Big Is The New Small

A God-Shaped Life — (Prov. 11:17-32 MSG)

When you’re kind to others, you help yourself; when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.

Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.

Take your stand with God’s loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.

God can’t stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.

Count on this: The wicked won’t get off scot-free, and God’s loyal people will triumph.

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful face on an empty head.

The desires of good people lead straight to the best, but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.

The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!

The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.

A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.

Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you it’s a stupid way to live.

A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls.

If good people barely make it, what’s in store for the bad!

Lady Wisdom Gives a Thanksgiving Dinner Party

Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it’s supported by seven hewn timbers. The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers. Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice: ”Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I’ve prepared a wonderful spread-fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”

If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you’ll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins. So don’t waste your time on a scoffer; all you’ll get for your pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that’s different-they’ll love you for it! Save your breath for the wise-they’ll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know-they’ll profit from it. Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God. It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen. Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you… Proverbs 9:1-12

I’m typing this quick post from my phone as I’m out on a ranch somewhere in the middle of Southern Oklahoma, where my cellphone & Internet coverage is intermittent at best. That’s actually a good thing.

I’m a part of a year long discipleship, leadership group comprised of Christian leaders from all walks of Oklahoma City. The leadership team along with each person in the group has a vision of being Salt & Light to the Oklahoma City community.

It’s been a great evening of fellowship, riding around on all-terrain vehicles, touring the ranch, seeing cows and historic landmarks where horses, buggies and Native Americans once roamed.

Right now the evening is wrapping up and I’m just spending some alone time with God. My cabin mates are in bed and I decided to stand outside in awe of how close the stars appear when you are not in the city. You can see a pic from the back porch of my cabin above.

It’s quiet and I have a lot of loud noises and ideas rumbling around in my ever so busy head. Right now I’m alone with God and things are beginning to move a bit slower. All of the ideas are becoming more clear… There is a lot that I can see, I can’t to do all of the things that as of right now I can only see.

Not sure I’m going to move to the country; however I can guarantee I’ll make it a point to find some alone time with God somewhere in the middle of his creation and that somewhere will not be in the city.

Shh, quiet can you hear it. In the sill of the night I hear God’s whispers. You know why I can hear His whispers? It’s because I’m Alone With God!

Are you taking time to be Alone With God?

Lies is one of those four letter words that doesn’t have an ounce of goodness in it. Let’s face the facts: No one wants people telling lies about them and a liar is not a banner than anyone wants to proudly wave.

The sad reality is the most potent lies are the one’s that we tell ourselves, about ourselves, or the one’s that we believe from others.

You Can’t, You Will Never, You’re Not Good Enough, You Don’t Have What It Takes…

If you believe the lies, I think that makes you a liar — Lying to yourself.

Reject the lies!

Don’t believe the lies!

“There’s a lesson here: Whoever invests in lies, gets lies for interest, Paid in full before the due date. Some investment!” Job 15:31-32 MSG

Do you believe the lies?  What have you done to overcome lying to yourself?

Life is all about the different seasons, not only is it about the different seasons, it’s about Embracing The Seasons. Often times people find themselves standing around with their winter coat on, in the middle of the summer.  Or it’s the middle of the winter and they are trying their best to put on halter tops and shorts.

Don’t try to force things, force situations or force seasons, but rather be in tune with seasons of life.  When it’s time to go, “Go.”  When it’s time to stay, “Stay.”

Embrace The Seasons.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

What’s your season?

 
The Secret To Kevin Durant’s Success:  It’s What’s In His BackPack!

I digg this guy, his amazing talent and how he represents the City of Oklahoma City With Class.  I love that he begins every post-game interview by first “Thanking his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.”

What’s in the backpack: iPad, Bible, Headphones & Phone Charger.  The Secret To His Success is The Bible & his relationship with Christ.

I got a chance to meet him and my boys were able to get this amazing picture below:

Thunder Up!

