45 posts tagged “digital discipleship”
In every sport I have ever played I have always played to win. It didn’t matter if it was basketball, volleyball, soccer or paddling, I always played to win. I never once stepped onto the field or court or into the boat thinking, “today we are just going to try and survive till the whistle blows.” Even when the odds were against us and there was no hope of winning, I still played to win.
My dad, who played Polo all around the world and at the highest levels, taught me that “winning is an attitude.” It’s not about being number one; it’s about the work ethic and the attitude. It’s about the mindset and being proactive. It’s about leaving it all on the field and making something out of every opportunity. It’s about no retreat no surrender. It’s about burning the boats.
So when I face life’s mountains or when it seems that I am in the midst of a perfect storm or it appears that all hope is lost, I remind myself that I play to win.
The time is now to quit surviving and start playing to win.
Check out this video. Matt started out traveling around the world and dancing in front of iconic sites and structures and videotaping it. As his internet fame increased he started posting and emailing where he would be and people, by the hundreds in some cases, started showing up to dance with him.
When I watch this video I am reminded that a little joy goes along way and that joy will spread.
Happiness is based on current circumstances, joy comes from knowing who God is despite the circumstance.
A couple of scriptures for this season
I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord.
(Psalm 27:13-14, NLV)
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper
(Psalm 1.3)
Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit
(Jeremiah 17.7-8)
Tonight when I went to check in on Taber I found him sitting up in his bed. As I approached him he said to me, “Daddy, no bad guys get me.” As I leaned over him, I assured him that God is looking out for us and that my job as Daddy is to make sure that he is safe and protected.
In life we will most assuredly have to deal with “bad guys” and as scary as situations can and will be, God will never leave us nor forsake us, He is with us always even unto the ends of the earth.
As a side note, some people maintain a mentality that “if I am a good person than no bad thing will happen to me.” In reality, we will all have to face bad things, the good news is that as Christ followers we have someone who sticks closer than a brother and as we lean on Him, He gives us the strength to make it though any situation.
It has been 8 days since my last confess... I mean..blog.
Tonight our interns graduate. It has been an incredible year. I am very proud of both first and second year. They all have worked hard and have grown amazingly.
This will be the ninth class to graduate and mark a decade of our church raising, training and sending young leaders into the call of God on their life. It is a privilage and an honor to have worked and poured into the lives of these young leaders.
As a final thought to this class.... We have one life to give and then eternity. Don't waste it.
With your sheild or on it.
I read this out of The Living Bible and rewrote it in my own words.
In those days those who are ungodly, whether they be NBA Superstars, Rock Stars, Movies Stars, Trash Collectors, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, anybody rich or poor will be seen for who they are! Stingy people will be seen as stingy people, rich or poor. An evil mans reputation will proceed him. Those who say one thing and do another will fool no one anymore; their lies against God will be judged. Those who say they are Christians but won’t even give someone a piece of their candy bar will be exposed. The smooth talker who takes no responsibility but blames others and who brings false accusations against the poor, God will deal with. But those who are generous to others will be blessed of God for all they do.
A young man came up to me one day and told me that he was reading the parable of the wheat and the tares and that it changed his life. He made this statement: “I was wheat among the tares and I did not know it. I looked like a tare, I acted like a tare I thought I was a tare, but in fact I was a wheat among the tares. Thank God for not pulling up the tares.”
The wheat are waiting for someone to take the time to show them that they are not a tare.
A few years ago a young man started coming to our church. He was rough in appearance and coming out of some tough stuff. To put it simply his life was a wreck. After a prayer gathering he approached me to ask me some questions. While talking with him the lord told me to give him my cell number. I must admit that I argued with God. I then heard the Lord say, “There is much fruit in the fallow ground of the poor.” I reluctantly gave him my cell number and told him to call me whenever he needed.
When the first call came, it was late in the evening; I answered the phone a little irritated. After an hour conversation we finally hung up. As I pressed the red button on my cell phone the lord reminded me that my purpose as a believer was not to “do church” but to reach people. Right there I repented and changed my heart towards this young man and the whole situation. The following months were filled with late night and hour plus phone calls.
Fast forward to today. He is healthy, successful, married, restored and an incredible servant in the house of God.
There is much fruit in the fallow ground of the poor; it just takes God and someone willing to take the time to bring it forth.
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read it straight through, and you'll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
Statistically 75%-80% of people go to church for the first time because someone cared enough to personally invite them.
When I was younger there was a river that ran next to our house. One day my friends and I decided to follow the river upstream as far as we could go. About 4 miles later we came to a place where we could go no further. As we turned around to head home we discovered a Mt. Apple forest. For those of you who are asking, a Mt. Apple is a fruit that is similar to an apple only it is a little larger and the texture is softer yet it has this fresh sweet taste. My friends and I decided to climb some trees and have a snack, seeing how we did not pack one. As we climbed the trees and started to eat the fruit I was amazed at how sweet and good it was. Honestly it was the best Mt. Apples I had ever had. I discovered that the best tasting fruit is at the top of the tree and in the hardest places to go.
In life the best fruit is protected by heights and depths, by trials and hurdles, by waters and mountains, but oh how good it is.
