USE THE RIGHT TOOL

Today when I got home from the office I found Tyra frustrated trying to put an air filter in her van. Now I applauded her for trying, but when I looked at the job I realized in 2 seconds why she was frustrated and unable to do the relatively simple job; she was using the wrong tool. It doesn't matter how many times you try or how hard you turn, a philips head screwdriver in a hex head screw is not going to do the job.
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a real life situation? You live frustrated and no matter how hard you try you can not seem to get your self unstuck. Maybe you need to try a different tool. Perhaps you have prayed and prayed and now you need to get up and go to work. Likewise maybe you need to stop working so hard to get out of your mess and just start praying. If you use the right tool in the right situation there is no circumstance that you can not come out in victory!

TWO MORE NUMBERS

I had something very frustrating happen to me as I was traveling through a very rural part of Tennessee. I was needing a Nashville phone number and so I called the operator and asked for the number. The operator happens to cost $.99 a call. My car does not have air conditioning and I had to roll the windows up in order to hear and it was hot. As I have already mentioned I was going through a rural part of the state and reception was hard to come by. The automated operator had given me all of the first five numbers when all of sudden I lose reception. Those first five numbers were useless without the last two. I was so mad, but what could I do. I had to call back and spend another $.99 for two numbers.

HEADS OR TAILS

Deuteronomy 28:13 says, "And the Lord will make you the head and not he tail; you shall be above, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them."
Do you know God made you for success and not failure? Why do so many then fall short of this privilege as a believer? Because they are not careful to observe the commandments of the Lord and the principles of scripture. Are you sick of being the tail? Are you sick of demotion and ready for promotion in your life? Start living your learning. Don't just heed the commandments and principles of God,be careful to observe them.

GO FOR IT!

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory or defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt
What is that you want to do that the fear of failure has kept you from. Go for it!

MY FAVORITE MEAL

Tonight Tyra made one of my favorite meals. Poppy seed Chicken, Green Bean Casserole, Corn Casserole, Macaroni and Cheese, and Peach Cobbler. I prepared myself all day for this meal. I got up this morning and I ran a few miles. I then saved up all my calories for the day by not eating. I mean I did not eat anything until I came in and smelt the fresh aroma of the food she had prepared. When it was time to eat I pigged out, I mean I really pigged out. We even had guest over but it did not matter because it was my favorite meal. Just when I thought I could not get anymore in my belly Tyra broke out the peach cobbler. I instantly made room. I know from a nutritional stand point this not the proper way to manage a diet, but I lived all day in anticipation for the meal. Isn't it amazing the sacrifices we are willing to make for things we really desire.
What is it you desire spiritually? What are you willing to sacrifice to get it? Sacrifice is not always easy, but usually the sacrifics we make on the front end pay off in the long run. Someone once said it this way,"You can either play now and pay later or you can pay now and play later." It is a choice we all have to make.

AUTHENTICITY

When we were in Thailand we noticed there was a huge black market for items that were fake. There was one polo shirt I almost bought until I realized the polo horse looked more like a camel. I guess $3.00 for an authentic Ralph Lauren Polo shirt was just too good to be true. I was looking for something real at a cheap price. I wonder sometimes if in our pursuit of Christian Community if we want full benefits without paying full price.
Authenticity is a mark of true community! But it is not easily or cheaply obtained.

I'M A PRO NOW!

I went skydiving today for the second time, I guess that makes me a pro. Yeah Right! Things are different the second go around. I don't think anything could ever compare to scooting out of that plane for the very first. I was nervous, I was scared, I was excited, quite frankly I was ready to have earth under my feet. The second time I just enjoyed the ride and I even got to pilot the chute on the way down!
If you have a new adventure before you today or this week, go ahead take the leap of faith and jump out of the plane. It might be scary but it is worth it. If there is something you have been doing for so long that it has become old hat allow yourself to enjoy the trip a little more. Life passes by to fast not to!

