NolanGottlieb.com (kinda)

My Literacy Timeline...

2012-01-23T19:21:00.002-05:00

For the longest time in my life I had no desire whatsoever to read anything, I dreaded reading. Although, I can remember back to early elementary school where I was extrinsically motivated to read because of the "Book It" program, where I earned pizza for reading books. However, those days were long gone by middle school. For some reason I could never really find anything that I liked reading, the only exceptions being My Side of the Mountain and Hatchet, both survival stories. As I got older and into high school this trend continued. There were hardly ever any times I read for pleasure...I barely enjoyed magazines. When we were assigned novels to read in school, I always checked to see if there was a movie that I could watch about the novel. If that didn't work I would check Cliffs Notes. Nothing seemed to spark my interest. Through college it was the same story, never picked up a book that I didn't have assigned to me.

It wasn't until after college that things started to change for me. I seemed to have an epiphany. All of a sudden I was driven to read. It was like something clicked in my head and I began reading. I started reading Christian literature...the Bible, books by John Piper, J.I. Packer, and others. I was all of a sudden exposed to a world I never knew existed. I even felt robbed that I had lived twenty-something years and never knew books like this were available.

I believe that the bottom line in my development as a reader was finding literature that I felt was worth my time to read. This stuff seemed to make a difference in my life. It was a different type engagement from Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, both of which I still think are ridiculous to assign to a 16 year old boy.

The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Those books have spring-boarded me into other genres now. I'm still not much into novels, but I enjoy reading alot more than I used to. I believe that in order to peak students' interest in reading, especially those students who "hate" reading, you must expose them to books about topics that they're interested in and books that they will perceive as worth their time and effort to read.

Point of Joseph...

2010-09-28T11:41:00.001-04:00

If something “bad” happens who’s responsible for it? Is everything that is “bad” a direct result of the devil being at work? All too often in our culture people automatically think that if something bad happens that its from Satan being on the prowl and instantly try to fight whatever the problem seems to be. However, we know that our God is all-knowing, omnipotent, and sovereign…so nothing happens without his approval. We have to have a place in our minds that allows us to believe that God permits things that result in His glory and NOT just reacts to them and uses them for good.

Let me explain…I’ll use an old-testament story. The story of Joseph…As the story goes, Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and gets shipped off to Egypt to be a servant. However, through Joseph’s faithfulness he ends up being promoted and put in charge only behind Pharaoh himself. As Joseph is doing his thing in Egypt, his brothers are starving and have to come to Egypt to get food, but they have no idea that the brother they sold is now sitting in power. Joseph shows mercy and grace to his brothers and invites them to stay in Egypt so they will survive. To make a long story short this is the beginning of God’s people being in Egypt…they eventually are made into slaves again for 400 years until Moses delivers them out.

If you are just reading that story you would think that it’s a series of God turning bad situations into good ones…or more simply put, God overturning Satan’s plans and making them good. However, the story doesn’t begin with Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery…it actually begins with God speaking with Abraham. In Genesis 15:13-14 God, in the process of making a covenant with Abraham, tells him that this very thing was going to happen (just without the details). So this means that God didn’t react to these events and use them for good, but He already knew and chose to bring about His glory by ordaining these “bad” things to happen.

The point I’m trying to make is this...we are very quick to think that “bad” things are a result of the devil or that something has gone terribly wrong when, in fact, these “bad” things are just God exercising His perfect plan and sovereignty over sin for His Glory. We are quick to think that sickness, diseases, hardships, etc. are a flaw in God’s design therefore we fight them rather than do what we are supposed to do in these situations. May I be so bold as to say that these things are supposed to be seen as blessings from God…they should reveal in us our helplessness and our need for God’s provision, thus driving us to prayer and dependence on the One who is in control. Anything that reveals in us a need for God…driving us to Him…is a blessing.

Like Joseph’s story, God may be orchestrating these “bad” things for something bigger that in time is for our good and God’s glory. We should see our circumstances in the same way…God is sovereign and in control of EVERYTHING that happens in our lives. Let us be like Joseph in every “bad” situation…remain faithful and dependent wholly on Him.

Thought for the Day...

2009-06-10T12:32:00.002-04:00

Our love, affection, and relationship with God shouldn't be dependent upon our circumstances. (Example...We love God more when our grandmother gets cured of cancer or we get mad at God and love him less because He doesn't heal our grandmother of cancer.)

Why??? Because His love, affection, and relationship isn't dependent on our circumstances...(Example...He loves* us despite our lies, adultery, theft, etc.)

*He loves us and has viewed us righteous because of Jesus' blood...this statement does NOT mean that allows these sins and loves us anyways...

Freedom...

2009-05-29T09:19:00.000-04:00

Freedom in Christ...

Many Christians rightly associate this thought with the gift of salvation. However, we often think that freedom in Christ only has to do with salvation.

Or...we will misinterpret it as license to do whatever we want...wrongly thinking that somehow God doesn't mind our sin because of His attributes of mercy and grace, misusing Romans 5:20 as their support.

I contend that this freedom in Christ doesn't stop with salvation, but is a consistent element in our sanctification. It's scary sometimes to do what God has called and commanded us to do. We often feel like it's too dangerous on many levels to obey...whether that means sharing the Gospel with our co-workers, standing up to your boss when he asks you to do something unethical, or moving to the ghetto and living the rest of your life in order to share God's truth with your neighbors.

If you are not free in Christ, you have a valid excuse not to do these things. If I'm not free in Christ then it's a HUGE risk to move to a scary neighborhood...or its a HUGE risk to stand up to your boss...because in the end you aren't sure what's gonna happen to you.

BUT...when Christ has freed you...you no longer live in fear of what might happen. Why?? Because what's the worst thing possible about living in the ghetto...you get robbed and killed?? Well then that gets me to what I've been pursuing...an eternity with the Most High God. There is no fear because God has set me free to do what He's calling me to do...knowing that ULTIMATELY it's going to be ok.

So...are you living with a freedom in Christ??? And I'm not just talking about salvation.

Larry Bird: Amazing Playoff Moments

2009-05-27T00:35:00.001-04:00

As a life long Celtics fan I felt it necessary to put this on my blog...

Maybe one of the best commercials ever...behind Larry and Jordan playing horse for a Big Mac...

What are some of your favorite commercials???

Memorial Day Shoutout...

2009-05-24T16:36:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow is Memorial Day...the unofficial start of summer. I will celebrate somewhere by eating some watermelon, a cheeseburger, and drinking sweet tea...

But before I enjoy my holiday, I want to remember why we have this day off. It is to remember the men and women who have served and given their lives defending our freedom.

I especially want to thank one of my best friends...Captain Ben Bryant. He has served in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last few years. It is because of soldiers like him that we haven't experienced any terrorist attacks on US soil since 9/11.

Ben...THANK YOU.

