Big Is The New Small

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have a family movie day with my wife, my two boys and my in-laws.  We went to see a movie that I had great anticipation to see; The Blind Side.  In case you don’t know the details about The Blind Side I will provide an overview, a quick review and some life applicable thoughts.

The Blind Side movie is based on Michale Lewis’ book “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game.”  This remarkable true story of Michael Oher aka “Big Mike,” a homeless African-American youngster from a horribly broken home.   Michael was taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own.

Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome, as a football player and student.  Oher works hard and with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. In the latest chapter of his inspiring story, Oher was a First Round draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, selected by the Baltimore Ravens. The Touhys were there to share the moment with him.

My Review: This movie was one of the all around best movies that I have seen in a really long time.  The movie had excellent acting, suspense, reality and it was a tear jerking inspiration.  The movie is rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug references, mild sexual references and some language.  In my opinion the scenes were appropriately contextual.  Outside of those scenes, the movie was overall excellent and family friendly.

Sandra Bullock’s acting was superb and one of my favorite characters was S.J., the younger brother played by Jae Head.  The Blind Side is a must see and I will actually go see it again!

The Lesson: A left tackles responsibility is to protect the quarterbacks Blind Side.  Michael learned to not only protect the quarterbacks Blind side, but he showed that if you care about people you will be willing to protect their Blind Side.  In my opinion a good leader will develop a group of leaders that will not only point out his or her Blind Sides, but they will protect them from Blind Side hits.

Life is about exposing, realizing and protecting Blind Sides.

Share your thoughts on the movie “The Blind Side” and the Blind Sides of Life.

I thought I would share 5 quick things that I’m thankful for and allow you the opportunity to do the same.  First things first as a reminder this Thanksgiving:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving & his courts with praise; give thanks to him & praise his name. Psalm 100:4

5 Things I’m Thankful For:

1. My God (My Personal Relationship w/ Christ)
2. My Family (My beautiful wife, my 2 son’s, my extended family and my mom’s health)
3. My Ministry (Lifechurch.tv n-dub and On-line via Social Media)
4. My Staff (I love each and every one of them and it’s truly an honor to do ministry w/ such an amazing group.   I’m seriously enjoying this current season we’re experiencing together. Bonus: I actually like all of them!)
5. My Opportunities (I’m thankful for the daily opportunities that God places in front of me… Seize the opportunities!)

What are you thankful for?  Share your list of 5 or less…  Ready, Set, Go!

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DESSERT

Dessert is defined as: A sweet course, treat or dish; served after the main course.

As I was thinking about the holiday season and all of the desserts that I am going to consume; I was reminded of what dessert really is by definition.  It’s that sweet course or treat after the main dish.

In life that main dish could be college and the sweet treat could be obtaining that degree.  The main dish could be your role as a leader and the sweet treats are the lessons that you learn daily.  The main course could be that step in obedience in making the commitment to tithe, the sweet treat is the opening of the floodgates of blessings that God pours into your life.   The main course could be the struggles of life, darkness, insecurity, sin… and the SWEET TREAT is the truth, life, grace and forgiveness through Christ.

You get the picture!  Dream Big. THINK BIGGER.

The bottom line is to always be mindful and thankful that even though the “main course in life” may not always be good or our favorite dish; there is an opportunity for a tasty treat after the main course.

It’s All About The Dessert…

“Some people complain that roses have thorns, I’m thankful thorns have roses.”

• Are you able to anticipate the sweet treat after the main courses in life?
• What is your favorite dessert during the Holiday Season?  I’ll go first: “Pecan Freakin’ Pie”

I took a few minutes to sit down with poet Amena Brown @AmenaBee.   Amena performed at the n-dub this weekend; she shares about her poetry, what a slam poet actually is, performing in the context of worship and gives you a taste of her work.

Check It Out!

The Wacky World of Twitter is still a-buzzing months after people thought it may totally loose it’s steam.  With all of the buzz and many new people still jumping on the bandwagon, people are still asking the question “Why Should I Twitter?”  The answer to that question depends totally on The Person, The Business and their goals/intentions.

For the “Christians” asking the question “Why Should I Twitter?”  The answer is simply “because” and below are the reasons to support the “because” statement.

