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What do you value most in life?

June 18, 2013 in faith, family, friends with 2 Comments

What if I asked you what you value most in life? How would you answer?

If you were to ask me that today, I would honestly have to say my friendships and relationships. I’ve had some time to really think about this. The past few weeks have been a time of healthy contemplation, reflection and a chance to look deeply at what I value most in life. For me, relationship with God, my family and true friendships are the richest and most satisfying blessings.

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” ~ C.S. Lewis (The Four Loves)

God has much to say about friendship. Among the most profound is this:

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)

If we know each other, I want to thank you for your friendship. If I haven’t had the opportunity to tell you individually or privately, please accept this very public “thank you.” If we are friends, you impact my life in ways in which you are unaware. I hope I do the same for you.

Like the great C.S. Lewis said, friendship may have no survival value but it does bring great value to survival.

So, let me ask you. What do you value most in life?

A new season. A new chapter.

June 17, 2013 in change, encouragement, family, Spirituality with 8 Comments

“TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 (AMP)

Everything has a season.

Everything has a time.

We grow.

We change.

And… sometimes… so do assignments.

In 1995, after Debbie and I moved our family here at the direction of the Lord. After nearly 13 years of outstanding ministry in Atlanta, we moved our family to Fort Worth to join the Eagle Mountain Church family. God called us to step out of the familiar and follow Him to Texas, replanting ourselves and walking out steps of faith together with Him.

We heard Him call. We obeyed. When we did, it meant a change of assignment for us.

It is that kind of season again. Assignments are changing.

On Monday, June 3rd our assignment at Eagle Mountain Church was completed.

It is a new season. It is a new chapter in our lives.

We have enjoyed the last 17 years of assignment at Eagle Mountain Church. Among the greatest joys are the friendships we have made, the family we have gained and the things we have learned. We raised our kids here. They were both Superkids and eventually went to 14forty and graduated. They were given so many great and rare opportunities to discover and exercise their giftings and callings.

Amazing.

Debbie and I have grown in our gifts and callings as well. During this last 17 years, we have fallen more deeply in love with the ministry of the local church, with His people and certainly with Him. If you are a part of our Eagle Mountain family, we have fallen in love with you. For those of you who already know about our change of assignment, we deeply appreciate the outpouring of love and support you have shown us.

Seasons like this can bring a flood of emotions, but this season is not emotional. It is thrilling. We are thrilled to be following the plan God has for us. It’s a good plan. A great plan. A plan where we all win.

Here are a few, very important things to remember about assignments:

God gives assignments, not men. He alone is the King of the Kingdom. He alone is all wise, all knowing and knows the end from the beginning.
God is utterly trustworthy. He not only knows what He’s doing, when He directs change He has prepared the next place well.
Assignments are rarely lifetime assignments. They change like seasons. Some will be longer. Some will be shorter. Most are not forever assignments.
When God re-assigns pastors, the people are still in their hearts. You are still in our hearts.
When Kingdom assignments change, it doesn’t mean treasured friendships and relationships have to end.

We are seeking the heart and direction of God for our next assignment. We are resting, trusting God and listening for further instructions. Much like a military assignment, we are on R&R awaiting our transfer paperwork. Actually, it is already on its way. That’s about all I can say about our next season for now.

God is moving.

He is speaking.

This past week I heard Him speak this scripture to me, and it resonated in me:

“True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.” ~ Psalm 23:3 (MSG)

This is not goodbye. You know where to find us on Facebook, Twitter and our websites.

There are great days ahead for all of us.

You are in our hearts.

We love you.

Caption Please: Shark Attack?

June 14, 2013 in Caption please, funny, humor with 5 Comments

image via imgur

I’m pretty sure my parents told me to never the dachshund play in a shark’s mouth.

Pretty sure, anyway.

You know what to do. Leave a comment and caption, please!

Help someone else today.

June 13, 2013 in encouragement, quotes with 1 Comment

“Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” ~ Philippians 2:3-4 (MSG)

Helping someone else may be the key in getting unstuck. It’s definitely the key to helping you forget about yourself.

Serving each other with no ulterior motive is one of the most amazing things we will ever do on this earth.

It’s so easy. And not painful at all. Think of one thing you could do that would change someone’s day – then do it.

It’s a decision you won’t regret.