Please take the time tomorrow to remember and thank those brave soldiers who have sacrificed to defend the freedoms we enjoy...

Quote of the Day...

2009-05-18T14:46:00.001-04:00

It is impossible to have God as your father and not have the church as your mother...

A Reversal...

2009-05-11T13:50:00.002-04:00

With any science, the more knowledge you obtain the less there is to know about that science. For example, as a student goes through medical school, he will daily grow in his knowledge of how the body works and operates. By the time he graduates, he knows ALOT about the body. As this doctor begins his practice he will come across both, things he learned from books, and things that can only be experienced by seeing real patients. Eventually, this doctor will get to the point that nothing out there surprises him. As far as his field goes, he's an expert. There is very little that he doesn't know. When he gets to this point (not in every doctor, but many), he begins to walk in arrogance and puff up in pride. The more he knows, the more he learns...the less there is to know and learn. Why??? Because with academics (any of them...not just the medical field) there is a point at which you struggle to see new things and learn new stuff.

However, when someone really explores the Bible and seeks to know who God is more deeply...you get the opposite effect (or, at least, you should). Why??? Because our faith isn't a category of academia. Everything we learn isn't by learned by our own determination or discipline...it is only learned because God chose to reveal himself to us in that way. It is only understood because He allowed us to understand it. That our faith isn't achieved by our own power that we may not boast in it, rather, it is a GIFT that we are to receive humbly. This pursuit of holiness is not compatible with pride and arrogance.

It is a reversal in concept from academia. I can study economics and will my way to learn it...when I do, I can take pride in the fact that I've done something. When I study scripture...the more I know God, the more I realize how much I don't know, thus, realizing how much I truly need Him.

No subject of contemplation will humble the mind more than the thoughts of God...

True Sacrifice...

2009-05-09T23:25:00.002-04:00

A Parable…

There once was a husband who loved his wife. He was always looking for ways to please her and he often tries to come up with unique ways to earn her favor. The husband, however, struggles with connecting with his bride. It isn’t from a lack of effort because everyday he comes home and fixes great meals, rents movies, dims the lights, puts out candles and lights incents.

The wife walks in the door and doesn’t quite have the reaction he was looking for…In fact, she again pleads with him to stop listen to her. She then explains to her husband that although she appreciates the effort she can’t eat the meal because it was cooked with peanut oil and she’s got a peanut allergy, she’d rather read and talk than watch a movie, dim lights make her sleepy, and she can’t stand the smell of that hippie incents…

So what’s the point of that parable you may ask??? That is precisely what we do with God. We love to go all out and put tons of effort into pleasing God, but don’t ever stop and take the time to listen to what He really desires.

It is easy to make “sacrifices” that we think please God (not watching rated “R” movies, abstaining from alcohol, begrudgingly loving someone when they’ve wronged you, reluctantly giving your money to the church, etc.) and then go on with our lives thinking we’ve earned his favor. Those things may sound good, however, God doesn’t see it that way. In fact, that’s not what he desires of us at all.

The sacrifice that Christ is looking for is for us to do the painful task of self-examination that leads to true repentance and obedience to His word…

When I hear the word repentance I don’t think of sacrifice. When I hear repentance I think of saying “I’m sorry” and really meaning it. Repentance is, however, more complex than that. True repentance is the act of recognizing our sins, being convicted of them, and desiring to turn from them and renounce them forever. Here’s when the sacrifice comes into play…when we get into true repentance we are going to have to turn from our sins and have the desire to never go back to them…even when some of our sins are idolatry, greed, selfishness, and all of the other sins our lives and livelihoods are built upon. So that we essentially sacrifice all of our desires and our whole lives’ previous motivation rather than sacrificing a few bucks every Sunday when the offering plate goes by…God doesn’t want you to sacrifice your money, He wants your life.

It’s almost as if God, like the wife in the story, is saying just stop and listen to me. I don’t want all this stuff because you’re missing the point…Just live deeply in ME. However, to do that you are going to have to make a few sacrifices (self-examination that leads to true repentance and obey ME).

This is what Christ talks about in Matthew 16 where He says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”

I spend a lot of time in the ghetto trying to do good things and make sacrifices for the cause of advancing the Gospel, but if I don’t make the type of sacrifices that God desires then my time of productivity will be short. I’ve got to be living deeply with God if I am going to have any longevity in this ministry. That’s the type of sacrificing I’ve got to take hold of…

Advance 2009!!!

2009-04-25T22:17:00.003-04:00

Sharing the Link Love...

2009-04-24T11:57:00.002-04:00

I am a creature of habit. I eat the same thing every time I go to a restaurant...Alice Springs Chicken from Outback, Regular Chick/no pic from Chick-fil-a, etc. I fold my clothes the same way every time...get dressed in the same order every time. I very rarely switch things up just for the sake of switching.

Another routine I have is reading blogs and checking out podcasts throughout the day...So I thought that you might like to see who I follow...

Perry Noble...He's the pastor at NewSpring, my former church in Anderson, SC. Incredibly gifted communicator both verbal and written. He brings truth!!!
Brad Cooper...A good friend of mine and also the student pastor at NewSpring. He's a steady voice of truth as well...Pillar of consistency with his hair styles, however, not so much.
Matt Chandler...In the top 3 communicators of the Gospel I've ever heard. Get on itunes and subscribe to his podcast...or at least check one out...I'd start with Luke 30.
MiLB.com (during the baseball season)...gotta keep up with my boy Terry.
Tripp Crosby...New addition to the line up... LUL alumni...he works closely with the North Point folks in ATL.
Tyler Stanton...Also a LUL hall-of-famer...brother of THE Bryan Stanton.
Tony Morgan...He's just a smart guy.
Seth Godin...This dude is brilliant when it comes to marketing.

So there you go...I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do.

PS-I can't leave out those dearest to my heart...Facebook and Twitter...

Considering the Cost...

2009-04-23T09:01:00.002-04:00

Alot of the time we Christians will try our best to convince someone to become a Christian. We will say things like your life will be so much better and give them a false impression that living the Christian life is like an escape from all the trouble that you are facing in your day to day life.

Granted...ULTIMATELY your life will be better, but that wasn't promised on this side of eternity.

If following Christ was easy and safe...then why did Christ himself tell us to consider the cost before you follow me???

Did we consider the cost before we began to follow Him?? If so, what did it cost??

Bubba's Take...

2009-04-19T00:20:00.001-04:00

This week I made some new additions to my house in the ghetto...I put some out some flowers and plants. I had to do something to fix up the house before it gets too hot.

That day, when the bus stopped to let off all the kids, Bubba came running up to the house...as he usually does. This time he got to the beginning of the yard and he stopped in his tracks. I was sitting on the porch reading and sipping on a protein shake. Bubba stopped...cocked his head...then explained to me that I was turning into an old lady.

Thanks Bubba...

