Top Blog Posts of 2010

Thought I'd scroll through the past 12 months and link to my favorite posts of 2010. They are listed in chronological order. See what you think:

Busyness: The Devil's Workshop
IKEA & Toothpaste
Busyness (Part 2)
Interview with Danny & Judy Armstrong
Advice to Public Pray-ers
Why Sin is a Bad Idea
Why the Healthcare Bill Doesn't Bother Me (I got lots of comments on Facebook about this one.)
Interview with Joy Sheraden
New Wine or Kool-Aid?
It's About Time
It's About Time (Part 2)
It's About Time (Part 3)
It's All About the Fundamentals
My Love/Hate Relationship with the Church (Got lots of feedback on this one too.)
Why Money Can't Buy Happiness
What is Discipleship?
Once in a Lifetime?
Do We Really Need More Stuff?
Praying for Your Kids

Lifesaving Door by Door

I originally posted the following in August 2005. I was reminded of it today when I saw a gang pacing up and down our streets making cold calls door-to-door. They looked like the religious type but I'm not completely sure. Our neighborhood seems to be a haven for people going door-to-door to survey, sell, or save.


The Impromptu Football Clinic

I’ve done my fair share of knocking on stranger’s doors in my ministry career. Confrontational evangelism was never my favorite thing to do. I always felt like I was intruding on people’s personal lives when I arrived at their door unannounced between 7 and 8:30 PM on a weeknight. That’s because I was.

I can recall a few victories over the years and I know many churches rely on door-to-door visitation but is it really effective to invade the lives of strangers to share the most important message in the world? Yes, there are periodic victories but how many defeats have there been due to our bad timing? How many forced gospel presentations have hurt the cause of Christ? Wouldn’t non-followers fare better if we took the time to establish a relationship with them instead of bombarding them with the greatest news known to man?

I was reminded of this one day on the beach. My wife and I were in the middle of a wonderful vacation on the Carolina shore enjoying our paperback pursuits when I looked up and saw a father and two boys throwing a football. Of course, this is a common scene at the ocean so there was nothing to note other than the wonderful picture of a father sharing a bond with what appeared to be his two sons. Being an athletic father myself, I stopped and watched them throw the ball around a little. Each boy appeared to be no older than ten-years old. The father was demonstrating how to properly catch the football as they were enjoying the sun and salt air.

Suddenly, their game of catch became an impromptu NFL training camp. A bicycle-riding gentleman in his 60’s approached the trio and obviously felt compelled to stop and share his knowledge of football with the group. Before I knew it, the father and sons were running drills and pass plays on the beach at the command of the Coach who was yelling, clapping and pumping his fist with every perfect play.

“How odd?” I thought. Was this man a NFL scout? A NCAA football coach? A retired high school coach still carrying a passion to share his knowledge? Maybe he was none of these things. Having coached a little football in my past, I knew that the fundamentals that the Coach was showing the young men were sound. How to properly hold the ball. How to catch it. How to do a three-step drop. There was nothing wrong being taught at this spontaneous football clinic. The father played along with the Coach. One boy apparently didn’t want to invest much time into it. He went in for a swim just a few minutes after the session began. The other boy patiently listened and did what the Coach insisted.

Is this what the trio wanted when they started their game of pass? Weren’t they just passing the time away on a lazy day at the beach? Did these boys really have a passion for football? Did they even play organized football? I know they didn’t anticipate Vince Lombardi riding up on a bicycle on the beach and giving them a personal twenty-minute clinic on the fundamentals of throwing and catching a football.

The Coach had the knowledge and obviously had the passion to share his wisdom. Everything that he showed them included proper fundamental football techniques. He apparently knew what he was talking about.

But I had to ask myself, “How was it received? Did the father and sons appreciate the mini-camp experience or did they tolerate it? Don’t they want him to go away?” Chris, the future Hall of Famer who stuck it out the entire time and the only name I picked up throughout the entire event, was tired. He bent over at one point trying to catch his breath. The Coach wore him out in a matter of minutes. When pleasantries were exchanged at the end of the practice and the Coach finally got on his bike to leave, Chris fell into his dad’s arms as they made their way off of the beach to their condo. To hit the showers, I presume.

Is this the effect confrontational evangelists have on people? Do Christians too often bombard people with all of their knowledge of the gospel and life without first building a relationship? Does the confrontational evangelist’s audience just tolerate the twenty-minute impartation of wisdom on life wishing he would go away? Does the reality of the gospel of Christ really sink in over a matter of a few minutes of unannounced coaching?

I confess that I found myself thinking that I was like the Coach many years ago. Thank God I’m in a ministry today where knocking on cold, even warm, doors is discouraged. We let people investigate Christianity and get to know us first before we put on our gospel clinics. I wonder if Chris will ever apply what he learned that day to his football career. I wonder if he played catch with his dad the next day looking over his shoulder for the Coach and on guard ready to run to the ocean if he saw him coming again.

A Christmas Riddle

Once upon a time, a perfect man and a perfect woman met.  After a perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding.  Their life together was, of course, perfect.
     One snowy, stormy Christmas Eve, they were driving their perfect car along a winding road, when they noticed someone at the side of the road in distress.  Being the perfect couple, they stopped to help.
     There stood Santa Claus with a huge bundle of toys.  Not wanting to disappoint any children on the eve of Christmas, the perfect couple loaded Santa and his toys into their vehicle.  Soon they were driving along delivering the toys.
     Unfortunately, the driving conditions deteriorated and the perfect couple and Santa Claus had an accident.  Only one of them survived the accident.
     Who was the survivor? (See answer below.)







Answer:

The perfect woman survived.  She’s the only one who really existed in the first place.  Everyone knows there is no Santa Claus and there is no such thing as a perfect man.  (Women stop reading here.  Men should continue reading for the next answer.)







