I’m that guy who has to pray for people right then and there because if I don’t, more times than not, I’ll forget.
I’m that guy who is on staff at an amazing Church yet feels so inadequate and undeserving.
I’m a guy who should have a lot better relationship with his family.
I’m a guy that God serves Humble Pie to on a constant basis because of my PRIDE.
I’m a guy who is leading an AMAZING group of young people but is still learning how to lead daily.
I’m that guy who used to wear tight shirts because they make him look like he has muscles… until he saw a picture, then he knows he’s just fat.
I’m that guy who struggles being real with himself, others, and God.
I’m that guy who has made more stupid mistakes with girls than I can count.
I’m that guy who could lose his job at any moment because of making a stupid mistake.
I’m that guy who spends 200 dollars for a pair of Jeans then makes you feel bad for not giving to the poor.
I’m that guy who shaves his head because his hair is thinning.
I’m that guy who is jealous of most people who are more intelligent than him.
I’m that guy who over promises and under delivers.
I’m that guy who talks big about commitment to the local church yet forgets to say thank you to his awesome volunteers as many times as I should.
I’m that guy who never smiles in his pictures because of my teeth.
I’m that guy who is just really learning how to read scripture.
I’m that guy who struggles with lust.
I’m that guy who leaves my computer in my office, not in my house so I don’t look at porn.
I’m that guy who’s still waiting for God to put the “one” (if there’s such a thing) in my path.

But
Despite all of this,
I’m a guy who is going to continue to let God use him, mold him and shape him in spite of all that Jazz.
Because for some reason in spite of all my crap…God is using me and it is only just beginning.
So now that you see how screwed up I am. When are you going to stop waiting until you are out of your “sinfest” and let God use you in the midst of your arrogant, selfish and sinful chaos?

Get over yourself and let God use you.

Think for a minute: What’s the first thing you’d do if you were to win the lottery?

Buy a new car…
New house….
Shopping spree at the best clothing store in the world “H&M”…
Season tickets to watch americas favorite basketball team the Lakers

Well Bud Post actually won 16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery and he was set for life. At least that’s what he thought. But his ex-girlfriend and I’m not saying she’s a gold digger but she successfully sued him for a share of his winnings. And Bud’s brother definitely hasn’t watched “Band of Brothers” because he hired a hit man to kill him, hoping to inherit some of the money.

Sadly, Bud’s troubles didn’t stop there. Due to his fulfilling repeated request for debt relief from friends and family and making a large investment in a business venture that brought no return, Bud found himself over 1 million in debt within a year of winning the lottery. By the time he had reached retirement age, the former multimillionaire was surviving on 450 a month and food stamps.

Post isn’t alone. Within five years of hitting the jackpot, one third of all lottery winners declare bankruptcy. They make huge material investments–houses, cars, businesses–with out realizing that all of those things carry hidden costs. They give away large sums without realizing that more request are on the way. They assume their money will always be there for them, but they’re wrong. In the process, they learn tough lessons about the dangers of misplaced trust.

King David placed his trust in the strength of his fighting force. He probably felt secure when the census takers assured him that more than a million soldiers protected his kingdom. However, David’s security didn’t last long. The king realized too late that nothing on Earth is invincible. Only God deserves our trust.

Too many times we allow our sense of security to get tangled up in a bank account, a stock portfolio, a girlfriend, a frat, a title or nice clothes. But, like Bud Post and King David, we discover too late that nothing is certain except God.

Where does your sense of security come from? Is it tied up in temporary treasures? Or have you placed your confidence in the one eternal Sure Thing?

“Security is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God, no matter what the danger.”

Acts 4:1-22

At a well-known company’s national sales convention, a heralded speaker delivered a stirring motivational talk. However, he punctuated his speech with profanity and frequently used God’s name in vain. Finally, a Christian salesman in the audience couldn’t stand it any longer. He rose from his seat, stood on his chair and shouted, “Please leave God out of it.” With that he sat down. The embarrassed speaker cleaned up the rest of his speech. But after the session more people waited in line to shake the hand of the Christian man than that of the speaker.

In your own experience, don’t you find this to be true? In the face of an uncomfortable situation, many people are thinking the same thing. It’s a safe bet that dozens of people in the crowd that day listening to the speaker were sick and tired of hearing the profanity being rained down. But it took one man to make the stand and speak up, leaving others to only wish they would have done the same.

