Blogs With Benefits 1

When I began blogging, I really didn't know what I was getting in to. I had a friend who had moved off to pastor a church who had came back and showed me his blog and how I could keep up with him.

I thought it was perfect since I was in transition as well. It would be a great way for all the wonderful people at my previous church to be able to keep up with what I was doing.

Little did I know there were some positive benefits to blogging. It is probably one of the reasons I feel every pastor/ministry leader should blog.

• Relationships - Ministry can be very lonely if you are not careful. Not only that but in some churches networking with other pastors is not an easy thing to do. Through blogging I have developed friendships not only across the country but throughout the world.
• Therapeutic - Blogging for me is a way of centering my thoughts and filtering them on "paper". It allows me to write some of my frustrations as well as share many of my joys. Of course you have to be really careful what you write though, as once you hit that publish button it is out there for everyone to read.
• Educational - When I first began blogging, I didn't have a clue there were some great blogs where I could get instantaneous information. Many pastors post what their days and weeks are like. Churches post some of the creative elements they create. Pastors share their successes and failures. Imagine if we could have read what the Apostle Paul went through on a daily basis.

What are some of the benefits you have found in blogging?

[Photo Credit Flickr.com]

Journey Day 9

Today is day nine of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - 80 Minutes

Prayer Reflection - I spent a lot of time just worshiping and singing before the Lord. It is so awesome what He has done. I also spent time praying over the city, Pastor Bil, John and the staff at Bay Area Fellowship.

Bible Time - Shame on me....I allowed the day to slip by.

Scripture - None

Scripture Reflection - None

Book Reading - None

Book Reflection - None

My Prayer - Lord, help me order my day for success.

Whoop Bass

Guess I'm going to have to take up fishin' now....and get out a can of "Whoop Bass"



Too Funny...Thanks Ed Young.

Teach us all that life can be fun in ministry.

Journey Day 8

Today is day eight of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - 30 Minutes...may have been up to 45 to an hour as I prayed some while I drove as well as throughout my going through the day.

Prayer Reflection - We were out of town at an all day tournament and about 20 minutes into my prayer time that I carved out I started to feel not so good.

Bible Time - Acts 8 Amplified Version

Scripture - Acts 8:1 AND SAUL was [not only] consenting to [Stephen's] death [he was pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).

Scripture Reflection - We often fear persecution but it was persecution that actually spread the Word and made the church move out. I wonder if they would have been their own special club in Jerusalem like so many churches are today if it weren't for this.

Book Reading - Visioneering pages 113-112116

Book Reflection - These four pages are in the chapter called The Power of Vision.

As a father it is vital that I cast vision to my children. Vision is so powerful coming from people we respect. It draws us and captures our imaginations and then engages our hearts which gives us a sense of purpose.

My Prayer - Lord, use me to speak purpose into my children's lives.

Is This It

Is this my big announcement????

Journey Day 7

Today is day seven of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - One Hour

Prayer Reflection - The prayer time was broken up through the day but this evening I prayed for about 25 minutes and it was so good...just praising and thanking God for what He is doing.

Bible Time - Acts 7 Amplified Version

Scripture - Acts 7:49 Heaven [is] My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What [kind of] house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest?

Scripture Reflection - What so awesome is that Heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool yet He lives in my heart.

Book Reading - Visioneering pages 109-112

Book Reflection - These four pages begin the chapter called The Power of Vision.

Imagine if we realized the power of our words and how they can paint a vision for every relationship we may have. Words have the power to point people in a direction...to set their life's course.

As a leader this is especially true. We have the potential to chart the course of our organization or family by the power of the words we speak over others lives.

My Prayer - Lord, help me to maximize others around me. Help me to always be thinking and hearing what You may want to speak to others through me.

My Announcement-Well Maybe

It's coming soon...nobody even tried to guess on my last hint. Of course it is relation to the church God has been leading us to launch.

How about another hint? Read This.

That one might make it really easy. Maybe not...you still haven't officially heard.

Journey Day 6

Today is day three of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - One Hour

Prayer Reflection - Tried to begin the rhythm of early morning. Prayed about 30 minutes then more two and from work.

Bible Time - Acts 6 Amplified Version

Scripture - Acts 6:7 And the message of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and [besides] a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom is obtained eternal salvation in the kingdom of God].

Scripture Reflection - The message kept spreading and the disciples multiplied. Why can't more people and more churches get this? IT IS ABOUT NUMBERS. If we are doing what God has called us to it will be about numbers. And not just adding...it is now multiplying. That is why I love this idea of multi-sites. You are no longer adding but are multiplying.

Book Reading - Visioneering pages 103-107

Book Reflection - These four pages end the chapter called Going Public II.

Late...not gonna update this.

My Prayer - Lord, I pray more people would go on a journey like this. Work on me being more in tune with you. Help me to hear what you are speaking to me during this time.

Journey Day 5

Today is day three of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - None...My day didn't work out at all for me

Book Reading - Visioneering pages 99-102

Book Reflection - These four pages are in the chapter called Going Public II.

The problem engages the mind, the solution engages the imagination, but the compelling reason engages the heart. You must be convinced of what your vision should be before you can effectively cast your vision. Run your vision through two questions: What Difference Will It Make? and Why Should I Attempt This?

