A SMALL PLUG
If you don't, I would encourage you to listen to Jey Sekulow Live! on your local Christian Radio station or online here.
The issues and news that is being presented are so vital to the future of America and Christian's rights.
Friday, November 21, 2003
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
I think more people should learn the special ability called "TACT". You know, people with the tact of a bull-elephant should not ever be dealing with other people, irreguardless of thier skills. What is wrong with thinking before one speaks? Instead of saying that something looks like crap, why not just say that it doesn't appeal to you or something along the lines of not slapping the person in the face with some sort of remark. Sheeesh! What's so difficult about that!
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Murphy's Law Actually Exists!!
A couple of days ago I woke, got ready and headed for work. I got to the office earlier than usual and found that I didn't have my badges with me, I had left them at home, that would allow me into the building I work in. But, I figured it was no big deal because just as I was getting out of my car, one of my fellow employees was getting out of his car. Of course, he had forgot his badges as well because he was using his wife's car and his were in the other car. But all hope was not lost, here comes another car! Oh well, it turned out to be a new employee that didn't even have his badges yet.
Well, that's okay, I will just call into the building and have whoever was in there come and let us in. There were cars in the parking lot and one of them I recognized as the person who is usually at the front desk this early, even though the doors would not officially open for another half hour. Lo and behold, I don't have any reception! I'm maybe ten feet from getting in and I can't make a call on my cell phone! Up to this point I had ALWAYS had great recieption around the building! By this time we were laughing uproariously because we had been standing out there looking around dumbly for around 15 minutes holding brief cases and bags. This was getting silly!
Finally, another employee came to the door and let us in shortly after that. This was an employee that usually didn't get to the office until much later....of course! What a wonderful start to an interesting week......oh, did I fail to mention it was Monday?!
A couple of days ago I woke, got ready and headed for work. I got to the office earlier than usual and found that I didn't have my badges with me, I had left them at home, that would allow me into the building I work in. But, I figured it was no big deal because just as I was getting out of my car, one of my fellow employees was getting out of his car. Of course, he had forgot his badges as well because he was using his wife's car and his were in the other car. But all hope was not lost, here comes another car! Oh well, it turned out to be a new employee that didn't even have his badges yet.
Well, that's okay, I will just call into the building and have whoever was in there come and let us in. There were cars in the parking lot and one of them I recognized as the person who is usually at the front desk this early, even though the doors would not officially open for another half hour. Lo and behold, I don't have any reception! I'm maybe ten feet from getting in and I can't make a call on my cell phone! Up to this point I had ALWAYS had great recieption around the building! By this time we were laughing uproariously because we had been standing out there looking around dumbly for around 15 minutes holding brief cases and bags. This was getting silly!
Finally, another employee came to the door and let us in shortly after that. This was an employee that usually didn't get to the office until much later....of course! What a wonderful start to an interesting week......oh, did I fail to mention it was Monday?!
Thursday, July 03, 2003
Sometimes I simply sit and wonder. I get overwhelmed with . . . LIFE. I think about the awesome responsibility I have to my wife and especially my children. I think about the great career God has given me and how I so often take it for granted. I think about the talents and opportunities that stand in front of me, and how so often I foolishly wave them aside without a thought or care.
What opportunites have I missed today with my kids, my wife, on my job, with my talents....with God? Where have I simply said "I don't want to take the time" or "I'm too tired" or some other foolish excuse? It's not a neccesity to be too serious in life, or to take life too seriously, but it's a fool who complacently slides through life, never taking time to do the things that he thinks may take from him, when really those things bring in such an amazing reward that he doesn't know what to do with all the blessing.
Be more effectionate, take the time, get away from the TV, Video Games, the computer. GET A LIFE!
What opportunites have I missed today with my kids, my wife, on my job, with my talents....with God? Where have I simply said "I don't want to take the time" or "I'm too tired" or some other foolish excuse? It's not a neccesity to be too serious in life, or to take life too seriously, but it's a fool who complacently slides through life, never taking time to do the things that he thinks may take from him, when really those things bring in such an amazing reward that he doesn't know what to do with all the blessing.
Be more effectionate, take the time, get away from the TV, Video Games, the computer. GET A LIFE!
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
You know at my "real job" I create posters from time to time. Some of them are for various business subjects and others are for me to just have the pleasure of making. Some are realistic, others surrealistic. Today I was printing one of my posters I did for July 4th. I didn't get it done in time, obviously. There's always next year! Anyway, on the poster I have the preamble to the Declaration of Independance and the Plesge of Allegence. When I am making posters I will often forget things, or leave them out until I have printed them once to get an idea of what overall they look like. Well, today was no different. In fact I laughed out loud when I discovered I had made a mistake on the Pledge. I found I had left out the word - "Indivisible". Who knows, maybe it was an unconscience reaction to reality here in America. What do you think?
Friday, May 16, 2003
The following I couldn't resist including in my WISDOM blog. Take a look, think and evaluate. Not only do I believe that Mike Yaconelli hit the nail on the head pertaining to ministry in general, but also shows a profound side of Youth Ministry that few dare to look at. The credits follow.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting Fired for the Glory of God
by Mike Yaconelli
After spending time with youth workers from all over the world during the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention, there's no question in my mind that our calling to youth ministry and the current condition of the institutional church are on a collision course.
I'm beginning to believe that if those who are called into youth ministry follow the lead of the One who called them, getting fired is inevitable.
Why? Because, in general, the institutional church doesn't get it. The institutional church has become hopelessly corporate, hopelessly tangled in a web of secularism. Instead of the church being the Church, it has opted instead to be a corporation.
