Year: 2015

10 Reasons we fail to come into our true Greatness

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Time Magazine got it wrong when they put T.D. Jakes’ picture on the cover of their September 17th 2001 magazine with the question – “Is this the next Billy Graham?” Our culture is always on the hunt for the next big thing. But that idea falls short of the glory of God. Why can’t both preachers be great in and of and by themselves? In this third part of their ‘America’s Best Series’, the magazine failed to rise above the age long temptation to define greatness in terms of position, power, prominence and possession. Even Jesus’ disciples stumbled over this same temptation when they “argued with one another about who was the greatest.” The desire to be better than or above everyone else is born in a sinful, broken and bankrupt place of an arrogant heart. A lot of people tend to think that this is an American problem. But this is not an American problem, it is a sin problem. Pride is a disease. And the gospel, in all its simplicity and power, is …

Disturb us Lord

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Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true Because we have dreamed too little, When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when With the abundance of things we possess We have lost our thirst For the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, We have ceased to dream of eternity And in our efforts to build a new earth, We have allowed our vision Of the new Heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, To venture on wider seas Where storms will show your mastery; Where losing sight of land, We shall find the stars. We ask You to push back The horizons of our hopes; And to push into the future In strength, courage, hope, and love Prayer by Sir Francis Drake

Quotes from Donald Miller’s Scary Close

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I read Scary Close a few weeks ago and enjoyed it immensely. I have never had the privilege of reading Donald’s other books, so I will leave the all the critical evaluation to those who’ve read them and how they compare to this one. But in this book, Donald leads in a conversation about his personal journey of painful and failed relationships. For most of his life, he had lived, pretending to be something he wasn’t, hoping to impress people in order for them to like him. But at age forty he began to discover the freedom of being himself and the rewards of taking of his masks. If you want intimacy in your relationship, a healthy mind, a strong family and a satisfying career, Donald invites your to drop the act, be yourself and connect with more people. In this post, I want to share a few quotes that really made this book stand out in a significant way. Enjoy! Distracting noises of insecurity: “Applause is a quick fix, and love is an acquired taste.” “You need …

Praying For the Red, White and Blue

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July 4th 2015 May God continue to bless America 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Lord, we seek your face. Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for these United States. Lord, we turn from our wicked ways. Let your grace abound toward us and let your mercy overtake us as you forgive us our sins. Lord, heal our land racism, hate, perversion, greed, and apathy. Sent a mighty revival of truth and salvation. Awaken us so that we can take this gospel to the ends of the earth. In Jesus’ Name… Amen!

Greener Grass Syndrome

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Everybody wants a great relationship, a great marriage. Everybody wants a good job, you know, job security. Everybody want a church they can call home. Everybody wants a great ministry, to be used by God. Not too many, though, want to do what’s necessary to make it happen where they are. They are always looking for something better on the other side of the fence. The way to fix that is simple: You love what you have You nurture what you have You invest in what you have You put value on what you have You believe in what you have You are grateful and thankful for what you have You cherish what you have You water where you are This is the cure, I think, to the greener grass syndrome. If you love your country, make it a better place. If you love your home, make it a better place. If you love you church, make it a better place. If you love your school, your neighborhood, make it a better place. You never …

Be hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise

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A few days ago, I walked into my office and realized that I had two voice messages from the light flashing my office phone. I quickly pressed the button on the phone to retrieve the messages. As I listened to the second message, I recognized a familiar voice. It was Bob Kilpatrick. If you don’t know who Bob is, you ought to. He is not only a prolific singer songwriter with countless hits, an author, but also one the most down to earth, passionate for Jesus and funny guys on planet earth. He is a bundle of joy to be with. Around the time I got saved, Bob’s praise and worship songs were sung in every church. I remember leading the church in songs like, In my life be glorified. That one song was featured in almost every worship set. Long before I got to meet him, Bob’s words in songs took me to another place. A heavenly place. His words today, are still taking me same. Taking me places.  Heavenly places. In 2014, we had an opportunity to spend …

Here is Ben Rector’s two-cents about Making Money

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Making money, it isn’t easy And it sure won’t make you happy So I think it’s funny, we’re so concerned with making money And money won’t keep folks from grieving And it won’t stop love from leaving So here’s my two cents What’s the use in making money And I know that life ain’t cheap And not all good things are free But there is no enough and no too much and it seems so strange to me I just think it’s funny, we’re so concerned with making money I make my living singing love songs That I made up cause I love songs But folks believe them, So I’m receiving paper money Don’t get me wrong, I love my lady And I probably wouldn’t trade her But life’s no better with debts or debters Making money And I know that life ain’t cheap And not all good things are free But there is no enough and no too much And it seems so strange to me I just think it’s funny, we’re so concerned …

The use of Excessive Force: 10-quotes-from-malcolm-gladwell’s-david-and-goliath

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In David & Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell offers a paradigm shift in the discussion of how we usually deal with pain, suffering, disadvantages, obstacles, and discrimination. He frames the story of David and Goliath as one of an underdog facing a giant. The cool thing about this dynamic is, “being  an underdog can change people in ways that we often fail to appreciate: it can open doors and create opportunities and educate and enlighten and make possible what might otherwise have seemed unthinkable.” If you’ll allow it, this book will massively overhaul and change the way you look at challenges in your life. In short it a manual for underdogs, misfits and all those who are faced with giants way too strong to conquer. Notable quotes: “Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness.” “If you bomb a city, you leave behind death and destruction. If you take away a mother or a father, you cause suffering and despair. But one time in ten, out …

10 Quotes from Max Lucado’s ‘Before Amen’

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When Prayer Flows If you want to take you prayer life to another level of simplicity and ease, “Before Amen” is for you. It is inviting and inspiring. The focus remains on the Father all through the book. In essence, that is exactly what prayer is all about. Enjoy a few quotes that jumped off the pages: “Before you face your world, face you Father.” “Prayer is conversation with God while driving to work or awaiting an appointment or before interacting with a client. Prayer can be the internal voice that directs the external action.” “Guilt leaves a tattooed heart.” Just as a happy child cannot mis-hug, the sincere heart cannot mis-pray” “Prayer is the hand of faith on the door handle of your heart; the willing pull; the happy welcome to Jesus.” “Prayers are not graded according to style.” “You are never more like Jesus than when you pray for others.” “An un-prayed for problem is an embedded thorn.” “Life is a gift, albeit unassembled. It comes in pieces, and sometimes it falls into …