B90X

Welcome to the most intense Spiritual shape up of your life. As we travel through the Bible over the next 90 days I promise you this if you stick to it and complete it God will speak to you like never before through His word. We will see a flow in theme throughout the Bible, because it's not just a bunch of stories thrown together. They weave in and out and create a masterpiece. Join in and lets get Spiritually Fit!!!

Click to download the B90X PDF

Different Types of Tweeps

If you Tweet you have realized that there are different types of tweeps who tweet on twitter. This post is going to give insight into the different types of people who tweet. Apart from those of us who think we are normal tweeps there are the few that have issues, these are just a few.

1. Addictive Tweep
These are the ones who tell everything, and I mean everything. From when they wake up to when they sleep. If you ever want to know where they are or what they are eating, just look at their profile. You can identify these tweeps because normally they are the ones with the automatic location update in their tweets.

2. Binge Tweeter
These are the ones you never see much on twitter. Maybe they aren't online much or whatever, but when they are they normally send out 3-5 tweets back-to-back and then they are gone like a phantom. They are only around to give you an update of life, but then leave until the next time they tweet binge.

3. The Phantom Tweep
These are the ones who jumped on board the Twitter train because it became popular, and then never tweeted. They have an account, but when you look at their profile and it says its been 6 months or longer since a tweet, they're a phantom.

4. The Announcer
These are the ones who use their profile for one thing, publicity. All they do is promote something. I didn't follow you to find out when the BBQ Plate Dinner was, I followed you to see what you do all day.

5. Mr. Wisdom
These are the ones who give you little quips of encouragement throughout the day. You know that if you are having a slow day you can read their tweets and it will be a pick-me-up to get through the day.

I hope you've enjoyed what I've observed in Twitterverse. I know that at some point we are all one of these tweeps, but no one would ever admit to it. So enjoy trying not to be obvious as you are one of these five.

We Can Learn From Francis Chan

This past week I was able to attend Exponential 2010 in Orlando, FL. The last session was hearing Francis Chan speak. For those that do not know, last Sunday he resigned from his church, Cornerstone Church. He didn't resign because he had a moral failure or took money. He was cocky/prideful either. He is leaving because he feels God calling him to step out. This is amazing to me, because in my memory this is the first time a mega-church pastor has left his/her church when it was doing well, and it not be because he/she fell into sin. Francis Chan has finished well. Not because he pastored a big church, but because he has been obedient and is leaving obediently.

This knowledge is the source of this confession. I desire to finish well, no matter what that looks like. I want to complete the task that God has for me. More than having a lot of people in service or in ministry, I want to hear my Lord say "Well Done" when it's all said and done. Seeing Francis Chan complete this encourages me that I can too. I can finish what God has started. I can stay obedient to the call He put on my life. I can be an obedient son and fulfill my purpose in Christ.

I challenge you as the reader to learn about Francis Chan's journey and let it mess your life up. God will not keep you where you are just because everything is going great, He may ask you to leave. In Acts 8 God commanded Philip to leave his successful ministry and ended up ministering to an Ethiopian eunuch. We must remain obedient to where God has us and where God will take us. Follow Christ no matter where He leads you, and make your goal not have big numbers but hearing your Savior say, "Well Done."

What's Ministry Really Like

This is one for the geniuses in the world who wonder about what ministry is like. Ministry is tough. I'm a youth pastor and its tough and frustrating and stressful. It keeps me up late at night thinking and pondering on sermon series, meetings, people I need to meet with or call. I have meetings I need to have growing out my whazo and its almost impossible to have them when everyone will be there. Ministry is hard, its no wonder so many ministers have short or no hair (THEY PULL IT ALL OUT!!).

However I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. I love what God has called me to, I love where God has called me. There is nothing like sitting in the back of a sanctuary and watch students lead. Its amazing when I see students praying for one another, coming up to me and letting me know they have a word from God they would like to share during service. It makes every headache, sleepless night, meeting worth it!

I love ministry because it is tough. This way I have to depend on God for my guidance and direction. If it were easy, I would be more likely to do my own thing. I need the Word of God in my life so I can speak truth into myself and others. I need time with God in prayer so I can hear His voice so I can do/be what He has called me to do/be. I need Him, because without Him I'm steering a carriage with no horses. This is what ministry is really like, hard and painful but with God leading you its worth it. I'm reminded of Christ, He had to suffer and die to accomplish God's will.

Are we willing to suffer in ministry for God's will to be done?

What's Love Got To Do With It? EVERYTHING!

