Steering Through Chaos

I recently read through the new book Steering Through Chaos by Scott Wilson. The book has some great leadership insight to leading in ministry. I really enjoyed the book, and got a lot from Scott's many years of leadership. I especially enjoyed how other leaders gave insight in this book to confirm the concepts Scott was teaching. This book is a must read for leaders in transition.

You can purchase the book here: Steering Through Chaos

Hear No Evil

Matthew Paul Turner's Hear No Evil is great. I really enjoyed the stories of his childhood growing up in a super conservative Baptist home. Hearing his stories of purity, and learning to really see God through the middle of it was very inspiring to me. I laughed a lot during this book with it's humor and truth. Turner says the things that so many of us wish we would. I really feel like I made a friend in Turner through this book (maybe someday I'll be lucky enough to meet him). I really enjoyed the relaxed style of this book, and the heart he poured into it. This book is fun and heartfelt. I recommend it to anyone wanting a new perspective on Christianity. Purchase the book here: Hear No Evil

This book was provided by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

What if?

A lot of stuff has been running through my head lately, and a conversation with a friend last week really got me thinking. What would the church look like if we really lived out the Bible and the Christianity it portrays instead of the Christianity we Americans have made it to be.

What if we actually took Matthew 28:19 seriously:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Or if we took the great commandment(Matthew 22:36-39) and really applied it to our lives:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Or what if more followers of Christ would live the life of a disciple risking their very life for Christ's namesake.

Or what if people actually realized just a fraction of how important they are to God. And really realized the power and true love of John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Or what if the church really lived in community and actually acted like Acts 2:42-47:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

And maybe we would make a bigger deal about the poverty in our own country, the poverty abroad, the Genocide in Darfur, the struggles of Uganda, the struggles of Congo, the people still living in human slavery, or even care more about a country like Haiti and not just because it's a buzzword and everyone else is doing something, but because the Love God has for us, and we want to share.

I don't know what all this would look like, but what if?

What does this look like for you on a personal level?

I have a Dream

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.


I have a dream. One day through my dreams the world will change. I may not see that day. I will strive for that dream. The dream is much much bigger than me. I cannot accomplish my dream by my own means. My dream is not about money, power, or things. Do you have a dream? Is it bigger than you? Can you do it on your own? Will it affect others? I dare you to dream beyond yourself. Seek that desire deep down inside of you. It is much beyond you, you were created for it, and only you can make the difference YOU were created for! Martin Luther King Jr’s dream went much beyond him. Even to his grave. Are you willing to even give your life up for your dream?

2010.

Well here we go! It's another year and big things are coming! 2009 was insane. I can't believe everything that happened. From graduating MCUSA, to Sleeping Life, to living in North Liberty and working for Life Church. So many great things happened, and I'm so thankful for them all. Thankful to have a faithful God who loves me. I know 2010 has a lot in store, and I'm excited for it all. Here are some of my "resolutions" for the year.
1)Write a book. I have the idea, and plan on actually doing it this year. I know I planned on it last year, but it just didn't happen.
2)No soda for the entire year. Time to be a little healthier.
3)Run in five different running races this year. One of which will be over marathon distance.
4)1 blog entry per week. Well we tried this last year, but failed as well. Lets go again!
5)One year bible reading plan. Well here we go year 3!

I have a few more goals, but won't list them all. It's not the most fun. What are your goals or resolutions for the year?

On a less task driven level I want to love God and love people like I have never done before. I want to push to a new level in my relationships to serve others as much as I possibly can.