July 24, 2007

Forward Living


More Sessions I was on Tony Morgans website today and I was struck by something Mark Beeson said Granger Church - here it is
""No one ever drifts to greatness. Want to be a great musician? Methodical practice is required. Do you long for athletic prowess? You must train, and train methodically. Building a great marriage, a great family, a great friendship or a great career requires the ongoing discipline of methodical effort. Wesley had it right; the methodical practice of scriptural holiness is the way to maturity.

"Just as God calls us into community, Wesley called his “awakened” to live in community. Iron sharpens iron and Wesley knew the best strategy for discipleship included the honesty (and sharpening effect) of Christ-centered friendships." --Mark Beeson, senior pastor of Granger Community Church as quoted on LeadingSmart.com
In case you've missed it Tim's blog has a series of posts taken from an interview with Mark Beeson that will challenge your personal spiritual development and your ministry strategy.


Wow! So what am I doing to grow!

Thank you Tony and Mark for pushing us forward - lets live forward and boldly!

It is good to know We can through God - Lets get Crooked

The team

Life is wild isn't it! Everyday I do feel like it is another session with Jesus - a session to learn and grow.

Today's lesson for me was a hard and good lesson.

So here it is:

As some of you know I wake up early (between 4 and 5) every day so, with some knowing that - enter Rachel (our business manager) said we need coffee before the youth group goes to Houseboats - I said I will pick it up - so here is where the story gets wild and for me a teachable learning session.

Rachel (she is so on top of it) - she calls in the order - I didn't realize that even though I should know she told me, in fact she is not wrong (I cant think of a time that I have known her (2 years almost)where she has been wrong).

So I went to another Starbucks got part of the order done (a list of 15+ drinks)when she texts me hey I called it in to 122 (arrgggh!) why did I not listen instead of doing my own thing - for me that is teaching moment
1 - why don't I listen to those that are helping me achieve success - in leadership I get remenided that it is a stewardship - it is temporary and I am accountable to it ( I am sure I got that from somewhere else recently but it hit me in the face) when God places people in your life to help you use them - listen to them and watch what will happen - they are not there by chance but by God for his purposes even if you don't realize that or accept that.

Second lesson - I am bringing the coffee to the adults going on the trip (they all rock) but they all said thank you to me but I took it and said your welcome and I missed it I BLEW CHUNKS - I should have said - "guys it was Randy and Rachel's idea I am just the team member who picks up coffee". I took it for me not for the team.

I blew a team moment. I know this is ramblings but I need to make sure that I understand what I missed because those moments are few and far between - moments to lift up others I work with who work there asses off and love the Lord and that are doing a great job for his glory - people I could not do ministry without!

God forgive me for missing your moment!

I don't want to miss those anymore with anyone!

Team is so important - living out the team - working together in tandem leadership.

Cease the day!

Change




Change - what does it really mean?

How do describe change?

Change in home. marriage, the work place, personal, life change?




Change - I see it in my kids lives happen so quickly as the grow - as they learn, but what about me - how am I experiencing it in my life?

I guess that is the question of the day for me!

July 3, 2007

Harmless Living



No more Harmless Living!

I am reminded today the way that Go wants to restore and have us realize who we are (I am)in God.

David was a young Sheppard boy who knew God was bigger that Goliath all of Isreals great army was afraid watching the fight in fear - thats me sometimes wanting to fight but living in fear. No more fear God knows my fights my battles and my issues and He is bigger than them all!

No more living in fear live like there is no tomorrow - only heaven - get crooked (Ecc 7:13)!

Random thoughts in the morning!

Wives/Friends

I love my wife!

I was thinking about what a blessing it is to do life with my best friend. Boy, I sure do make a mess out of life but when I look at my family I realize God loves me and showers me with his grace.

What a day and a blessing!