7 Reasons Christians Should Twitter:

1. Fulfill The Great Commission: When Jesus said: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel… “All The World” applies to the Internet-World, as well as the Twitter-World.  Christians can go into all the world physically and digitally one tweet at a time.
2. Go On A Mission: Twitter is one of the biggest mission fields around.  There are opportunities to connect with many people, who have many needs…  You can do for “the least of these” in addition to following and supporting organizations that serve the under-served.
3. Be An Example: Through your daily life, daily actions, and daily tweets you can be an example of Christ.  Tweeps can see Christ through you!  Twitter is a lost and broken world that needs positive Tweeps.  As I’m typing this, the following tweet just showed up in my @replies  via @BeetleBryan: “#followfriday @scottwilliams  brings loads of positive energy to your @twitter  experience …check him out!”  Simply be yourself and keep it positive.”
4. Connect With “The Lost”:  This one is self-explanatory, there are people who are lost and need Jesus…  Christians have the opportunity to share Christ.  One of my favorite Twitter responses, (although it’s explicit) it’s saved in my favorites.  One day several months back I was tweeting thoughts from my Devo. time, I tweeted “Jesus Loves You!”  and I got a response from @StarkAmnesia  that stated this “Who the F_ _ _! is Jesus? And why does he love me?  This created an opportunity or me to share The Good News!
5. Feed and Be Fed: There is so much information to Learn from the world of Twitter.  Whether it be the randomness from peoples lives, devotionals and thoughts from @RickWarren, inspirational quotes from @revrunwisdom… You can also be the one doing the feeding.  Remember: You Have Something Valuable To Share!
6. Connect With Like-Minded People- There is an opportunity to connect with like-minded people from literally around the globe.  I have a DM in my inbox right now from a like-minded person that I’ve never met, from Grahamstown, South Africa.  Biblical community is initiated and happens in the Wacky World of Twitter!
7. WWJD: Jesus Would Twitter; the message doesn’t change, but the methods must change!

Join The Conversation: Should Christians Twitter?  Share your reasons, Why or Why Not!

As a part of our Big Show (volunteer appreciation night), our LifeKids Pastor @JaysonJohn and Youth Pastor @TonyCobb spoofed me and our Worship Pastor @ChuckDennie!  I’m not gonna lie this was Hilarious! Glad I have a sense of humor, otherwise they would be fired! LOL

Salvation Animation from s mchargue on Vimeo.

Here is Salvation Animation Video put together by my man Sean McHargue.  For those of you who are creative types, the details of how he put it together are here.   This video does a great job of simplifying sin, Jesus, The Cross and Salvation.

Although my boys had already seen this video in LifeKids, we watched it again together.   Take a look at this video and once you finish watching it (alone or with your children), share your thoughts!

You’re An Original!

You’re an original, please begin to act like one.

You should learn from others, without emulating their likeness.

You’re an original, stop trying to be like so and so, that’s a copy cat, that’s a fake.

You’re an original, you were knit together in you mothers womb by God, why settle for the knitting of those you aspire to be.

Aspire to be more like Him and like the You that HE created You to be.

Original- A person whose ways of thinking or acting are original, an original work.

Fake- One that is not authentic or genuine; a sham.

Don’t sham yourself.

You’re An Original!

~Scott

I’m gonna get straight to the point…  ”I like to talk and I like to think!”  Now that we have laid the groundwork, let’s see what God’s word says abut this.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

Although I like to talk and I like to think, Over the years and on a daily basis, God has been revealing to me the process of how to do this within my gifts and personality type.  This takes effort and below are some of the things that I do:  7 Ways To Be Quick To Listen and Slow To Speak

1. Think before I talk- Process internally first, then externally.
2. Talk to the necessary audiences- Do these people need to hear this message? Does what I’m saying really matter?
3. Care about what people are saying- If I don’t care about what people say, I’m not listening…  Like it or not, Listening=Caring!
4. Ask clarifying questions- Ask follow-up and clarifying questions to ensure that I’m not just hearing what’s being said.  There is a difference between hearing and listening.
5. Follow-up with yourself-  I process meetings, messages and conversations that I have had with others and evaluate what I said, how they received it etc.
6. Slow to get angry- This should be a no to get angry; I try to never loose my cool.  If I loose my cool, I loose my audience.  You can get upset, but in my opinion “If you show it, you blow it!”  This is really important!
7. Ask someone- Ask a friend, spouse, co-worker or family member “Am I quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry?”  Depending upon their answer, ask them how you can get better in the area they identify.   Seek God, Learn from situations and Apply it daily.  SEEK, LEARN, APPLY!

My dear brothers and sisters take note of this:  Although I am not all the way there, I am becoming quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.  How about you?  Share your thoughts!

This wedding proposal happened at the end of our 11:30 church service this past Sunday. The young lady who got engaged is Kaci @kaciengland she is part of our worship team and her new fiance is Josh (great couple). If you notice that I’m stalling in the video, it’s for the sake of me not messing up their moment.

It was The Perfect Wedding Proposal, because it had all of the necessary ingredients:

Definitely worth 3 minutes of your day.  If all couples truly made God the center of their relationship, the 50% divorce rate would be crushed.  ENJOY!