Archive for the ‘Belief’ category
December 28, 2008
A new book by Steven K. Scott, the author of the best-selling book The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, is entitled, The Greatest Words Ever Spoken. It includes over 1,900 statements by Jesus organized under more than 200 different topics.
The subtitle is – “Everything Jesus said about you, your life, and everything else.” When you read this book , you encounter the living Christ in a way few books allow. When you read the statements of Jesus, unencumbered by additional commentary or explanation, the truth, power and impact of His words become even more evident.
You read what Jesus said about Himself, about His followers, and about eternity. This book is a resource whose value will only increase each time you reach for it and read the “words in red”.
During His time here on earth, Jesus made remarkable promises to each of us who would hear His words and follow them. This book gives us the perfect tool to do exactly that, all the time providing a fresh view of the incomparable Christ.
This book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and your favorite local Christian bookstore.
Categories: Belief, Books I'm Reading, Kingdom of God, Life, religion
Tags: Steven K. Scott, the greatest words ever spoken
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December 21, 2008
In just a few minutes I’ll be headed out of town one more time before Christmas. I can’t believe how fast this year has gone by, and how much has changed in this past year. 2008 will go down in my book as one of the most transformative ever. There is so much I could say, but for now, I have to thank all of the people at Lifepoint who have given of themselves throughout 2008 to see people experience the true unconditional love of Christ.
When we embrace the power we hold when we show love to another person, and then through the embracing of the idea really literally embrace people, we change the world – or at least someones world. This Christmas, remember the past, celebrate the present and look expectantly into the future.
The future is yours to write, you hold the pen and can define 2009. I pray that next year holds in its mystery some of the greatest moments of your life!
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Context, Influence, Life
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December 15, 2008
Sunday was a day for big announcements. John Sloan our bass player was leaving to go to Cincinnati, service times were changing from three back to two services, and I was stepping out into a new place of uncertainty and question marks. Sounds like you should have been there, right?
Change was the topic of conversation. I mentioned Robert Quinn and his book, Deep Change. We all are faced with opportunities to choose Deep Change, yet even in our inaction we make the decision to live within the status quo. The decision to embrace Deep Change is a decision that will shift your way of thinking and making meaning in the world, but it is also the only way in which we can truly grow as human beings. Personal Transformation is a topic that encompasses both the spiritual and mental capacities we posses. In order for a person to experience Spiritual Transformation and Mental Transformation, the lenses with which we see our lives have to also change and be embraced.
The best lenses are the ones we aren’t aware of. When we have a shift in our “seeing”, it takes time for the new lenses to integrate themselves into our lives. The first step is to recognize that the lenses you are currently looking through aren’t letting you see things the way you are accustomed to seeing them. Just like with real eyeglasses, when things start to become hazy and blurry, it’s time for new lenses to clear up your vision.
As I continue on in this journey, I hope you will also share your experiences. I also hope that my decision to embrace transformational change will spur you on to begin your own journey of transformational change.
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Goals, Me, Starting, Vision
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December 8, 2008
I know this is an odd title for a post, but there are a multitude of things that are happening around us and some are worth mentioning. This is one of them. Today the media giant became the first major newspaper or chain to file bankruptcy in the modern era. This tactic is aimed at relieving financial pressure while the Tribune works out arrangements with it’s creditors.
The Chicago-based company owns a coast-to-coast empire with television stations and newspapers in most of the nation’s largest cities. Its holdings include the Los Angeles Times; cable television superstation WGN in Chicago; the Baltimore Sun; and WDCW-50 in Washington, the CW affiliate. The company also owns the Chicago Cubs.
The reason this is important is that it signals a trend that has been in the background for a while. The old ways of receiving and dispersing information are no longer financially viable and will cease, eventually.
Real estate mogul Sam Zell engineered an employee-owned transition to private ownership one year ago this month. He says, “We believe that this restructuring will bring the level of our debt in line with current economic realities, and will take pressure off our operations, so we can continue to work toward our vision of creating a sustainable, cutting-edge media company that is valued by our readers, viewers, and advertisers, and plays a vital role in the communities we serve,” Zell said. “This restructuring focuses on our debt, not on our operations.”
With the President using the word Recession and the failings and moves by major businesses, the tempo of concern is speeding up among the consumer. The key in all this is to maintain a balanced personal outlook. The fundamentals are called “fundamentals” simply because they remain when everything else is failing. The fundamental of living in Today, the Present, is one we should keep in front of our eyes.
The past is gone, the future is not yet here. Change and Decision can only take place in the magical land of Now. You control Now; your reaction and action. Live on purpose and keep to the fundamentals.
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Context, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life, People
Tags: Bankruptcy, change, Chap. 11, Fundamentals, Now, Tribune
Comments: 1 Comment
November 25, 2008
There is a saying that – “Anything can be improved”. In the world economy, these simple words provide the foundation for asking questions. Every time we look around we find things that could be better. What should be there that is not? What can start with what we know or are passionate about? What bothers us? What’s missing? We can come up with a very long list of things we wish were different or could change, or have the interest or skill to do something about.
In these lists are the beginning ideas of some of the most profitable businesses around. Google found a better way to search, Amazon found a better way to buy books, Ebay found a better way to sell everything. No super magic formula, just an opportunity to make things better.
