Reading, re-reading and hoping to read a variety of books this summer. Categories are all over the map – Church planting, Theology, business, leadership, marketing, fiction and fun stuff. I may add to or take away from this list as the summer goes on, but here’s where I stand at the moment.
Ok, I know this one is kind of obvious, but I wanted to be specific. I won a copy of the NLT Study Bible in a Twitter Contest several weeks ago, so I’m going to be using it for my Bible reading this summer. My goal is to make my way through the New Testament before September.
Some of the following books I have already read, and am now either skimming, focusing on certain chapters or re-reading completely. Others, I’m starting for the first time. You can find most of them on Amazon.
Notice the “Studies in Hebrews” by Herschel H. Hobbs from 1954. How about that “spare no expense” flashy cover? 
Finally, here are a few I hope to read, but haven’t purchased, yet.
What are you reading this summer?
Heads Up: This is a long post. But it’s also kind of short post, because there are pictures! Enjoy.
Our Honda started overheating again so I took it to the mechanic. I had to leave it there. But since it was a beautiful day and I was only a few miles from home, I decided to walk. I didn’t have to do it, I just wanted to do it.
I wasn’t in a hurry, and the breeze was nice. My first stop was a neighborhood park for a few sips of water at a water fountain and a short time of prayer & reflection.
Feeling refreshed, I moved on. As I walked, I was struck by the variety of landscapes and scenery of the Alliance, Texas area. At one point (as in one of the pics below) I could see a “stamp sized” Texas Motor Speedway crunched between some trees.
Watch a few seconds of the walk through some trees here.
Texas heat is sometimes deceiving. A cool breeze and a little shade can make you wonder why you’re beginning to break a sweat. And I was beginning to break a sweat.
But what’s a little sweat on an adventure? Actually, it’s probably not an adventure without a little sweat.
On I walked.
I know what you’re thinking about that last set of photos: “How’d he take those photos?” Well, the answer is really complicated and involves the implementation of high tech procedures and satellites and such, so I probably had better not tell you. In fact, I’ve probably told you too much already. Let’s move on.
The walk and the view continued. The vines were creepy, but kind of cool.
As cars passed me, I began to realize that I probably looked like a drifter, walking wearily along with my backpack. …And my goofy sunglasses. …And my phone.
As I approached our neighborhood, about 5 miles were behind me. Before me was my lovely wife, Leona – greeting me at the entrance to our neighborhood with a smile on her face and a mug of iced water for me in her left hand. Our dog, Molly, trotted along on the leash in Leona’s right.
Melissa and Michael were waiting in the park. We hung out under the shade of the pavilion for a while, chewing ice and watching Molly strain against the leash and whimper menacingly at the ducks.
By the time we’re back to the house, I’m reminded yet again of how blessed I am. Sure, the Van is toast and the Honda is most likely looking at another part replacement, but I’ve still got a lot to be thankful for.
…Ok, and a sunburn on my noggin to beat the band.
One of the best things I’ve ever started in ministry was a weekly gathering called “Compass Men.” This gathering involved me bringing men together from both inside and outside of our church to a coffee shop for a “later than ususal” meeting.
This gathering was simple and amazing. Essentially, it involved issuing challenges to these guys with achievable, tangible things for them to do to help them grow as Christ followers, husbands, fathers and leaders.
Here’s how it played out each week:
- We went through a book of the Bible together, but they read their assignments before they arrived.
- We memorized a verse of scripture each week, but we did not all memorize the same one. Each man memorized a verse of scripture they felt God was speaking to them about during their reading.
- We started each week by quoting our verse and telling each other why we felt like God wanted us to learn it.
- We walked through the reading for that week, and I kept us from heresy…
- We emphasized what God wanted us to change, do or obey.
- We closed the evening with prayer in the parking lot.
- We then went home and shared what we were learning with our families.
It was cool to see men rally around this basic plan each week, with a basic action plan that was a “doable” way to flesh out their faith each week. As the weeks went on and I saw the growth happening in these men, I began to wish that we had been doing this from the very beginning.