The leaders of the early church displayed even greater courage than this outspoken salesman. In the face of powerful, influential and educated men, these “ordinary” men stood toe to toe with political and religious forces that sought to Kill them. Even after having their lives threatened for sharing the Gospel they didn’t cower, give in or shut up. Instead they did the opposite. In Acts 4:29 they asked God for Boldness to share his word. They stood heroic, astonishing their adversaries, who knew only that these men had been with Jesus.

Living a life that pleases God isn’t always easy or popular. Speaking valiantly for Christ and courageously living a righteous life require living out our convictions and commitments as faithful men. Standing tall for what’s right, despite the foe or odds, exacts a high price. In fact, we face war! We can prepare for the battle only by spending time with Jesus—the unshakable source of courage.

In your life there will be opportunities to speak up and defend what you know to be true. When the next challenge arises, remember that salesman standing on his chair, remember Peter, remember what Paul said in Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes”. Resolve today that you will not be like one of those who were content to sit squirming in their seats.

We weren’t called to be cowards! We’re called to stand and follow God at all cost!

“True courage does not consist in the absence of fear but in doing what God wants even when we are afraid, disturbed, and hurt.”
John White

The Stand by Hillsong United

Being a Student Life Pastor I get the opportunity to meet numerous amounts of people.
I love this because I enjoy meeting new people, learning from them and hearing their stories.
Also a big plus to what I do is I’m able to meet so many different diverse types of people.
But no matter if they’re  rich, poor, white, black or a smurf they all seem to ask one of the same questions…

What is God teaching you lately?

So since this seems to be such a frequently asked question I thought I’d just share what God has been teaching me over the past couple of months…

God has been teaching me that he is a million times bigger than I ever give him credit for….Deuteronomy 10:17

That when I truly desire to seek him & find him – He is everywhere & anywhere. I just have to open my eyes…Jeremiah 29:13

To trust him in every situation of my life…Deuteronomy 31:8

Discipline…Wake up everyday, spend time with God, make my life less about me and more about him…John 3:30

That when my life seems out of control, His isn’t…Psalm 46:10

To be myself and not put on a front or try to be someone else…Psalm 139:14

To not always pick what is comfortable but do what God has called me to do…Acts 4:29

Now  those are a few things God is teaching me…

What is God teaching you?

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12

In 1980 doctors diagnosed Chris, a seven-year-old boy, with leukemia. Chris wanted to be a motorcycle police officer when he grew up. A friend of Chris’s family spoke to a member of the Arizona Highway Patrol about the boy’s dream, and a few days later several motorcycle officers stopped in to meet Chris.

But after the meeting the officers wanted to do more. They arranged for Chris to ride in the department’s helicopter with a local news reporter, who filmed Chris’s dream coming true. Eventually the boy also received a ride in a patrol car, a ride on a patrol motorcycle with sirens blaring, a custom-made uniform and even a battery-powered motorcycle to replace his wheelchair. Later that year, when Chris succumbed to the Leukemia that had ravaged his body, the motorcycle officers granted full department honors to this fallen “officer” who had touched them so deeply.

However, the dreams of this boy didn’t die with him. They live on in the Make-a-Wish Foundation, an organization that helps fulfill the wishes of thousands of children who suffer from life-threatening illnesses.

Its amazing how one person’s quiet suffering could grow into something so gigantic.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers to praise the amazing expansion of their faith. In fact, it wasn’t just their faith that had grown. So had the love they demonstrated toward each other. This increase occurred despite the suffering they were enduring as both Jews and fellow Gentiles persecuted them (Acts 17).

Or did this amazing growth occur because of that suffering and persecution? When we suffer, God remains in control. In good times and in bad, he doesn’t leave us to our own resources. Rather, he provides the strength that allows us to hold on. God sometimes permits us to suffer because by carrying on we gain strength and moral character.

The great C.S. Lewis once said, “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.”

Are you suffering?
What amazing thing does God have in store for you?
God will walk with you as you struggle through each agonizing step, enabling you to grow in faith and to demonstrate love toward those around you.

Without a test, there is not testimony.

Just one more quote….”They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses.” Martin Luther

First off…
I DID NOT WRITE THIS!
There are some things in this article that I agree with and some that I don’t!
I personally DO NOT drink. But it’s not because I think if a person of age does drink that he’s committing a sin. I’m simply posting this because I would love to hear your opinions on this. That’s all! No arguing. Just your opinions.