CREED

This Sunday we begin a series of messages that will present a vision that I feel God has given me for Music City. This week I will speak on Connecting Locally which deals with our need for community. If we as a church can shift from being a congregation to a community I believe that it will translate into a healthy church that does great things for the kingdom.
A congregation is a group of people who congregate together. A community is a group of people who are connected together and share in the successes, failures, joys, despairs, and victories of life. A community is vibrant with life and driven by a common mission.
What do you say, let's be a community!

IS IT TO LATE TO POST A BLOG

So it is 11:59pm if I post this blog right now it will count for the day, right! Procrastination is my greatest sin it brings me much sorrow. I think I will quit, probably tomorrow.

THE BENEFIT OF CONFIDENCE

I read an interesting scripture today that is found in Hebrews 10:35,36. It says, "Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise."
I started thinking after reading this how many times a lack of confidence has kept believers from doing the work of the Lord. God puts a dream on our heart or a responsibility on our plate and we say, "I don't know if can do this." Is there any person who should be any more confident than the child of the Most High God. Philippians tells us we "can do all things through Christ who gives us strength."
What is it that God is wanting you to do? What dream has he laid upon your heart? Your confidence in those matters will bring forth the reward of a fulfilled dream and a harvest of fruitful ministry.

BE STILL... REALLY!

Today I had one of those days that felt like I was in fifth gear the entire day. I had an early morning meeting and when I got back to the office it was if the phone would not stop ringing. I would be on the church line and my cell phone would ring, I would be on my cell phone and the church line would ring. Then someone would knock at the door and need to talk. You get the picture, because you find yourself there quite often as well. On my way home I felt a tug on my heart no doubt one that was prompted by the Holy Spirit saying, "you did not take any time to just be still and experience me today." Conviction fell right there in the car because I know you can not argue with the Holy Spirit. I was busy, but when you don't make time for God even when you are doing His work you are too busy. So be reminded to take time just to be still today and enjoy His presence, you will be glad you did!

VELVET ELVIS

I have been reading a great book entitled Velvet Elvis. I always like to pass good resources on to others and I think this is a book that any one will enjoy the read.

Rob Bell does a great job writing about many different aspects of the Christian faith. Here is a quote from the last page of the book that I think sums up the book pretty well.

"I am like you. I have seen plenty done in the name of God that I'm sure God doesn't want anything to do with. I have lots of reasons for bailing on the whole thing... But... I am not going to stop dreaming of a new kind of faith for the millions of us who need it. I am not going to stop dreaming of new kinds of communities that put the love of God and the brilliance of Jesus on display in honest, compelling ways. I am not going to stop dreaming of new ways to live lives of faith and creativity and meaning and significance."

I hope you will pick the book up and give it a read. If you are in the Single young adults class we will start using this book for our class discussion and teaching next week. ENJOY!

GREETINGS FROM IDAHO

This week I was given the honor of sharing in the Board of Regents meetings for Asia's Little One's missions organization. This is the organization that we worked through to build the boy's home in Thailand. The meetings are in Coeur D' Alene Idaho and it has to be one of the most beautiful places on the earth. I have been given the opportunity of sharing the testimony of Chase and the Boy's Home with so many people. It has been awesome! Thank you for your prayers as God continues to make a difference through the short life yet lasting legacy of our son.

LABOR DAY SERVICE

What an awesome service we had today! It was really cool to see all of our people come together to pull it off and to see so many new faces on a holiday weekend. It was great to see 7 people give their heart to Jesus Christ, that is what it is all about. We had three families that came and said they were just driving by and saw everything going on and they had to come up and check it out. Thanks to all helped with the services, set up, or tearing down, you all did a great job.
It is really neat to see all God is doing in the church right now and we know the greatest days are still ahead.

DIVINE APPOINTMENTS

This morning as I was getting ready to take a jog I ran into a friend that I have not seen in a year or so. He was visiting a neighbor and I just happened to be walking out my door as he was leaving. I set and talked with him for an hour or so and really had an opportunity to talk to him about his relationship with God. The Lord really did do an awesome work.
I pray that I never take for granted these divine appointments but I have to admit it is easy to pass these moment by sometimes. It is easy to get in such a hurry to do the things we want to do in a day that we miss the things God want us to do.
PRAYER: God help me and all that read this blog to realize the opportunities You put before us today and take the time to make the best of them.