Big Is The New Small

I had run across this sign while driving through a neighborhood that I was not totally familiar with.  This sign represents the exact crossroads that each of us face in our daily lives.  The question is what do we do when we approach this Dead End sign?  Do we accept the Dead End, No Outlet as an absolute truth or do we read the sign in a totally different way?  My wife has a Garmin GPS Navigation System in her vehicle to help her locate various client homes that she has to visit each and every day.  She is a Child Welfare Specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.  Man does she have a challenging/fulfilling job….that is another blog within itself.  Anyway back to her GPS, the beauty of the navigation system is that when she reaches a “Dead End, No Outlet” the lady simply says “Re-calculating” and re-calculates the route.  As long as my wife knows her destination, it does not matter how many wrong turns she makes the navigation system will re-calculate until she reaches her proper destination.  This story sounds like the journey of a Christ follower.  As we commit to follow Christ, grow in our relationship with Christ, and our destination is a life that truly honors what Christ teaches, we will never read the “Dead End, No Outlet” sign as an absolute.  Are you accepting those “Dead End, No Outlets” as absolutes, or do you truly recognize those as signs that God is “Re-calculating?”    

Tiger Woods is the greatest athlete ever!  I say that without hesitation because this guy is so talented, so focused, and so ridiculously good.  I know there have been some great athletes in the past, such as Babe Ruth, Jack Nicholas, Mohammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Hank Aaron and the list can go on and on.  The bottom line is that all the great athletes in the past had complimentary teammates, or they didn’t have the same level of worldwide competition that Tiger has.  To top it off this weekend at Southern Hills Tiger Woods tamed the course that was supposed to be “Tiger proof.”  Tiger had never won at Southern Hills and not only did he win, he did it in blistering 100+ degree temperatures and did I mention that he came a millimeter from setting a PGA scoring record.  Tiger just put some more jewels in the crown, which is the greatest athlete of all time.  Not only has Tiger revolutionized the sport of golf but he has done it with class.  We need to appreciate this time in history, because we are getting the opportunity to witness one of the greatest athletes ever, in his prime.  For those of us whom consider ourselves leaders, Tiger continues to give free leadership lessons in the areas of: determination, drive, focus, resilience, breaking the rules, breaking the records, pressing through adversity…….  Some of you are probably saying that Tiger has not even broke Jack Nicholas’ records, “Give Me a Break” those records are tumbling and Tiger is just getting started. What can you personally learn from Tiger?  In what areas of your life/job/ministry are you revolutionizing the way things are being done?  Do you have the Eye of the Tiger?   

1. Be Original- Share information that is unique, be an expert on a subject and make your posts stand out.  Be consistent with your posts.
2. Blogroll- Add other good blogs to your blogroll, encourage friends to add you and have interesting content that encourages your readers to provide links to your blog.
3. Guest Blog- Be a guest blogger for friends and other blogs in the blogsphere.  Make sure that your posts are challenging and hard-hitting.  Allow other bloggers to be featured guest bloggers on your site.
4. Take a Stand- Make sure that some of your posts clearly take a stand on a topic or issue.  Readers will return to a site that has strong and relative opinions.
5. Submit to Search Engines- Submit your site to search engines, submit it to as many as you can, understanding that Google is the “Grand Daddy.”  There are a number of manual ways to submit your site, as well as paid services.  A couple of sites to consider are http://www.submitexpress.com/ and http://www.adme.com/ There are many other sites and services.
6. Use Media- Use images, links to images, YouTube videos and graphics.
7. Allow Comments- Allow readers to comment and respond to all comments.  Be prepared to articulately respond to adversarial comments.
8. Add Link Tools- Consider using some or all of the following (Technorati, StubleUpon, DiggThis, Delicious…..).
9. Evaluate- Ask an educated Digerati and fellow bloggers to evaluate your site and recommend necessary changes.
10. Blog About Interesting Topics-  Technology, I-Phone, Religion, Current Issues, Breaking News, Sports, Stupid Stuff, and How To Increase Blog Traffic.

Christians make me sick when they are judgmental, hypocritical, self-centered, weird and just plain stupid.  You know the ones who think it’s all about them, their style of worship, their style of music and their style of dress.   They only want to hang out with people who look like them, people who act like them and people who have the same supercilious attitude they have.  Heaven forbid them being willing interact with prostitutes, addicts, homeless, poor and individuals whom are of “The World.”  Do you know some Christians who make you sick?  Are you sometimes that Christian that makes yourself sick?  Personally, I am sometimes that Christian who makes myself sick; however I try to be that Christian that honors what Christ teaches, which is the antithesis of everything I have discussed.  Here are a couple of thoughts and questions to ponder:

·        When was the last time you had a conversation with someone who was poor, homeless, drug-addicted and “Of the World?”

