What a story to tell

I saw this on Snopes. Here's the story:

Wow and I thought my childhood mumps and chicken pocks at the same time story was a good one! Not compared to this one.

Seth Godin on Creativity - "99% of the time, in my experience, the hard part about creativity isn't coming up with something no one has ever thought of before. The hard part is actually executing the thing you've thought of."

Isn't that the truth.

What inspires you?

I recently asked this question to my coworkers. I decided to jump in and let my inspirations known: (As of today....)

:: I admire my sons (Jack and Nate). They have a real love for life and more spunk than a pack of Mentos in Diet Coke

:: My wife makes me think about things that I may not other wise. She has a great perspective on things and her Godly heart shows through. I am a better man for marrying her...in too numerous ways to count

:: Gigi is such a joy. I love her inhibited passion to sing at the top of her lungs, even when nobody is listening

:: Wes O'Haire's creativity in design and music

:: My brother's resilience

:: Walking into any Apple Store. Inspiration and imagination flood my creative soul.

:: Stories like Rocky (the original). Overcoming all the odds stepping into a God-design. The character Rocky was born to box ... Note to self Sly: Keep us wanting more.

:: Groove in 5 or 7 (Meter). Listen to St. Augustine in Hell, Seven Days - Sting

:: Hebrews 12:1 - Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Well, that a few to start with. I am sure there will be others to follow.

We like me ... and others like me.

I saw this picture from a friend's blog today:

It's just another reminder of how businesses work hard to find things in common with their audiences. How can a church or should a church work harder at it, too?

It can be done in the most simple ways...got milk?

Plano vs Tyler Comeback

You have to watch it to the end. . . . "I'm about to throw up"

We're better and thoughts like it

I've thought about for the last three or four years. It really bothers me when well-meaning people ask me or others what kind of church one attends. Now don't misunderstand, I've never been asked because someone actually thought I was going Mormon or Hindu. They were mainly concerned if I was at a "seeker" church or not. I think it's silly to think that way. It's funny cause those in ministry have been around and have aligned themselves with the style of church/ministry that best suits them and their perspective on scripture. Most seem to do it and don't think twice about placing their vilified label.

I read this today - about a panel talking to thousands of ministry/church leaders on leadership and other church related matters. I found it an appropriate thought for what I've been feeling but not articulating:

"One of the panelists stated about his local church: "We're a discipling church" I'm wondering, what does that even mean? What's a church look like that's not a "discipling church?" Does this comment imply that the rest of us aren't discipling churches? I think, often, in leader's efforts to activate Christ-followers to live out their faith, to reach out to poorer people, to engage the environment as good stewards, they/we tend to attach a word like "discipleship" to the conversation and somehow suggest that the "right" model has finally been discovered.

Our labels - seeker church, teaching church, discipling church, (worshiping), (Spirit-filled/led)reaching church – risk alienating us from each other. These labels suggest that some churches are somehow better, somehow enlightened. Seems to me that in a conversation intending to point out that we've created a poor image of ourselves and our Lord (which is a great observation), we spark divisiveness among us and in doing so, we counter our own objective. (Dlake Editorial: Are the labels we put on ourselves and others for other Christians or for those who are non-churched, dislike the church, and could careless what it's called.)

How about we just be the church (or Christ-followers). What if we – together – focused on caring about those who have not experienced the truth about how God sees them, how much they matter to him. What if… "

I would love to hear someone ask me. . . Is your church about God's Kingdom? That would be refreshing!

Maturity comes with pain . . .

I grew up hearing that . . . "Maturity doesn't come with age but with the acceptance of responsibility." I really believe that. Not just in life but in my Christian existence. Here are a couple of other thoughts regarding mature Christ-followers from an article I recently read on the subject.

"The marks of maturity? Self-sustaining in spiritual devotions. Wise in human relationships. Humble and serving. Comfortable and functional in the everyday world where people of faith can be in short supply. Substantial in conversation; prudent in acquisition; respectful in conflict; faithful in commitments.

Take a few minutes and ask how many people you know who would fit such a description. How many? Apparently, Paul, pondered the question when he thought about Corinthian Christians and said, "I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ."

Additionally, mature Christians become mature by suffering, facing challenges that can arouse fear and a sense of inadequacy. Mature Christians learn to wrestle with questions that defy simple answers. They learn to say strategic and tactical "no's" when others are indulging themselves by saying "yes."

I suppose it can be said that maturity doesn't come with age but with the acceptance of . . . a Savior. That's where true spiritual growth begins. What a great basis on which to grow.

:: Welcome to Collide Magazine ::

:: Welcome to Collide Magazine ::

Came across a cool site today. I think it will help . . . me!