the Lord in heaven. Our days on earth are just the beginning of our existence. This time will seem like only a few minutes compared to an eternity spent in His presence.

New Post from Tony...'Kettle Frogs'

2010-01-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

Kettle Frogs

Posted January 15th, 2010 by Tony

Frog in the kettle thought he was at a spa for awhile.

Wednesday is the most important message I’ll share in 2010 (I really don’t think I’m overstating this). Asking that if you plan to attend you begin praying now about your heart and how it relates to the lies of Satan in culture.

I’m sure the frog in the kettle hesitated at first. Being thrown into some cold water can’t be fun even for little amphibians. I’m guessing there came a point as the water stirred and steam rose that Mr. green started to actually enjoy his bath, reminiscent of a recent day spa trip he had with a friend.

Satan is the master of disguise and has turned up the heat on human bondage. We buy homes we can’t afford, live in a country that no longer has any intrinsic value to it’s dollar with trillions in debt, leave marriages by signing a paper, have sex with disease filled consequence, and never hear one news story about the 200,000 kids moving across state lines in sex trade.

The day spa is gone. The pot is now boiling over. We’ve never noticed. Will you stand with me for freedom?

Gotta love the optimism!? Compared w/ Haiti, we're blessed w/ sooooooo Much!

2010-01-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

Jan. 15, 2010
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

'Just not a lot going on'

Local contractors still feeling recession

By HUBBLE SMITH
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

General contractor Frank Martin keeps a Martin-Harris Construction banner hanging on the stalled Wyndham time-share project near Interstate 15 to remind everyone that he's still in business.

He's waiting for the winds of economic change, hoping they don't blow him away first.

Like most contractors in Las Vegas, Martin is scrambling for work in a deep recession that has snuffed Nevada's second-largest industry, shutting down major construction projects and mothballing design plans.

"We've had to diversify our marketplace," said Martin, who's been building in Las Vegas for more than 30 years. "We've spread out now pretty much all over the Southwest. There's work out there. You've got to know where to look. I'm not telling."

Martin-Harris is bidding on $400 million to $500 million in projects, he said. The company is working on a three-megawatt photovoltaic renewable energy plant for the city of Las Vegas.

The low-hanging fruit has been picked over and general contractors are chasing precious few public works projects and government stimulus programs.

Commercial building permits in Las Vegas have declined 60 percent to 70 percent each month from 2008, hitting a low of 15 permits in January 2009. Commercial permit valuation fell by as much as 80 percent in March to $9.86 million, the Center for Business and Economic Research reported.

Nonresidential construction starts fell 8.2 percent in December and 6.9 percent for all of 2009, according to Reed Construction Data. Building construction was down 27 percent for the month and 17 percent for the year. Starts on civil work such as highways, water and sewage and airports rose 27 percent and 16 percent, respectively.

More than 20,000 construction jobs were lost in Clark County last year, a 23.1 percent reduction in the work force, John Restrepo of Restrepo Consultant Group said.

"The toughest part is laying off my friends with family," Mike Dean of M.J. Dean Construction said. "That's the hard part. I've never seen it like this. Somebody was always doing some small stuff, so in 20 years we were able to keep our main people busy."

Three years ago, Dean had all the work he could handle with a backlog of jobs. Now they're being put on hold, he said.

M.J. Dean had a good year in 2009, thanks in large part to the $750 million Hard Rock hotel expansion project. That job is now winding down with finishing work in the pool area and a restaurant.

"Hard Rock could have pulled the plug like a lot of others have, but they didn't," Dean said.

Martin-Harris, which once had more than 500 employees, had to lay off half its office staff and 65 percent of its field staff.

"I can tell you that Las Vegas Valley, across the board, there's just not a lot going on and what is going has got the whole phone book bidding on it, as my son put it," Martin said. "We're trying to conserve resources and go after jobs we feel we've got a shot at. You can't keep staff on board to throw the dice at every single thing that comes around."

No major Strip projects are planned following the completion of CityCenter, the $8.5 billion megaresort that has carried the local construction industry for the past couple of years. Retail, office and industrial development dried up as commercial vacancies rose to 20-year highs and the housing market hit the skids.

Despite signs that the U.S. economy is starting to improve, nonresidential construction spending is expected to decrease 13.4 percent this year, with a marginal increase of 1.8 percent in 2011 in inflation-adjusted terms, the American Institute of Architects reported in its construction forecast.

The Washington, D.C.-based institute's billing index dropped three points in November, a poor indicator for projects in the pipeline.

Commercial and industrial projects will continue to see the most significant decrease, AIA chief economist Kermit Baker said. He projected declines in the 20 percent range for most building categories.

Thanks in part to federal stimulus spending, institutional building activity will fare better and should help lead the construction industry into recovery in 2011, he said.

