So I’m asking the question of myself today, “Why would I ever be ‘busy’ again?”

Next post: How Jesus managed to maintain urgency without business

“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

“And no one seems to care if another day goes creeping by
Empty and ashamed
Like an old unwanted memory
That no one will claim”

Every day we’re alive matters. Every second we’re given has purpose. Are you finding the meaning and purpose in today? Don’t let today “go creeping by” and disappear.

I’ll be talking about pipes and buckets and how God can use us in creative ways!

Leaders and Managers–this is also a great resource to equip your team.  Buy copies for everyone and discuss.  You could also have several copies on hand when this issue of prioritizing and procrastination come up.  Maybe, just buy one copy and pass it around.

The fact that we’re saved by Grace and Grace alone never ceases to amaze me!

Are we giving up too early?

“You have to decide in life whether you want to influence people or impress them. You can impress people from a distance but you can only influence them up close. We desperately need authentic leaders today, who are real and vulnerable. Our greatest life messages actually come out of our weaknesses, not our strengths.” –R. Warren

How Nuru Works from Nuru International on Vimeo.

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

When I’m preparing for just one service my preparation stops at outline form.  I spend just as much time praying and preparing, but I never get to manuscript.  When I’m preaching the same message at multiple services I almost alway finish some form of manuscript.  I spend less time verbally running through it and more time writing.  One seems more flexible, but the other seems more precise.  I think I’ll begin to experiment with the opposite routine in future settings.  I’ll keep you posted.

“Something is about to give
I can feel it coming
I think I know what it is
I’m not afraid to die
I’m not afraid to live
And when I’m flat on my back
I hope to feel like I did

My mom was ready to die.  She had face serious health issues for years.  She told anyone who would listen about her relationship with Jesus Christ.  She knew she was going to heaven based on what Jesus did on the cross, not her own merits.  But her passing has still been a struggle.  I obviously don’t need a mom to whipe my nose anymore, but here encouragement and support will be missed.  The song continues:

“I want you to know
That you don’t need me anymore
I want you to know
You don’t need anyone
Or anything at all”

Those lines always get me.  I sure feel like I need my mom.  Really, you had to go?  Why?  Why now?

And then it continues:

“Who’s to say where the wind will take you?

Who’s to say what it is will break you?
I don’t know, which way the wind will blow

Who’s to know when the time has come around?
Don’t want to see you cry
I know that kiss is not goodbye”

My mother always said, “If it is my time to go then it is my time to go.”  And she knew that this life was not the end.  This isn’t good bye.  I mourn her loss, but I rejoice at her glorification. (Romans 8:28-30)

As I looked up the song I found that Bono wrote it after the death of his father.  If you’ve never heard the song, I’ve included a youtube clip below:

“Who’s to say where the wind will take you?
Who’s to say what it is will break you?
I don’t know, where the wind will blow

Who’s to know when the time has come around?
I don’t want to see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye”

No, this is not goodbye.

Great News!  I was released today and my symptoms are almost gone.  Read the cool God story below.

On Friday night I started feeling sick. I was sick Saturday and Sunday (but I still managed to preach on Sunday morning). Monday, as my illness subsided, I began experiencing strange sensations in my arms and legs. They continued on Tuesday so I made an appointment with a doctor. On Wednesday, we sent out a request for our prayer team to pray and several other prayer channels were notified. During my appointment, my doctor consulted with a neurologist, and I was admitted to the UW hospital immediately. My symptoms led them to believe I might be facing a very serious neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre. With some, but not all tests completed, my neurologist handed us some information about the disease which indicated we should prepare for a long recovery, possible permanent disability, paralysis or death. Later that evening, the doctor was feeling that this was my ailment.

But as hundreds of people were praying, my symptoms began disappearing. Thursday morning, all of my tests came back clear and my symptoms had nearly vanished. Both doctors were mystified and I was released late this afternoon.

Needless to say, we continue to believe in the power of prayer. Thank you to everyone who prayed. Please take a moment to pray for God’s continued protection and earnestly pray that God would establish His church here in Madison.

• Is my calling sure?
• Is my vision clear?
• Is my passion hot?
• Is my character submitted to Christ?
• Is my pride subdued?
• Are my fears at bay?
• Are interior issues undermining my leadership?
• Are my ears open to the Spriit’s whisper?
• Is my pace sustainable?
• Are my gifts developing?
• Is my heart for God increasing?
• Is my capacity for loving deepening?

So feel free to make your own card and begin to ask yourself these critical self-leadership questions.  Happy Monday!

I was reading in 1 Chronicles 14 the other day.  In verse 10 David inquieres of the LORD, “Shall I go up?” and the LORD replies, “Go up and I will give them into your hand.”  David wins in dramatic fashion.  Later David inquires for a different situation and the LORD replies:

“You shall not go up after them;  go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees.  And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God as gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”

We moved to Madison and had a child.  Right now it seems that we’re doing a lot of waiting on the LORD.  We know what God has called us to do, we’re pretty sure of where, but still we’re waiting.  I’m not really a “waiter”– I’m more of a “doer.”  So, right now I’m waiting for the sound of marching  in the tops of the balsam trees. If you have a minute–pray.

“No one knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.  There is a silly idea about that good people don’t know what temptation means.”  –C.S. Lewis

“Don’t brag about your plans for tomorrow–wait and see what happens.” –Proverbs

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”  –Thomas Edison

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.” –Proverbs

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

It wasn’t that Peter was “tempting” Jesus to forsake the cross.  Jesus rebuked him and compared him to the devil for having the wrong mindset!  I often fall into the trap of thinking of sin as specific actions, but here Jesus rebukes quite harshly for the wrong mindset.  It made me take inventory of how I’ve been thinking.  Am I setting my mind on the things of God? or on the things of man?  Interestingly, the more I set my mind on one, the more the other fades away.

“He who knows all the answers most likely misunderstood the questions.”–Unknown

“The world is not interested in the storms you encountered, but whether you brought in the ship.”  –Journal of True Education

“A light supper, a good night’s sleep, and a fine morning have often made a hero of the same man, who, by indigestion, a restless night, and a rainy morning would have proved a coward.”  –Lord Chesterfield

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions.” –Ellen Glasgow

“You can always tell when you are on the road of righteousness–it’s uphill.”  –Ernest Blevins

“The easiest way to find more time to do all the things you want to do is to turn off the television.”  –O.A. Battista

“Idealism increases in direct proportion to one’s distance from the problem.” -John Galsworthy

“The more humble a man is before God, the more he will be exalted; the more humble he is before man, the more he will get rode roughshod.”  –Josh Billings

“A friend is a person who goes around saying nice things about you behind your back.”–Unknown

“It is harder to ask a sensible question than to supply a sensible answer.” –Persian Proverb