By Jason Boyett…
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/features-reviews/life/1539-alcohol-a-commentary

Question: Which is better? Fishing with one Baptist or two Baptists?

Answer: Two. If you take one, you’ll have to share your beer. If you take two, you’ll have the beer to yourself, because Baptists won’t drink in front of each other.

I’m not much of a drinker. I didn’t drink alcohol at all until I was 22 years old. And these days, I might have little more than the equivalent of two 6-packs over the course of a year. A Coors or Shiner Bock when I play poker with my brother’s friends. The occasional mixed drink when hanging with another couple from our church. And should I find myself in the Caribbean, I’m man enough to admit I really like banana coladas—not the virgin ones my wife prefers, but the real thing. And that’s pretty much it.

Other confessions: I like to smoke when I go fly-fishing, because campfires are better with a good cigar, and mountain air is fresher after a cigarette. Furthermore, I play cards, invest in the stock market, let my wife manage our family’s finances and used to watch “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” with devoted regularity.

Next time you’re in a church service, fold a paper airplane out of the bulletin, give it a good toss, and chances are you’ll hit someone who thinks at least one of the activities above are sinful. Problem is, none of them are expressly prohibited by anything in the Bible, unless you do tricky things with the language or remove things from context. That’s one of the big struggles with being a Christian in a society two millennia removed from the time the last of our scriptures were written—all the gray areas. Jesus never said, “Disciples, don’t drink alcohol.” He never told any parables about the effects of R-rated movies on his followers. He never chastised the Pharisees for spending too much time playing video games. Of course, he was pretty clear on things like adultery and divorce. And he really got worked up when the religious folks passed judgment on those who didn’t live up to their lengthy lists of societal and religious rules

When Jesus walked around Palestine, the people who most upset him were the Pharisees. Why? Because they focused on their petty, pseudo-religious rules while losing sight of the important stuff like loving God and loving people. We do the same today. Lots of the “rules” of our comfortable Christian subculture are based more on tradition than the Bible. They have more to do with the notion of “being separate” from the world than being made in the image of Christ. And how significant is it that this attitude of separation places great emphasis on some issues of outward appearance (alcohol, smoking, tattoos, entertainment) and not others (unthinking consumerism, gluttony)?

Which brings us to the issue of drinking alcohol. Many readers strongly believe the Bible is clear in its prohibition of alcoholic beverages. Others believe Scripture doesn’t precisely disallow it, but feel it’s best in today’s society to abstain. And there are still others who think there is absolutely nothing wrong with drinking, while recognizing that drunkenness is very much a sinful act.

Some Christians go even further on the issue and don’t condemn drunkenness. A good friend of mine got to spend an evening with the members of a notable hardcore Christian band. After a concert at a local Christian venue, they all proceeded to a local bar and got plastered—the band, their management, the venue’s promoters, everyone. My friend ended up actually escorting the entourage around that evening because she was the only one in any condition to drive. Needless to say, it was a very long, weird night for her. She wondered if her local Christian bookstore would still display their huge cardboard cutout of the band had they known what went on that evening.

That’s all there is to the story. You’re wondering who the band was, aren’t you? Why is that? Is it so you can judge them? Pray for them? Join them? What’s the Christian response to that kind of story?
Let’s leave those questions aside and just look at some of the issues regarding the Bible and alcohol.

2 Corinthians 4: 1-18

When a young man gets down on one knee; reaches into his pocket; pulls out a small, velvet-covered box and opens it, the wrong response from the young woman before him would be, “Oh! What a pretty box!” If she utters those words, there’s something seriously wrong with her perspective.

The box holding the diamond engagement ring isn’t meant to draw attention to itself. The box exists solely to make the ring look good. You might describe ring boxes as plain and nondescript, yet simple and elegant. Inside, the ring tucks into white satin or black velvet to allow the beauty of the diamond to shine forth.

Paul uses a different object to communicate a similar lesson. When he observes that “we have this treasure in jars of clay” (Verse 7), he’s declaring that we’re ordinary “packages,” not ornate glass vases. Paul urges us not to live in a way that draws attention to ourselves. Instead, we are to seek to showcase the brilliance of the One who lives within us.

These are sobering words in an age in which even some preachers wear diamond studded watches, fly in private jets, arrive in a motorcade of limousines and highlight the vast influence of “their” ministries. The apostle Paul probably wouldn’t have impressed these Christian “celebrities.” What’s attractive about a man who describes himself as “hard pressed,” “perplexed,” “persecuted” and “struck down” (verses 8-9)?