These same principles apply wherever we find ourselves. The next big idea could come from you looking around and seeing something that could be done better.
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Starting, Vision
Tags: amazon, begin, ebay, google
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November 12, 2008
This past week I was rereading some books that I had stacked up, one was Turning To One Another by Meg Wheatley. Great book about the value of simple conversations and being presnt in those conversations. What struck me was a quote by Paulo Freire which said,
“What if we discover that our present way of life is irreconcilable with our vocation to become fully human?”
If you are like me, I don’t often find myself thinking about what it means to be fully human. You may be asking the same question, but for Paulo, the answer is that the vocation, or calling, to be fully human is given to us and therefore signifies that we are part of a larger place.
To become fully human means that we live an open life that is filled with generosity. We become more human each time we make the decision to reach out instead of withdrawing into our personal sufferings and experiences.
We can only become fully human when we extend ourselves. When we create a world of secrecy and whispers around us, we lose life rather than gain life. When we chose to become aloof and non-communicative we allow our ego to reign and prevent our own growth. When we close ourselves off from those around us, we may pretend that we are doing it for our own good. The truth is that we lack the courage to engage real dialogue – conversations where I speak and then become silent and listen. Speeches do not give; they are not generous. Listening and opening ourselves up to one another are acts of generosity. These are the actions that lead to our becoming fully human and going from a human doing to a human being.
Categories: Awareness, Belief, giving, Influence, Life, People
Tags: conversation, dialogue, future, margaret wheatley, paulo freire
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November 11, 2008
Rumi was a Persian poet who had and continues to have considerable influence in both the Middle East as well as here in America. His poems are known for their spiritual significance and poignancy. One that I felt would be good to share is short and to the point.
“Sit down and be quiet.
You are drunk, and this is the
edge of the roof.”
How often do we become caught up in the activities of the day, drunk if you will, and forget about the life we are living and the world around us. Taking time to consider and think about things consciously is a discipline that is lost from our collective accepted behaviour. Anyone can sit and say that they are thinking, but the truth of their words comes from the actions that follow.
Take some time today and think – if for just 5 or 10 minutes. Focus on the thinking and quiet yourself. Often when you return to your work things will seem clearer. This isn’t magic, it is the way we were meant to live our lives.
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Centering Prayer, Life, peace, People
Tags: quiet, rumi, think
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November 1, 2008
There are many different groups of people who meet and know each other in various ways. These groups of people can be a formal business group or just a group of people who are interested in the same kind of books or art. There are times when we, as members of some of those groups, want to make something happen or get something done. More often than not, nothing is eventually what happens. Even though we have very good intentions, the end result is that everything stays the same.
Used to be, you needed to convene a committee to make a proposal to get something done, especially in business. Now things are different. The one thing that is needed to move your group toward being a movement is a leader. And there is no reason that leader shouldn’t be you. Yeah, you heard me right, you have everything it takes to be a leader.
You have an idea of something that, if done, would change the way the future of your group looked. You will not be able to push people where you think the group should go. You have to lead them where you know they want to go. People want change. Change is far more inviting than “same”. Change has risk, which is why they need you to lead them.
Having a leader helps people go where they want to go. As a leader you get to see your group begin to move and become a movement. Take up the challenge and take your group that is probably stuck somewhere and be the leader we all need to get things going.
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Leadership, People, Starting, Vision
Tags: groups, Leadership, movement
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October 26, 2008
I’m sitting in my office after leading worship in the last of the three services for today and I am incredibly excited about the future of Lifepoint and the plans that lay ahead. The main song for this series is “God of the City”. I love the fact that the song describes that “greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city”.
As each one of us listens to our own hearts and then follows the plans and ideas that we hear, greater things will be done. God doesn’t lead people to a life of mediocrity. Instead, He leads people to live a life full of greatness. Few decide to follow His lead, but those who do enjoy more than just the immediate benefits of being a part of something new, fresh and good.
The greatest benefit is in knowing yourself and following yourself – win or lose, gain or fail. The willingness to take a step of faith into an unknown arena is the willingness it takes to really live a life worth living. In fact, I wouldn’t want to have it any other way!
Categories: Belief, Context, Creativity, Life, Message Series
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October 22, 2008
There is so much excitement in my heart as I begin to think about this coming Sunday. I’ve talked to several people who call Lifepoint their home, and they are excited as well. This past Sunday a large vision was cast for a more interactive and integrated 2009. More work with the community; more work with the disenfranchised; more work with the less fortunate and more work to make the community of Middle Georgia a better place to live and make a difference.
The most glaring challenge was to come together and give $75,000 over and above the regular giving, to begin to fund the incredible endeavors of next year. So much is going on in the world and in the church that we need to be more aware than ever before of opportunities to make a difference.
More incredible than anything else is the great knowing that I have of the true impact of our actions – as we give we become a part of the fulfillment of the commandment of Jesus that we “love one another as ourselves”. In the days and months to come, the “change” we’ve heard so much about from both candidates can only truly be realized as each of us look into our heart and see where our “treasure” should be. Then we can and will see palpable change!
Categories: Awareness, Belief, giving, Influence, Lifepoint, Vision
Tags: 2009, change, opportunity, Vision
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christopherhildreth 