Earl blumenhaur - Hi Earl read the article in the Oregonian

Simple Pleasures


This summer - The theme is and has been

"SIMPLE PLEASURES"

We are doing our best to enjoy "the simple" - the things that we so easily can take for granted (fresh cut grass, blow up pools, ice cream, a fire in the patio fireplace at night, great coffee at night, reading the paper in the morning sun, eating outside 1 meal everyday" those things that are so easily missed.

I want my boys to not take for granted the simple (like the picture playing in Salmon Creek Fountain in downtown Portland).

What are you missing - the simple, why and how can you find it and enjoy it?

Go experience the simple!

Summer Days and Simple Pleasures



This summer - The theme is and has been
"SIMPLE PLEASURES"


We are doing our best to enjoy "the simple" - the things that we so easily can take for granted (fresh cut grass, blow up pools, ice cream, a fire in the patio fireplace at night, great coffee at night, reading the paper in the morning sun, eating outside 1 meal everyday" those things that are so easily missed.

I want my boys to not take for granted the simple (like the picture playing in Salmon Creek Fountain in downtown Portland).

What are you missing - the simple, why and how can you find it and enjoy it?

Go experience the simple!

The Day!

Here is the verse for the day:
“In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.”
This verse makes me think of what I got to participate in this week with a bunch of people from our church - proclaiming who God is!
What a great time on the Fourth!

Our Church had an event that it helped serve thousands - I loved it!

we gave out over 3000 bottles of water
2400 Glowsticks
fed over 300
Now that is priceless!

It is so good to be involved in a church like Abundant Life!

On the Fifth I worked a bit and then hung out in the pool with the boys!

Then met with a couple who is getting married - good times.

Today will be barkdust and yard work!

Oregon summers are the best in this country (all 45 days of it) so lets get at it!

Cheers!

Children and Leadership




My children picked these on this week and had no idea that these are what carrotts looked like (I have been in suberbia to long).

We should go off and live off the land - NO WAY! My idea of living off the land is picking up dropped food and eating it or cold In & Out.

I love kids and all that they do they make me realize who I am and where I reall Stand!


I found this info off of another blog


Reading from Erwin McManus’ Seizing Your Divine Moment this morning. He has some GREAT stuff to say about…

Influence:

“We understand the difference between authority and influence when we watch our children grow up. What your children act like when they’re under your authority is very different from who they become as a result of your influence. Many parents become broken-hearted when they realize that their influence on their children is at best minimal, at worst inconsequential, compared to the influence of others in their lives. I am convinced that great parenting is all about influence. It is more about shaping values than it is setting boundaries.“
“Influence is rooted in character - who we are and who we are becoming. Influence transfers best and moves most quickly whenever respect and trust are present.”
“There may be no greater reward than to experience the life change of another human being through the investment of your influence. But to have this kind of influence, you have to let people come close.“
“If you want to increase your influence, risk bringing people up close.”
Risk:

“The most important decisions of our lives will require us to forsake invisibility and risk becoming visible.”
“The greatest opportunities require the highest risk.”
“Women and men who seize divine moments embrace the inherent dangers that come with them. Divine moments oftentimes require us to put our own well-being aside for the well-being of others, to relinquish our safe places for the sake of others. We can touch only those within our reach and can change only the world in which we live, but we can do that much. It requires us to move from the isolation of our invisibility to the dangers of visibility if we are going to make the invisible visible. That’s the amazing thing about seizing divine moments. We choose to no longer be invisible, to take the risk of letting others see us, and so when we become visible, the invisible presence of God becomes visible.”
“Risk that God respects is fueled by a passion for His purpose and a willingness to subjugate our lives to His mission. Prayer moves from God, what is your will for my life? to God, what is your will, and how can I give my life to fulfill it?“
“There comes a time when you just gotta get up, get out from under the shade, pull your team together, and go to the point of no return. To the best of my understanding, faith is trusting God enough to obey what He has said, and hope is having the confidence that God will do everything He has promised. One pushes you; the other pulls you. They lead you into the wonder of experiencing divine moments. But without question, in between faith and hope, there is risk.”