You disagree? Why don't you try these seven suggestions, and see how long you keep your job.
Keep Jesus #1.
Make your relationship with Jesus the first priority of your life, and expect the same from your church staff. Suggest that your staff meetings only allow you to talk about your relationship with Jesus. Forget about business; just pray together, and share your struggles with each other.
Be still.
Require as part of your job description paid time alone with God. At least one day a week of silence, three-day retreats every quarter, and one week a year for the entire staff.
Ignore corporate values.
Refuse to accept corporate values for evaluating your worth. What are those corporate secular humanist values?
How about:
Size
Productivity
Efficiency
Speed
Technology
Busyness
Measuring
Balance
Power
Success
Good grades
Sports
Just ignore all those values and instead …
Think small.
Keep your youth group small and manageable. Work hard to focus on a few rather than many. Don't let your group get larger than you can handle with integrity.
Be real.
Tell the truth. Tell students when you are doubting, struggling, hurting, and failing. Create an atmosphere of reality. Refuse to edit your meetings so that only the polished communicators speak and only the positive stories get told.
Put your family first.
Don't let a workaholic staff intimidate you into becoming a workaholic. Say yes to your family first.
Seek kingdom values.
What are kingdom values?
Time. Have plenty of extra time to spend with students one on one. Refuse to be too busy.
Awareness—sensitivity, empathy, noticing
Audacity—risk, courage, resistance
Intimacy with God
Humility
Grace
. . . . .
Notice: You don't have to confront the system. You can just get close to Jesus, seek intimacy with God, follow kingdom values…and it won't be long until you are out on the street. And guess who will be there with you? You got it…Jesus.
See this site for more information and articles: Youth Specialties
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting Fired for the Glory of God
by Mike Yaconelli
After spending time with youth workers from all over the world during the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention, there's no question in my mind that our calling to youth ministry and the current condition of the institutional church are on a collision course.
I'm beginning to believe that if those who are called into youth ministry follow the lead of the One who called them, getting fired is inevitable.
Why? Because, in general, the institutional church doesn't get it. The institutional church has become hopelessly corporate, hopelessly tangled in a web of secularism. Instead of the church being the Church, it has opted instead to be a corporation.
You disagree? Why don't you try these seven suggestions, and see how long you keep your job.
Keep Jesus #1.
Make your relationship with Jesus the first priority of your life, and expect the same from your church staff. Suggest that your staff meetings only allow you to talk about your relationship with Jesus. Forget about business; just pray together, and share your struggles with each other.
Be still.
Require as part of your job description paid time alone with God. At least one day a week of silence, three-day retreats every quarter, and one week a year for the entire staff.
Ignore corporate values.
Refuse to accept corporate values for evaluating your worth. What are those corporate secular humanist values?
How about:
Size
Productivity
Efficiency
Speed
Technology
Busyness
Measuring
Balance
Power
Success
Good grades
Sports
Just ignore all those values and instead …
Think small.
Keep your youth group small and manageable. Work hard to focus on a few rather than many. Don't let your group get larger than you can handle with integrity.
Be real.
Tell the truth. Tell students when you are doubting, struggling, hurting, and failing. Create an atmosphere of reality. Refuse to edit your meetings so that only the polished communicators speak and only the positive stories get told.
Put your family first.
Don't let a workaholic staff intimidate you into becoming a workaholic. Say yes to your family first.
Seek kingdom values.
What are kingdom values?
Time. Have plenty of extra time to spend with students one on one. Refuse to be too busy.
Awareness—sensitivity, empathy, noticing
Audacity—risk, courage, resistance
Intimacy with God
Humility
Grace
. . . . .
Notice: You don't have to confront the system. You can just get close to Jesus, seek intimacy with God, follow kingdom values…and it won't be long until you are out on the street. And guess who will be there with you? You got it…Jesus.
See this site for more information and articles: Youth Specialties
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Thursday, May 08, 2003
Meaning and purpose
Meaning and purpose seem to be all the rage. All of these people looking for thier purpose and meaning within themselves.
I hear people going all around the world to "find themselves". Sheesh, if they asked me I could tell them they never left themselves anywhere. You can't really go anywhere without including yourself!
Don't all these people know that they are not going to find meaning or purpose within themselves? That's like saying a pencil, if it had intelligence, could look at itslef and know what it was made for. It's just silly. Even a created thing has to look to the creator to know it's purpose and meaning. So whay are all these people so confused? If you encounter one of them, just tell them to start lookin' through the owner's manual and they'll figure out what they are here for. Or, even more effective, start talking and asking the CREATOR what thier purpose is....
Meaning and purpose seem to be all the rage. All of these people looking for thier purpose and meaning within themselves.
I hear people going all around the world to "find themselves". Sheesh, if they asked me I could tell them they never left themselves anywhere. You can't really go anywhere without including yourself!
Don't all these people know that they are not going to find meaning or purpose within themselves? That's like saying a pencil, if it had intelligence, could look at itslef and know what it was made for. It's just silly. Even a created thing has to look to the creator to know it's purpose and meaning. So whay are all these people so confused? If you encounter one of them, just tell them to start lookin' through the owner's manual and they'll figure out what they are here for. Or, even more effective, start talking and asking the CREATOR what thier purpose is....
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
You know, I could be walking right beside my daughter, right there with her, and she could still stumble and fall. The point is, it's not just important to be there to try and help avoid the trip, it's also vitally important to be there for my child when they do fall. God never promised us we would not have trials and problems, but He did promise us He would be there to help us through the trial and to stand again after it.