"Recovery for nonresidential construction historically takes longer in the tail end of the cycle," Baker said. "We saw it on the front end. Construction was strong through most of the first half of 2008. I talked to folks about the downturn in billings and subcontractors looked at me like I was from Mars. I think we're seeing the flip side of that now. Las Vegas is an extreme example."

Cam Walker, director of business development for McCarthy Building, said his company is in the middle of several projects, including the $121 million Terminal 3 parking structure at McCarran International Airport, a $20 million wastewater treatment plant in Mesquite and a $20 million renovation of Valley High School.

McCarthy recently won the contract for a new hotel management and administration building at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, along with refurbishing the Stan Fulton Gaming Institute.

"I don't think it's that bad," Walker said. "You just have to get a lot more swings at the bat, look at a lot more projects and show diversity with the company. Now's the time people need contractors with experience that have been here and are going to be in Southern Nevada for the long haul."

One of the difficult aspects of bidding projects today is factoring in risk and challenges facing subcontractors, he said.

"If everyone is bidding the work and undercutting themselves, if they don't provide adequate coverage of risk, then the project itself is at risk," he said.

Philippians 2:14-16 (The Message)

2010-01-17T11:23:00.001-08:00

^14-16Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.

NOTES FROM CENTRAL CHRISTIAN SERVICE

2010-01-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

Strapped - Jud Wilhite

Part 2: Get Rich Quick (BE RICH - LIVE RICHLY)

We should find security & peace through HIM. We are RICH in Spirit, if we live like Christ.

MAKE GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE - YOU WILL BE RICH!!!

More important than being rich in this world - is being Rich in knowing God.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (New Living Translation): You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

By God becoming man (Christ), and sacrificing himself as his son...he has given us the opportunity to live RICHLY in CHRIST. He became poor so that we had the opportunity to live rich - his life as a human was to show us the richness through love, compassion and generosity. NOT THROUGH MONEY.

1. REMEMBER GOD'S RICHES

Remember what God has done for us. Even through the tough - we may own no material possessions, no money - BUT, WE ARE RICH IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD - IF WE SURRENDER TO HIM. Live like the way he intended us to live.

SPIRITUAL RICHES - REMEMBER & CELEBRATE IT - HOPE IS THE RESULT.

2 Corinthians 6:10 (New Living Translation): Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

Through it all you have a deep supernatural joy because your eyes are on God- not on yourself or what you don’t have.

Philippians 4:19 (New Living Translation): And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
John 14:27 (New Living Translation): Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 4:19 (New Living Translation): We love because he first loved us.

2. LIVE RICHLY IN GENEROSITY

2 Corinthians 8:11-14 (New Living Translation): Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.

In other words, give of what you can - pay it forward...money, time, talent, goods. Given out of Gratitude in Blessings, so that you can pass that blessing on. It’s not about what you don’t have. If you cant give, IT IS O.K.. Just continue to walk with God. Give as you can - and as you feel eagerly to give.

Walk in love - your life is God’s

1 Timothy 6:18 (New Living Translation): Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

When a decision is unclear, ask yourself these questions:

1. Will Christ be Glorified in this choice?

2. Can I do this in Jesus’ name?

If either answer is ‘no’ - don’t follow that path, because the Holy Spirit is not guiding you there. His leading always aligns with The Scriptures and brings Glory to God!

OUR LIFE IS TO BRING GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST.

That...is the purpose of our life!

TO GIVE...

Generate|Life - notes from Weds/Thurs

2010-01-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

Matthew 10:32 -37

Everyone who shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Summarized:

Most confusing passages in scripture is simple when you meditate on vs. 37 (Jesus says he must be your first love)
Does God sit unchallenged in the temple of your heart tonight?

So - How do I prioritize??

A great question of our generation is to find a clear answer of what we value. We search our soul but rarely know the answer this side of heaven as we seem to look through a tinted glass or growing fog. We’re bleary eyed from our sin and in this life will never experience pure and unbroken intimacy with anyone. We never have nakedness without shame. We never have a completely blameless motive. We never solve the enigma of our own distorted soul that hangs like an opaque wall, blurring and ruining all we look upon as we inch towards a shore that retreats at our very advance.

Who am I?

What do I treasure?

When a decision is unclear, ask yourself these questions:

Will Christ be Glorified in this choice?
Can I do this in Jesus’ name?

If either answer is ‘no’ - don’t follow that path, because the Holy Spirit is not guiding you there. His leading always aligns with The Scriptures and brings Glory to God!

OUR LIFE IS TO BRING GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST.

That...is the purpose of our life!

