If you haven’t joined us for our new Cross Point Internet Campus then this Sunday is your opportunity. We’ve had several thousand people from a dozen or so countries join us the first few weeks.
6:00 pm (CST) Sunday night.
My favorite part is the live Q & A we do after the message. My friend, Jon Acuff, will be joining me this Sunday night. Who knows what might happen with that guy around. You won’t want to miss it.
Here’s a few behind the scenes pics…
I’m supposed to be working hard today to finish up my message for this Sunday. For some reason I’m having a tough time wrapping this one up.
But then I remembered…apparently the world is going to end this Saturday, so no worries.
Ugggghhhh! I don’t want to pick on my fellow believers (I’m confident they think they’re doing a good thing) but does anyone else feel this is just one more thing that makes us look like we’re a bit “crazy?”
How many times do we have to make these predictions before we realize Jesus knew what he was talking about when He said in Matthew 24…
36“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
It’s interesting because “no one” in the Greek literally means “no one.” As in nobody. And yes, that includes me, you, and I’m quite certain family radio.
Anybody making any Judgement Day plans for Saturday?
I thought I’d heard it all, but this is so over the top, it left me standing there shocked.
You would probably have to be living under a rock to not have heard about the San Francisco mother who’s been injecting her 8 year-old daughter, Britney, with Botox to minimize her “wrinkles.”
Yes, you read it right – 8 years old! And why? In the cut-throat world of children’s beauty pageants, the Botox ridding her “wrinkles” gives her a competitive edge.
The mom’s defense was, ‘everyone’s doing it.’ Apparently it’s a pageant secret used by many pageant moms.
Why do we want our little kids to appear and perform like grown-ups?
We push them to walk by age 1.
We encourage them to read by 5.
We desire they excel at a sport by age 9.
We calculate grade point averages and start talking about scholarships by 6th grade.
We want them to not only master the English language but learn a few others before they graduate.
In my opinion, decisions such as these (and there are many more) are a result of society taking the innocence out of childhood.
It scares me to think that many of today’s children are growing up at 7 or 8 or 9 with the idea they have to look a certain way or wear certain clothes to fit in.
It breaks my heart because I don’t think as a society we’re going to stop pushing our kids anytime soon.
But I’m not going to stop reminding myself of the dangers — and you shouldn’t either.
Am I alone here?
I had the incredible opportunity of watching Brewer ride a bike for the first time the other day.
What an exhilarating experience! I was so proud of my baby boy.
Laying in bed that night I kept thinking about a phrase that I used over and over with him while teaching him.
I would say, “Keep peddling buddy, keep peddling.” Riding a bike is a whole lot like life isn’t it? To keep balance you’ve got to keep moving.
Maybe you’re tired.
Maybe you’re bored.
Maybe you’re scared.
Whatever you do, don’t stop peddling. Peddle hard.
Is there a particular situation where you feel kind of stuck and want to give up? How can we pray for you today?
“We are not faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood-it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, ‘too late.’”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
I love this quote.
Sometimes you and I are paralyzed by procrastination.
We hide behind the idea of “someday.”
Someday I’ll ask her out.
Someday I’ll apply for that new job.
Someday I’ll have that difficult conversation.
Someday I’ll start to immerse myself in Scripture.
Someday I’ll start saving money.
Someday I’ll take that risk.
Someday. It might be the most dangerous word in the English language.
Don’t let “too late” sneak up on you. Stop aiming and pull the trigger.
Today is your day.
Now is your moment.
FILL IN THE BLANK: Someday I’m going to ___________________.
Thought you might enjoy a few pictures of the early stages of my garden this year. I would visit my garden a dozen times a day if I could.
There’s nothing like watching an asparagus root shoot out of the ground or to see a strawberry turn red in front of your eyes.
This may sound weird to you, but it’s kind of a sacred place to me. It’s one of the few places I’m truly alone. Just me, my thoughts and usually a great conversation with God.
It’s been said that you can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. There’s a whole lot of nasty emails, hurtful words and stressful situations buried in my backyard. 
What hobby or activity are you engaging in these days that reduces stress in your life?
Several years ago I had the opportunity to meet the one and only Stephen Brewster. We now serve together at Cross Point but the very first time we sat down together he said something to me I’ve never forgot.
He said, “Pete, you need to know your present state of deception. We are all deceived by something.”
That statement bounced around in my head for days after our meeting. I thought about verses like Proverbs 14:12 which remind me that we all have the unbelievable capacity for self deception. And while the stakes are high for everyone, for those of you that are leaders, you really have to tune in to your deception. Leading from your state of deception can do a lot of damage to your organization and the people under your leadership.
I think my present state of deception has to do with the attitude, “If I don’t, it won’t.” Sometimes I buy into the idea that I have to do it, and if I don’t do it, it’s not going to be done or it’s not going to be done right. It’s birthed from control and/or trust issues that I know I need to keep in check on a regular basis. The real down side to this deception is that I don’t end up empowering the people that God has entrusted to my life.
You’re next. What is your current state of deception?
Hint: If you can’t think of one you should ask someone close to you. They will probably be able to answer it without even thinking!