Second Answer:

If there is no perfect man and no Santa Claus, the perfect woman must have been driving.  This explains why there was an accident.  By the way, if you’re a woman and you’re reading this, this illustrates another point: women never listen either. (FYI: Georgia News and Views)

Strange but True Christmas Story

Be careful if you get a mysterious package in the mail. Here's why:

In 1990, the Wilkinsons, a family in Sussex, England received what they thought was a gift package of herbs from Australian relatives.  They stirred the contents into a traditional Christmas pudding, ate half of it, and put the remainder in the refrigerator.
     Soon after, they heard from their Aunt Sheila that Uncle Eric had died.  She wanted to know if they had received his ashes for burial in Britain.
     The Wilkinsons quickly summoned their priest to bless and bury Uncle Eric’s leftovers.  (The Wall Street Journal, 12/18/90)

A Christmas Story

And there were in the same country, children keeping watch over their stockings by the fireplace.  And, lo, Santa Claus came upon them; and they were sore afraid.  And Santa said unto them; “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people who can afford it.  For unto you will be given great feasts of turkey, dressing, and pies; and many presents; and this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the presents, wrapped in bright paper, lying beneath a tree adorned with tinsel, colored balls, and lights.  And suddenly, there will be with you a multitude of relatives and friends, praising you and saying, ‘Thank you so much, it was just what I wanted.’ 

And it shall come to pass as the friends and relatives have gone away unto their homes, the parents shall say to one another, ‘Wow!  What a mess to clean up!  I’m too tired.  Let’s go to bed and pick it up tomorrow.  Thank goodness Christmas only comes once a year!’  And they go with haste to their beds.”
 

Praying for Your Kids. When It Comes to My Kids, I Only Pray for 3 Things.

At this time, my son is 23 and my daughter will be 21 next month. They are awesome kids! They have been a tremendous joy and a blessing to our lives. We’ve enjoyed them at every stage of life and it is exciting to see them grow up and mature as adults. I’ve been praying for my kids even before they were born. Like every praying parent, I prayed for a long, long list of things for them for many years.

Now, however, I only ask God to give them three things every day. First, I pray for their health. Second, I pray for their protection and safety. Third, I pray that they will be focused on their relationship with God.

I used to pray that they would choose the right influences in life. If they are focused on God, they will.

I used to pray that they would be wise when temptations came their way. If they are focused on God, they will.

I used to pray that they would be wise with their money. If they are focused on God, they will.

I used to pray that they would seek God's will daily. If they are focused on Him, they will.

I used to pray that they would influence those around them. If they are focused on God, they will.

I used to pray that they would grow to be strong disciples of Christ. If they are focused on Him, they will.

When you are focused on the right thing, right things happen.

Does that make sense?

Are you focused on your relationship with God?

Sunday Night Brain Dump

I haven't had a brain dump on here in a long time. A brain dump is just stuff I've been pondering or doing lately.

• I recently read a small book by George Orwell titled, Books v. Cigarettes. It's a collection of essays written in the '40's by the author of 1984. The most moving essay is called How the Poor Die which describes the pitiful conditions of a public hospital in France. The worst part is not that the poor, indigent patients weren't treated well medically, but that they died alone.
• I haven't been posting as much on this site because most of my writing time has been devoted to writing material for a new website that I will unveil early in 2011. Stay tuned.
• The last two weeks at TrueNorth Church may have been the best two Sundays in a long time. Last week, 41 people were baptized. Many different cultural backgrounds and socio-economic groups were represented. A taste of heaven? Today we had our Christmas communion service. Awesome!
• In about 10 days, my baby girl will fly to India for a 2 week mission trip. It's one thing when I go halfway around the world. And it's another thing we my wife goes halfway around the world like she did last July. But it's a whole new thing when your baby daughter flies to Asia. Pray!
• You need to check out Advent Conspiracy and Gifts of Water soon. Make room in your Christmas budget to spend money on others in need, not just you and your family.
• Random question of the day: Why do sportscasters wear suits?
• 95% of all trained Christian workers are in North America. Why?
• Beth and I have watched the last 3 episodes of Sarah Palin's Alaska. That show probably drives Democrats and, especially PETA, crazy. Gotta love the beautiful scenery in Palin's home state though. I think I'll put "Go to Alaska" on my bucket list.

From the Creators of Advent Conspiracy

Questions

Am I doing the things that make me happy?

Are my thoughts of noble character?

How can I simplify my life?

What are my talents?

Does my work satisfy my soul?

Am I giving value to my existence?

How can I improve my life?

(By philosopher Alfred Montapert)

Beware the Thanksgiving Killer

Thanksgiving. Perhaps the greatest feast of the year. A day full of turkey, ham, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, rice and gravy, cream corn, dressing, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, and broccoli casserole, mmm, mmm. And don't forget desserts like red velvet cake, pecan pie, coconut cake, fudge, and chocolate chip cookies.

It is a day of food, family, reflection, and gratefulness. A day to celebrate the past and dream about the future. It is definitely one thing the government got right. A day designated for citizens to stop and be grateful for all of their blessings.

Then the Thanksgiving killer arrives. Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving when Christmas shopping officially begins. Some stores open at 3 AM. Three o'clock in the morning!

Why is Black Friday the Thanksgiving killer? Because on Thanksgiving Day, we think about all that we have and we are grateful. But on the day after Thanksgiving through the rest of the holidays, we focus not on what we have but on what we want.

The Thanksgiving killer is the Christmas commercialism that says we need more. Just when we have a day to be thankful for all of our blessings, the Thanksgiving killers show up and tell us that we will not be happy until we have something more.

Someone wrote, "Half the world is unhappy because it can't have the things that are making the other half unhappy."

Author Steve Brown wrote, "The most unhappy person in the world is not someone who didn't get what he or she wanted. The most unhappy person is the one who got what he or she wanted and then found out that it wasn't as wonderful as expected. The secret of a happy life is not to get what you want but to live with what you've got. Most of us spend our lives concentrating on what we don't have instead of thanking God for what we do have."

Our problem is that we are looking at the Christmas catalogs focusing on what we want rather than looking at our photo albums and rejoicing in what we have!

Beware the Thanksgiving Killer. Don't give in to its temptations to make you believe you need more stuff in order to be happy. I am discovering that less is more.

What about you?

12 Reasons to Always Have Hope

1. God is always with you. (Hebrews 13:5)

2. God loves you as his child. (Romans 8:15-16)

3. God proved his love for you at the cross. (Romans 8:32)

4. God's power is available to you. (Philippians 4:13)

5. God can exceed your highest expectations. (Ephesians 3:20)

6. God understands you and your problem. (Matthew 6:8)

7. God promises to supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)

8. God's grace is sufficient for you. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

9. God works all things together for good. (Romans 8:28)

10. God uses trials to produce maturity. (James 1:2-4)

11. God uses trials to display your faith. (Philippians 2:15)

12. God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

from H. Dale Burke, How to Lead and Still Have a Life

Introducing - A New Way to Stay Organized in 2011

 

I've always been a pretty organized person so you can imagine my frustration over the last couple of years as I've tried to keep my calendar, to-do lists, journals, etc. in 5 different places. Before I got my smartphone, I used a standard DayRunner-type system. The Samsung Blackjack II (pictured below) has been my calendar for the past several years. I back it up on Google Calendar.. My phone is definitely handy and portable but it has limitations. 