Genesis 21:5 -8

Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me. And she said, who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age. And the child grew and was weaned and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Waited 20 yrs, like a grandfather, laughed, threw a party, taught to hunt (represented memory, promises, covenant, hope)
Abraham became a slave to something in his life which soon began to border on perilous. Sound familiar?

Genesis 22:1-2

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And he said, here I am. And He said, Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will show you.

Author spares us the agony of convulsions and weeping under the moonlight near Beersheba that night
Abraham likely now wished God would just kill him then take this object from his life. Sound familiar?

Hebrews 11:17, 19

By faith Abraham when he was tested offered up Isaac… He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead from which he also received him back…

During night Abraham took Isaac from the tent, walked with son, 20 yr old climbed on altar, tears streamed, knife raised - Abraham walked away and again God stood unchallenged in the temple of His heart

Does God sit unchallenged in the temple of your heart?

Is there a mirror that beckons you or specific size and weight that have become your god?
Is there a game or toy that yields the absolute most joy in your life? Each extra minute you reach here first?
Is there a high or image that is not only an addiction but now a secret treasure?
In greatest joy, sorrow, or accomplishment who do you share with first?
Is there someone in your life about which you say “I’d die if _______ were gone?”

final notes:

1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

He personally carried our sins, in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds - you are healed.

Praise God!

Christian Daily Devotional...Fruits of the Spirit...An Effort & A Choice to Follow

2010-01-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

The Power of the Holy Spirit

READ | Galatians 5:22-26

Galatians 5:22-26 (New Living Translation)

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵ Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

The Holy Spirit is vital to the Christian life. Read about the fruit of the Spirit in today’s passage, and ask, Can I be such a good person on my own? We need divine intervention to live as God expects. That’s why He gives each believer a Helper, whose job is to produce Christ-like character.

The heavenly Father knows that His children need assistance to comply with His commands. Even Jesus Christ’s most faithful followers were, on their own, helpless to obey—for instance, Peter, who pledged to be loyal until death, denied even knowing Christ (Matt. 26:69-75).

Just before returning to heaven, Jesus ordered the disciples to put their missionary work on hold until the Holy Spirit arrived (Luke 24:49). Only with the Spirit’s aid could Peter the Coward become Peter the Rock and preach a challenging sermon that convicted many (Acts 2).

The Holy Spirit enters a believer’s life at the moment of salvation and immediately sets about the work of producing spiritual fruit. This is the outward expression of a transformed heart. When we yield to God’s nurturing hand, our actions and attitudes become more loving, more joyful, more kind, more gentle, . . . He reaps a harvest of service from our life—good works that grow our own faith and expand His kingdom.

Allowing the Holy Spirit to bring forth Christlike character is not passive. Our part is to meditate upon the Bible so that we can identify righteous qualities. Then, instead of satisfying our flesh, we must make wise decisions each day that allow the Spirit to develop godliness in our life.

Broad Spectrum - Nancy O'Harry, the people have spoken.

2010-01-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

Polling Data - Health Care Reform...why does congress keep shoving this down our throats??

(source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_and_democrats_health_care_plan-1130.html#polls)

