In scripture, referring to God’s hand is a way of recognizing that God’s presence and power is among us. Scripture often refers to God guiding his people with his hand. When the early church met opposition, they prayed for God’s hand to be their protection and defense (Acts 4:29-30). The language of God’s hand being with us invokes several images: resting in God, God’s guidance, and God’s defense.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here. Professor at Warner University church planter with Stadia former former president, Church Planters of the Rockies helped start 2 for-profit tech companies Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow…
Read More
In geopolitical terms, a territory marks the sphere of influence of a ruler or nation. When Jabez asks God to enlarge his territory, he isn’t simply asking for more land – he’s asking God to grow his influence. This desire to do more good comes from God. As Christians, we should be asking God to increase the number of people that we can influence for Christ. The same is true for the church. Our desire should be to spread the gospel of Jesus and to extend the borders of his kingdom.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here. Professor at Warner University church planter with Stadia former former president, Church Planters of the Rockies…
Read More
To be blessed by God is to be the recipient of his goodness and favor. In this sense, all people are blessed by God since God is the true source of all blessings. Given that his name meant “pain”, it’s possible that Jabez is asking God for an extra measure of favor and goodness. God is able to take our most painful experiences and turn them into blessings. Instead of focusing on his past, Jabez chose to focus on his future. God’s resources are unlimited and we shouldn’t hesitate to ask him for resources. When God does bless us, it is always for his glory.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here. Professor at…
Read More
It's called by different names, but it's still inertia. Status quo Standing still Analysis paralysis Stuck Bored Flat Phoning it in In physics, a basic definition of inertia would be "the tendency of a body to resist acceleration or a change in its motion." We can thank Sir Isaac Newton and his first law of physics for helping us understand the nature of inertia: For the motion of an object to change, an external (outside) force must act upon it. Inertia is one of the worst things that can happen in a marriage. A healthy marriage embraces change. If two people never mature past the level of maturity they had when they got married, don't be surprised as the rate of conflict and disagreement increases. The status quo has sucked the life out of many organizations. It shows up when we prefer the safety of a routine (even one that…
Read More
Do you know what distinguishes a person who makes a difference from another person who wants to make a difference? Action. On the surface, that sounds obvious. But in reality, I encounter many folks who want to make a difference but never move past the good intention phase. In some cases, they can even tell you why the change is necessary and how it will improve lives, business processes, or a work environment. People who truly make a positive difference are people of action. Think about a teacher who made a lasting impact on you. It's likely they went beyond delivering content to taking an interest in you as a person. Maybe they challenged you to do better or dream bigger. They could have been content to stick to an outline and a syllabus. It's the extra step, the additional effort that makes a difference. Two freshmen enter high school…
Read More