Apr 1, 2011
“Winning”
It's sad, but here's the reality. Charlie Sheen isn't alone in having, (how can I say this sensitively), a bizarre view of what it means to be "winning." Our culture tends to get it wrong as well. I think it's absolutely essential that those ...
Feb 28, 2011
Out of the Ashes
Today, Chris Tomlin's song, "Our God", took on new meaning in my life...and the life of our team here in India. We had the privilege, (and I mean privilege), of spending time in two very special ministry homes. The first was a special home for kids with aids. They are the kids of young ladies enslaved in and ravaged by prostitution. They are kids now being rescued and loved by some modern day heroes of the faith. From my description so far, you'd think it was a place of sadness and ...
Feb 17, 2011
Sinlicious
I gave a talk last night at NorthRidge that is creating more chatter than normal...in the social media world...but also in me. I actually woke up still thinking about it this morning. I really do believe it's a huge deal for believers that, unfortunately, is being missed. Sin is the great enemy of life. (By sin, I'm not talking of petty little preferences that some believers and pastors try to make a sin. I'm talking about sin...declaring independence from God; rebelling against Him...
Dec 9, 2010
“Work Smart”
I'm sure most of us have heard the old saying "work smart not hard." Of course, as with most famous sayings, there is an intended truth and an unintended error. The error here is that, if we work smart, we can achieve our full potential without working hard. WRONG! Though there may be occasional exceptions to this, just as lightening does occasionally strike twice and a few have struck it rich through the lottery, the rule is that it takes working smart and hard. For me, the saying ...
Dec 2, 2010
Invisible Pathway
Wow...this passage lit me up big time this morning. "Your path led through the sea,your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron," Psalm 77:19-20. This is all about the great exodus of God's people from Egypt. In Exodus 14, we discover that God specifically led His people into an impossible circumstance. From a human standpoint, it was the worst leadership possible. He, through Moses, l...
Dec 1, 2010
How Far Should We Go In Giving To Others?
I had a couple people ask some questions about giving from this past weekend's talk "The Great Call" from my series "Reach Beyond." If you didn't experience the talk, you can watch or listen to it by going here http://bit.ly/alBWkb. Here's a question I received: "Very good talks but it always brings one question up....should I give away all I have for those who don't have as much??? Should I sell my house? My car? and send the money to those who don't have water?? How far should we ...
Oct 25, 2010
“Do It Again!”
This past weekend, I did a talk, in our "Change Your Game" series, that focused on how we've lost the wonder of life. Though we were created to joyfully experience each day in a new and life-expanding way, Psalm 118:24, we've lowered each new day to being a simple repeat of all the days before. Solomon describes this sad and profound loss better than I ever could in the book of Ecclesiastes. (Checkout Ecclesiastes 1:5-9; 2:17-23) I won't repeat the talk here because you can listen ...
Oct 13, 2010
Narrow Investment Broaden Impact
Of course, I know it, preach it, and generally practice it in the important areas of my life. To which you appropriately ask...What is "it"? It, expressed in my terminology, is the reality that we must "narrow our focus to broaden our impact." As I've taken time to assess the purpose, priority, and effectiveness of the growing mountain of activities I've allowed to creep into my life, including this blog, I've realized that I've wandered from the above principle. And, as a result,...
Oct 4, 2010
Make Other People Better
After spending time reflecting on Philippians 2:3-5, I wrote the following to help me clarify what I am (or should be) striving for in my life and leadership. I have since put it in my prayer journal in order to help properly focus the motivation and direction of my prayers. My purpose in life is not to be the best I can be in order to be better than other people. It's to be the best I can be in order to help make other people better. I want to make better everyone who knows me. ...
Sep 30, 2010
God Transcends
In Romans 12:2, we learn that the transformation we all need and can experience stems from the "renewing" of our minds. How true. My personal story really does confirm it...as I'm sure yours does. Think about it...the change from defeat to victory, doubt to confidence, wrong desires to right ones, despair to hope all involve a renewed/different kind of thinking about ourselves, circumstances, and God. One of the areas of thinking that has really helped me continue to forge forwar...
Sep 29, 2010
Who versus What
I've really loved some things God has done in my life, ministry, and world over the years. The problem is that I tend to fall head over heels in love with what He's done. It makes me want Him to keep doing it. When He doesn't, it kind of rips me. In truth, I'm finding this to be a fairly common problem that I have...one that I believe all of us share. Though we may start out loving Him purely, as He begins doing some wonderful things in, for, around, or through us, we can begin lovi...
Sep 23, 2010
Seek God Not His Promises
Often, God's promises are NOT my experience. Don't get me wrong. I love them and long for them. I seek them and pray for them. But, at times, to no avail. Lately, I think the veil's been lifting on the reason...at least one of the reasons. I'm seeking and wanting the promises instead of God Himself. Take contentment...one promise that we all universally desire. Of course, this promise comes in all kinds of forms. From Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want", to...
Sep 21, 2010
Timing is Everything
I really do believe that God's timing is perfect. (I believe anyone who genuinely believes in the God of the Bible needs to believe this. He's all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. His timing must be perfect.) Here's my problem. I don't live like I believe it. So, I try to "make things happen" in my timing while seeking God's help and giving God credit. Sound familiar? This is dangerous and destructive. By trying to force or change God's timing, we can actually mess up our liv...
Sep 17, 2010
Daily Choice
I like to call our relationship with God a spiritual journey because, as with any relationship, it isn't a onetime event. It's a life long journey. And, in order to keep it fresh, it demands making the right choices...daily. Lately, I've been thinking of it this way. Being born again, or from above, needs to be a daily experience. Yes, there is a first time...that moment where we acknowledge our guilt and need, place our full faith in Christ, and experience new birth. But, our relat...
Sep 15, 2010
Life Markers
If I'm honest, I get off track a lot...spiritually. Though I both regret and hate to admit it, there are times when this is a conscious choice. But, more often, it's the result of unintentional and incremental changes in my life that, for lack of attention, move me away from full dependence on Christ. Because my desire to live for Christ is sincere, if I saw them, I would quickly confess and adjust them. Sadly, I often don't notice them until it's too late. In order to prevent this ...
Sep 14, 2010
The Games We Play
This past weekend I started a new series called "Change Your Game." And, it turned out to be a "game changing" weekend on so many levels. We were celebrating the one year anniversary of our first satellite church, NorthRidge Ann Arbor-Saline. We...