Poll	Date	Sample	Favor	Oppose	Spread
RCP Average	12/8 - 1/9	--	38.3	51.0	Oppose +12.7
Rasmussen Reports	1/8 - 1/9	1000 LV	40	55	Oppose +15
Rasmussen Reports	1/3 - 1/3	1000 LV	42	52	Oppose +10
Rasmussen Reports	12/27 - 12/27	1000 LV	40	55	Oppose +15
Quinnipiac	12/15 - 12/20	1616 RV	36	53	Oppose +17
CNN/Opinion Research	12/16 - 12/20	1160 A	42	56	Oppose +14
Rasmussen Reports	12/18 - 12/19	1000 LV	41	55	Oppose +14
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl	12/11 - 12/14	1008 A	32	47	Oppose +15
Associated Press/GfK	12/10 - 12/14	1001 A	36	44	Oppose +8
Rasmussen Reports	12/12 - 12/13	1000 LV	40	56	Oppose +16
Gallup	12/11 - 12/13	1025 A	46	48	Oppose +2
ABC News/Wash Post	12/10 - 12/13	1003 A	44	51	Oppose +7
Pew Research	12/9 - 12/13	1504 A	35	48	Oppose +13
FOX News	12/8 - 12/9	900 RV	34	57	Oppose +23
Quinnipiac	12/1 - 12/6	2313 RV	38	52	Oppose +14
CNN/Opinion Research	12/2 - 12/3	1041 A	36	61	Oppose +25
Rasmussen Reports	12/4 - 12/5	1000 LV	41	51	Oppose +10
Rasmussen Reports	11/29 - 11/29	1000 LV	41	53	Oppose +12
Gallup	11/20 - 11/22	1017 A	44	49	Oppose +5
Ipsos/McClatchy	11/19 - 11/22	1176 A	34	46	Oppose +12
Rasmussen Reports	11/21 - 11/22	1000 LV	38	56	Oppose +18
FOX News	11/17 - 11/18	900 RV	35	51	Oppose +16
CNN/Opinion Research	11/13 - 11/15	1014 A	46	49	Oppose +3
CBS News	11/13 - 11/15	873 A	40	45	Oppose +5
Quinnipiac	11/9 - 11/16	2518 RV	35	51	Oppose +16
ABC News/Wash Post	11/12 - 11/15	1001 A	48	49	Oppose +1
Pew Research	11/12 - 11/15	1003 A	42	39	Favor +3
Rasmussen Reports	11/13 - 11/14	1000 LV	47	49	Oppose +2
POS (R)	11/9 - 11/11	700 RV	29	40	Oppose +11
Associated Press-GfK	11/5 - 11/9	1006 A	39	45	Oppose +6
Rasmussen Reports	11/7 - 11/8	1000 LV	45	52	Oppose +7
Gallup	11/5 - 11/8	1008 A	43	48	Oppose +5
Associated Press/GfK	10/29 - 11/8	1006 A	41	43	Against/Oppose +2
Pew Research	10/28 - 11/8	2000 A	38	47	Against/Oppose +9
CNN	10/30 - 11/1	1018 A	45	53	Against/Oppose +8
Ipsos/McClatchy	10/29 - 11/1	1077 A	39	49	Against/Oppose +10
Rasmussen Reports	10/30 - 10/31	1000 LV	42	54	Against/Oppose +12
Rasmussen Reports	10/24 - 10/25	1000 LV	45	51	Against/Oppose +6
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl	10/22 - 10/25	1009 A	38	42	Against/Oppose +4
ABC News/Wash Post	10/15 - 10/18	1004 A	45	48	Against/Oppose +3
CNN	10/16 - 10/18	1038 A	49	49	Tie
Rasmussen Reports	10/16 - 10/17	1000 LV	42	54	Against/Oppose +12
FOX News	10/13 - 10/14	900 RV	35	54	Against/Oppose +19
Rasmussen Reports	10/10 - 10/11	1000 LV	44	50	Against/Oppose +6
Associated Press/GfK	10/1 - 10/5	1003 A	40	40	Tie
Ipsos/McClatchy	10/1 - 10/5	1096 A	40	42	Against/Oppose +2
Quinnipiac	9/29 - 10/5	2630 RV	40	47	Against/Oppose +7
Gallup	10/1 - 10/4	1013 A	51	41	For/Favor +10
Pew Research	9/30 - 10/4	1500 A	34	47	Against/Oppose +13
Rasmussen Reports	10/2 - 10/3	1000 LV	46	50	Against/Oppose +4
FOX News	9/29 - 9/30	900 RV	33	53	Against/Oppose +20
Rasmussen	9/24 - 9/25	1000 LV	41	56	Against/Oppose +15
CBS News/NY Times	9/19 - 9/23	1042 A	30	23	For/Favor +7
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl	9/17 - 9/20	1011 A	39	41	Against/Oppose +2
Rasmussen	9/16 - 9/17	1000 LV	43	56	Against/Oppose +13
FOX News	9/15 - 9/16	900 RV	38	48	Against/Oppose +10
Pew Research	9/10 - 9/15	1006 A	42	44	Against/Oppose +2
Bloomberg	9/10 - 9/14	1004 A	48	42	For/Favor +6
Rasmussen Reports	9/12 - 9/13	1000 LV	51	46	For/Favor +5
CNN	9/11 - 9/13	1012 A	51	46	For/Favor +5
USA Today/Gallup	9/11 - 9/13	1030 A	50	47	For/Favor +3
ABC/Wash Post	9/10 - 9/12	1007 A	46	48	Against/Oppose +2
Rasmussen Reports	9/10 - 9/11	1000 LV	47	49	Against/Oppose +2
Rasmussen	9/8 - 9/9	1000 LV	44	53	Against/Oppose +9
Associated Press/GfK	9/3 - 9/8	1000 A	34	49	Against/Oppose +15
POS (R)	8/30 - 9/1	800 RV	35	46	Against/Oppose +11
CNN	8/28 - 8/31	1010 A	48	51	Against/Oppose +3
Ipsos/McClatchy	8/27 - 8/31	1057 A	40	45	Against/Oppose +5
Pew Research	8/20 - 8/27	2003 A	38	44	Against/Oppose +6
Rasmussen Reports	8/25 - 8/26	1000 LV	43	53	Against/Oppose +10
NBC News	8/15 - 8/17	805 A	36	42	Against/Oppose +6
ABC News/Wash Post	8/13 - 8/17	1001 A	45	50	Against/Oppose +5
POS	8/11 - 8/13	800 RC	25	37	Against/Oppose +12
FOX News	8/11 - 8/12	900 RC	34	49	Against/Oppose +15
Rasmussen Reports	8/9 - 8/10	1000 LV	42	53	Against/Oppose +11
CNN	7/31 - 8/3	1136 A	50	45	For/Favor +5
Rasmussen Reports	7/26 - 7/27	1000 LV	47	49	Against/Oppose +2
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl	7/24 - 7/27	1011 A	36	42	Against/Oppose +6
NPR	7/22 - 7/26	850 LV	42	47	Against/Oppose +5
Pew Research	7/22 - 7/26	1506 A	38	44	Against/Oppose +6
FOX News	7/21 - 7/22	900 RV	36	47	Against/Oppose +11
Rasmussen Reports	7/20 - 7/21	1000 LV	44	53	Against/Oppose +9
Rasmussen Reports	7/10 - 7/11	1000 LV	46	49	Against/Oppose +3
Rasmussen Reports	6/27 - 6/28	1000 LV	50	45	For/Favor +5
CNN	6/26 - 6/28	1026 A	51	45	For/Favor +6
Democracy Corps (D)	6/19 - 6/22	1000 LV	43	38	For/Favor +5
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl	6/12 - 6/15	1008 A	33	32	For/Favor +1
Democracy Corps (D)	5/28 - 6/1	1013 LV	45	36	For/Favor +9
NBC/WSJ	4/23 - 4/26	1005 A	33	26	For/Favor +7