But remember, the apostle Paul existed to make Jesus look good. As he sought to bring people to Christ, Paul didn’t want them to overlook Christ and fall in love with himself instead. What a goal!

I recently attended a Leadership Conference at a Church and the entire Church embodied this mission that Paul is speaking about. It was so refreshing to see a “Mega Church” who was completely humble, have a servants hearts and who were ALL ABOUT PEOPLE MEETING JESUS!

It’s my prayer that we could all learn to function the way that Paul was explaining and that all Church’s could resemble the Love and Grace of the Church I attended.
To live simply as Jars of Clay, desiring only to attract people to the incomparable treasure we hold inside and be completely abandoned to ourselves no matter our situations.

”Humility is the true proof of Christian Virtues; without it we retain all our faults, and they are only covered with pride to hide them from others, and often from ourselves.” Francois De La Rochefoucauld

Daniel 4: 28-37

If you’re a football fan, you know that no one celebrates a touchdown quite like a wide receiver (Chad Johnson). In the past, most receivers simply spiked the ball to add an exclamation point to a reception in the end zone. Then came the dance moves—a shuffle here, a slide—step there. With each passing season the celebrations grew more and more elaborate. Some players even began stashing props in the end zone to incorporate into their touchdown routines.

That’s when the penalty flags began to fly as referees became more willing to call this kind of activity “unsportsmanlike conduct.” If only more of these players had been like Barry Sanders, who in his ten-year career with the Detroit Lions scored 109 touchdowns—and afterward simply handed the ball to the referee and jogged off the field.

Fact is, these elaborate touchdown celebrations ignore some of the other people actually responsible for the touchdown—people like the quarterback throwing the ball, the offensive lineman creating time for the quarterback to throw, the coach calling the play and the assistant coach spotting a defensive weakness to exploit during film sessions the week before the game.

If life were fair we’d see highlight clips of offensive coordinators spiking their clipboards and high—stepping down the sidelines after plays they’d created had resulted in touchdowns! But life isn’t fair. So wide receivers get the glory—not to mention big contracts and product endorsements opportunities.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had somewhat of a wide receiver’s mentality when it came to his kingdom. While surveying his empire from a rooftop one day, the king let his ego get the best of him. “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” he bragged.

Huge mistake. Before the final boastful syllable had left the king’s lips, God pronounced judgment on him. He banished Nebuchadnezzar to the wilderness to live like a wild animal for seven years. God punished the king for trying to steal something that belonged to God—his glory. Nebuchadnezzar had taken credit for God’s accomplishments.

God has defintely been serving me some of my least favorite desert lately to remind me that this life is all about him…And that desert would be Humble Pie.
No matter what we’re good at in life, if we look closely enough we’ll realize that our accomplishments really belong to God. Everything we have we have because he has allowed us to have it. We’re just a vessel he’s using to help bring glory to his name.

Listen and learn from Nebuchadnezzar’s words: “Those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” And, as this ancient king learned the hard way, God often does just that.

Imagine it. A blinding light from heaven. Men falling to the ground all around you. The voice of the risen Christ calling you to a mission that will change the world forever.

Okay, so this drama seems unlikely to take place in your life or maybe it’s just unlikely in my own. But Paul—or Saul as he was known at the time—certainly didn’t expect such a scene either. He set out for Damascus to oppose the Christian movement and returned a spokesman for it. He set out on a mission against Christ and returned the most influential Christian missionary the world has yet seen.

While the dramatic events of Paul’s conversion aren’t likely to happen to us, something similar actually takes places when we’re called to the Christian life.

Consider…

Leah, a Public Speaking teacher at a local high school.  But she views her job as a ministry of helping young men and women have the confidence in their speech to go out and share the Gospel.

Mike, a career counselor, advises men in transition. He also affirms their worth and value when they begin to doubt it themselves. He prays for each man with whom he meets.

Mario, a plant manager, wants his company to show a profit. But he also wants his customers to receive quality goods and his employees to find fulfillment in their work and receive fair compensation.

These men and women and others like them realize that their call from God doesn’t mean that they must become a missionary like Paul—or serve as a pastor, or undertake any other full-time “Christian” profession. They understand that their calling means following God’s will in their daily tasks. They approach their work with the same kind of dedication about which
Paul later wrote: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

As Christ followers we can’t make the mistake of thinking that reaching the lost is all up to the Pastors/Worship leaders. Most of the people who can have the biggest influence for Christ aren’t the people on stage at Church every Sunday. Everyone has a chance to spread the Gospel we just have to keep our eyes open for the chances.