Prayer...

2009-04-14T09:11:00.005-04:00

Today's post is a way for me to organize and digest things going on in my own mind...hopefully you will benefit from some of this as well. This idea is a piggy back off of one of Matt Chandler's ideas that he communicated in the Rhythm series a few years back.

Why is prayer so important?? Because everything in life that REALLY matters is beyond the control of man...let that sink in for a second. The things that ultimately matter are beyond the reach of human control. Who can just switch on a zeal for Christ?? We can muster up church attendance, and learn the "Christian language", but who can reach into their own heart and flip the switch and turn on your zeal for Christ??? Who can make their kids love Jesus?? You can crush their spirits and make them obey, but how do you make them love Christ??? Clean concious...peace...forgiveness?? Forgiveness for sins...do I need to keep going??? If you can produce it...it doesn't ultimately matter. That's why prayer matters!

Prayer is also a humility issue...which is why we're great at praying when our world comes crashing down around us. We pray when we're finally humble. When things go horribly wrong for us we become the masters of prayer. Prayer wasn't designed to revolve around tragedy and meals. When we lose jobs, get sick, a family member dies its easy to pray...it's because we have no pride left. Ever made that deal with God while you're throwing up after a night of pounding shots at a party??? It's a humility issue...Prayer is a great at revealing the state of our hearts.

It's no secret that prayer is difficult. Even the disciples thought so...and they walked with Jesus. They spoke with Jesus, they touched Jesus and even they we're a bit confused and frustrated with the whole idea...that's why they asked Jesus to explain this matter to them (Matthew 6).

Prayer is frustrating...it's hard. But be consistent. Approach God with humility. Prayer really matters!

CELEBRATE!!!

2009-04-11T14:47:00.001-04:00

Jesus didn't die 2000 plus years ago so that we could watch The Passion of the Christ, cry, and talk about how bad we feel about ourselves and our sinful lives. If that's where the Easter story terminates for you, you've missed the point.

He suffered, died, and came back to life to overcome and defeat the bondage of sin forever. He made it ok for us to have freedom to obey Him and follow Him...even when the price is high. He may call us to give up our lives, careers, money, and maybe our lives. BUT IT'S OK!!! Why??? Because He was who He said He was!!! (Matthew 27:54) HE IS GOD!!!

Easter doesn't represent some sweet holiday where we wear our new seersucker suits or our bright new dresses, get a warm fuzzy feeling, go to grandma's house and eat potato salad...It represents the MOST POWERFUL EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE EARTH!!! That power and authority was given to us. (Matthew 28) Not so that we can talk and debate, but to OBEY and FOLLOW (action verb).

CELEBRATE!!!

BUT...Don't celebrate the resurrection of Jesus then go betray Him with the way we live our lives, or, by the way we aren't living...

The Way...

2009-04-08T13:39:00.002-04:00

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him....Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did...1 John 3:3-6.

When did it become OK to say we believed in God and not obey him?? If I believe in the Law of Gravity then jump out of a plane without a parachute...either I'm a liar and I don't really believe or I am in blatant rebellion of the law.

Whenever Christianity first came upon the scene ,not long after Christ died and ascended into heaven, His followers weren't called Christians, but rather followers of the Way. There wasn't any mistaking these Christ followers...before there was any tag given to them they could still be picked out of a crowd. Why??? Because they couldn't help but be identified because of their actions. It was just the way they lived their lives. They were constantly meeting, pooling resources, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, spreading the Gospel...if you were an outsider looking in, you noticed something different about these people. The Gospel had penetrated their hearts and minds so much so that it transformed the way they lived.

Today, however, look around...do you notice anything different about the church??? Or do you just hear them talk about how Jesus has changed their lives??? Besides getting together at church on Sundays (which often times looks more like a social event where we can see who's got the sharpest suits than anything else) what's going on??? How are we being obedient to Christ's commands and how are we conveying the message of the Gospel???

Are we lying in saying that Jesus is Lord??? If the truth is in us...you should be able to tell by some other means than just our words alone.

We as believers used to be marked as Christ followers not by what we said, but rather by the way we lived our lives.

Don't Be That Guy...

2009-04-03T10:26:00.001-04:00

As summer approaches...so does pool season.

Don't be that guy...

Enjoy!!!

Voodoo Child...

2009-03-04T14:50:00.003-05:00

A few months ago I was watching a music awards show (Don't remember which one...may have even been a re-run) in which they had someone covering a Jimi Hendrix song. It was Voodoo Child which has a very unique intro...if you've heard it you know what I mean...and I was getting all excited because I'm somewhat of a Hendrix fan.

The person on stage was nailing it...every note...every sound was exactly the same. It was as if he took Jimi's guitar and sound equipment from Woodstock and put it into a air-tight hyperbaric chamber and preserved it perfectly until this performance. If my eyes had been closed I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference until...he started singing.

This got me thinking...You can take something and replicate it with the most precise attention to detail, but unless you have the touch of the original artist it just isn't the same. Without Jimi, Voodoo Child isn't the same.

How many times do we as Christians try to replicate something that Jesus did and leave out the heart of Christ and it just wasn't the same??? Have you ever tried to help someone out who was in need only to give them some help and still feel like something just isn't right??? Or maybe you fasted for a week and at the end of the week feel like the only thing to change was your hunger...

Unless you have the heart of the Original Artist...then your covers of His music aren't gonna be quite the same...(Isaiah 58 reference)

Who Needs Conversion???

2009-02-06T11:15:00.006-05:00

Recently I've been doing a little research on how the Gospel has spread throughout history by what we know today as missionaries. When I think of the word missionary, I think of white people who have gone out from their country to another in attempt to convert people to the worship of their God. Unfortunately, throughout the years, missionaries that have emerged from the mainstream church often inadvertently communicated that Christianity is a white, middle class western phenomenon. Consequently, the conversion in the field sometimes appears more cultural than spiritual...

When you shift your perspective away from the "mission field" to the Church...it's often the case here too. Is there anywhere in scripture that says that a black guy has to cut his dreads, take out his gold teeth, and remove his ear rings before he can be a Christ follower or be accepted into church???

In fact, you can even make the conclusion that they aren't the ones who need to be converted...but US!!!

Paul, when writing 1st Corinthians says that in order to reach the Jews...he became like the Jews. Not the other way around...

Do we as a church immerse ourselves enough and live life with those people to show them the Gospel...or do we just try to put on a good production and hope they come to us???

Quote/Thought of the Day...

2009-01-28T11:25:00.001-05:00

How often do we stifle the Holy Spirit's movement with the excuse of having to keep a schedule??

Poor Helping the Rich...

2009-01-23T22:44:00.002-05:00

I have always heard and read about how Jesus tells us to give to the poor, feed the hungry, and to take care of the widows and orphans. My way of thinking has always taken me in the direction of rich helping the poor. The flow chart in my brain, in regards to who's supposed to help who, has always gone in a downward direction...economically speaking.