That’s why it’s the first thing in our storyboard heading into Stoneview Summer 2009. (The astute among you will also see that the name is a hat tip to our previous adventure in church planting. That, and “Stone Men” just didn’t have the same ring to it! )
See the info below:
There’s a man of iron in you that God wants to sharpen. You can become a stronger husband, father, friend and leader.
On Tuesday nights during the summer of 2009, we’re inviting men from all over the Alliance, Texas area to join us for an hour or so to challenge each other to be the best God wants us to be.
No fluff. No study guide. No hugs. One book – the Bible.
You don’t have to be a member of our church or know anything about the Bible to be a part of Stoneview’s Compass Men. You just need to be ready to take your life to the next level.
Begins Tuesday, June 2nd.
Location: McDonald’s in the “Pilot Point Travel Center” at “Alliance Crossing”
Directions: Click for Map.
I first noticed this at one of my son’s football games a few years ago. His team had been on a losing streak for several weeks, and it made a difference in the way they played the game. And with each new play that went astray, their approach to the next one was affected.
In the same way, there is a “Culture of Losing” that develops over time in some organizations and churches.
Here’s how it plays out: After experiencing a series of “losses” the team begins to expect to lose. And before long, without even realizing it, they may actually begin planning to lose. Then the team knows nothing of winning, only of losing, and a “Culture of Losing” is the result. ”Losing” becomes the norm. It’s what they know.
But one good win can change everything. It can turn a game around, put wind in your sails, provide hope, and plant the seed of a “culture of winning.”
I watched it happen in my son’s football game after a great play. I felt it on the 18th hole of a round of golf when, after 17 holes of lame attempts, I hit the ball straight down the fairway. I noticed it in the attitudes of team members after a successful event that followed ones that were not so successful.
Good leaders recognize the frequency of “losses” and learn to ask themselves the following question: Without manipulation or ‘head games’ with my team, what small wins can I create that in turn will create momentum enough to banish the “Culture of Losing” and create a new “Culture of Winning?”
Never underestimate the power and momentum of a good win – no matter how small.
There is no right way to do the wrong thing.
If it is the wrong thing, it is the wrong thing. If you change it up, put fresh paint on it, work harder at it, or pour more money into it, it won’t work if it’s the wrong thing.
Generally speaking, this applies to most relationship choices, project selections (and solutions), career choices, church strategies and company decisions.
Don’t try to fix the wrong thing. Stop doing the wrong thing.
Instead, discover the right thing and pour everything into that.
What if God asked you to do something?
Would you do it?
Or
Would you ask for a better time table? (Like this guy - Matthew 8:21-22)
Would you make excuses? (Like Moses - Exodus 4:1-16)
Would you balk and get angry? (Like Naaman – 2 Kings 5:10-12)
Would you run away? (Like Jonah – Jonah 1:1-3)
Would you keep asking for signs until you were sure He was asking you? (Like Gideon - Judges 6:36-40)
Would you say no? (Like Peter – John 13:6-8)
Would you explain why it couldn’t be done? (Like Jesus’ Disciples - Luke 9:12-14)
The truth is, God is asking you to do something. It is very likely that you know exactly what it is. You sense it. You feel it. You may have been avoiding it, but you know it.
What if you were to just …do it?
Maybe you would:
Catch more than ever before. (Like these guys – John 21:6)
Set many people free. (Like Moses - Exodus 12:50-51)
Find healing. (Like Naaman – 2 Kings 5:13-14)
See a nation restored. (Like Jonah - Jonah 3)
Win against incredible odds. (Like Gideon – Judges 7:7-9)
Discover a deep sense of belonging. (Like Peter – John 13:8-9)
Experience a miracle. (Like Jesus’ Disciples – Luke 9:14-17)
Regardless, you’ll experience and know God more deeply and fully if you obey.
What if God asked you to do something?
…What if you actually did it?
Authentic. Real. Genuine. Sincere. Not a phony.
You can say you are all of these things all day long, but words are fairly inexpensive. It is your motives and your actions that will always tip your hand.
And in the world in which we live, most people can smell a phony from a mile away.
“Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.” - Romans 12:9 (NLT)
I think that sometimes I try too hard to make it look like I have it all together. I don’t. I’ve yelled at my kids, argued loudly with my wife, missed opportunities, been lazy, been a hypocrite, gotten depressed, been angry with God and a host of other stupid things along the way.
Obviously I’m not perfect, but by God’s grace, I am forgiven and growing. And that motivates me to see the people around me differently. To genuinely care about them and to not insult them by “acting” as though I do.
An honest view of self provides me with a healthy dose of perspective and humility as I strive to lead and Pastor others.
“We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 6:6 (NLT)
It’s time to lose the fake smile.
It’s time to gain the real smile.
I’m working on it. How about you? Are you the “real deal?”
Recently, a huge hail storm came through our area. It was pretty freaky. Some of the hail was baseball sized, and the storm caused a lot of damage in our neighborhood. I suspected that we’d probably be hearing from “hail damage repair” companies before long.
Then it happened. The next day we were up to our roof in roofing companies.
First, it was one door hanger. Then two, then three. ”Ralph’s Roofing Company!” ”Big Top Roofing Company!” “Roofy Roof’s Roofing Company!” For over a week – no kidding – we received 3 to 4 door hangers a day promoting one roofing company or another.
Then the signs began springing up. “Shingles R Us Roofing Company!” “Better’n Yer Neighbors’ Roofing Company!” All over the neighborhood there were lawn signs advertising the companies that my neighbors had chosen to repair their roofs. … Er, rooves? Whatever. It looked like a campaign season.
Then the doorbell started ringing. Literally, the roofing companies started going door to door. I personally talked with 3 or 4 representatives. At least 2 of them explained to me that the other roofing companies were using all sorts of gimmicks and some of them were even breaking the law! (Apparently it is against a Federal law for a company to pay your home insurance deductable for you.) These guys were very nice, generally respectful and kept their visit short.
Then we started receiving mailers. ”Super Roofer Roofing Company!” ”Roof Roof Rover’s Roofing Company!” There they were in my mailbox along with Grocery store circulars and Furniture Store inserts.
Then I started seeing random signs around town at railroad crossings and traffic lights. I’m surpised I even noticed them before the Fort Worth code enforcement car started removing them.
So to sum up: We had a real need. We were bombarded with door hangers, signs, personal visits and direct mail.
- The door hangers became annoying after the 3rd one.
- The signs were just a sea of noise – no one sign impressed more than another.
- The personal visits, though amiable, were uninvited sales pitches nonetheless.
- The mailers were just one more piece of junk mail.
- The random signs around town just seemed like desperate cries for help.
And we’ve decided on no one. (Not sure we can meet our deductable anyway. )
But if we do, it won’t be because one door hanger was cooler than another or because I drove past a sea of signs and thought, “That one. That blue one there in the middle. That’s the company for us!”
I very much could be wrong (I often am) but I have a feeling it will be because of something else. And that something else will have to wait for another post.
And yes, churches sometimes come across like roofing companies.
If you are a follower of Jesus, you go where He leads and you care about what He cares about – and that always leads to people.
If you want to say, “No, it leads to making God famous!” then I have to ask, “Famous to who?” And again, we’re talking about people.
The Bible is about God’s revelation of Himself and His redemption of people.
Some Christians seem to imply that people are irrelevant in ministry because it’s “all about God.” Um… Hello? I think something’s being missed, there…
Sometimes I want to shout to these well meaning Christians something along the lines of:
Yo! Dude! You are People! And that ‘whooshing sound’ you just heard was the point sailing past your head…
I understand what is meant by the phrase, “It’s all about God.” I’m just saying that if that is indeed the case, then we should care about what God cares about.
And God cares about people.
Scripture makes it clear that there is wisdom in seeking advice from a variety of counselors.
“Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success.” – Proverb 15:22 (NLT)
Scripture also makes it clear that some advice is to be avoided.
“In the mouth of a fool, a proverb becomes as limp as a paralyzed leg.” – Proverb 26:7 (NLT)
“A proverb in a fool’s mouth is as dangerous as a thornbush brandished by a drunkard.” – Proverb 26:9 (NLT)
“What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!” – Proverb 18:13 (NLT)
Who are you listening to?
Choose your counselors wisely.