Those chances could be at your daily job like Leah, Mike and Mario. Those chances could also come from things like bumping into a random person at a store, seeing someone sitting alone somewhere and striking up a conversation with them. There are so many times in our life that we have the opportunity to minister to people and we miss it. We just have to open our eyes, hearts and get out of our comfort zone so that we can allow God to use us despite our fears, failures and faults.

Tomorrow when you go about your day, open your eyes to chances to speak life into people and share the Gospel.

“If you cannot sing like the angels.
If you cannot preach like Paul.
You can tell the love of Jesus
And say he died for all”

“He must become greater, I must become less” John3:30

Ecclesiastes 5

When you get on a plane to travel, whether across the country or across an ocean, what do you hope will happen? Do you wish for lighting, turbulence and a seat mate who has a nasty cough or horrible gas? No, when you fly, you want a predicable and routine trip. No delays, No hair-raising episodes or near-death experiences–even if those events might later make for a good story at a get-together. No, you seek an uneventful flight. Downright boring suits you just fine. The only thing you hope is exciting is that the food is a party in your mouth!

Some people attend church hoping for the predictable and routine, the uneventful and boring. Author and Pastor Max Lucado writes, “People on a plane and people on a pew have a lot in common. All are on a journey…For many; the mark of a good flight and the mark of a good worship assembly are the same. “Nice,” we like to say. “It was a nice flight/it was a nice worship service.”

Many people go home from church unchanged and unaltered. A few, however, long for something better than “nice.”

Solomon reminds us that when we worship we go on a journey. Worship leads us to encounter and experience the living God. As worshipers, we do our best to prepare ourselves–purifying our hearts, clearing our minds, opening our ears, keeping our promises and humbling our posture before God.

What are a few tactics to prepare oneself for worship?
It could be coming to Church early to pray that people meet Jesus in a strong way during the service. We show up early for Football games and sporting events because we’re expecting an awesome game. Why not show up early for Church to pray and expect a move of God?
It could be getting out of our comfort zones to meet and encourage people in the Church that we’ve never met and that don’t look like us.

Let’s even go a step farther than just worship at Church. What about worship being a lifestyle? Worship is also everything you do throughout your day. It’s how you live your life! In Galatians Paul tells the church of Galatia to watch me as I stand up and have the courage to live for Christ! That’s something I try my beset to remind myself of daily and I think as Christians we should all try to stand up and live our lives in worship to God!

The next time you attend a worship service, remember the admonition of verses 1 through 3. Prepare your heart so that the offering of worship isn’t just so much wasted breath. Focus on the reality that “God is in heaven, and you are on earth,” understanding that you’re entering the very presence of a holy and awesome God who listens, watches and loves to hear our worship. A heart that’s properly prepared for worship doesn’t simply endure the journey. It hopes for the memorable, not the mundane. It prepares itself for a marvelous adventure in the presence of the God of the universe, and it expects and works toward a deeper relationship with the Creator.

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.’”

Matthew 28:5-6

Told by a teacher he was too stupid to learn: Thomas Edison

Fired from his job at a newspaper because he didn’t have good ideas: Walt Disney

A music teacher told him he had no hope as a composer: Beethoven

Falsely accused, arrested, killed: Jesus Christ

The disciples of Jesus must have been shattered that Friday.  For three years they followed the man from Nazareth.  They watched Him heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, and even raise people from the dead.  When Jesus said, “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness” (John 12:46, NAS), they got it.  Darkness enveloped the hearts of their countrymen.   They needed a “Light.”

Twelve ordinary men abandoned everything to follow Jesus: jobs, family, and homes.  Not with regret, but with hope.  Hope for the promise Jesus offered.  Look where it got them that Friday.  Good Friday, we call it now.  But it was anything but good to them.  Jesus was dead – they’d witnessed the crucifixion.  Only 11 now, they must have gathered that night after scattering throughout the city.  Other followers joined them to mourn the death of the man they loved, and the death of the hope He offered.

On Saturday, they still gathered.  No one left – though they could have.  They could have packed up their things and put this failed adventure behind them.  Back to fishing, back to family, back to normal.  But no one left.  In spite of what appeared to be complete failure of this new kingdom, everyone stayed.  Faithful.