But think with me for a second...What would it look like for a group of people to believe, obey, and invest so much into the call that Jesus gave us to help the poor, feed the hungry,etc. that they actually see real life change in large number of the poor community so that the poor community understood the Gospel and was actually doing more than the wealthy in regards to carrying out Matthew 28???

In the light of Matthew 5...I don't think this is impossible. What would it look like if the direction of the flow chart changed??? How would that affect your city???

Lessons Learned from IKEA...

2009-01-21T21:25:00.004-05:00

Tuesday was a big day in my life...I took my first ever trip to Ikea. Ikea would probably be best described as a trendy, mall sized, Wal-Mart priced, home furnishings store. It is very hard to describe, but for those of you who have been...you can probably understand my frustration in describing it.

This post isn't about a giant home store...instead I wanted to comment some of the observations that I made while I was there.

Everything there was fresh and new.
All the signage was very clean and clear...no wasted words.
They gave practical ways to use their product....Good Displays, Good Examples.
Going there motivated you to improve your house.
The employees/people who represented them seemed to love what they were a part of and were very helpful.
LOTS of stuff...ONE vision.
While I was there I was thinking about how I couldn't wait to come back.

If you are a part of a church or organization do people walk away thinking these things about it??? A few lessons learned from a furniture store...

Single??? Read this...

2009-01-21T15:10:00.002-05:00

Brad, a good friend of mine, had this on his blog and I thought it was so good I wanted to put it up here for you...

Here's the scene...from time to time he is invited to the creativity planning meetings for NewSpring's sermons. In these meetings they get together and brainstorm for ideas to use in upcoming sermon series'. This particular meeting they are talking about ideas to use in some sort of Love, Sex, Dating, etc. sermon series...I might be wrong on that, but it's in the ballpark.

Another friend of mine Lee, is a single guy in his 30's and one of the Godliest men I know, spoke up on this issue and this is what he said. This is so good...

The following is taken from Brad's blog...

IF YOU ARE SINGLE… SIT UP… THIS IS GOOD:
When you are single…
YOU ARE NOT SHOPPING, YOU ARE IN THE SHOP…
You are not out looking for a perfect match…
Its not about upgrading or trading in…
It’s about realizing that YOU AND I ARE THE ONES IN NEED OF AN OVERHAUL…
Lee would go on to say something like: Most likely the reason you are single is because God’s not satisfied with your current state. He needs to see you at another level or in another place before he places the responsibility of stewarding an amazing relationship that honors HIM…

Best Dunk I've Ever Seen...

2009-01-19T23:17:00.001-05:00

This video should speak for it's self. I know everyone is asking, so I'll answer you...YES this is my alma-mater. That rim he dunked on has gone through many nets thanks to me...haha.

No More Middle School...

2009-01-13T10:17:00.002-05:00

Do you remember the days in middle school where guys never really talked to girls and girls never really talked to guys??? It was kinda silly because both wanted to know the other...both wanted relationships...but nobody really talked face to face. We all sent friends to do the talking for us. You know what I'm talking about...right??? It just seemed easier to send a friend because we didn't want to hear first hand what the other might think. There was most always another party involved.

This was silly right??? Immature...middle school...and ultimately there were no real relationships being built.

Well isn't that what we do with God alot of the time??? I know that's how I treat Him too often...I will be quick to use someone else to be a middle man. It's easy to sit and listen to Matt Chandler, Perry Noble or Steven Furtick...those guys are great teachers of the Word and I feel like I learn something every time I hear them. As long as I'm always using a middle man I will NEVER be able to grow my relationship with God to the place it needs to be. I mean well...but the bottom line is that it's as if I'm too scared, busy, whatever (immature I guess) to be man enough to say I've got to clear my schedule, avoid all distractions, prepare myself to spend some real one on one time with the creator of the universe I'll never really know who He is.

Again, like in middle school we can run up to the cute girl and say, "I think you're pretty." and then instantly run away...we often run up to God and say, "I love you...You're awesome." then quickly run away. That's just not how things were meant to be...It takes guts to sit down and have quality time with that person.

This post is coming from personal experience...it's time for me to graduate from this middle school mentality with God...

New is the Future Old...

2009-01-08T13:07:00.002-05:00

There was once a time in church culture when people sang hymns with out any instrumental help. Then after a while someone had a great idea to incorporate a piano into the mix...and it was great. It added so much to the worship experience...but there was a group of people who had a fit and didn't like it. They said that church was supposed to be done without the piano (which at that time was used primarily in saloons).

Eventually the piano became a staple, and for years it was the norm. Then someone had another great idea to throw a guitar in there. Then everyone that thought the piano was great tried to fight the guitar. Even though the guitar took worship to places the piano alone couldn't...people fought it.

Now there is a movement in the church where we are playing loud music and drinking coffee, and the folks who fought for the guitar were mad cause all the things they believed in are now becoming the old way of doing it...even though the loud music and coffee bars are taking God's church to a whole new level.

Even though all these new trends were good for the church to become more effective in meeting culture where it was...people fought it.

I like my church loud and my coffee dark, but there will be a time where my preferred way of doing church won't be the most effective way of meeting culture where it's at. There will be a new idea that comes to the surface that will then be at the forefront and our way will then become the old way.

Will I be able to change/adapt/evolve??? Will you?? If finding the most effective way for reaching the lost is a priority...then I probably will. If God is my focus and all my efforts are pursuing Him...then I probably will.

I just hope that the new way doesn't include tight leather pants, weird hair, and techno worship...haha.

Advise from Marylin Manson...

2009-01-03T14:55:00.004-05:00

Last night I was watching a documentary called "Metal", it was talking about the history and evolution of heavy metal music. It talked about everyone from Judas Priest and KISS to Metallica and Slipknot...it was really good and I recommend watching it if you like this genre. But this post isn't to talk about music.

In the 90's there was a horrible thing that happened at Columbine High School in Colorado where 2 students stormed the school dressed in trench coats and armed with semi-automatic assault rifles. Many were killed along with the 2 kids who ended up killing themselves.

You're probably wondering how these two things have anything to do with each other. Well as soon as the media got hold of this story there was a fire storm of finger-pointing and the blame game was going full force. The main person they pointed blame at was the heavy metal star Marylin Manson. As a disclaimer...I do NOT side with Marylin Manson. I do NOT agree with many of his methods or his style of entertainment, but he said something in response to this that really made sense to me. We can also learn a lesson about ministry from what he said as well.

When Manson was asked, "What would you have said to the kids who were responsible for Columbine?" His response was right on the money...He replied, "Nothing...I would've listened to them first. That's what nobody was doing, and obviously something was going on with these kids that needed to be heard."