Should The Church Be Culturally Relevant? This is a question that I hear often, as a matter of fact I received an e-mail from a friend, pastor and speaker who was recently defending this question with her peers.  She asked me my thoughts and my brief email response to the question is below:

It’s about being relevant and engaging culture.  The church must be relevant and understand that we live in an ever-changing and ever evolving culture, if we want to reach people for Christ.  The methods must change, but the message “the word” never changes.  Some of fastest growing and thriving churches have cultures that understand the concept and terminology culturally relevant.

One example of the importance of cultural relevance is the YouVersion Bible app. This app was created within the local church “LifeChurch.tv” with one purpose, leveraging technology to engage people in God’s word.  The app now has over 110 versions and is translated in over 40 languages.  Over 19 million people have downloaded the Bible App (3.5 million in the last 2 months).  Over 5 billions minutes have been read on a Bible that is not bound with paper.  This is a form of being culturally relevant and engaging people “where they are” which is on their mobile device.

This app can be viewed as important and historic as Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press, as it relates to people engaging in the Bible.  I would say a Bible Reading Revolution is one form of cultural relevance that outlines the importance of engaging people where they are.  The youversion Bible App was an easy one, but this applies to many other aspects of evangelism, style, worship, the church, sharing the Gospel and reaching people with the Good News of Jesus.

Dean William Inge says it this way, “A church that marries the spirit of an age, becomes the widow of the next generation.”

Those that argue that cultural relevance should not exist within the church; ministry and the body of Christ… are probably not culturally relevant.  The bottom line is that every church is culturally relevant, some are just relevant to a culture that has long past.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22

Should The Church Be Culturally Relevant?

Yesterday our church kicked off a 21 day fast.  For most participants, it will be the Daniel Fast.  Last year was the first year to do this as an entire church family and it was truly amazing.

My wife and I look forward to this corporate fast and spiritual connection.  I will do about 3-5 days of water only and then join her in the Daniel Fast.

We are fasting, praying, reading His word, believing, dreaming BIG and thinking BIGGER.

2011 is The Year…  No Excuses!

Does your church do any sort of fast?  If so what type?

How can I pray for you?

Christmas is just a couple of days away and it’s not only “The most wonderful time of the year…” its the busiest day for application downloads on smart phones and smart devices.  Share The Bible Day will help people engage with the Bible, as well as increase the number of FREE applications being downloaded on iPhones, iPads, Android Devices, Blackberry’s and smart phones of your choice.

My personal favorite Bible app is the FREE YouVersion Bible app that has been downloaded by millions and millions of people.  Those millions of people have engaged in reading the Bible for Billions of minutes.  The App has been in the Top 10 FREE iTunes applications in recent days. (Currently #11 as I type this post.)  How cool would it be for the App to be #1 on Christmas Day when people around the globe open up their new devices and download their application of choice.

Share The Bible:

• Post it to your Blog, Twitter & Facebook (Use #Bible hashtag)
• Share scripture through your YouVersion account via connecting to Twitter and Facebook
• Tell a friend, take a few minutes on Christmas and do your part to Share The Bible

Note: As a little “extra” incentive to get the word out, my friends at YouVersion are giving a few lucky winners who post it online their choice between an iPad, an iPhone 4, or a Nexus S! (Click here for details.)

Read The Bible:

2011 can be your year to get a fresh start reading the Bible. Check out the Reading Plans online at our website, or directly in the Bible App on your device. All you need to get started is the Bible App and a free YouVersion account. Want a little extra support in meeting your goal? When you’re at YouVersion.com, sign up for progress update emails for yourself or an accountability partner.

What are you waiting on Start Your Plan and Get Ready To Share The Bible!

Will you share the Bible on Christmas Day?  Leave a comment and say “I’m In!”

God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours.

This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.  Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.

God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.

Ephesians 6:20 MSG

I was reading through Ephesians in the Message Version and this spoke to me. Sometimes The Message version just tells it like it is.  Remember God is strong and HE wants you strong.

~LIVE STRONG