I have 3 other things to keep me and my thoughts organized. In the picture at the top, the book on the left is my main source of organization. This book (a blank journal I picked up at Office Depot on clearance for $7) is primarily work-related. It includes my to-do lists, reminders, and other things to remember like notes from important phone conversations, contacts, etc.

The book in the middle is another journal I keep for my writing projects. It includes ideas, thoughts, websites, to-do lists, etc. Anything regarding writing goes in this book.

The third book (far right) is my journal. It includes occasional entries, diaries from trips, and quotes from books that I read or messages I hear. A lot of the quotes that I tweet come from this book.

I've been frustrated as I juggle all of these different things. I haven't found anything on the market that would accommodate my needs. Daily planners (e.g., DayRunners) have too much unnecessary stuff for me and they don't give you a lot of room for journaling. What to do?

I created my own book - Lifelines: A Planner & Journal

I wanted to put everything in one place so I created my own planner/journal. With Lifelines, I can combine my calendar, daily planner, reminders, to-do lists, goals, and journal in one book. A place for everything and everything in its place - all in one place! Whether it's something I need to do before the end of the day or something I want to do before I die, I can keep it here.

It features a monthly calendar spread over two pages with a coil binding so it will lay flat. There are pages for your to-do lists, quotes, annual goals, even your bucket list. Most of it is lined pages for journaling.

I realize that there are plenty of digital tools to use out there like RememberTheMilk.com and teuxdeux.com but I'm not always online. Sometimes it's still easier just to write things down.

I look forward to trying it out in January! How about you? Does this sound like something you could use? I'd love for you to give it a try and let me know. I'm sure that next year I'll tweak it some. For now, it's ready to go for 2011.

Maybe it would make a great Christmas present for the organized people in your life?

A Proud Dad

I've always been proud of my kids but this weekend I've been especially proud. Cliff, my 23 year-old, went without shoes for the past two weeks to raise awareness for Soles4Souls. You can see the fruit of his labor here. His church participated in this ministry event which culminated yesterday and, based on the picture, I would say it was a huge success! If you scroll down below the picture on his site, you can read his entries regarding his shoeless days and the things he learned in the process.

On Friday night, we got a text message from Bailey, our soon-to-be 21 year old daughter. She reported that she would be sleeping outside in the "quad" at her college campus to raise awareness for the homeless. Last Friday night was probably the coldest night of the season so far here. It's even colder where she lives. She just got over a cold this week and the mama and daddy in us thought, "Please don't get sick again," but the missionary spirit in us said, "Go for it!"

I love seeing what God is doing in our kids. They aren't perfect, of course, but it's cool to see them thinking of others instead of themselves. It's the greatest challenge we will ever face, i.e., to let selflessness reign over selfishness. I love it when I see my children take on that challenge.

Thanks for letting me gloat!

Do We Really Need More Stuff?

The following is an excerpt from an article by Judith Fertig titled Less Stuff, More Happiness: How to Transform the Modern Shopping Dilemma. I was especially interested in the history of how we moved from an agrarian lifestyle to a consumer lifestyle.

Keep this in mind as the holiday shopping season nears. We need to seriously ask ourselves if our purchases are wants or needs. Do we shop for sport or for survival?

I took the liberty to bold some parts.

Americans experienced a major paradigm shift in the early part of the 19th century with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Basically, we changed from an agrarian economy, in which most people produced what they consumed, to a manufacturing and services economy, in which people are mostly just consumers.

According to the online Encyclopedia of Earth, the present-day “worker as consumer” worldview was fully entrenched in the United States by the 1920s, when the labor movement stopped advocating a shorter workweek to instead focus on securing better wages and working conditions. The goal was to guarantee more buying power for workers, so that they could purchase more than just the necessities of daily living.

After World War II, this idea got a boost from economist Victor LeBeau, who in 1947 declared, “Our enormously productive economy… demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption. We need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever-accelerating rate.”

It’s perhaps not coincidental that, “Our national happiness peaked in the 1950s,” as related by Annie Leonard in the compelling video The Story of Stuff, just as television began spreading the new philosophy of what Leonard calls “work-watch-spend.” We work to make money, then come home and relax as we watch television. On TV, we see ads that let us know that we could do and be a lot better—if only we had the right product. So, we begin to feel less worthy, go shopping and buy that product that we hope will make us do/become/feel better, and the cycle repeats.

Today, shopping has become firmly entrenched in the American lifestyle. It is used as an antidote to boredom, a substitute for socializing and a quick fix for a disguised emotional need. We continue doing it even when we’re aware that we are buying things we don’t need and can’t afford. The more aware among us also understand that all the stuff we buy and store, and cause to be manufactured and distributed, creates a negative impact on people’s lives and the environment—which leads to even more stress.

You can see Judith Fertig's entire article here.

Every 15 seconds...

One one thousand
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Six one thousand
Seven one thousand
Eight one thousand
Nine one thousand
Ten one thousand
Eleven one thousand
Twelve one thousand
Thirteen one thousand
Fourteen one thousand
Fifteen one thousand

Every 15 seconds a child dies due to water-related issues.

To help, go to giftsofwater.com

George Carlin Baseball vs. Football

I was reminded of George Carlin's classic routine "Baseball vs. Football" last night when I saw the Rangers pitcher leave Game 2 of the World Series with a blister on his finger. Meanwhile, the news in the NFL this week is about Brett Favre playing this week with a fractured ankle.

My Life as a Full-time Writer

For one week each year, usually in October, I take a week of vacation to work on writing projects. This week has been my annual opportunity to live as a full-time writer. I have not slept in as I do on most vacations. I get up early as usual (6:30ish) and go through my normal morning routine, i.e., walk dog, coffee, Bible, prayer, coffee, write. Then I get cleaned up and ready for the day except instead of going to the office, I go to the computer for a full day of writing, reading, editing, revising, pondering, or dreaming.