It's easy for us to throw solutions at a problem without getting our hands dirty...sometimes the biggest thing that needs to be done is to build a relationship with people so we can listen to what the real issues are in their lives.

Rules/Religion without relationships equal rebellion...

Prince Street Christmas...

2008-12-26T16:11:00.003-05:00

This was just a few minutes of the excitement that happened on Prince Street a few days ago...

Quote of the Day...

2008-12-06T12:57:00.001-05:00

"Are you just conforming to a set of moral patterns or are you being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit???"

-Matt Chandler

Orphans and Adoption...

2008-12-04T11:29:00.004-05:00

I love it when God teaches me new things...especially when it is something that I wasn't looking to learn. Within the last week He has been showing me something that gave me a better understanding of what He is all about.

Throughout the Bible many references are made about the fatherless and orphans. We are commanded to care for the strangers, orphans, and widows alot. I've always thought that this was just something we should do because this type of people don't have anyone else...common sense right??? But there is MUCH more to it.

I don't really know why, but I can remember when I was a kid that whenever I found out someone was adopted I viewed them a little differently. It wasn't necessarily that I thought that they were any lesser of a person than me, but in my childish mind there was just something about that situation that I didn't understand. I remember wondering why their real parents didn't want them, or I wondered what happened to them or whatever (Please don't think that I don't like adopted people...this was when I was a kid...I've got some very good friends that were adopted. I'm just telling you what God has explained to me).

I have also thought about when I have a family and whenever I become a dad that I would prefer that my kids were biologically mine. I thought that it would be hard for me to love a child, like he or she deserves and like a father should, that I knew was someone else's child. It's not that I don't like adopted or orphaned children, but I have always had an intrinsic struggle with this matter. I can't help it.

So when I read that God commands us to love and care for these children...I have a hard time. I totally want to be obedient and do as God commands, but it's hard. Pretty much up until this week I have obeyed just because God tells me to and that's it. I didn't understand why or for what reason...I pretty much obeyed and followed blindly.

It wasn't until I had lunch with a good friend of mine this week that this made sense. He was talking about how God has been teaching him to really believe in his identity as a believer. He went on to talk about how we should carry ourselves as children of the King...not that we have done anything to deserve it, but rather that we are ADOPTED royalty. We should humbly serve, love, etc...knowing that we could do nothing to deserve what we have been given. And then it clicked...light bulbs started going off.

God commands us so often to care for orphans in scripture not necessarily because they have nobody else to do it (which, however, is true), but also because that is what God himself has done for us. We are spiritual orphans...having no father unless God chose us to be His children. His love was so great for us that He adopted us to be his children, to become members of His royal family, to sit on His throne forever.

I understand now...I know why He commands us to care for the fatherless. He is showing how great His love is...because when everything within me goes against loving orphans and fatherless He's telling me, "Hey, you are the exact same person that you think is so hard to love...and I loved and adopted you. So go and do the same as I have done for you."

Dang that's good stuff!!! Thank you God for adopting me!!

Grace on Display...

2008-11-20T13:58:00.004-05:00

Romans 5:20-21 says, "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where the sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

According to this verse, where would God be able to show off His grace the most??? Where sin increases, grace is increased all the more. The places that have the most potential for grace to be shown are the places with the most sin.

Where in America would you think has the most sin...or at least the most visible sin??? Las Vegas...Sin City right??? On a national scale, there wouldn't be a more incredible place to see transformed by the power and grace of God than Vegas. If Vegas place experienced a transformation for good, there would be NO other explanation than...it had to be from GOD himself.

On a local scale, where would you say has the most sin...or at least the most visible sin??? Probably the "inner city" or "ghettos" right??? Drugs, robberies, murders, promiscuity, teenage pregnancies are common place in these sections of town. So if a "ghetto" saw a revolution....there would be no other explanation other than GOD. It would take alot of His grace to cover all that...good thing God never runs short on grace.

So if God's grace is on display at it's greatest in places like these, then why do most of the "Christians" stay as far from them as they can??? Shouldn't we want to see as much of God's grace on display as we can??? However, a majority of churches never go and invest in these places...rather, they picket and avoid these places (and the people that live and work in them) like the plague. They would rather have their Wednesday night suppers and Sunday schools in a safe, comfortable, suburban, white (ouch!) place rather than think of stepping foot in a hood like these.

Hmmm...something doesn't seem right about this.

PS- If you wanna see what a city that is beginning to be transformed looks like...check this out.

List of Catalysts...

2008-11-17T11:44:00.004-05:00

The following is a concept that I read about in a blog and I want to pass it on...

As I go throughout my week there are times where I get alot done, and times where I seem to be in a mental stale-mate. Spiritually speaking, there are times when it is easier to be completely consumed with God's word and will for my life, and there are times when I don't even think about God at all. If I step back and examine the two I can see some trends starting to form.

There are certain things that motivate me, inspire me, stir me, and seem to be a catalyst for me to be focused on God's work and purpose for my life. What, when I'm doing it, when I'm around it, or when I'm dwelling on it creates in me a greater hunger, passion for worshiping Him and His mission??? I thought that if I put these catalyst down on a list maybe I could be a bit more strategic about using them throughout my day. Here's a list of the things that stir me and simulate me for the better:

Getting up EARLY and a cup of coffee.
Hillsong worship music.
Listening to sermon podcasts ( Perry Noble, Matt Chandler, Steven Furtick, Francis Chan, Craig Groschel).
Reading good books and blogs.
Writing blogs.
Talking with people about how God is real in their life.
Reading back over notes I've taken.
Driving long distances.
Extreme nature (Desolate beaches, Thunderstorms, The Grand Canyon, Quiet Mountains, Clear starry nights).

Just as there are things that stir me for the good. There are some things that rob me of my passion and affection for Christ. Here's that list:

The Internet and too much Facebook.
Watching alot of sports.
TV...(I can get completely lost in MTV or the Discovery Channel for HOURS).
Being Sleepy...(Lesson: Getting enough rest is HUGE. Being well rested needs to be a priority. Get to bed on time).
Being in bad health...for me this means I need to run, lift weights, and stay on top of my meds.

It becomes easy to see what the good things and bad things are when I write them down in list form. It is now easier to be more intentional about what I need to be doing more or less of.

What are some of the things that are catalysts in your life...Good and Bad???

Violent Prayer: Chapter 4...

2008-11-15T21:45:00.002-05:00

Here are the highlights from this chapter...

