Do numbers really matter? Well after 34 years of life i think so. I am very grateful of a few things.
I am....
thankful to be alive!
humbled to serve in G-d's Kingdom for over 17 years
grateful for my beautiful wife and best friend for over 16 years
grateful for my wonderful kids! My padawan, knucklehead, and wing man
grateful to have friends. Some that will be part of my life until...
grateful to experience life with others as we journey to follow Christ
grateful for the numbers G-d allows me to count.
(a great song to listen to Hezekiah Walker & LFC - Grateful)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Memories
Memories
Good Memories are a tool to build lasting community. But to have memories you must be involved and committed to something.
This past weekend I was fortunate to develop some lasting memories.
Etched in my mind our great times I see happening around Stockbridge Assembly.
The Couples Retreat was a great time of community and relaxation.
· Breakfast lasted 2 ½ hours the first day.
· Hiked to the top of Georgia. In flip flops.
· Anna Ruby Falls was beautiful.
· Bad music is bad music everywhere.
The Church Family Picnic was huge. What a great time
· Such a sense of community
· Serving others like never before.
· Lots of fried chicken
· Lions tigers bears oh my
I love having good memories
What are you committed to and what kind of memories are you making?
Good Memories are a tool to build lasting community. But to have memories you must be involved and committed to something.
This past weekend I was fortunate to develop some lasting memories.
Etched in my mind our great times I see happening around Stockbridge Assembly.
The Couples Retreat was a great time of community and relaxation.
· Breakfast lasted 2 ½ hours the first day.
· Hiked to the top of Georgia. In flip flops.
· Anna Ruby Falls was beautiful.
· Bad music is bad music everywhere.
The Church Family Picnic was huge. What a great time
· Such a sense of community
· Serving others like never before.
· Lots of fried chicken
· Lions tigers bears oh my
I love having good memories
What are you committed to and what kind of memories are you making?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Leadership Acts 2
I had a few interesting thoughts about leadership from Acts 2.
·They were all together- The fathers of the first church were all together. There was unity and one focus. And out of this unity and focus something amazing happened, the church was birthed. That alone speaks volumes - Togetherness births Greatness.
·They spoke in different languages – Leaders need to know or need to learn how to speak other languages. This may not be a foreign language however you need to communicate clearly to everyone listening. If you are speaking a language (communicating) that the listener does not get then the leader is not leading.
·Peter stood WITH the 11 – once again we see a sense of unity and community. Peter stood in authority with the rest of the 11. Community of leaders. The others didn’t speak - maybe because Peter had it under control and they were supporting him. How often do leaders stand alone without support? As a leader you need to stand with likeminded leaders to see something great. Don’t go at it alone.
·Peter raised his voice – Leaders have something to say. Leaders are not quiet. Leaders need to speak. However, leaders need to understand timing. Peter did not say a word until the men that gathered asked a question. Timing is everything. There are times to be quiet and there are times to speak, leaders know the difference.
·Peter declared – He spoke very clearly about this new message of Christ. He was confident in the message. There was no question as to what he believed. The message was in him. When a leader speaks he/she needs to be sold on what they are saying. It needs to come from deep within.
·3000 were added – people will follow a leader that knows how to communicate passion and clear message.
I pray G-d help me be a leader that can stand on an opportunity and speak clearly the message in my heart.
·They were all together- The fathers of the first church were all together. There was unity and one focus. And out of this unity and focus something amazing happened, the church was birthed. That alone speaks volumes - Togetherness births Greatness.
·They spoke in different languages – Leaders need to know or need to learn how to speak other languages. This may not be a foreign language however you need to communicate clearly to everyone listening. If you are speaking a language (communicating) that the listener does not get then the leader is not leading.
·Peter stood WITH the 11 – once again we see a sense of unity and community. Peter stood in authority with the rest of the 11. Community of leaders. The others didn’t speak - maybe because Peter had it under control and they were supporting him. How often do leaders stand alone without support? As a leader you need to stand with likeminded leaders to see something great. Don’t go at it alone.
·Peter raised his voice – Leaders have something to say. Leaders are not quiet. Leaders need to speak. However, leaders need to understand timing. Peter did not say a word until the men that gathered asked a question. Timing is everything. There are times to be quiet and there are times to speak, leaders know the difference.
·Peter declared – He spoke very clearly about this new message of Christ. He was confident in the message. There was no question as to what he believed. The message was in him. When a leader speaks he/she needs to be sold on what they are saying. It needs to come from deep within.
·3000 were added – people will follow a leader that knows how to communicate passion and clear message.
I pray G-d help me be a leader that can stand on an opportunity and speak clearly the message in my heart.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday
Sunday Sunday (echoing voice)
It seems each week is as great as the week before. This week we were honored to have the Thrive band lead in worship and they did a superb job. Also it is always nice to have Jon Fennel with us.