I could get used to this but I won't. The life of a full-time writer is hard to achieve. The picture of the contemplative writer in his sweater at his desk smoking a pipe leisurely penning crafty phrases and quotable quotes day after day is a fantasy for most writers. Most authors aren't able to work at their craft as a full-time job. It takes years of work to generate enough interest in your work and royalties to make it as a full-timer. Though certainly, many writers are doing it, many more are not.

I'm in an ideal situation because I love my job and calling as a pastor at TrueNorth Church. I have an awesome boss, Stevie D, and a great staff to work with. As one of my co-workers Travis likes to say, "I don't have a job. I get to do ministry for a living."

But I have to say that it would be nice to devote more time to this writing thing. I try to give it at least an hour each morning but it would be awesome to have more time. For now, I must be content with my schedule as it is - and, believe me, I am content. In many ways, I am living the dream!

"So what's going on with the writing career and what is in the works?" only a couple of you may wonder.

Monday, I put the finishing touches (hopefully) on a journal/day-planner that I created. You'll probably hear more about it soon. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I worked on an ebook, 2 Big Questions, 1 Amazing Life, that will be one of the anchors for a new website that I am creating. More about that later too. I will continue to work on that ebook today and tomorrow as well as a second one that is near completion.

I have a novel that is being considered by a small publishing house and a literary agent is taking a look at it too. Agents are usually necessary to get into the larger publishing houses so a contract with her would be huge.

I'm sitting on a non-fiction book that I wrote a long time ago. It has been endorsed by some well-known people. I need to get it out of the computer at some point.

I'm halfway through another novel. Here's the synopsis:

Lesley Crumpler is an 81-year-old white widower and a former minor league baseball teammate of Jackie Robinson who finds himself helping out the baseball team at the local black college. D'Ante Cook is a thug from Washington, DC on the crossroads between a life of crime and a pro baseball career. When tragedy strikes the team, Les and D'Ante have to deal with the sins of their past in order to face the future.

Would you be interested in reading more?

I would LOVE to finish this book - mainly because I want to know what happens!! I don't even know yet. Which is the fun part about writing fiction. You can do whatever you want with the story.

Right now, however, my focus is on a new website. It will be a blog but the focus will be completely different than this. I hope you'll like it and spread the word. It's still a month or two away from going live. It may even be January. I'll let you know.

For now, I'll tarry on. This is my last day of vacation so I need to get busy.

A Life Changing Day

I originally posted this in 2005. Here it is again with a few changes:


32 years ago today, my life changed forever. It was on this day when I understood that if I was going to live a life with meaning and purpose I would need to hand it over to God. So I did. The night before, I called a Christian friend of mine, Richard Smith, and asked him what was up with all the Jesus stuff I'd been hearing about lately. In August 1978, some friends and I went on a fishing excursion one night. None of us were church-goers or religious at the time, but somehow the subject of the second coming of Christ came up. It intrigued me. I didn't know anything about it. I thought he'd already been here once. I didn't know he was coming again!

Later, as the school year progressed, there was a spiritual awakening going on at our school. I didn't realize it at the time but God was up to something as he was getting the attention of a lot of high school kids. A small group of Christian students were making quite an impact on our school. They weren't preachy or holier than thou. They were just loving life and all of those around them. I wanted what they had. My curiosity led me to learn the basics of the gospel and enough interest to attend a youth-oriented revival service at the local First Baptist Church. I attended that night with one of my fishing buddies. I knew that I needed to become a follower of Christ but I was scared. Thus, the call to Richard on the night of October 25.

After my conversation with Rich, I knew what I needed to do. I went to First Baptist again the next night and Don Brock, our youth pastor, showed me the way to Jesus. That one decision has changed my life.

Since becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ, he has blessed me immensely over and over and over again. Has it been easy? No way. The Christian life is not an easy life. But it is the most awesome thing in the universe to have my Creator, who loves me more than I can imagine, leading me every step of the way. I recommend it to everyone.

Where Are You Going?

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice says to the Chesire Cat, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care,” replied Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” responded the Cat.

As with Alice, so it is with us. Without goals and objectives, we have nowhere to go and we’ll just keep wandering aimlessly. Many people make resolutions and goals. Goals give hope. Goals inspire and motivate. To wake up in the morning with a clear objective for the day adds so much more to life. To begin a day with no hope or inspiration makes for a long, dreary day.

The apostle Paul speaks of “pressing on toward the goal” in his New Testament letter to the Philippians (3:14). His goal was to be all that God wanted him to be. That’s not a bad goal for each of us.

What are your goals for today? this week?
Where are you going?

Unconventional Book Tour w/ Chris Guillebeau

Last Sunday night, I drove to the Columbia area to meet author Chris Guillebeau. Chris is a professional blogger with a personal goal to travel to every country in the world before his 35th birthday. (He's getting really close and has about 2.5 years to go.) Chris is an expert "travel hacker," entrepreneur, and writer. He is currently traveling all 50 states during his "Unconventional Book Tour." We met up at a great little coffee shop in Lexington called Jamestown Coffee Company.

Chris' new book is The Art of Non-Conformity.



I told my wife Sunday afternoon that I had a "man-crush" on Chris. I really like his authenticity, transparency, honesty, and overall worldview. I admire how he has become a successful writer in just a few short years too. I was introduced to Chris last June through an article he wrote in Writer's Digest magazine. His blog was also listed in the Top 100 Blogs for Writers in the same issue. I've been intrigued with his stuff ever since. Chris' minimalist mindset, sense of adventure, and ability to say "no" to the American Dream is reminiscent of David Platt's recent book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

Chris' book is written for a general audience (unlike Platt's which is written directly to Christians) but they both cause you to think about your philosophy of life and create questions about what you really want to accomplish with your life. Is life about adventure and fulfilling your purpose and passions or is it about sacrificing adventure for a 30 year mortgage, car payments, credit card debt, and a 9-5 job that you endure rather than enjoy?

In Chris' words, you don't have to live your life the way other people expect you to. For the Christ-follower, we need to be reminded that we are told not to conform to this world (Romans 12:2). If we are going to make a difference, we must live different. I think that is why I am a big fan of Chris' work. He thinks outside the box. We need more people like him around.

Jesus was a non-conformist. Shouldn't we be too?