There is a deep, abiding hatred between a once-beloved angel (Satan) and a now-beloved vessel (us), and the hatred will never be spent until God separates us from it forever.
Satan has alot at stake when he deceives...if he can't get the prophesied seed of Godliness to die, he'll attempt to corrupt it to the point of impotence. This isn't a pastime for him, his head will be crushed if he doesn't. (Gen 3)
Wherever anyone is identified with the people of God, the serpent's rage boils over, both from an overblown since of vengeance and from his dread of the impending end.
He (Satan) can do nothing but pursue a futile attempt to postpone the inevitable judgment by disuniting, distracting, and destroying the people of God. That's his only hope for buying a little time.
The clash of kingdoms is truly the war to end all wars and the enemy's zeal for revenge-his attempt to compensate for his humiliating demise-is pointed directly at those who received the intimate privilege of God's honor is his stead.
For centuries, the serpent was in just that kind of relentless, desperate pursuit of a single achievement: Kill the seed. He actually succeeded one day on a hill outside Jerusalem, but the strategy backfired. His ultimate victory was actually his ultimate defeat, and he's boiling over with vengeance.

Local Versus Foreign...

2008-11-11T18:34:00.003-05:00

I went on several mission trips when I was in high school, and I guess they were good. I pray to God that they weren't done for the wrong reasons. But here's what I was thinking about today...what if I would have taken the $600 bucks or so that it took to go on this trip (some cost more than $600) and invested it in some sort of outreach within my community??? Do you know how many meals I could cook for hungry people with $600?? $600 bucks goes a pretty long way if you are trying to get poor kids shoes and jackets. I could think of things all night to do with $600...

What if your whole youth group thought this way??? We took about 20 or 25 when I was in school...that's at least $12,000 bucks!!! Do you realize what God can do with that type of money??? He fed 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Now imagine using that money in a week (the average time of a youth group's foreign mission trip)...Now think about just 10 churches out of the 100 in the county doing that. $120,000...Talk about having an impact on a community...wow!!

Also...if your group is going somewhere in Central America you spend two of your 7 days traveling there and back. You spend a half-day getting over jet lag. By the time you get to work...you may have time to build a room into a church, but you wouldn't even be able to speak to anyone there on your own because you can't speak the language. So you spend 5 days working in the heat nodding and smiling at the people who are walking by. You never get to share the gospel and you never see them again. You get back and all you can tell the church is how good we've got it, but after 3 weeks nothing has changed. No one changes their unlimited texting plan down to 400 texts so that they can save some money ($10 bucks a month, $120 yearly) to send the people they just left. We get back and everything goes back to business as usual.

Now don't get me wrong...I'M ALL FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS...IF YOU ARE CALLED BY GOD. PLEASE, IF GOD IS CALLING YOU TO THE MISSION FIELD...GO!!! But too often ,students especially, jump at a chance to go to a country they've never been so they can come back and have a facebook album (or three) of what they saw and who they played soccer with. They totally jump at the chance to go to India, but wouldn't dream of spending the summer in a poor neighborhood in their OWN CITY.

I know God can use these types of mission trips for His good and people can be saved...I know this because He worked out many less than perfect things out in the bible for His good (Israel out of Egypt, King Neb, Rahab, David sleeping with Bathsheba...and the list goes on and on), but we don't even give Him the chance to do things at home...WHY???

As the summer mission trip season planning approaches...think about it. Are you going because God has called you, or are you going because your church always goes somewhere every summer???

Quote of the Day...

2008-11-01T23:15:00.002-04:00

"Heaven is not created and was not established for those who are afraid of hell. It was created and established for those who loved God and long to worship Him forever. You can't scare anyone into heaven...it doesn't work that way."

-Matt Chandler

Violent Prayer: Chapter 3...

2008-11-01T10:30:00.000-04:00

Violent Prayer highlights from chapter III...

Deep down we often know when something is God's will. We don't want to be presumptuous , though, so we put a caveat at the end of all our prayers: "If it's your will, Lord." This little disclaimer can come from a humble spirit that's genuinely seeking God's sovereign will, and in that sense it's never inappropriate. But it can also add a tentative nature to our prayers, almost crippling us emotionally and reminding us to resign ourselves to "fate" or whatever we think is inevitable in our lives. It's a way of saying, "So I won't be embarrassed, just in case you don't answer, Lord." In other words, we often use these words to put down our weapons.

There's no need to do that. Jesus didn't tell his disciples to pray according to his will and then neglect to let them know what it was. We have lots of evidence in Scripture about God's will, and we can pray it with confidence. We may not know exactly how he'll work out circumstances, but we know to a large degree what's consistent with his character.

We know, for example, that God isn't into deception, anxiety, mistrust, fear of people or things, sinful desires, burdens of shame, injustice, discontentment, selfishness, or anything else that profanes his people or his reputation. And we know on the other hand, that he's definitely in favor of love, joy, missions, justice, patience, forgiveness, generosity, and a whole host of other things that match his attributes. We have free reign to pray for the things that are consistent with his character and against the things that are not. That's always his will.

Violent Prayer: Chapter 2...

2008-10-30T10:30:00.001-04:00

Violent Prayer...

Here's the best of chapter 2...

One brief moment or one territorial inch can have a lasting impact on the course of a kingdom.
We live in a world where small things make a big difference. That's why there's nothing casual about our lives. We can rest and relax at appropriate times, but we can never take a vacation from reality. We're citizens of eternity and ambassadors of the kingdom of destiny. There's immense joy when we understand that-and immense responsibility. Minor decision can be major, and instant reactions have permanent results. We can't take them lightly.
Jesus promised his disciples that the gates of hell wouldn't prevail against his church. Gates are defensive, shutting people out, so we can assume Jesus expects the church to be on the offensive.
It's hard to get enthusiastic about coming to God with only our own broken will, though that's always appropriate. But when we come to him against a satanic agenda, his will and ours are united.
We know we've got the army of the universe behind us when we oppose evil. That's empowering.
Satan may treat you with contempt and act as if he has the upper hand, but he knows he doesn't. He can only hope to keep you in ignorance by blinding you to the power and purpose of prayer.

Violent Prayer: Chapter 1...

2008-10-29T02:58:00.002-04:00

I just got done reading a book entitled Violent Prayer authored by Chris Tiegreen. I picked this book up at a $5.00 bookstore in Commerce...which is nice because most books run 3 times as much. It has been one of the best books I've ever read and I recommend this book to anyone.

In the next few blog posts I am going to feature the things that stuck out to me...

Here are some highlights...

Chapter 1...

By "violent,'' I don't mean we pray for physical violence or expect any type of visible violence to result from our prayers. That's what the disciples wanted to do when they asked if they could call down fire on an unrepentant city, and Jesus clearly said no. Our prayers do not make people out to be targets.
We misunderstand the investment of time most prayers must take.
We misunderstand the energy and conflict involved in most of our prayers.
We confuse the passive and active elements in our role and God's.
Jesus defeated Satan on the cross and then sent his disciples out to enforce the victory.
There is no reason to assume the restrained dignity among biblical characters simply because they are in a holy text.
The writer of Judges informs us that God had intentionally left the Canaanite tribes in the land so his people might learn the art of war (Judges 3:1-2). Apparently, there was something in warfare that these people needed. Maybe it put them in a more dependent relationship with God and taught them more about his purposes and ways. Perhaps it was the best way for God's people to get a glimpse of his own conflict with the rebellion of Lucifer and his angelic disciples.

