Simple Ideas

I am in Arkansas for vacation. We enjoyed a birthday party for my niece Callie Thursday evening at the local skating rink in Russellville. But then I noticed that none of the kids brought gifts - all they brought were cards. And in the center of the gift table was a bucket with the words "Crisis Pregnancy Resource Center" on it. Attenders to my 11 year old niece's party were encouraged to forego gifts and GIVE to something that could make a difference in God's kingdom. $175 was raised to help this Christian based outreach ministry. Sometimes the best ideas are simple. What simple ideas do you have that will help us all to give a little more, take a little less and make a bigger difference?

A Glass of Clean Water

We take it for granted. For $85 you and your family can give another family a bio sand filter that will last for 20 years. Check out http://www.bloodwatermission.com/projects/ to find out more. This isn't a guilt trip but just a reminder that we should love our neighbors as ourselves.

John 16:33...Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow is a college quarterback who is also an outspoken believer in Christ. I usually don't give celebrity Christians much credit - but Tim appears to be the real deal. Many of you know he puts a scripture verse in white letters on his eye black. At first, it seemed a little hokey...kinda like those comic book looking tracts warning us about the dangers of Halloween. But then I read this quote in an article...
For the biggest college football star of the Google generation, there was no more appropriate symbolism to Tebow's career than Google's own data on Saturday night: For much of the afternoon, "John 16:33" from Tebow's eye-black was the most-searched term -- until nightfall, when it was bumped to the No. 2 slot by "Tim Tebow crying." By Dan Shanoff
You may not like football. You may not believe Tim Tebow. But for an evening, just because of some letters on some eyeblack - people were reading the Bible. And who knows, maybe if someone watched Tebow all season and read all his eye black scripture verses it would lead them to the Christ in which Tebow so outspokenly believes. You may not like Tim Tebow but he wears his faith on his sleeve and everyone knows where he stands. What about you? Maybe it's time for us to put on some eyeblack and get in the game!

Who is your mentor?

In discipleship, we need to think about 3 relationships that are vital to this process:
1. Who am I leading, discipling and mentoring? (Behind me)
2. Who is my peer group that I am leading with? (Around me)
3. Who is my mentor? (Ahead of me)

That last person must be someone further down the road than you. We are not talking about perfection, just someone further along in their walk with Christ. As a pastor, it is hard to find people willing to take on this task. So that's why I hang out with guys like Howard Hendricks, Alistair Begg and Dave Ramsey. I don't agree with these guys on some theological issues but they do help me in specific areas of my life and ministry. Just this last week, Dave Ramsey spent two hours coaching me to stay on our financial plan. Howard Hendricks is currently speaking into my life teaching me about leadership. I know many of you don't like Bill Hybels but I learned a lot from him this past summer about managing yourself and leading others.

You may not have a personal mentor speaking into your life - but quit living out of that excuse. You can read books. You can download FREE podcasts and video on ITunes. You can get online content for FREE on just about any subject. Take advantage of the growth that awaits you and let someone speak down to you for once. Pastors need pastors, too!

2 Months...

...until 2010 gets here. That has me thinking a lot about all the unfinished business of 2009. I could punish myself and wallow in guilt about what I haven't finished. Or I could decide to do something about those loose ends. So...
1. Sit down and clear about a half hour to think.
2. Scan your life in categories...Family, Professional, Personal, House, Personal Growth, etc.
3. Decide what things you need to FINISH in the next two months to finish off 2009.
4. Write each task down with a next step attached to each.
5. GET IT DONE! And yes, I am yelling. You have 2 months to make 2009 count!

You might have wasted a few days, weeks or even a month or two in 2009, but now is the only time you can change. Beg for God's wisdom, ask for His grace and do it! You'll be glad you did. And you will enter 2010 with momentum instead of regret.

Quityerbellachin!

I traveled to West Viriginia this past Thursday & Friday for the Mid-Atlantic Pastor's Retreat. One of the speakers was Darrel Owens. I enjoyed getting to know this brother. He is a great example of what faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ looks like. He is still fighting the fight and keeping the faith! Listening to Bro. Darrel speak over the weekend reminded me of one thing I miss about the South...those great southern expressions and figures of speech. Western PA is our home, but I do miss hearing these gems from time to time:

"That is as worthless as a saddle on a hog."
"NIP it in the bud...NIP IT!"
"We were as poor as Job's turkey."
"My parents were so poor they had to lean against a wall to pay attention."

And lastly, one of his classic jokes:
Question: "What did the snail say while he rode on the back of the turtle?"
Answer: "WHEEEEEEEE!!!!"

p.s.: The title of this post is another classic - it is pronounced as one word but is actually a sentence and a great command for pastors: "Quit your belly aching!"
Translation: "Stop complaining."

Death of Blogging

It is no surprise that blogging has rapidly declined as a popular form of online communication. The speed of life for most folks (and our laziness to think and write clearly) makes the micro-blogging world of Facebook and Twitter perfect for quick and constant communication. While I enjoy reading what is on everyone else's minds on Facebook, I still don't interact much and I doubt that I ever will. So here's the question, for the other 2 people who have read this blog - shall I give this blog a nice funeral? Or, should I re-invent this blog with renewed focus and begin updating weekly again? I think blogs have their place but only if they are updated often and the content is worth reading. So give me an opinion. A funeral or resurrection? My blog hangs in the balance.

scott