(For more on David Platt's book, Radical, see my review here.)

Wisdom from C.S. Lewis

I read this today and thought it was worth sharing:

I think that many of us, when Christ has enabled us to overcome one or two sins that were an obvious nuisance, are inclined to feel (though we do not put it into words) that we are now good enough. He has done all we wanted Him to do, and we should be obliged if He would now leave us alone. As we say "I never expected to be a saint, I only wanted to be a decent ordinary chap." And we imagine when we say this that we are being humble.

But this is the fatal mistake. Of course we never wanted, and never asked, to be made into the sort of creatures He is going to make us into. But the question is not what we intended ourselves to be, but what He intended us to be when He made us. He is the inventor, we are only the machine. He is the painter, we are only the picture. How should we know what He means us to be like? You see, He has already made us something very different from what we were. Long ago, before we were born, when we were inside our mothers' bodies, we passed through various stages. We were once rather like vegetables, and once rather like fish: it was only at a later stage that we became like human babies. And if we had been conscious at those earlier stages, I daresay we should have been quite contented to stay as vegetables or fish - should not have wanted to be made into babies. But all the time He knew his plan for us and was determined to carry it out. Something the same is now happening at a higher level. We may be content to remain what we call "ordinary people": but He is determined to carry out a quite different plan. To shrink back from that plan is not humility: it is laziness and cowardice. To submit to it is not conceit or megalomania; it is obedience.

(From Mere Christianity, quoted in A Year With C.S. Lewis, p. 212)

No Limits

(Originally posted in the Fall of 2006)


A few years ago Fast Company magazine profiled Doug Blevins, a man who had aspired all of his life to be an NFL coach. So he started blitzing New York Jets manager Dick Steinberg with faxes detailing the flaws of Cary Blanchard, the Jet’s place kicker at the time. Steinberg was evidently impressed with Blevins’s knowledge of the game and hired him as a kicking consultant in 1994. The amazing thing is that Blevins himself has never attempted a field goal. He’s never punted for any team, on any level, let alone in the NFL. Because he was born with cerebral palsy, he has, in fact, never even walked. (Fast Company, September 2000, 48)

Doug Blevins story should be a reminder to us that there are no limits when we put our minds to something. Most average thinking people would have discounted any possibility that a victim of cerebral palsy could coach in the NFL. If a person’s own will and determination can do that, how much more can we do with Christ at our side! “I can do everything through him that gives me strength” - Philippians 4:13.

God, keep me from being an “average thinker” and give me the strength to realize that, with you, there are no limits

Once in a Lifetime

Have you ever had a "once in a lifetime" experience?

Was it a chance encounter with a celebrity? Maybe you got a hole in one in a golf game. Did you win a contest, championship, or tournament? Maybe it was something like giving birth to your only child or giving your daughter away at her wedding.

If you stop and think about it, you can probably come up with a lot of once in a lifetime experiences. It can be fun or painful to go down memory lane thinking about the times when you did something that you will likely never do again. When these opportunities arise, we should take advantage of them. Savor them. Soak them in. Take in the experience and brand it in your memory banks as much as you can. These experiences become part of the highlight reel of your life.

I was reading Luke 1 Saturday about Zacharias (some Bibles spell his name, Zechariah). Zacharias was a priest, the husband of Elizabeth, and father of John the Baptist. As he was performing his priestly duties in the temple one day, he had two once in a lifetime experiences. First, verse 9 tells us that it was a custom of the priestly office to choose by lot which priest would enter the holiest place in the temple to burn incense. Each priest could do this only one time in his life. At this particular time, Zacharias was chosen. This would have been the ultimate in the career of any priest.

It is no coincidence that during this time of unusual and intimate communion with God that Zacharias had his second once in a lifetime experience. God spoke to Zacharias through an angel. The angel of the Lord announced that his prayers would be answered and that Elizabeth, who had been unable to have a child, will indeed have a son. The angel instructed him to name the boy, John. He would grow to serve God in a special way as a forerunner to the Messiah. Indeed, John the Baptist was a powerful force in the days of the coming of the Messiah. He prepared the people to receive the soon to come Son of God.

If you were to ask Zacharias today which of his once in a lifetime experiences was the most dramatic, I would venture to guess that the day in the holy of holies with the angel of the Lord would be at the top of his list.

What once in a lifetime experiences does God have in store for you this week? Are there any divine appointments awaiting you soon? God brings these encounters to us in his time, of course, but I believe that we can often miss these encounters if we are not spiritually prepared for them. We must be sensitive to his leading and be aware of what he may be trying to show us. Like in Zacharias' case, God often speaks to us during times of intense devotion and close encounters with him.

Are you spending intimate time with God in prayer and devotion? Are you giving him a chance to speak to you?

Two Kinds of Pain

A few months ago, I heard Bill Curry speak at a community-wide luncheon. Curry is a two-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL Pro Bowl player. He coached at several prestigious colleges including the University of Alabama and Georgia Tech. He is currently a commentator for ESPN. During his after dinner speech, Curry said something that I hope I never forget:

There are two kinds of pain - the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. One is temporary. The other lasts forever.

Which kind of pain do you choose? The pain of regret that haunts you forever or the temporary pain of discipline that eventually makes you better?

When I exercise I usually feel it the next day. It is painful but it is a good pain because I know that the result of the uneasiness will benefit me. The pain of discipline is healthy and vital to growth.

All of us have some regrets in our lives. I regret not working harder as a young athlete. I regret giving up the discipline of writing for many years. I regret some dumb decisions that I’ve made. I will die with these regrets – and, I suppose, I will die with even more.

But I don’t want to fill my life with regrets. I would rather fill my life with accomplishments. As much as possible, I want to fulfill the dreams that God has for my life. It will require discipline and it will require pain. But, as Bill Curry said, it is only temporary.

What about you?

Are you willing to endure the temporary pain of discipline in order to avoid the permanent pain of regret?

Out of Focus

There is a legend that surrounds the Taj Mahal in India. The Taj Mahal is one of the architectural wonders of the world. The emperor and builder of this masterpiece was Shah Jahan who ruled from 1628-1658. His wife, known as Taj Mahal, died in 1631. The Shah was devastated. He resolved to honor her by constructing a temple that would serve as her tomb. The coffin was placed on a large piece of land and construction of the temple began around the coffin. No expense would be spared to make her final resting place magnificent.