Leadership - by the Awaken Group...

2010-01-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

What Does Caring have to do with Leadership?
By So-Young Kang

What does leadership mean to you? Several executives and colleagues shared with me:

“The ability to inspire people to pursue your dreams as if they were your own.”
“Understanding that you can’t make anyone follow you. You can only lead by example.”
“The ability to get others to follow you rationally and emotionally.”

Leadership starts with a vision or destination that is often grander than what one could achieve alone, and the power to move people on a journey to achieve that goal. What is required to lead?

The key to leadership is communicating, a 2-way process that involves both speaking and listening—a give and a take. Yet why do we, as executives, often feel we are great communicators when the “communication” is often 1-way?

The key to communicating is listening, which is not the same as hearing. Listening involves taking in, processing, and comprehension. How often are we so focused on our points, our views and our agendas that we cannot even hear the words so we are…deaf?

The key to listening is caring. Caring is about valuing people as assets to be treasured and valued, as opposed to simply required resources to accomplish a goal. When we unintentionally “dehumanize” our people, why are we surprised when they perform the bare minimum or don’t care about our goals. Soft and fuzzy?

As leaders, we often confuse communicating with 1-way monologue and caring with being something soft, fuzzy and intangible, when it really sits at the heart of leadership and performance.

The key to leadership is communicating
The key to communicating is listening
The key to listening is caring.

How much do you care?

Repost from Tony's Blog

2010-01-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

Heart Questions

Posted January 12th, 2010 by Tony

Tomorrow nights confession is slightly uncomfortable as we’ll share a portion of personal testimony that changed Bre and I. Yet, it’s this confession which taught us about the altar of God, sacrificial laying down of personal desires, and how to walk without “my” and “mine” following.

Here are a few challenging questions I’d love for you to take a quiet minute and pray through. I’m always amazed at how the right questions asked in the right setting spark heart change. Maybe that’s why Jesus asked a lot of questions when teaching? Praying God sits unchallenged in the temple of your heart.

When you get an extra few minutes of spare time what do you do with them? First instinct to a game, toy, or person or do you treasure time with God?
In your moments of greatest joy, sorrow, or accomplishment who do you share with first? A person or God?

Christian Daily Devotional...mirrors teachings this weekend @ Central...

2010-01-11T10:55:00.000-08:00

Confidence That Empowers

READ | Philippians 4:10-13

Philippians 4:10-13 (NLT) - Paul’s Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰ How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Our world emphatically proclaims the importance of self-esteem, which is a favorable impression of oneself. Surely, we are told, an individual who values himself highly will accomplish much. Yet Scripture tells us that true confidence flows, not from self, but from our identity in Christ.

In God’s Word, we learn that Paul experienced this appropriate assurance. He expressed certainty regarding the message and ministry God gave him (Gal. 1:15-17; Rom. 1:16). The apostle was also sure of eternal security in Jesus (Rom. 8:37-39). What’s more, today’s passage shows that Paul stood firmly on his belief that He could do anything in God’s will because Jesus was living through him.