“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.” ~ Lewis Carroll

Finish the work!

June 11, 2013 in choices, decisions, encouragement with 3 Comments

“…my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus…” ~ Acts 20:24 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul was familiar with trouble, setbacks, roadblocks and hardship. He was also familiar with being obedient to the plan for his life, no matter how difficult any season might be. Beatings, chains, prison, death threats seemed to be a regular theme of his life and ministry after his conversion.

Here in Acts 20, he knew the plan of God for him was to go to Jerusalem. He also knew if he went that “jail and suffering lie ahead.” While most of would wrestle, argue, negotiate and squirm, Paul seemed resolved to do it no matter what the cost.

How could Paul have the courage to face what he was about to face and do it willingly?

“My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work”

He knew his life was to be used for finishing his work.

I’m wondering why I don’t seem to know that about me. I’m wondering why most of us spend so much of our time avoiding the very work we were assigned to do by God Himself. I’m wondering why we are so lackluster about finishing the very things that could be life-changing for others and world-changing for our generation. I’m wondering why we don’t take this seriously.

Most of us aren’t even facing difficult opposition or troubling outcomes, but we still seem to find a way to say “no” to finishing our work. It’s not like we would actually look the God of the Universe in the face and actually tell him “no thanks” or “You’ve got the wrong guy” – yet we ARE actually doing that every day we find a convenient excuse for leaving the important things undone.

What about that book you’ve been supposed to be writing?

What about going back to school to get your degree?

What about taking a leap of faith and looking for work that matters to you?

What about just finishing the thing you started?

What about trusting God and believing in yourself again?

If Paul’s life meant nothing apart from finishing the work assigned him by the Lord Jesus, neither does mine.

Or yours.

So… what was that excuse again, for not doing what you are supposed to do?

Better yet, what is that you’ve made up your mind to finish?

Longboard Stroller: Good idea or bad idea?

June 10, 2013 in questions, risk with 8 Comments

image via longboardstroller.com

Yeah. It’s a longboard. And a stroller. A longboard stroller. And it’s real.

I’m pretty sure someone out there thinks this is cool. I’m not one of them. If you are one of them, they’re coming out soon. You can buy one over at longboardstroller.com.

Please don’t tell them I sent you.

Maybe I listened too much to my mom. Or to my children’s mom.

Either way, this just seems like a bad recipe. For lots of reasons.

I’ve got so many reasons why this is a bad idea. Mostly it involves the idea of dudes taking kids on longboards. I’ll spare you the sermon. I’ll spare you the details.

So…

Bad idea or good idea?

In case you can’t make up your mind, here’s a promo video:

I say bad idea. Especially after seeing the toddler riding it with a baby.

Am I wrong?

Why or why not?

Caption Please: Really. Huge. Dog.

June 7, 2013 in Caption please, funny, humor with 6 Comments

image via Buzzfeed

Ummmm… just imagine if you had a dog this big… or don’t. This can’t be real, but here it is.

Have fun with this one! Leave a comment and caption, please!

Balance your dreaming and doing.

June 4, 2013 in decisions, dreams, work with 8 Comments

“The vision thing is really important — but the execution thing is really important, too. Having a good idea is not enough. You’ve got to figure out some way to balance that and complement that with great execution, which ultimately is people and priorities and things like that. You have to strike the right balance. If you have those together, I think anything is possible. If you don’t have both of them working together in a complementary, cohesive way, you’re not going to be successful.” ~ Steve Case (quote via LinkedIn)

I couldn’t agree more.

What do you think about this quote from Mr. Case?

Do you think he’s right?

If you’re out of balance, which way do you need to tip the scale?

Flowchart: What kids ask Mom. And Dad.

June 3, 2013 in faith, funny, humor with 2 Comments

image via neatorama

Moms… are you ready for summer?

Here’s a handy, dandy little flowchart in case you forget who your kids are supposed to ask for what. Not sure it’s entirely accurate, but I’m sure it feels like it some days.

Happy Monday!

Caption Please: New Sheriff In Town?

May 31, 2013 in Caption please, funny, humor with 5 Comments

Image via Pleated Jeans

There’s so much here. So much.

What’s your caption for this lovely item? Leave a comment. Share your wisdom. Try out a new comedy routine on us. Caption, please!

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