My Prayer - Lord, help me to stay strong on this journey and stay focused.

Journey Day 4

Today is day three of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - One Hour

Prayer Reflection - Two things I felt God say into my Spirit. "See my glory revealed in you." It was as if He was saying...I'm going to make all the wrongs right and that all I needed to do is let Him be God.

Second was I asked Him what are next move was with the church. "Sit and watch". Now I know that wasn't me...I actually had to ask twice. I'm am not a sit and watch...I'm a run and do. I'm a planner and implementer...I felt Him saying to "sit and watch" what He will do.

Bible Time - Acts 4 Amplified Version

Scripture - Acts 4:8 Then Peter, [because he was] filled with [and controlled by] the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and members of the council (the Sanhedrin),

Scripture Reflection - Much is put on being filled with the Holy Spirit....but is it time we allow the Holy Spirit to control us. Powerful thought. Peters words came because he gave control to the Holy Spirit. Do we want the filling but remain in control? What would our lives look like if we gave total control? This is probably what truly making Him Lord of our lives would look like.

Book Reading - Visioneering pages 95-98 (there were some blank pages before this that's why the numbers skipped)

Book Reflection - It's late I read but I'm not going to update this.

My Prayer - Lord, pour out your Spirit and Fire in me.

My Announcement

Well, a lot of people know already the announcement about our church plant. At least those on my team. I've been thinking about already sharing it with everyone. Although what would be fun about that. The announcement will be coming sometime this week. But iff you feel like guessing here is a hint:

[Here] is the first clue.

And Bill and David you can't guess.

Journey Day 3

Today is day three of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - One Hour

Prayer Reflection - Today was a little harder. It was my first time in a while getting up to pray at six. I had to fight off tiredness and I felt a little off in prayer rhythem. I didn't spend the time to reflect that I did the previous day but it felt good to start my day off this way.

Bible Time - Acts 3 Amplified Version

Scripture - Acts 3:4 And Peter directed his gaze intently at him, and so did John, and said, Look at us!

Scripture Reflection - One of the reasons the church is not being effective is because it is not gazing intently into the community. We say we want change and impact but yet we are so far removed from the issues. We hare living in our fancy houses driving our fancy cars and I feel we are saying "look at us" but are we directing our gaze into our community.

Book Reading - Visioneering pages 89-92

Book Reflection - These four pages end the chapter called Going Public I.

Vision must present the solution. Since it is what we are seeing in the future it answers the problem and ignites our imagination as to what can be.

Vision must be clear in us. It must be a burned in image. If not we will not be able to translate that to others. When the pictures and images that fill the mind and hear of the visioncaster are accurately transferred to the minds and hearts of the audience, the vision has been cast.

A team whose imaginations are aligned and hearts are knit togther by what could and should be is a powerful team who can truly acheive more.

My Prayer - Lord, I pray more people would go on a journey like this. Work on me being more in tune with you. Help me to hear what you are speaking to me during this time.

Reverse Church

What if the primary church really was the home groups and we all came together on Sunday in a mission oriented reach out mindset?

Church Upside Down

Bracket Challenge Day 4

With Round 2 In The BAG...nothing much changed from Day 3 to Day 4. This weekend is my favorite of the whole tournament. But with two weekends to go anything can happen.

At The Ragamuffin Bracket Challenge - Tied at 1 of 125 with 36 right picks - See The Standings
In the Church Planters Bracket - Tied at 2 of 140 with 35 right picks - See The Standings
At Making Difference Makers - Tied at 4 of 21 with 32 right picks - See The Standings

BRACKETOLOGY BABY

Journey Day 2

Today is day two of my 50 day spiritual journey.

Prayer Time - One Hour

Prayer Reflection - This time I spent the last five minutes just listening. I really felt God say "I am here" and that I need to keep pressing in. He has always been there I just need to reposition myself to sense and hear Him more.

Bible Time - Acts 2 Amplified Version

Scripture - Acts 2:1 AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,

Scripture Reflection - This probably ties in a little with yesterday's reflection. God didn't give them a time it would happen, He just gave them a command to wait. I wonder if it felt like an eternity. I wonder if they sat there day after day wondering what was going to happen.

What I do see though is that they were together in one place. I almost want to say that the place wasn't just about being in one location although it was for them. I think that you could say that they were united and in purpose they were all in the same place. Imagine if today's church could do that. I think it will only be possible when everyone coming actually gets in the same place. To many people in church don't know why they are there and many are there for their own religious duty.

What would happen if we all came to a place where we were waiting on God to just explode His presence in our church and over our city?????

Book Reading - Visioneering pages 85-88

Book Reflection - These four pages begin the chapter called Going Public.

Vision is not something you do alone. God usually raises up a point person to paint a compelling picture.

An effective vision includes: the problem, the solution, the reason something must be done, and the reason something must be done now.

When communicating your vision you must be able to state your problem that the vision addresses. Often this is not a problem that people don't already know. They may have just gotten accustomed to living in this problem. Visioncasting often wakes people up from their apathy. Presenting the problem provides the context for presenting the solution.

My Prayer - Lord, help me to see clearly the issues of our area. The areas we as the church have allowed to grow where people have become apathetic. Burn this deep within me to the point where I cannot stand it no more.