The Holy Spirit is the basis for our confidence—not positive thinking, right circumstances, or the ability to think highly of ourselves. Even in the midst of difficulty, we can live with boldness because the Spirit of the living God dwells within our being and enables us to follow Him.

Of course, we have a role too. The Spirit directs us and strengthens us, but we are responsible to listen, obey, and diligently follow His guidance each day. We can have assurance in an unstable world because almighty God provides everything we need to live triumphantly.

Are you facing situations that make you feel inadequate or insecure? Search the Bible for descriptions of His character. Realize that this sovereign, almighty God—the Beginning and the End—lives inside of you. Find your confidence in the one who is your Creator, Redeemer, and Friend.

Fee - Send Me Out

2010-01-11T09:55:00.001-08:00

Jesus, Lord of my salvation, Savior of my soul, send me out to the world to make You known. Jesus, King of every nation, this world’s only hope, send me out to the world to make You known. Send me out to the world

I wanna be Your hands and feet. I wanna be Your voice every time I speak. I wanna run to the ones in need, in the name of Jesus. I wanna give my life away, all for Your kingdoms sake. Shine a light in the darkest place, in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus

Carry to the broken hearted mercy You have shown. Send me out to the world to make You known. And to the ones in need of rescue, lead me I will go. Send me out to the world to make You known. Send me out to the world

I wanna be Your hands and feet. I wanna be Your voice every time I speak. I wanna run to the ones in need, in the name of Jesus. I wanna give my life away, all for Your kingdoms sake. Shine a light in the darkest place, in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus

Here am I, I will go. Send me out to make You known. There is hope for every soul, send me out, send me out. Here am, I will go. Send me out to make You known. There is hope for every soul, so send me out.

I wanna be Your hands and feet. Be Your voice every time I speak. I wanna run to the ones in need, in the name of Jesus. I wanna give my life away, all for Your kingdoms sake. Shine a light in the darkest place, in the name of Jesus.

I wanna be Your hands and feet. I wanna be Your voice every time I speak. I wanna run to the ones in need, in the name of Jesus. I wanna give my life away, all for Your kingdoms sake. Shine a light in the darkest place, in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus

Christian Daily Devotional...

2010-01-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Walking Away From God

Like the father of the Prodigal Son, our heavenly Father will not force us to remain with Him. If we ignore His guiding Holy Spirit and insist on following an ungodly path, He’ll let us go our own way. Examining the parable, we learn what happens if we move outside of God’s plan.

Our fellowship with the Father is significantly affected. The wayward son was no longer in close contact with his dad; their relationship was not as important to him as it had been. If we wander and make ourselves top priority over the Lord, we will also experience a disconnect with our heavenly Father. As Christians, we cannot move off God’s chosen path without first closing our mind and heart to His truth and His call on our lives.
Our resources—time, talent, and treasure—are wasted. The son squandered his money on frivolous things and ended up worse off than the laborers at his father’s house. God has bestowed spiritual gifts and material resources to build His kingdom, and He’s also provided His Spirit to offer guidance. Pursuing our own plan wastes what He has given us.
Our deepest needs go unmet. Chasing after dreams that are outside of God’s purposes will lead to discontent. Only in Christ can we find true fulfillment.

A great weariness will overtake us if we live apart from God. Poor choices can result in lifelong regrets, but they don’t have to dictate our future. The heavenly Father will welcome us with great joy and love when we repent and turn back to Him. Have you wandered away? He’s waiting for you.

Notes from Generate:Life 1-6-10 - The Bible...The Ultimate Love Letter

2010-01-07T16:56:00.000-08:00

2 Timothy 3:1 But realize this that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; so avoid such men as these... 12 And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Can you say that you have a desire to be godly? Don t miss Paul s statement that you will be attacked
Reason for this confession is that if you listen to me but don t fall in love personally with God I've failed

2 Timothy 3:14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned; 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast our demons, and in your name perform many miracles? 23 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. 24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.

The bible is clear that truly godly people fall in love with Gods word (reflection, meditation, memorization, build a life)
So have you fallen in love with the ultimate love letter?

What happens when you fall in love with it?
The separate pieces of God experience suddenly became a global map that made sense (map pictures - the evolution from flat to depth) Suddenly the words weren't words anymore (Reflection of Tony's meditating on the words: 'suffering hardship' - as written by Paul as he was in the prison - telling Timothy to choose suffering in light of God's needs over mine own!). (Tony's continued confession) ...when I left a church, lost all my friends and was called horrible things, dropped Ethan, Peyton born with hole in heart...his choice to be a missionary in the Phillipines was the loneliest time in his life...forced him to reflect on 'What Can I Do?' - which is nothing...NOTHING. God's word & way gave him the way to find true Love and Joy...through living out loud - IN CHRIST. This is when Tony's life truly changed. These lonley, hurting times were his closest to Christ. His life - never to be the same...