Passing and Catching...

2008-10-23T22:53:00.004-04:00

Back in my basketball playing days I remember a few things that were emphasized in every practice that I ever had...little league through college and I imagine they even talk about it in pro ball.

Passing and catching are the most basic of basketball fundamentals, but if they aren't executed properly will render your team completely useless. So you must be intentional about passing and catching properly so you can work on the other important aspects of the game. Unless you do these small things you can't get to the point of being able to get better at the bigger things...

If you are a public speaker are you speaking every word clearly and finishing your sentences strong???

If you are a teacher do you know what you are going to be teaching before you get to school in the morning???

If you are a politician are you communicating on a regular basis with your constituents??? (unfortunately I don't think this is getting done with either party...they get elected then do what they wanna do.)

If you are a student small group leader are you calling and investing in your kids' lives from Monday to Saturday???

If you are pastor are you spending time with God that isn't associated with sermon prep???

What are the small things in your field???

Luke 14...

2008-10-20T21:11:00.002-04:00

Often times on this blog I try to put my interpretation or my illustrations to make a point in the Bible as clear as possible. Today is not one of those days...I'm gonna let scripture speak for itself.

Do your social gatherings or church look like this??? Or are they full of other christian believers??

We become most like Jesus when someone has nothing to give or do for us and we still love them and give unconditionally...

Luke 14: 12-14...

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection or the righteous."

College Gameday Signs...

2008-10-18T12:22:00.002-04:00

I'm not a huge football fan...but I love watching ESPN's College Gameday. The best thing about Gameday, obviously, are the signs that people hold up behind the set. So today's post is a top ten list of the best signs I can remember from past Gamedays...

T10. LSU=Homeaux & Lou Holtz belongs in a home.

9. Auburn players can't read this sign.

8. Kirk drinks Appletinis. (Held up by a Michigan fan at the UM vs. OSU game)

7. Calvin. Defeating Catholics since 1509. (Speaking about Calvin Johnson...GT vs Notre Dame)

6. Chuck Norris wears Nick Saban PJ's.

5. Is this the line for Hannah Montana tickets???

4. I've had wedgies cooler than Alabama football.

3. Lee Corso scores more than Auburn.

2. Tebow wears Jorts.

1. Rudy was offsides. (GT vs Notre Dame)

Got any that should be on this list???

Embrace the Towel...

2008-10-14T12:49:00.003-04:00

Today my good friend Brad posted on his blog about John 13 and it got me thinking. In John 13...Jesus, before his death, took an opportunity to wash the feet of his disciples. In this, he humbled himself, became a servant, and met their needs.

Here's my thoughts...In that day it was a pretty well known fact that people had nasty feet...all that walking...no socks...no shoes...just sandals. There was an obvious need of people and everyone KNEW it.

How does that look in 2008???

In today's culture everyone puts up a good front and LOOKS like they're doing ok...they LOOK like there isn't a problem...and even if there is, when asked how they are doing they will respond "fine". So how do we assume the role of servant and meet people's needs if we don't know them???

Too often our cliche christan question of "How are you doing?" are met with an equally cliche answer..."I'm fine." Here's where Jesus was ahead of the game...he had invested significant time and energy into his disciples so that when it came time to meet their needs, his foot washing attempt wasn't met with a "its ok Jesus...I'm fine." The disciples knew who Jesus was and knew what he was all about. They knew that Jesus wasn't serving because he wanted to feel better about himself. They knew that it was a GENUINE act of humility and servanthood.

It's easy to throw money at a need for a temporary fix...people do that all the time. But it is VERY DIFFICULT to humble yourself enough to take time out of your life and invest it in someone so that you can know them enough to find out their real needs.

Jesus invested in people...knew their needs...met their needs (physically and spiritually).

We don't invest in people...don't know real needs...can't help them (physically or spiritually).

Maybe we should be investing 7-8 hours a week mentoring in a bad neighborhood and getting to know the people personally on a day to day basis instead of showing up and donating money and 1 hr a week serving food at a soup kitchen...just a thought.

We've got to invest in the lives of people before we can embrace the towel (metaphorically speaking).

My Concrete Mattress...

2008-10-12T00:42:00.001-04:00

I knew it was going to be a good night when the band that opened the show covered my favorite MJ song "Man in the Mirror".

Jonathan Goode and his crew took over the Capitol Theatre in Macon to show his documentary called "My Concrete Mattress". The film gave us a glimpse into the lives of 4 homeless Atlanta residents. The point was to attach a life story with the people we see sleeping in the streets. I thought it was a great film and it really challenged me even more to invest in the lives of people before the make the decisions that lead them to this point...homelessness.

If it weren't for my parents and family speaking into my life the ways the did I could be in the very same spot as the 4 in the film. Where you are is a result of where you've been...

The I thought it was a great film and very well put together. Check it out...

Attention Hippies!!!

2008-10-08T16:40:00.006-04:00

Attention Hippies!!! If you wanna hug something green, don't hug trees...hug this. I guess I've heard it all now. It has recycled paper for the pages and uses a soy based ink. Just like in traditional Bibles you have the words of Christ in red...in the Green Bible every biblical reference that pertains to the earth is written in...you guessed it...Green. You can check out the website for yourself if you don't believe me.

What are your thoughts???

Speak Softly...

2008-10-05T17:20:00.004-04:00

It was in 1903 when former US president Theodore Roosevelt said one of the most famous lines in presidential speech history..."Speak softly and carry a big stick". It has been quoted by a countless number of people since. It has been used in thousands of different circumstances and situations. Today I want to use it in the context of Church...

Too many churches and Christians alike are focusing more on TALKING about what Christ is all about than they are focused on actually DOING what Christ is all about. I've heard Christians talk about how Christ loved, gave, forgave, prayed, served, etc., but have never lifted a finger in service, never given a penny, never gotten up early to pray, hold grudges towards people that have wronged them in the past, and never cared for the homeless and poor, etc.

There are even folks who do the same thing except the talk about what they are NOT..."I'm not like those people who _______ or we're not the churches that do _______."

Here's a little insight...If you are in-fact a Christian and a church who conducts themselves biblicly you don't have to talk about what you are or are not. People know what you are all about. If you are living a truly Christlike life you will be loving, caring, forgiving, giving, serving and people will notice. If you are a church who is engaging, connecting, and are really doing things apart from the status-quo...then people will notice.

Some of the best churches in the country are casting a clear vision and actively accomplishing that vision. They aren't talking every week from stage talking about how they are different from every other church in the country. They just are...and people are noticing. In the same way, the people who are living their lives in a truly Christlike way don't have to talk about how they are serving for people to notice. Mother Teresa never had to say to people "Hey look what I'm doing over here"...she just did it and people noticed.

