Hey Friends,

It is amazing that I am still writing blog posts from ideas I received while at an Equip Roundtable event. Some great leaders were there and it was mega-impactful for me. During a Q & A time, I asked John Maxwell a question: “How do you read a room and the activity of the Holy Spirit so well?” The question stumped him for a minute and I loved that.

Then John gave us all a great nugget: “I live in the moment!” Basically, he was saying that only today really counts. The Scripture is clear that none of us are promised tomorrow. “Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring.” “We are here today and gone tomorrow.” So live to the max right now!

One cool thing John said that he does is to prep for every day. He reviews his whole day’s schedule and then picks out what is most important – the place he feels he has to hit a home run. Since no one hits a home run at everything, he picks the most important part of each day and prepares for it and lives each day as if it were his last. Great advice!  

Today is Friday as I am writing this post. I am preparing for the upcoming weekend. What is the most important thing I will do this weekend? Preach five services. I need to prepare to hit a home run for and with Jesus.

Today, I am off and working at home. The most important thing I will do this day is go to dinner with my son, Zac. I want to hit a home run when I spend time with him. There is nothing more important I will do today.

Wherever you are, be there fully. Live today like it is your last and squeeze every drop out of it.

Where do you need to hit a home run today?

Here for you,

Pastor Chris

Hey Friends,

As leaders of others in some sort of ministry position, we all need more than we have. How many times have you said, “I wish I had…?” We have all said it. I have gone to conferences and watched talent, technology and other teams and wished I had something I didn’t have at the moment. Why is it we always seem to focus on what we don’t have rather than what we have? Strange isn’t it?

If our focus is on what we don’t have, then we have a good excuse not to do anything. Moses argues with God about his going back to Egypt to rescue the slaves. It didn’t work too well the first time for Moses. His list of “reasons” showed pretty good thinking. Moses tells God they won’t believe him. “What do you have in your hand?” A staff! “Throw it on the ground!” And it becomes a big honking snake. I’m impressed. “Pick it up!” (Moses is the man) And it becomes a staff again. Do that and use what you have.

Jesus does the same thing with the feeding of the 5000. “What do you have?” God will use what you have and we are worried about what we don’t have. A problem, wouldn’t you agree? The bottom line is that if God can part the Red Sea with a stick and feed 5000 with a happy meal, He can use what you have!

You have all you need today to do what He has called you to do today. I know all the things you need: money, space,  technology, advertising, core group, staff…  The list can go on for days. Remember the Disciples? What did they have? They rocked the world and so can you. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is alive in you!

Have a prayer list of the things you would like to have or feel you need in order to reach more people, but keep your focus on what you already have and use it for His glory. He doesn’t really take too kindly to excuses.

Just a thought,

Pastor Chris

Hey Friends,

The year 2009 is almost history! For some of you that is good news because this wasn’t your best year. For others, ‘09 was great. No matter what camp you are in, it is quickly coming to a close. I want  to challenge us all to get ready for what God has planned in 2010. This is going to require us to listen and to focus. Both of these two disciplines are growing obsolete.

Since we live in the land of multi-tasking, we have lost the ability to focus. It is hard to hear the Voice of God when we are checking our e-mails, texts, and tweets during devotions. We have lost the ability to hear the “still small Voice of God.” During the next few days, spend some time listening so you know His plan for the new decade.

Listening can be a problem since we find it hard to unplug. I want to challenge you to “cut off the stuff!”  And you know what it is! Maybe it’s this blog, tweets, texts, e-mails and the like. The only way to real intimacy is for you to unplug. Jesus did it. No, He did not have an Internet connection, but He was wired into His Heavenly Father. Intimacy involves unplugging. Will you?

As you listen over these last few days of this year, write down your thoughts and plans for the new year and decade. Write down your spiritual growth plan. I would also challenge you to help your family develop a plan for the year.

This is the time to get with God. I believe He is waiting to hear from you.

Stop! Slow down! Be still!

Love,

Your Pastor

Hey Friends,

I thought yesterday’s blog would be a hit, and it had the all-time most hits for one day. I think we hit a nerve. I love disciplines like we did yesterday because they help us clarify our priorities. Why can’t we just live them out daily? You enjoy life more when you live out your priorities. What’s our problem? I think I have discovered at least part of it.

We live in a world of distractions. We all love to watch a good magician – he can distract us while he does the illusion. The world around us has been set up by the Devil to distract us from what is important. If you already are a Christ-follower then the Devil can’t change that, but he can get us off track. He will take any win he can get, no matter how small.  As you read my last words letter, many of you realized what was most important in your own life. If you did the exercise then it helped you even more. We know what things are most important, yet they are not where we spend our time and effort. We keep getting distracted with lesser things and priorities. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Fix your eyes on Jesus…” We must keep our eyes on the prize or we will miss it.

Remember the Devil is the master of  distraction. He has ruined the lives and testimonies of so many Christ-followers by getting them off track and down the wrong road. If you did not write the letter we discussed yesterday then get cracking! Let’s pray for each other that we do not lose focus and miss the mark. God has big plans for us and we must stay focused on what is most important.

Faith, family, then all else comes afterward.

Yours to count on.

Pastor