Saturday inched forward to noon, dusk, and then evening.  The beauty of the night sky didn’t ease their pain.  Perhaps they reminisced some. In hindsight, Jesus wasn’t really what they were expecting.  When the prophets of old foretold a king would come to rescue them, they figured it would be someone imposing, with power, maybe with chariots to whip their enemies into submission.  Some took longer than others to readjust their expectations.  But when God opened their eyes to the beauty of His plan, they bought into it with their lives.

I’m sure troubled thoughts stole their sleep that Saturday night.  Finally, in complete exhaustion their tired bodies overtook their worried minds.  Sunday morning dawned.  I imagine some woke up hoping it was all a bad dream.  Then reality settled in, like heavy summer storm clouds.  Jesus was still dead.

Two women got ready first and went to the tomb.  Expecting to find the body of their beloved Savior, God treated them instead to a display of His power.  With a violent earthquake shaking the ground, an angel of the Lord came from heaven, rolled back the stone covering the tomb and sat down on the rock.  Hello!

The angel looked at the women, and spoke words that transformed them from hopeless to hope-filled: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee” (Matthew 28:5-7a, NIV).

Can you even imagine the celebration?  It had only looked like failure.  Instead, it was glorious victory!  Hope wasn’t dead.  Jesus was alive!  The disciples learned a lesson they would never forget:  When God is involved, things aren’t always what they seem.

Today we see problems and failures with the same eyes as the disciples.  Even knowing that God is able to do things beyond what we can imagine, when we look at a “failure,” we often only see an ending.  God, however, sees an opportunity for a new beginning.  As we celebrate Easter, may that truth nestle itself into our heart.  With God all things are possible.  He is risen!

via  Glynnis Whitwer

-I’m not a guy who speaks at Conferences across the country
-I’m not a guy who has lived the perfect “Christian” life
-I’m not a guy who has graduated seminary. And honestly I barley graduated from Lee University
-I’m not the greatest Leader and not even a great one for that matter
-I’m not a great preacher, in fact I’m still terrified of the thought of preaching most of the time
-I’m not as “deep” as half of the other Christan Leaders out there
-I’m definitely not the best “blogger” as you can tell from this site
-I’m not the best son, brother, or friend even though I try very hard to be
-I’m 27 and still single, so I’m probably not the best catch out there
-I’m definitely not the best with money which has lead me to being broke a lot and has been a painful learning experience
-I’m not deserving of being a leader in such an awesome Church
-I’m not a guy with a perfect past (FAR FROM IT)

So who am I?

I’m your typical below average guy who wants to abandon my worldly desires so that God can have my life 100% and use me in whatever way he sees fit! So many times I get caught up in all the talents/things that I don’t have that I forget the one most important thing I do have that means more than anything else, A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST!!

For the past few years I’ve really chased after things that can only bring temporary happiness. Blogs, approval of girls, twitter, new worship Cd’s, Conferences, clothes, etc. But I’ve realized life is not about looking for happiness in “things” or having the biggest College/Youth Ministry! It’s about all about leading myself and others closer to Jesus! Joy does not come in “things” but only a true, pure relationship with Jesus Christ!

Matthew 7 is something I think about a lot. I don’t ever want to be the guy who has things and does “work” for the Lord yet forgets that it’s all about the relationship with the Lord! I long to be that guy who hears the words of the Lord and puts it into practice and builds his house upon the rock (Matthew 7:24)! I desire to make my foundations for life on God and his word and not things that pass away that moth or rust destroys!

So guys take a look in the mirror…
Who do you see looking back…
Is it the person that God is calling you to be…
Or is it a lonely, broken and drained person who is trying to be who the world is telling him to be…

Even though the world tells us that we won’t be a man or woman with out certain “things”! We as Christ followers know differently? We know that the less things we have taking our attention away from God, the more attention we have to give to God!

“It’s all about God’s presence not his presents” Brad Cooper!

A few powerful and sobering photos from the Chile earthquake

Author Gore Vidal once confessed, “Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.”

Admit it…you know that feeling. Maybe a coworker gets the promotion you were hoping for. Or a colleague receives all the credit for a project you worked on together. Where it’s a slight on the work site or a career-altering incident, it gnaws at you. But why? What makes us fume when others get ahead?