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped, for every good work.

Notice the word equip (grk for complete or finish) which means this book will help you finish (Matt, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul)
This letter from 3 continents, by 40 authors, over 1500 yrs has pages that turn atop the blood of martyrs

2 Timothy 3:10-17 (MSG)

2010-01-07T16:55:00.000-08:00

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. ¹¹ You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. ¹² Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

¹⁴ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. ¹⁵ You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Catalyst 2010 repost

2010-01-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

10 Great Leadership Goals for 2010
January 04, 2010

Catalyst is all about helping you improve your leadership. Part of improving is setting goals for improvement. If you don't already have goals for 2010, here are some ideas:

1. Connect deeply with God
If you're not doing this, you should not be leading Christians.
- also, date your wife, love your kids, exercise regularly, save money, blah, blah, blah...

2. Read the Bible in 90 days
By doing it so quickly, you'll easily make connections between scriptures and establish a strong overview of God's Word.
- B90X is a great reading plan designed by Elevation Church.
- if 90 days is too intense, YouVersion now has 20+ customizable reading plans.

3. Read books
"Leaders are readers" - if you're new to this, try 12. Or go big for 24.
- Rhett Smith recently published his list of his top 30 most influential books.
- 100 Enduring Spiritual Classics
- Top 10 Leadership book lists abound

4. Mentor someone
- Jesus did it, Michael Hyatt is doing it, and Regi Campbell's new book tells you how.
- basically meet w/ a younger person(s) regularly to share what you've learned.

5. Connect with 12 new people in your field
Pay for their lunch. Ask some questions. Listen.
- 12 other local pastors, or 12 leaders.
- Even consider reaching-out to your perceived competitors.

6. Attend Catalyst
Seriously, invest in leadership development of some time. Unless you're perfect.
- Catalyst West Coast is April 21-23 in Orange County, CA
- Catalyst East is Oct 8-10, Atlanta, GA
- We're having a ONE DAY event in Chicago, March 25

7. Start a Blog
Or write that book proposal you've been meaning to write.
- Writing a daily or weekly blog will give you scads of content for your book.
- Wordpress is by far my favorite free platform for blogs & it's easily customizable.

8. Be a Servant
Jesus said whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. The first shall be last, the last shall be first.
- Maybe you should not start a blog this year & not write a book.
- Serve your team, take them to lunch, learn about them, meet their needs, make them better, develop them.
- Find a non-profit that needs volunteers & help them monthly or weekly.

9. Sponsor a Child
If you're not sponsoring a child, you suck. Just kidding. But seriously.
- It's only $30/month with Compassion International
- If you can't afford it, sponsor a mentor, $10/month
- Or if you'd prefer, invest that money in helping a poor family near you.

10. Take a trip internationally & see the global church up close
If you haven't done this, this is your year. God is doing AMAZING things around the globe.
- This will give you a better perspective of what God's doing, His global movement.
- Many leaders have been radically changed by what God showed them in other cultures. You can too.
- TravelZoo.com is a great resource to find travel deals.

11. Stop Whackin' it
Or stop over eating, or stop losing your temper, or stop buying clothes.
- Fighting & resisting temptations is good for you, makes you a stronger leader, and makes you better able to help others struggling with temptation.
- XXXChurch has a new X3Watch app for the iPhone. It's free. No excuses.

What are your goals for 2010? Share in the comments below, if only to help other leaders who haven't set goals yet!

Central Christian - Guest Speaker Bill Butterworth

2010-01-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

(NOTES FROM SERVICE 1-3-10 - Guest Speaker, Bill Butterworth)

Untitled DocIsaiah 40:1-5 (NLT)

Comfort for God’s People “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.” Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”

Don’t hold temporal things too tightly. Life is not about money or possessions. You’ll never see a hearse pulling a u-haul. Leave a legacy - not a pile.
- Isaiah 40:7 ...The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people.
- 1 Peter 1:24 ...people are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades.
Dig deeper into God’s word. Don’t just familiarize or memorize ~ Learn it & Truly Live it. Life is not complete unless we fully digest the Word of God. Patiently get into it.
- Isaiah 40:8 ...The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.
- 1 Peter 1:25 ...But the word of the Lord remains forever
Draw closer to the Shepherd. You have everything you need - because the Lord is your Shepherd. This is God’s Promise! He is there in good times and bad.
- Psalm 23:4 ...Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

When in the valley - forge ahead! - Victory is His! Trust in Him & it too will be yours.

Isaiah 40:31

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. The will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint.

Amen.

LINKS:

Bill Butterworth
Central Christian Church

2009 CLOSE OUT - LOOK TO THE NEW YEAR 2010

2009-12-31T12:12:00.000-08:00

YOU ARE SPECIAL!