·        When was the last time that you or your church contributed your time or money towards doing something significant for a needy part of your community?

·        When you go to church is it all about what you can get, or is it about what you can give?

·        Does the term “SeekerChurch” seem weird or refer to someonelse’s ministry and not yours?

·        Have you shared your faith with someone today or this week? 

It’s time to get sick and tired of sick and tired Christians.  However, at the end of the day we must pray that God will change their hearts.

I wanted to share a little of my life history with you.  I have spent the majority of my adult life in the Prison System.  To be specific, I spent about thirteen years behind the walls and I have been out of the system for about four years now.

Now that I have your attention, I’m happy to say that I was a Warden in the Adult Correctional System and a Superintendent in the Juvenile Justice System.  Currently, I am the Campus Pastor of the NW Oklahoma City Campus of LifeChurch.tv.  I have been pleasantly surprised at some of the similarities between leading a Prison and being a Campus Pastor.  Here are some parallels that come to mind…

• I’ve found the most effective strategy for leading people is to take care of the people (inmates or church attendees).
• The method in which you lead people, can cause them to become a great asset or pain in the asset (many times the inmates were my greatest asset as a leader, the same applies to the church members).
• In corrections and ministry, individuals are led by specific rules and organized structure.
• Ultimately provide a venue where people can be confronted, challenged and leave personal chaos behind, in order for their lives to be truly CHANGED

See the comments in the previous post of Satan Talks Sex (Part 1). Share your thoughts.

Today, I thought I would share 10 random quotes: 

• If you love what you do, you will never work another day in your life. (Confucius)
• The only true freedom each of us has in life is the freedom to choose.  The most important choice is who we will become.  (John C. Maxwell)
• Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.  (Abraham Lincoln)
• Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.  (George Patton)
• I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.  (Bill Cosby)
• A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.  (Maya Angelou)
• The way to get started is to stop talking and begin doing.  (Walt Disney)
• Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.  (Martin Luther King Jr.)
• Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at its testing point.  (C.S. Lewis)
• Don’t try to be someone else, that’s stupid.  (Scott Williams)

Do you want to hear some real Sex Education from Satan? Whether you do or not, for your viewing pleasure I have attached this video that was used as a tool during the LifeChurch.tv Satan’s SexEd Series. I found this video to be clever, humorous, real, and ridiculous; as well as a bit over the top, all rolled up into one. The reality is that’s exactly how the Master of Deception, The Tempter, The Accuser and the Big Fat Liar Satan can be. Do you feel this video accurately depicts what we are dealing with, or is it to over the top? Please share your thoughts.

Many of you have heard of the 80/20 principle as it relates to money people and time. If you are unaware of this principle it is derived from an Italian Economist, Vilfredo Pareto who discovered this concept in the early 1900’s. The bottom line is that if we streamline and focus our attention/efforts on our highest priorities (that top 20%) then we will achieve 80% of the desired results. I would like to take this a step further, as it relates to church members in ministry and people that you interact with in your profession. There will generally be 10% that really love you or what you’re doing, 10% that really dislike you or what you are doing and this makes up that (20%). The other 80% are generally comfortable with you and your direction. That 80% will return and support you each and every week. The wisdom in this is that you shouldn’t listen to your biggest naysayer’s or your biggest fans. I have read different research that translates the 80/20 principle into modern life applications. Below, I have listed my top 10 of “The Good,” several of which are my personal thoughts.

1. Fishing- 20% of fisherman catch 80% of the fish.
2. College Football- 20% of the universities play in the championship game 80% of the time.
3. Time- 20% of employees perform 80% of the work.
4. Leaders- 20% of leaders make 80% of tough decisions.
5. Business- 20% of the businesses’ receives 80% of business.
6. Church Giving/Serving- 20% of the people give/serve 80% of the money/time.
7. Blogs- 20% of blogs receive 80% of blog readers.
8. Reading- 20% of the book provides 80% of the memorable content.
9. Sermons- 20% of the message provides 80% of the life application.
10. World Changers- 20% of Christ Followers do 80% the World Changing.

The question that you have to ask yourself is “Am I in that 20% of the good?” Please don’t hesitate to share your 80/20 thoughts, remember 20% of blog readers make 80% of the comments.

70%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

When it comes to having an addiction to blogging, I am in denial and I am not talking about a River in Egypt.   Seriously, I am not sure how addicted to blogging that I might be; however this is a great questionnaire to get you thinking.  Personally, I enjoy reading blogs and at least sharing one post per day.  Are you addicted? Is your spouse addicted?  Do you know someone who is addicted?  The big question to ask is “Is having an 70% addiction to blogging really a bad thing?”  Share your thoughts!