[vimeo http://vimeo.com/1474538]
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Do You Understand Me?
As many of you know I’m currently writing a relationship series we’re doing this fall at Cross Point. While it’s not a marriage series, it’s led me to think a lot about my relationship with Brandi.
One of the most difficult aspects of our marriage has always been communication. It’s an area where we both have to dig in and work. A lot. Her more than I…. I mean, equally we share responsibility.
I saw this hilarious video the other day on JKing’s blog.
This is so US at times…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KFlE9sEmf8&hl=en&fs=1]
Sometime we just feel like we are on two completely different pages!
Do you ever struggle with communication in your home? With your spouse? With your kids?
The Making of a Great Leader
I was reading an article in Christianity Today entitled “Leading With Love: The Secrets to Billy Graham’s Remarkable Ministry to the World“. The article starts with this…
Our first interview for our book, The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham, was with John Corts, a key employee of Billy’s organization for 35 years, ten of them as its president. After a dinner conversation that ranged over the decades, we asked, “John, what would you say is the bottom line distinctive of Billy’s leadership?”
John paused a long while. Finally he said, emphatically, “Love. The difference between him and so many other leaders is that whatever the circumstances, Billy always led with love.”
“Billy always led with love”.
That statement got me thinking about my leadership style. It got me thinking about the kind of leaders that have had an impact on my life over the years. It got me thinking about the kind of leader I want to be.
What characteristics are you looking for in the people that lead you?
Can You Feed Yourself?
Okay, okay, if you’re done laughing at the picture, I actually have a serious question for you.
Have you learned to feed yourself? It pains me how often I hear from people who have been Christians for 10, 20, or even 30 years complaining that they “need to be fed”. What? Are you kidding me??
I said this yesterday at Cross Point and I want to say it again here. Early on in your Christian life you need to be fed. You need someone that understands the Bible to help you understand the Bible. You need someone to help you understand what it means to follow Christ.
But at some point you have to get out of the high chair, take off the bib, pick up a fork, and start to feed yourself.
If you’re not growing in your Christian walk you can’t blame your spouse, your schedule, your church, or your pastor. As you mature you have to own this area of your life. You have to want Christ formed in your life enough that you begin to arrange your life around certain practices and methods (ie. Bible study, prayer, worship) that help God’s vision become a reality.
So let’s discuss. Have you learned to feed yourself? What are you doing to feed yourself? What excuses are you using if you’re not growing these days?
I Need Your Input!
I could really use your help. I have a deadline later this week for a fall message series I’m writing for Cross Point. It’s a relationship series based on John 17:20-21 where Jesus said,
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
There is an alarming connection between the way we treat each other and relate to each other and people’s perception of God. In other words our ability to maintain healthy relationships is a direct reflection of God’s glory.
In this series I want to address the barriers we all have to maintaining healthy relationships. The focus is not on one particular type of relationship, but relationships in general. This could be your relationship to your kids, to your parents, to your spouse, or even to your co-workers.
So what do you think are the major barriers that keep us from being one? Maybe jealousy? A lack of forgiveness? Let me know what you think!
Working Hard To Have Fun
Sometimes I get convicted about how I treat my family. I work really hard at work. Everyday I try to…
- Create an atmosphere that’s fun to work in.
- Treat everyone fairly.
- Listen intensely when others are talking.
- Be creative as possible when developing messages and environments where people will be learning.
I work hard. And then I come home and I FEEL as if I have nothing left. I don’t want to be fair with my family. I don’t want to be creative. I don’t want to listen. I don’t want to engage. I don’t want to go the extra mile.
But, I don’t want to be THAT dad. I don’t want to be THAT husband.
I’m trying to learn to come home and put just as much energy and purpose behind how we do “family” as I do how we do “church”.
So last night at dinner I just wanted to sit there and stare off into space. Maybe get up and sneak off into another room where Brandi and the kids couldn’t find me for a while. I fought the urge…and went to work!
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/1446041]
What are you learning about family these days? Does anyone else struggle with this?
My BFF
When I was a freshman in college I met Kevin Colon. We became instant friends and the rest is history. He was my roommate throughout most of college. He was there when I got my first ministry job at First Baptist Morgantown. He was there when I felt God prompting me to start a church. He was there when I met Brandi. He stood next to me when I married Brandi. He served on staff with me at my first church plant. He knows all the good, bad and ugly about me.
Kevin pastors a great church he started several years ago in Superior, Colorado called Cool River Church. I couldn’t be more excited about how God is using him.
He’s been in Kentucky for a few days visiting with family, so we met for dinner Tuesday night. I was reminded that friends are such a gift from God. Friends that know everything about you and still love you are rare. Friends that have walked with you throughout years of junk are priceless.
Tell me about your BFF….
