fragments

book review

The Prodigal God:

You can find out more Here: http://prodigalgod.zondervan.com/index.php 

Some Good Stuff form the book:

-"Jesus is saying both irreligious and the religious are spiritually lost, both life-paths are dead ends, and that every thought the human race had about how to connect with God has been wrong."

-"There are two ways to be your own Savior and Lord. One is by breaking all the moral laws and setting your course, and one is by keeping all the moral laws and being very, very good."

-"The prerequisite for receiving the grace of God is to know you need it."

-"though the elder brother stayed home he was actually more distant and alienated from the father that his brother, because he was blind to his true condition."

-"Elder brothers expect their goodness to pay off, and if it doesn't, there is confusion and rage."

-"Competitive comparison is the main way elder brothers achieve a since of their own significance."

-"Religion operates on the principle of "I obey therefore I am accepted by God." THe basic operating principle of the Gospel is "I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ - therefore I obey."

So much more, you just have to read it. Probably my favorite read in a long time...at least the most convicting.

simple leadership

Love and truth form a good leader;
   sound leadership is founded on loving integrity

Proverbs 20:28

Sometimes leadership really is that simple!

DWELL:it is well with my soul

DWELL is back it has been a long time. I am so excited about what God is going to do in the lives of the BCC family. The theme of DWELL lands so close to home for all of us. In the midst of desperate situations there has to be a fondational stance taken by Gods people. one of my favorite verses in the Bible is when Job's wife tells him to "curse God and die" (lovely). He takes a stance of faith that has carried through time. "though He may slay me, yet I will praise Him".

As we gather on Saturday my prayer is that we would have the attitude of Job. That we would stand before God not with clinched fists because we have experianced loss and heartbreak in the last year but with open hands raised from a heart that is so greatful that through the storms He has never failed us.

DWELL:it is well with my soul

Saturday 6:00pm @ BCC

Daily Grind of Disciplines

I had the chance to teach on "Private Disciplines" this last Wednesday night here at BCC. My own words completely challenged me. Then I was listening to something and heard this quote.

"Disciplines are not achieved in a day, they are achieved daily"

Maybe the Lord is trying to tell me something?

   - What discipline are you developing today

that is going to make you better tomorrow?

That is the question I'm living with today. What about you?

Thank you Wayne Cordeiro

I was listening to a message by Wayne Cordeiro while I was running today, I thought this was some good brain food.

In a world where efficiency is the greatest commodity since the invention of color T.V. (I heard they used to be black and white or something weird) This statement caused me to do some thinking.

"we can be completely efficient, but not be effective. being efficient is doing things right, effective is doing the right things."

Great statement, I'll be thinking about that one today.

The Book Review is Back

Well it's been a while...Summer slump, family vacation, a little laziness.

So I have been reading some books lately that I have really enjoyed so I thought I would take the next few post to highlight some things I really liked in the book.

Wide Awake by Erwin Raphael McManus:

"People are the most underused and undervalued resource on the planet."

"Sometimes the limitations you are willing to accept establish the boundaries of your existence."

"Living wide awake is about realizing that the world needs you to live up to your potential. There are others whose lives and futures depend on you stepping up and living big."

"Problems Obstacles and challenges can either become the markers of our limits and limitations, or they can be the spring board into a whole new world."

"We are born with Potential, but we we're not supposed to die with it. Potential is not something you're supposed to hoard or conserve. The more you develop your potential, the more potential you seem to have. And time is of the essence."

If your looking for a good easy read that will challenge you to live out the God given potential that is wrapped up inside of you, this is a great one to read. I love Erwin's Perspective and ability to put words together that make me want to go out and bench press my Astro van just for the heck of it.

Great Read

I was on Vaca for two weeks so I  always try to read at least one book. I heard Tim Kelller speak on his new book The Prodigal God it really peaked my interest. I picked the book up to read and loved it. Great read, very challenging to my faith. I gave it to a friend to read so I have no quotes from it for you to read so you will just have to buy a copy and read it for your self. you won't be waisting your money.

BINGO!

I was listening to a pastor,Wayne Cordeio from Hawaii, lucky(say it like Napoleon) and he made a statement that was so profound to me I don't understand why I have never thought it. Of course that's probably why he is in Hawaii and I am not.

    "the flesh or sinful nature is not subject to conversion, it is subject to discipline"

when he said that it was like a light went on. How many times have you prayed God help me with this.... (fill in the black with your choice), but then that's all you do. you never come up with a system or process to stop.

Let me clarify a few things:

I believe in the Power of the Holy Spirit

I believe that in an instant God can change more in our lives than we can even imagine

I believe in the miraculous

I don't believe that we are able to fix all things on our own. We need Jesus.

I also believe we can't just expect things to get better simply buy sporadically praying for it.

I don't know about you but I hate the word discipline, but  I also realize if I had just a bit more my life would be way better.....so whats stopping me? OOHHYEAH it's me again!

Happiness VS. Joy

Spending time in other countries always causes me to think about what Joy is really all about. It seems the bible speaks of Joy quite a bit,... not so much happiness.

Happiness is usually wrapped up in stuff

    Joy surpasses possessions

Happiness is a fleeting thing

   Joy has an eternal value

Happiness is dependent on mood

   Joy transcends my emotional response to my day

Happiness is dependent on the personality of a person

   Joy is dependent on the personification of Christ

Happiness is in the eye of the beholder..many definitions

   Joy is never changing..Jesus

When I see someone living with empty hands but eyes overflowing with Joy I realize I have a lot to learn.

About 45

It's about 45min in a car that separate these two photo's....

 

I just returned from the Dominican Republic, every time i'm on a trip like this I am always srtuck by the Beauty of Almighty and the reality of Poverty. I am surprised every time that in the midst of all the desperation, poverty, and need there are pockets of beauty. I had the chance to walk the beach in the morning and spend some time with Jesus, it can be really hard to process the events of a missions trip especially when you end it in an amazing environment like we did. Missions helps me prioritize my life. Don't get me wrong I go for them, but I go for me as well. What I mean is I go for me so that I will always have a place in my heart and mind for them. It's easy to live my life with me in mind and forget that they are out there, by they I don't mean a certain people group I mean all of them, anyone other than me. I don't want to live a life that is consumed with me but I have a natural bend and draw to myself. I have decided I must really love me. Perspective is a beautiful thing. Looking back at the wonderful beach we were at I don't mark that as the beauty of the trip, it was beautiful but the greatest beauty was this...

Life change is the most beautiful...