When we read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 we realize that we can do all the "Christian" things we want, but if we do not love or have love is worthless. This past weekend I spent time with Pastor Tim Lamb at Empire Pentecostal Holiness Church. It was a great time of learning and fellowship. There was one concept that God revealed to me in this weekend. Something that seems simple, but is backbreaking to develop. That's having a congregation that truly loves their leader and a leader who truly loves the people.

Pastor Tim and the Church he pastors has this. This was not an overnight process, however, Tim has pastored this church for 16 years this coming August. To see the way the congregation speaks about their pastor and vice versa moved and encouraged me. This type of love is the type that will transform lives. Many churches operate with either the pastor or congregation complaining about each other. Imagine what your community could look like if we truly loved on another. Let this be more important than having big numbers and great programs. Let's love the people that God has allowed us to lead, and let's transform our communities for Jesus Christ.

John 13:53, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

I Hope I Don't Smell Like Poo

No one listens to someone who is full of crap. I was joking to my wife the other day about how certain people have odors that are not very inviting. When we are around these people we don't hear what they have to say because all we hear is, "I need deodorant, please help me." They could be telling us a truth that will radically transform our lives, but we can't focus on their words because of their stench.

Many Christians today are in this group. We say the right things and look good but smell like poo. What am I talking about, integrity; being who you say you are and doing what you'll say you'll do (infront of others & behind the scenes). Sin that is committed in the darkness, God will bring it to light. Don't be another statistic and reason people stay away from knowing Christ. I agree with some nonbelievers saying that it would be hard being a Christian when so many Christians live opposite of what they believe. My mentality is to prove those people wrong. To show them that I am a Man of God and my life, words, choices, and thoughts prove it. I don't want to smell like poo.

It gets messy, when everyone knows what you've done/doing. You can have the most powerful Word from God ever, but if your personal life smells like poo you have a big problem. We must do our best to remain clean and pure in our lives so we can be able to proclaim the Gospel and not be ashamed. Understand that we are all human and sin, but this is directed at those who are in habitual sin and refuse to be free. I'm here to say that you will not be 100% effective in fulfilling your God-given purpose until you are clean.

I'm not getting at covering up the stench with cologne like many do. They just make excuses or blame others for their mistakes. I'm talking about owning your stench and taking a shower. Get before God and seek after Him and ask for forgiveness and let Him clean you up, and remove the stench. Get clean, smell good. Gather people around you that will tell you if you start to stink. People who will keep you on track of being the man/woman of God you've been created to be.

Throughout the rest of the day, ask yourself:

DO I SMELL LIKE POO?

Don't Be a 'Whiskey Mike'

Last Thursday a Pastor told a story about how he at times will run out of gas in his vehicle. He told about one time he ran out of gas and a police officer picked him up. The officer spoke over the radio that he had a "whiskey mike", someone who doesn't watch their gas needle, runs out, and needs assistance. These are the one's who are so focused on where they are going they forget to make sure they have what it takes to make the trip. Or they have this "I can do it later" mentality where they will have time later to get gas.

This is true for leaders as well. As leaders we need gas to go where God is calling us and to do what we are called to do. However, there are many leaders who are trying to lead without gas. We all need time to refill our tanks. We need time that's just about us and not those that we lead. Some call these times "Sabbath days" or "a little R&R", I call it common sense. If a machine can't run without refueling, why do we think we are so different. Don't be a whiskey mike, take time and recharge.

Many leaders run out of gas because they are to focused on the vision of where they are going. They accomplish and show "to-do" lists whose boss, they are constantly pursuing the call of God on their life but they feel run down and beat up. Remember that to get to where you are going as a leader you will need to stop every once in a while and refuel. Take time and relax. Cut off the phone. The computer. The e-mails. Just breathe. Without days like this you will run out of gas and end up walking down the road with a gas can beating yourself up for not paying attention to the gas needle. Some do this throughout the week, and that's good but set one day a week aside to refuel and get back at it.

Other leaders pay attention to the gas needle, but believe that they can do it later. They say, "I'm tired and need a break, but I can do it later. Maybe next week when I don't have as much to do?" They know the importance of rest, but they believe that once they have accomplished everything that they'll have time to rest. News Flash: YOU'RE NEVER DONE!!! Our task lists never get shorter, there are always more e-mails to write, more phone calls to make, more meetings to have. The time to take a break and refuel is now. Schedule it into your week, take a day a week and recharge. Forget your responsibilities and refuel.

If we are leaders do not take time to refuel we will not only put ourselves to walking, but also those we lead. The car you're driving has passengers, your followers. If you are out of gas and have to walk, where do they go, what will they do. You are no good as a leader if you can't lead them. The only way to not let yourself become a 'Whiskey Mike'. Don't run out of gas, consistently refuel. Come to think of it, my Jeep is running low on gas right now...