The weeks turned into months and the months into years. It took 22 years and twenty thousand people to complete the project. The Shah’s grief was overshadowed by his passion for the project. He no longer mourned her absence. The construction project consumed him. One day, while walking from one side of the construction site to the other, his leg bumped against an old, dusty, wooden box. While the prince, miffed at the ugly, dirty box, brushed the dust off his leg, he ordered a worker to throw the box out.

The Shah didn’t know he had ordered the disposal of his wife’s coffin that had been forgotten and hidden beneath layers of dust and time. The one the temple was intended to honor was forgotten, but the temple was erected anyway.

How many times do we lose focus on the things that ought to be dear to us because of other pressing needs? Be careful that the urgent things don’t always overshadow the important things in life.

The Simple Life

This is probably my favorite story of all time. I've posted it on this blog a couple of times at least. It is the first entry in my first book, Timely Words. There is just so much wisdom in this story. In case you've never read it, here it is again:

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a little boat with one fisherman docked with a slim catch.

The American asked him, “Why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?”

The Mexican replied, “This is all I need to support my family for a few days.”

“But what do you do with the rest of your time?” the American inquired.

“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I dine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed at the Mexican. “Listen. I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this little village and move to Mexico City or even New York City where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

“But how long will this take?” the fisherman asked.

“About 15-20 years,” responded the expert.

“But what then?”

The American laughed. “That is the best part…when the time is right you would sell your company stock and become rich.”

“Rich,” the Mexican dreamed aloud. “Then what?”

The businessman said, "Then you could retire, move to a small coastal village and sleep late, fish a little, play with your grandkids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings and play the guitar with your friends."

What is Discipleship?

A friend and church member approached me a couple of months ago and asked me to disciple him. I agreed so we planned to get together this month for lunch to come up with a course of action. We met yesterday and discussed what it takes to become a more mature follower of Jesus.

But lately, I've been asking myself, "What is discipleship?" What does it really mean and how does one become a disciple?

(Note: I couldn't resist the cheesy picture generated by Google Images when I typed in the word "disciple.")

Years ago, if you asked me that question, my answer would have involved books, courses, and specific Bible studies. My approach to any subject is usually an academic, curriculum-based approach since I like to read. But I realize that reading is drudgery for some people so to point them to a book in order to gain spiritual maturity is like leading them into an abyss of misery. Guys, especially, tend not to read as much as women so it's even more difficult to disciple men in my experience.

There is another school of thought on discipleship out there. It's the philosophy that "more is caught than taught." No doubt, this philosophy works too. This was one of the methods Jesus used with his disciples. This method says that if you do life with people and let them see how you walk with Jesus everyday, they will become more mature from watching your life. As people glean things from your life, some of it will transfer over to them. While there is truth to that statement, deep down, I still believe that you have to read something in order to grow. But that's just me.

The problem with this method is that I don't know many guys that can just hang out with me a lot. Will having lunch with me every other week be enough? Probably not. Most disciples can't spend a lot of time with their disciplers and truly do life together. So the rub with the "more is caught than taught" philosophy is a matter of time.

I guess I should stop here and ask, "What does it mean to be a disciple?" The word "disciple" means "pupil" or "learner." So when someone says, "I want to be discipled" they are saying, "I want to learn."

So maybe the answer to the question of how to become a disciple is answered with another question. "How do you learn best?" Now you're getting somewhere. If you're a reader, read. If you learn by doing hands-on things, get busy. If you prefer watching and listening, find someone that will feed you.

In my experience over the years, the Church has limited discipleship only to those willing to read and attend extra classes. That is a mistake. We must do a better job of discipling people. After all, isn't that the Great Commission? "Make disciples of all nations," Jesus said. He didn't say make church members of all nations. He didn't say make churches in all nations. He said make disciples.

Chew on this today: The printing press was invented in the 15th century. Until then, copies of the Bible were rare and usually kept by the clergy. Christians didn't have their own personal study Bibles at their bedside. Most of them probably didn't know how to read anyway! So how did Christians make disciples during the first 1500 years of the Church's existence?

We ended our lunch yesterday without a specific plan. I'm still "chewing" on it (how to disciple my friend, not lunch.) I suggested to him that the Christian life is a journey. We will never completely arrive at spiritual maturity. But the key, I think, is to make progress everyday. Have some habit or discipline in your life that will take you one step closer to spiritual maturity. Be a life-long learner. The tools used are not the most important thing. The most important thing is this: Are you being a pupil of Christ? That, ultimately, is what a disciple is.

What to do with Naysayers

Hall monitors tell you how to do things. Naysayers tell you that you cannot do things.

Naysayers will say that what you are dreaming has never been done before. They will tell you that your plans have been tried before with no success. They will cite the accounts of others who fell flat on their faces when they tried a scheme like yours.

Naysayers are experts at shooting down any and all ideas that do not conform to convention. Like hall monitors, naysayers do not like different.

Naysayers will tell you that you need to get real and that you need to get your head out of the clouds. They will find everything that is wrong with your life and your dreams. They will have advice for what you should do with your life as opposed to what you want to do.

Naysayers are often unhappy. They are dream quenchers. They are like rain on a parade. They like to stand by and critique other lives. They are afraid to seek their own dreams and goals so they sit in the corner and complain about what everyone else is doing wrong.

Disregard the Naysayers too.

How do you handle the Hall Monitors and Naysayers in your life? They will be family, friends, and coworkers. They will be people that you love and care about. They will be people whose advice you’ve taken before. What should you do when these people criticize your ideas or shoot down your dreams?

First, be nice. Receive their advice. Thank them for thinking of you. Tell them that you will consider what they say (and truly do so – it may help you formulate your plans). Do not argue but make your case if it’s necessary. Remember that they don’t think like you. They are stuck in a box called conformity. You are trying to break out of that box.

If Hall Monitors and Naysayers cause you to doubt, go back to those people who encourage and inspire you to pursue your dreams. Read their books, blogs, or websites. Take them to lunch. Revisit your dreams and goals and consider your progress. Determine to do something that day to take one more bite out of that elephant!

What to do with Hall Monitors

When I was in elementary school we began each morning walking down the halls to our classrooms listening to our peers who had been appointed hall monitors. I think I was a hall monitor in the fourth grade. Hall monitors were fellow students strategically placed in the halls of the school to maintain order in the corridors. Hall monitors repeatedly gave the same command.

