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We’ll Do Radical Things for the Ones We Love

By Encouragement, Family, Jesus

Our oldest son Jeremy beat me to the shower Sunday morning. He graduated from college last year and works in Nashville, staying there during the week and coming home on weekends. Normally he sleeps late and attends Grace Community Church, but this morning he was up early…way early…so he could meet a friend for breakfast back in Nashville.

Why? You see, Jeremy is a relationship king. He loves people. If it involves a friend or his fiance Mary he will gladly alter his plans, even if it comes at an “inconvenience”.

It was odd timing that Jeremy provided me with this illustration.

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January 31, 2011
Love0

We Are Different, Diversity Week 3

By Change, Culture, Innovation

We are all different. Yesterday I posted about whether a pastor could serve in political office…as expected…I got different opinions. (Read them HERE…and add your own.)

I’m learning to embrace diversity…not to run from it…

Throughout the year I’m going to ask some questions to see a difference of opinion. Here are this week’s questions:

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January 29, 2011
Love0

Scripture Memorization, Week 5

By Encouragement

In the year 2011, we memorized 52 verses from the Bible!

Will that be your line at the end of this year? I hope so!

We are into week 5 memorizing Scripture. If you’ve missed out so far, catch up by reading last week’s post HERE.

This week I share one of my all-time favorite verses. There is so much truth in this one verse that it could keep you occupied for days. You may want to read the entire context of this verse.

Here is this week’s memory verse:

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January 29, 2011
Love0

One Place I Receive Motivation

By Children, Encouragement, Family, Life Plan, Parenting

I always joke that Cheryl keeps pictures on her desk so she can look at the ones she loves, but I keep pictures on my desk so I don’t forget the people I love. (Don’t email me…it’s a joke…kinda!) Seriously, men and women are wired differently. I’m convinced there’s never a moment Cheryl is not thinking about her family. That’s why she’s so much better at remember special occasions and where we keep our favorite socks!

It’s not that I love Cheryl or the boys less than she loves us, but most men are more task-oriented than we are relationally oriented. When I’m in a zone of work, I’m not usually thinking about anything else. Sometimes though I like to stop, turn from my laptop, and receive motivation for why I do what I do. Apart from giving God glory with my life, my greatest motivation is to leave a strong legacy for my wife and two boys.

Today I was deep in thought, but I turned around and saw this picture. It was the spark I need to keep pushing forward.

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January 26, 2011
Love0

Movie: To End All Wars

By Culture, Encouragement

I was not familiar with this movie until Michael Bayne, our family pastor, pointed it out to me. Wow! The trailer makes me want to watch this movie.

The descriptions says:

A true story about four Allied POWs who
endure harsh treatment at the hands of their Japanese captors during World War II while being forced to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle. Ultimately they find true freedom by forgiving their enemies. Share this powerful story of
redemption with your friends.

Watch the trailer:

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January 25, 2011
Love0

Common Struggles

By Culture, Encouragement, Uncategorized

The first sermon of the new year was a difficult one, because I encouraged our people to let go of some of the burdens they had been carrying in 2010. We wanted to start 2011 with a clean slate and make it a better year. I challenged people to write the one issue they wanted to leave behind on an index card. We captured those, and though they didn’t have names on them, we recorded the general issue to see what people in our church were dealing with this year. For me personally this is helping to shape the way I preach.

Here is a graph of the over 1,000 cards we collected:

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January 24, 2011
Love0

The Art of Loyalty (Loving an Old Pair of Shoes)

By Culture, Encouragement

I’ve had these shoes for 20 plus years.

I’ve stitched up the sides a couple times.
I’ve replaced the soles…

I’ve worn these shoes on construction sites when I was in business…
I’ve preached in these shoes…

These shoes are falling apart now…
I’m about to make some hard decisions about whether to replace them…

I have to admit:
When it rains my feet get wet…
When it’s cold my feet freeze…

But I’ve been loyal to my old shoes a long, long time…

Maybe I should retire them but they’ve been good shoes many years…

Whenever I wear my shoes, I’m reminded of a culture change I’ve noticed…

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January 23, 2011
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