Consider Aaron and Miriam. They could only stand by and watch as God lavished favor on Moses, their humble brother. All those private encounters with the Almighty on Mount Sinai. The power to perform jaw-dropping miracles. Escalating influence. Growing acclaim. Moses enjoyed all these advantages and more. Why him? Why not them?

So, in a desperate attempt to build themselves up, the siblings tried to take their brother down a few notches. They ragged on him and bragged on themselves. They recited their own spiritual resumes to all who would listen. Quickly God stepped in. Sternly he reminded them that he alone decides what blessings people will enjoy and where they’ll serve.

If we’re not wise, we’ll learn from Aaron and Miriam. Pride is like a spiritual cancer. Unaddressed, it spans envy. Unchecked, it consumes our hearts and minds. Don’t be deceived. If you think too highly of yourself you run the dangerous risk of thinking too little of God and others. Jealous people accuse God and attack his chosen servants.

Instead of obsessing about others—his calling, her gifts, their advantages—focus on your own God-given resources and roles. What gifts, talents and opportunities has God given you? Take inventory. Stop comparing yourself with others. Quit competing. Fight the urge to question God’s wisdom. Then start serving with all the strength God gives you. Let him promote you, if and when he chooses, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James4:10)

“Pride gets no pleasure out of having something; only out of having more of it than the next man…It is the comparison that makes you proud; the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” C.S. Lewis

This is a blog that Pastor Craig Groeschel of Life Church in Oklahoma wrote that goes along with this…

I’ll never be as a great a leader as Bill Hybels.
I’ll never be as deep as John Piper.
I’ll never be as smart as Mark Driscoll.
I’ll never be as creative as Ed Young.
I’ll never be as passionate as Steven Furtick.
I’ll never be as funny as Perry Noble.
I’ll never write like Erwin McManus.
I’ll never preach on one point as amazingly as Andy Stanley.
I’ll never have as big of arms as Bishop Eddie Long.
I’ll never be as Purpose Driven as Rick Warren.
I’ll never be as positive as Joel Osteen.

Thankfully, I’m not called by God to be any of those people!

And neither are you!

Although I can’t be them, God has created me with the ability to:

* Cast a compelling vision and move people radically toward Christ.
* Recognize talent and gifts in people most overlook.
* Reach people for Christ who are far from God.

This world needs to see YOU!! You’re the best you that’s ever been created!!
We’ve got to start completing one another and stop competing with one another!

Have you ever been in a situation and thought there’s just no way this can happen but I’m going to give it everything I have? Ever faced an insurmountable wall that you didn’t think in a million years you could topple? A guy by the name of Henry Blackaby did!

When the World’s Fair came to Canada back in 1986. Blackaby saw an opportunity to reach more than 22 million people with the message of the gospel. You know that sounds great but ya see there was just a few problems though: The association of churches that Blackaby served in Vancouver had just about 2,000 members and a budget of less than $9,000 a year. Still convinced of God’s leading, Blackaby set a budget of $202,000, prayed and trusted God to do the rest. God didn’t disappoint!! By the end of the year more than $264,000 had come in from all over the world and some 20,000 people began personal relationships with Christ through the efforts of a small but faithful band of believers.

The Israelites had their own wall to topple before they could enter the promised land. The wall they faced surrounded Jericho, a forfeited city with “walls up to the sky” (Deuteronomy 9:1). When the Israelites arrived, Jericho’s residents had just completed the spring harvest and the city’s wells were brimming with spring rain. Archaeological experts estimate that the inhabitants probably could have held out for several years. Defeating the city was one of the history’s most unlikely and humanly impossible victories. Yet the people of God accomplished it–not with trumpets and shouting but with obedience to God’s directives.

Perhaps you find yourself staring up at an insurmountable wall that God is calling you to conquer–a wall that seems as frightening as it is large. Maybe your wall is a task that seems impossible or a goal too incredible to imagine. I’m sure the Church Planters who are still in the beginning stages can definitely relate.  Or Maybe your wall is a repeating pattern of sin you haven’t been able to overcome on your own (Lust, lying, unforgiveness, masturbation etc).

Many things in life look like Jericho’s wall–obstacles that stand in the way of what God wants us to accomplish for him. But guys in the hard times we have to trust our God and claim his promises! When we realize the power we have IN CHRIST we will be able to move forward with faith, topple our walls and walk victoriously over the rubble!

“The future belongs to those who set their sights on what is humanly unattainable”
Wilbur Howard

Some more info on Henry Blackaby
http://www.blackaby.org/