“Single file line. One behind the other.”

It was a chant that began the daily ritual of school. You would hear this chant repeated over and over in various voices and tones as you proceeded to your classroom. To be a hall monitor was an honor. You had to be a good student in order to be appointed this prestigious position. Hall monitors were important because they kept everyone in line and they made sure that every student walked down the right side of the halls. They made sure that everyone conformed to the rules.

Some adults are still hall monitors.

Hall monitors love conventional methods. They like the tried, tested, and true ways of doing things. They believe that everyone should conform to the same path using the same methods. Their methods are sound. There is nothing really wrong with their strategies for living. Millions of people have conformed to the lifestyle of the hall monitors and have succeeded.

The problem with hall monitors is that they expect everyone to do the same thing.

“Single file line. One behind the other.”

Hall monitors attack you if you don’t stay in line with the rest of the crowd. They don’t like it when you walk backwards down the hall or shoulder-to-shoulder with a friend or on the left side or, God forbid, you run down the hall!

Hall monitors like to control those around them. They like to tell you what to think. They don’t like people who break the rules or change the system. They want to tell you what to do. They are threatened when someone comes along with a different way of doing things. They want to tell you what you can and cannot do. Even if your way is better, it is seen with skepticism because it is different.

Hall monitors don’t like different.

Why do I tell you this? Because sometimes if you are going to make a difference you have to be different. You will run into your share of hall monitors. They will question you. They will correct you. They may harass you. They will tell you that you are going about this the wrong way. They will think you are crazy or you’ve “lost it.”

Disregard the hall monitors.

Technology is wreaking havoc on the publishing industry today. Authors are discovering that they don’t always need traditional publishers. Digital technology allows authors to upload a book and have it printed the same day as opposed to the archaic method that traditional publishers offer using 20^th century printing presses which may take up to a year or more.

Popular author Seth Godin recently announced that he will no longer use a traditional publisher. William P. Young, the author of The New York Times bestseller, The Shack, was rejected over and over by traditional publishers. The general publishing market thought his novel was too Christian. Christian publishers thought his theology was sketchy. No one wanted to touch it. Young and two friends decided to publish it themselves and the book became a huge success.

The hall monitors say that Godin and Young are breaking the rules. Godin and Young make the hall monitors in the publishing industry really nervous.

Be aware that you will have hall monitors in your life telling you how you should conform on this journey. You don’t have to do things like they’ve always been done. You don't have to fit into the hall monitor's box.

Those who make a difference in this world typically ignore the hall monitors.

A New Perspective

A businessman had an angel come to visit him who promised to grant him one request. The man requested a copy of The New York Times one year in the future. As he was studying the future prices on the New York Stock Exchange, he boasted of his plans and the increased riches that would be his as a result of this "insider" look into the future.

He then glanced across the newspaper page only to see his own name in the obituary column. Suddenly, money wasn't so important.

Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom. - Psalm 90:12

His Grace is Enough

"Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me..." Ephesians 3:8

The apostle Paul was the writer of the letter to the Ephesian church. He recognized that he was nothing without Christ. In this passage, he mentions how unworthy and sinful he is. Paul realized he was dirty in his sins and that he was a small speck in this vast universe. He understood that he could be easily overlooked by God and rightly so.

We have granted Paul sainthood. Many say he was the greatest among Christians. Don't tell him that.

Paul knew just how lowly and sinful he was. It is easy to pump ourselves up and think we've got it all together. In a wealthy country, in a healthy church, with well-adjusted kids, I can easily sit back and bask in my own glory and think I've deserved my lot in life.

I deserve nothing.

It is God's grace and only God's grace that allows me to breathe my next breath. It is God's grace that gives me hope. It is God's grace that allows me to see another minute. I do not deserve one bit of God's grace but he has chosen to give it all to me.

Not just a portion, not a taste - but all.

For that, I am humbled like Paul. God, don't let me forget your grace is given to me fully and completely. Don't let me forget that your grace is enough. It is all I need.

What Do You Value?

Do you ever stop and evaluate your values?

Your values are those relationships and things that are most important to you. Values are not accomplishments to be scratched off a bucket list but instead they are those people or things in your life that you want to maintain as priorities in your life.

Your values are constant. They are not to be sacrificed for any dream, goal, or action step. Your values are the things that keep you grounded. They are the foundation of who you are.

To serve as an example, here are the 9 values in my life that I wrote down on December 11, 1995:

1. Maintain a close relationship with God
2. Maintain a close relationship with my wife
3. Maintain a close relationship with my kids
4. Maintain a close relationship with my family
5. Have close friends
6. Enjoy good health
7. Enjoy financial security
8. Contribute time, knowledge, and money to others
9. Control my own business affairs
10. Travel

Your values may be completely different. Obviously, relationships are most valuable to me. The first five values on my list include relationships in my life. They have been prioritized in a specific order. The values at the top are more valuable than those at the bottom. God, family, and friends are more important to me than financial concerns. Some people want to get rich at any cost but what is it to get rich with no close friends or family? I think it's useless and meaningless.

The purpose of this list is to give you a foundation for the rest of your life. Your values may not be sacrificed for your dreams. For example, many of my dreams involve travel. Travel is also one of the things I value. But I will not travel without my wife or my wife's blessing. If I chose to take off on trips by myself or without her approval, my relationship with my wife would be jeopardized. In fact, I would travel by myself a LOT if I were to do it without her involvement! My marriage is more important than my dreams. In addition, because financial security is important, I will not compromise my finances for the sake of travel. I could easily travel the world and accumulate thousands of dollars in credit card debt but I will not do that because I value financial security over travel.

Your values keep you grounded. Writing down your values keeps you focused. Consider the things that are most important to you, prioritize them, document them, then put them in a safe place and revisit them every once in a while.

It will be a "valuable" experience.

Life Questions

• If your life was absolutely perfect, how would it look to you?

• What are your priorities?
• What do you value the most?
• What do you want to accomplish?
• What are you missing in life right now that is important to you?
• What are you passionate about?
• What do you want your life to look like in ten years? Twenty? Thirty?
• What gifts, talents, and abilities do you have that are not being used well, if at all?
• What are you willing to die for?

Real, Relevant, or Both?