What a great day!
The message yesterday has provoked some thought and I would like to talk about. Acts 2
There are so many lessons that can be learned from the birth of the first church. However I am intrigued about the action of the Holy Spirit that day and the response from the crowd.
I have been in “Pentecost” all my life and deeply believe in the power of the Living G-d. I love to see how the Holy Spirit guides, directs and even convicts sin. I also love to see the power of the Spirit in healing, miracles, words of wisdom etc.
My interest though is on the response of the crowd that day of Pentecost. If you read in Acts 2:37 the crowd that heard and saw what was going on were pierced to the heart and then asked “what shall we do?”
Wow! That is totally different than responses that you hear about today. I don’t want to even think about the number of people that have come to a Pentecostal church and seen the out pouring of the Holy Spirit and left with a vow to never come back. And most of the fearful attendees rarely darken a door of any church. Sounds a little different than Acts 2. WHY?
Did fear strike the attendee and cause her to shut down? Maybe. Or maybe he was not open to G-d. IDK. But what I do see in Acts is that the crowd was captivated that day and pierced to the heart to change.
Could it be that in this modern day of religion we have lost a sense of the Power of the Spirit? Could it be that we use the Spirit to promote our super spiritual agendas? Could it be that some of the time when we say this is a “move of the spirit” it is actual a move of the flesh? Can I as a Pentecostal person just say the Spirit made me do it with no regards to any person?
The most outstanding picture I see in Acts 2 is found in verse 41. 3000 people said yes to Jesus. Why? Because of the power of the Holy Spirit! A power that brings people in instead of running them off. A power that transcends culture, race and age. A power that unifies. A power that reaches the lost!
Any thoughts
It seems each week is as great as the week before. This week we were honored to have the Thrive band lead in worship and they did a superb job. Also it is always nice to have Jon Fennel with us.
What a great day!
The message yesterday has provoked some thought and I would like to talk about. Acts 2
There are so many lessons that can be learned from the birth of the first church. However I am intrigued about the action of the Holy Spirit that day and the response from the crowd.
I have been in “Pentecost” all my life and deeply believe in the power of the Living G-d. I love to see how the Holy Spirit guides, directs and even convicts sin. I also love to see the power of the Spirit in healing, miracles, words of wisdom etc.
My interest though is on the response of the crowd that day of Pentecost. If you read in Acts 2:37 the crowd that heard and saw what was going on were pierced to the heart and then asked “what shall we do?”
Wow! That is totally different than responses that you hear about today. I don’t want to even think about the number of people that have come to a Pentecostal church and seen the out pouring of the Holy Spirit and left with a vow to never come back. And most of the fearful attendees rarely darken a door of any church. Sounds a little different than Acts 2. WHY?
Did fear strike the attendee and cause her to shut down? Maybe. Or maybe he was not open to G-d. IDK. But what I do see in Acts is that the crowd was captivated that day and pierced to the heart to change.
Could it be that in this modern day of religion we have lost a sense of the Power of the Spirit? Could it be that we use the Spirit to promote our super spiritual agendas? Could it be that some of the time when we say this is a “move of the spirit” it is actual a move of the flesh? Can I as a Pentecostal person just say the Spirit made me do it with no regards to any person?
The most outstanding picture I see in Acts 2 is found in verse 41. 3000 people said yes to Jesus. Why? Because of the power of the Holy Spirit! A power that brings people in instead of running them off. A power that transcends culture, race and age. A power that unifies. A power that reaches the lost!
Any thoughts
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Need
You need people to share in the dream. I would dare to say if you can do it yourself then the dream is not big enough.
Your dream is like a canvas and you begin to draw with a pencil a rough drawing. If your dream is ever going to be something others will enjoy you need color. Family, friends and even strangers add color to your dream. Family guides you like primary colors, friends blend like secondary colors, and strangers add surprise color. Without the color you have just a rough sketch of the dream.
When others begin to share the dream it grows into something beautiful. Sometimes it grows beyond what you can even think or imagine. Let someone share in your dream.
Side note: Many shared in the dream this past Easter weekend at Stockbridge Assembly. It was a beautiful work of art!! It was more then I imagined. (Thank You Lord)
Your dream is like a canvas and you begin to draw with a pencil a rough drawing. If your dream is ever going to be something others will enjoy you need color. Family, friends and even strangers add color to your dream. Family guides you like primary colors, friends blend like secondary colors, and strangers add surprise color. Without the color you have just a rough sketch of the dream.
When others begin to share the dream it grows into something beautiful. Sometimes it grows beyond what you can even think or imagine. Let someone share in your dream.
Side note: Many shared in the dream this past Easter weekend at Stockbridge Assembly. It was a beautiful work of art!! It was more then I imagined. (Thank You Lord)
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