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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

FOG!!!!

I am in a FOG today! why? because the Favor Of God is upon me! why? because He loves me! why? He has blessed me! how? with a wonderful wife, great kids, friends, family, church,and life...I am in a FOG!!! thankful for His favor on me!...are you in a FOG?

Psalm 84:10-12
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Race....awesome thoughts!

this is copied from the Buckhead church blog, posted by Carlos Whittaker from www.ragamuffinsoul.com

Race

Did you realize that Lance Armstrong won 7 Tour De France races in a row? If you are not a cycling fan, welcome to the club. It is just not that much of a spectator sport. So understand that this is coming from a guy who doesn’t watch the sport. The closest I’ve ever been to cycling was riding my mom’s 10 speed to Briarlake Elementary School in 4th grade thinking I was the coolest Latino on campus only to be made fun of because I was riding a chic bike. I was let know that a “boys” bike has a bar running parallel to the ground. Enough about my cycling career. How did he do it? I have never had cancer. I have never been in the hospital. I have never been faced with life or death. But many have. Many have stared death in the face. Most wilt under its gaze. But transfixed in my head is that clip that is shown in every Lance Armstrong story where he is cycling with no hair on his head or above his eyes. The chemotherapy was hard at work. But so was he. What clicks in his mind that allows such determination? I am a firm believer that God can work in whomever He pleases. The passion and endurance in Lance can only come from God. As a believer and privileged Ragamuffin I have the Living God breathing His breath into me day by day. But where is my passion? Where does it hide? I believe it is within us all. We just have to find it. It is late Monday night. Tomorrow I wake up and drive to Buckhead early in the morning to help create an environment to help people worship the Living God. Yet a man who wears a Yellow Jersey seems to have more passion than I. There is something fundamentally wrong with this picture. Tomorrow I pray I race toward the finish line of Christ Jesus as if I have stared death in the face and realized that it has no power over me. I pray that I run hard tomorrow with a renewed sense of passion that no song could ever bring me. Lord infuse in me that fire.I know Lance won the race.But we already have.

So why not run as if I believe it?

Carlos
Carlos Whittaker - SPD DirectorBuckhead Church

Thursday, February 21, 2008

this blessed me....

stolen from Mark Beeson, lead pastor at Granger Community Church.......

Mark shared.... One of My Heroes

I recently read an interesting proposition. I read that most people don’t attend church services to learn something new. Most people go to church to be reminded of those things they already know; they go to be reminded that life matters, that God cares, that hope and love can conquer despair, that sin exacts a great toll and Jesus is a Wonderful Savior.

That’s why I sat spellbound when Bill Hybels spoke so eloquently about the power of a life “fully devoted to Christ.” I already knew that. I knew a sold-out-life carries incredible power. I knew that, but it inspired me to hear him say it. His aide memoire really helped me.

“I remember when I crossed the line from adolescence to full devotion to Christ,” he said. He talked of one great truth; it is Christ-centered people who drive everything. Christ-centered people are the ones driving the work and ministry of Christ’s Church.

I already knew that. People who want nothing more than “to do whatever God wants them to do” have a huge impact.

I knew that.

You knew that.

Now to live like it….

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

the Giants David Tyree before the Super Bowl



this is an excellent video of David Tyree of the New York football Giants being interviewed before the Super Bowl....this is of course before he made what some are calling the greatest catch in Super Bowl history...greatest catch or not he made a great catch that enabled the Giants to continue moving the ball then go ahead and score the winning touchdown.....be sure to check out the video below as well...

David Tyree of the New York Giants after the Super Bowl



some pretty strong words here from David Tyree be sure to check out the other video above as well...it is excellent!

Monday, February 18, 2008

....I'm just an evangelist!...for what?

"Honestly, I'm not a visionary. I'm just an evangelist." Tony Morgan shared this quote this morning from Guy Kawasaki...as I think about it we are all an "evangelist"...we have a passion and a love for something or for many things that others see in our lives......what is it for you? for me?....it may be our job, our family, some of our possessions, could even be ourselves in some area of our life....the bottom line we all have character traits or something that is recognized in our life by others?...again, what are you an 'evangelist' for?...me, I love my wife and family, oh how I enjoy hockey and my Buffalo Sabres, love what lifechurch.tv is about....as Jon Randles shared with us this weekend at church we are either breathing life or breathing death into others....I want to 'breath life' into all I touch this week.....I want to be an 'evangelist' for life...most importantly I want others to see Jesus in me....what about you?

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

be "about deeds, not creeds"

Tony Morgan mentioned this article in the Washington Post from Rick Warren, read it but two things he said.....

be "about deeds, not creeds."

and he said

"I just think we're becoming too rude," he said. "You have no right to demonize someone just because you disagree with them."

two great words, excellent! again, you can read it here or here!

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

this will preach!.....

check out this post by Mark Batterson, wow! spoke to me as Rick Warren shared yesterday with a group of leaders in Washington DC at Ebenezer's.....about three temptations that leaders face.....
Integrity. 1) lust of the flesh
Generosity. 2) lust of the eyes
Humility. 3) pride of life
http://evotional.com/2008/02/integrity-humility-generosity.html
you don't have to be a pastor or on staff to be a leader or to gain some tremendous value in what Rick Warren shared.....for myself in business or as a father, I need to hear and listen to the Lord as I face the same temptations as others that I must guard against....good stuff....

two things Mark mentioned that really struck a chord with me.....
1) "I'd rather die than embarrass Jesus Christ."
2) .....humility! .....Rick's definition. Humility is not denying our strengths. It is admitting our weaknesses....wow! that will preach!

also saw where Jay Hardwick was there and I anticipate he will share some awesome insights as well in the next few days.....

How To Be Rich!

week 3 at Lifechurch
Why did God make you rich?
11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Cor 9:11

God has blessed us with more than we need. We're rich. But we will not trust in our riches, but in Him who richly provides. Because we have more, we will give more!

*because I have more, I will give more!
How can you learn to give more?
*you must be an intentional giver. plan! practice giving!
2 Cor 9:7

I will intentionally...
1) return to God what belongs to God
Leviticus 27:30 Malachi 3:10
*tithing teaches me to put God first!
The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.
Deuteronomy 14:23 The Living Bible
*tithing increases my faith in God!
Malachi 3:10
2) give more and more and more!
2 Cor 8:7

We will not give like average people! We will give like one who is rich!

God has blessed us with more than we need. We're rich. But we will not trust in our riches, but in Him who richly provides. Because we have more, we will give more!




Sunday, February 03, 2008

Fin is ready......

Fin is ready to go for a ride with his mommy...I do believe he is a
momma's boy...

Friday, February 01, 2008

"It doesn't take a leader to kill something that is already dead. Instead, leadership is killing something that is working in order to make something else work better." - Reggie Joiner-

found this on another blog (http://rolandgilbert.blogspot.com/) and thought it was an excellent thought......

Icicles on my chin...

Lucy and I went for a run this morning...my phone said it was 16 degrees...we got back to the car and I took a quick picture of her, you can see her whiskers on her chin are now icicles...she is a real trooper and loves to run...she is always ready to go...when I do not take her it is like she asks why not?...she is probably dissappointed but on the other hand when I come back home she acts as if everything is great...that is grace!...I know it may seem silly to compare our pups to what the Lord asks of me but there character is unforgiving, they don't hold grudges, and for the most part if they are trained well they are obedient...bottom line regardless they love me! and us! okay I may be weird but just thinking out loud....you can click on the picture and better see her chin when the pic is bigger, duh!...