Here's a thought-provoking blog post from one of my seminary professors. You can follow Dr. Dan Crawford here.

August 16th, 2010 by Dr. Dan

Recent studies have shown that as high as 70% of young Protestant adults between the ages of 18 and 22 have stopped attending church regularly. How could this happen? We tried so hard to reach them – with slick slogans, casual worship clothing, shorter sermons accompanied with power point pictures and video clips, upbeat music with live band on stage, no more welcoming of visitors, entertainment that almost matched the theater district, low lights and bright spot lights, etc. While there is nothing inherently wrong with any of the above methods, the relevant must be matched with the real. Young adults have been raised in a culture of distrust, dysfunction, and distaste. They are looking for something and someone that is real. The wrappings can be flashy or faded, but the contents must be authentic and genuine. Paul asked, “Do you look at things according to the outward appearance” (2 Cor. 10:7)? Could it be that we focused on the outward to the exclusion of the inward and in our zealous attempt to be relevant, we failed to be real?

How Much Allowance Should My Kids Receive?

I was going through some financial files today when I ran across the checklist I used to record when I gave our kids their monthly allowance. If you ask them, they will tell you that it wasn't really monthly because I would usually forget to give it to them until they reminded me about it every couple of months or so.

Our kids are adults now, but back in the day when we felt it necessary to give them allowances the obvious question was: How much should we give them?

Somewhere along the way I read or heard about this formula. It worked for us, maybe it will work for you.

5 cents per day X age X 30 days = monthly allowance

In other words, we paid each child a nickel a day (just for breathing air!) times their age. So if the child is 10 years old, he gets 50 cents per day.

.05 X 10 = 50 cents

Then multiply .50 X 30 days = $15 per month

They get a raise on their birthdays. When they turn 11 the monthly figure becomes $16.50 per month.

.05 X 11 = 55 cents X 30 days = $16.50 per month

Of course, you can plug in any number you want in place of the daily nickel. Your kid may be worth 10 cents a day X their age. If that's the case, then you'll give your 10 year-old $30 per month.

It worked for us! See what you think.

The Secret to a Happy Life

I don’t believe that pursuing stuff is the key to a full and happy life. Material things burn, rust, and wear out. They are fun for awhile but then we want something else. We’ve allowed ourselves to be easily swayed into believing that stuff will make us happy.

Dave Ramsey, the author of Financial Peace, considers this mentality a disease called “Stuff-itis.” It’s a disease we all have. We are tricked into believing that happiness comes from a thing or an event.

Think of the happiest people you know and list their qualities and character traits. Your list will probably look something like this:

• Love for God
• Love for family
• Love for others
• Content
• Hard-working
• Honest
• Humble
• Integrity
• Optimistic
• Patient
• Peace
• Prayerful
• Purposeful
• Thankful
• Values
• Worry-free

People are happy not because of what they have on the outside but because of who they are on the inside. The American Dream is consumed with stuff on the outside. Happiness and fulfillment comes from within.

A full life comes from realizing who you are in God’s eyes. When you understand that you are precious to your Creator, your perspective changes. God loves you more than you can imagine. You are totally accepted by Him, not because of anything you have done, but because of what He has done for you through Christ.

All you have to do is accept God’s gift of grace – Jesus the Savior.

This is a transformation that may take place instantaneously or it may be a slower process, but once you understand your worth and value to the God of the universe, you will never be the same.

And you will be happy.

Your life will be fulfilling and full of purpose. Your life will center on who you are more than what you have. You will value relationships over possessions. You will find contentment. You will worry less and love more. This is the secret to a happy life: Know who you are in God’s eyes.

Are You Making Footprints or Butt Prints?

Tom Sirotnak, author of Ultimate Warriors, wrote about a feisty, quick-witted 104-year-old man named Walt Jones. Jones lived life with zeal as explained here:

Walt outlived his third wife, to whom he was married for 52 years. When she died, someone said to Walt that it must be sad losing such a long-time friend. His response was, "Well, of course it was, but then again it may be for the best. She kind of petered out on me in the last decade."

Walt went on to explain that he wanted to purchase a motor home to visit all 48 of the contiguous states ten years earlier, when he was 94. His wife wouldn't hear of it, using excuses that, at his age, he would get them killed, they would fall victims to violent crime, or they would die and there wouldn't be a funeral parlor around. Walt persisted, "I'd like to make footprints in the sands of time before I check out. But you can't make footprints in the sands of time if you're sitting on your butt...unless you want to make butt prints in the sands of time."

What about you? Are you taking advantage of your time? Are you making a difference? Are you a player on the field or a spectator in the stands? Are you warming a pew at church or are you on fire for Jesus?

Are you making footprints or butt prints in the sands of time?

You Can Do This If You Work For Sega

I wonder if they did all of this work during office hours?

Every Life Has a Story

From Chick-Fil-A:

Are You Asking the Right Question?

Last weekend, I spoke at a Missions Conference in Guatemala. One of my topics was "How to be a World Changer." As I was writing this message, I determined that Christians who had a strong worldview and passion for evangelism and ministry ask themselves the right question. "Typical Christians" (for lack of a better word) ask themselves the wrong question.

The Typical Christian asks, "What is my vision for my life and how can God bless it?"

The World Christian (or World Changer) asks, "What is God's vision for my life and how can I bless Him?"

The Typical Christian wants to do their own thing. They want to live by their own agenda, by their rules, with their goals, and at their pace. The Typical Christian wants the American Dream and God's blessing on it. It is a very self-centered life. It's all about them. It's the mindset that if you go to church a few times a month, keep your nose clean, put some money in the offering plate, and act the part of the good Christian man or woman, you're good.

I disagree.

The World Christian submits to God's leading and authority in everything. They seek God's agenda for their life. They live by God's rules. They seek God's goals. They live at the pace that God has designated for them. They live with the understanding that God has blessed them immensely through Jesus and anything else is undeserved. It is a very selfless life.

The World Christian sees the big picture of God's purpose for the world. The World Christian cries out on behalf of the over 2 billion people on the planet who have never heard of Jesus Christ. They pray for the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). They support missions and missionaries. They mobilize others to meet the world's needs and sound the alarm for global concerns. They go. Whether to a people group on the other side of town or another country, they go to assist in making Jesus known to every tribe, every tongue, and every nation (Revelation 5:9).

Which one are you? Are you asking the right question?