GOD BLESS & HAVE AN AWESOME NEW YEAR!

Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message)

^16-21This is what God says,
the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—
they lie down and then can't get up;
they're snuffed out like so many candles:
"Forget about what's happened;
don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.
It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
There it is! I'm making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say 'Thank you!'
—the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
the people I made especially for myself,
a people custom-made to praise me.

GET YOUR MOJO BACK

2009-12-31T12:05:00.000-08:00

Get Your Mojo Back

From: Brad Lomenick

December 30th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 5 Comments

The Big Mo. Momentum. Mojo. You’ve either got it or you don’t. Most of the time you can’t really see it, but you can definitely feel it. Hard to explain, but easy to identify the teams or organizations that have it on their side.

In sports, momentum or lack of momentum is easy to spot. Minnesota Vikings- had it, now seemingly have lost it. LA Lakers- seems to have carried over from last year. Alabama- feeling it. Kentucky basketball- got it back.

But organizations and business teams also thrive on momentum. Many times it can be the difference between a good year and a great year.

So as we all prepare to start 2010, here are a few thoughts on how to get the Big MO back:

1. Fearlessly go after ONE big thing this year. Don’t get lost trying to be all things to all people. One Big Idea. And be better at it than anyone else.

2. Keep your mission as a team crystal clear. It shouldn’t change. But try sharing it with the team differently. Mix up how you communicate.

3. Shift. Even if it means moving where people sit in the office, or when meetings are “usually” held, or shaking up the typical dress code. Start fresh this year with a cultural change. It’s amazing what small things like this can do to build momentum.

4. Build energy with small wins. Literally set daily goals, weekly goals, and monthly goals. Incentivize your team with small victories. Crossing the finish line and hitting a goal always is a good thing, even if it’s just a small victory. Don’t just rely on the one big year end goal that everyone seems to think is unreachable.

5. Celebrate early and often. Even if it’s just a quick gathering in the hall to cheer for someone who hit a goal, this is incredibly important.

Goodbye 2009 & Before...

2009-12-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

goodbye self
mercyme

Well if I come across a little bit distant
It's just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say

So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, goodbye, don't cry
So long, self

Stop right there because I know what you're thinking
But no we can't be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Can't you see

So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two, so you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong, but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, good-bye, don't cry
So long

Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away,go away

So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two, so you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong, but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, good-bye, don't cry
So long self
farewell, goodbye (so long self)
farewell, goodbye (so long self)
farewell, goodbye (so long self)
farewell, goodbye (so long self)
farewell, goodbye (so long self)

ARE YOU DEDICATED?

2009-12-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

Our Testimony - From 'In Touch'

2009-12-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

A testimony is one person’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ. However, our declaration of belief is much more than the story we tell. A good witness for the Lord consists of three parts: character, conduct, and conversation.

As Christians, we rightly place great emphasis on crafting a solid personal account of the Lord’s work in our life. We also talk about the ways that we can “be Jesus Christ” to our friends, family, and co-workers through our actions. But character is the part of every believer’s testimony that underlies both Christ-like behavior and a good life story.

In general, what we do and say represents the kind of person that we are on the inside. We can tell a lot about Philip’s character by noticing his actions and words. From among many believers, Philip was chosen as one who was wise and full of the Spirit. But he wasn’t selected for a great ministry position—he was sent to serve food.

Philip went willingly to do this menial work and every other job the Lord gave him, which shows his obedient spirit (Acts 6:5; 8:5, 26). We can be certain that he was a sincere and trustworthy man, because when he spoke, people listened (Acts 8:6). Philip’s testimony shines forth in every way.

You can’t trick God into thinking your character is righteous if it isn’t. Nor can you fake moral conduct or conversation with people for very long. Sooner or later, a proud, bitter, or unkind spirit yields behavior and speech contrary to the Christian message. But godly character produces real spiritual fruit.

Borrowed from Pastor Tony

2009-12-29T13:16:00.001-08:00

Goals 2010

Posted December 27th, 2009 by Tony

The week between Christmas and New Year’s has always been a moving one for me. I usually take this week to look at what God did and begin to pray about what He wants me to do. I’ve moved away from long term planning (5 yr & 10 yr plans) because things change way too fast but still do one year goal setting and a 5 year dreams.

This year I’ll be dividing my goals into three categories.

Private (How I relate to God)
Personal (How I relate to others)
Professional (Defining life success)

I’m excited to share a few of these with you when they’re done. Hoping you’ll join me in goal setting and dreaming. Let’s commit to goals that are God sized & measurable.

Praying 2010 is a year in which we change human history for the better and human future for the name of Christ.