Church

Over the years I had a number of occasions where I had to discern what God was leading (or asking) me to do.  Here are a few ways to best understand what God’s will may be in your situation … What does God’s word say about my situation?  If God's word is clear about a situation or decision, do what it says.  If not, read on. Have you faced a similar situation before? If so what did God reveal to you at that time?  (Hint: If you made a mistake don’t repeat it!) If the decision is difficult, seek godly counsel … Proverbs 11:14. Make the decision a matter of quiet and earnest prayer … James 1:5. Don’t ignore the common sense that God has given you. Take your time. Do not make hasty and impatient decisions. Anticipate that the passage of time will either open or close a door…

If you watch an average amount of TV, by the age of 65 you’ll have watched 9.5 years of television.  If during that same time period you went to church once a week, you would have attended about 4 months worth of church services. And we wonder why the way of God sometimes seems upside down. G.K. Chesterton once wrote: "Paradox is truth standing on its head calling for attention."

William Borden was a young man who found Jesus under the ministry of Dwight Moody, one of the greatest evangelists of the 19th Century. He was also an heir to the wealth of the Borden family (best known for selling condensed milk). After graduating from Yale and then Princeton Theological Seminary, Borden felt called to be a missionary to the Muslims of China.  Unfortunately, he died of spinal meningitis in Egypt while training for the mission field.  He was only 25 at the time of his death. After his death, Borden's Bible was found and given to his parents.  Inside it they found the words "No Reserve" and a date placing the note shortly after he renounced his fortune in favor of missions. After being diagnosed with meningitis, he had written the words "No Retreat." Shortly before his death, he added the phrase "No Regrets." May God give this generation…

I just received my free copy of Primal by Mark Batterson yesterday in the mail.  My blog (the one you're reading!) was selected as one to review and post comments on the book. Besides getting a free book, I'm excited because Mark Batterson is a pastor that I've come to appreciate vicariously over the last few years.  He is the lead pastor at National Community Church in Washington D.C.  He's one of the new thought leaders for today's pastors.  I track him on Twitter and via his blog -- short of  having coffee with him, I feel like I've gotten a pretty good feel for who he is and where his heart leads.  And I like it. So, I'm looking forward to posting comments and reviews throughout the next few weeks.  If you want to get a head start, you can purchase the book directly from the publisher.

A good part of the Bible is about helping us reframe the way we look at life.  One of the best biblical terms for this is transformation -- the idea that God changes us from the inside out. Matthew 5:11 ...  Jesus reframes persecution.  We are "blessed" when other persecute us on account of our faith. James 1:2 ... James reframes trials.  We are to consider it "pure joy" when we face trials that test our faith. 1 Corinthians 15:54 ... Paul reframes death.  Death is not the final answer -- it has been swallowed up in victory. Is it possible that God allows us to face discouragement because we have the opportunity to emerge from it a stronger leader?  Absolutely! For leaders, the question isn’t will I face times of discouragement?  The question is: what kind of leader will I be when I face discouragement?