We as Christians and the church need to stop running our mouths about what we are gonna do and start doing it. I'm not saying we shouldn't share the Gospel of Jesus...because we SHOULD do that. People need to have that verbally communicated to them.

I know Roosevelt wasn't talking about anything Christian when he coined that phrase, but we can take that and make it applicable to this topic.

Pre-Game Butterflies...

2008-09-25T10:22:00.007-04:00

Back when I used to play basketball at Anderson University we always had a time of preparation ,during the season, for the next team on our schedule. We had practice nearly every day. There was always a time when we specifically went over what we needed to know for the game...whether it was the day before when we went over the other teams plays, when we went over our specific plan of attack, or when we were in the locker room on the day of the game going over match ups. It all mattered and was very relevant...to someone.

However, I usually wasn't the one really concerned about it. Why?? Because I never really played. I'm sure the game plan mattered, but I was never in a position for most of what we talked about to matter to me. There were even times where I could get lost on the sidelines and not even have to pay attention at practice. Don't get me wrong I still prepared and payed attention, I could tell you how to run every play with extreme detail, but all this preparation took on a whole new meaning...when I knew I was going to play.

When I knew I was going to play, I was on the edge of my seat for every word that came out of my coach's mouth. Not only did I listen, but I craved the understanding of the game plan and how everything was supposed to happen. The day of the game I had butterflies and I was going over everything in my head that had been talked about and taught. There was such a since of anticipation. I couldn't wait to use the stuff I had gone over in practice.

Here's the connection...That's exactly how most of us are with God's word. We read about it and hear the stories, but it doesn't really sink in. We feel like it doesn't matter that much whether get it or not because we know were not going to play. We can tell you everything about a story in the bible or a certain book and it's main point or we can choose to get lost on the sidelines. The problem is that to this day some of us have never had butterflies in our stomachs about something that actually pertains to what we've learned because we never get in the game. Our scripture reading is done so we feel better about ourselves and it's just something we check off. We never read the Scriptures in order to actually put into action the stuff we've learned.

I can promise you that if you ever get in the game and do something dangerous for God, the word of God will take on a whole new meaning. It will go from being a game plan that doesn't really matter to you, to something that you can't live without. Just like I became desperate to know what was going on when I knew I was going to start basketball game...I'm now beginning to get that feeling about hearing from God.

I absolutely need God's word. If I don't get it then I will fail in what I'm doing. I would've failed in basketball if I had no idea what play we were running or which defensive set we were in. If I am living in God's will and on the front lines of the spiritual battles...I will fail if I'm not following God's instruction.

Are you doing just fine in life without being desperate for God's word??? If so I would question whether or not you are actually in the game...

Do you get butterflies when you read God's word???

Sunday Night Reflections...

2008-09-22T00:16:00.005-04:00

Great day today!!! I was so excited to have the opportunity to speak at Dudley Baptist Church. Dudley will always have a special place in my heart because ,among other things, it is the place where I met Jesus and the place where my friend Burns helped me work out my calling into ministry...
I'm pretty mentally drained and my voice is shot...I don't know how Perry does it 4 times a Sunday...
I love talking about the truths that often get overlooked in Job's story...
God is in control...no matter what our circumstances are (good or bad)...
It was great getting so see some old friends tonight...
I told the church today that my brother was a man's man because he wears Carhartt and flannel, likes boots, and has a beard...
I then told them I'm not because I have Puma's, like Gap clothing, and wear product in my hair...
Thank you God for the opportunity to do what I'm doing...
I'm sleepy and I'm going to bed...

Speaking in Dudley...

2008-09-20T10:06:00.000-04:00

Just a heads up for all my Middle Georgia readers...I'm going to be speaking at Dudley Baptist Church tomorrow night at 6pm. If you are in the area I would love for you to come on out. I promise it will be worth your time.

Tomorrow is going to be AWESOME...I can't wait.

If you can't make it...please pray for me as I try to communicate God's truth. Thanks!!

SEE YOU THERE!!!

My New Favorite Band...

2008-09-19T15:42:00.001-04:00

I know this isn't a new band for alot of people, but I have just recently become a big fan of them. I saw my first Needtobreathe concert a few weeks ago and LOVED it. They are from Greenville, SC...G'vegas to the locals. Here's a peek for all you non-South Carolinians...

ENJOY...

Crazy Love Give-away...

2008-09-18T11:00:00.002-04:00

In the coming days I am planning on doing some blog posts about some of the topics in the book Crazy Love. It may be the best book I've ever read. I highly recommend this book. I'm confident that it will change your life.

Here's the deal...I think its such a good book that I want to give one away. So to the first person to reads this blog and sends me an email I will send them their very own copy of Francis Chan's Crazy Love...

So send me an email with your name and mailing address to nolangottlieb@hotmail.com if you're the first one I'll send you your very own copy. Good luck and I hope to hear from you soon...

Conversational Relationship...

2008-09-16T11:15:00.001-04:00

This summer I had the awesome opportunity to spend some time with my friend Lee McDerment...who is one of the top 5 wisest and Godliest men I know. During one of our conversations, he said something that caught my attention and I haven't forgotten it. At the time the magnitude of his statement hadn't yet registered. Now, I'm sitting here 3 months later and I'm beginning to get a grasp of what he said.

We were talking about leadership, ministry, etc...I was pretty much just soaking up his wisdom and trying to learn as much as I could from him. I'm not going to get into all the specific details of the conversation, but I'll tell you what is beginning to really revolutionize my walk with God. He said that the most important thing that I can do as a leader and minister was to establish and work to maintain a "conversational relationship with God".

I have always heard that you need to have a "personal relationship" with God...and to be honest, that phrase has become cliche in the christian world. But a conversational relationship is a whole different thing. There are things that are necessary to become conversational that aren't necessary for a personal relationship. I have a personal relationship with a bunch of people, but I haven't talked to them in a long time. I have a personal relationship with the guys on my college basketball team, but I haven't talked to some of them in two years. In order to have a conversational relationship you must put a daily even hourly effort into getting to know them through some form of communication.

We see throughout the Old Testament people who have this type of relationship with God, but is this still possible today??? God doesn't audibly speak like he used to...does He??? Shouldn't this be harder today than it was 5,000 years ago??? NO NO NO...it's even easier. Back then God was separated from us because the ultimate sacrifice hadn't yet been provided. So there was a glass ceiling that couldn't be broken no matter what. Now not only do we have the written word of God that they didn't have, but we also have the Holy Spirit that actually lives in us. It is easier now than it has ever been to access God in a very intimate, conversational way.

You know when you know someone so well (like a best friend, brother or sister, etc.) that you can finish their sentences, know what they are thinking, and be on the same page without even needing to speak...well God wants that same kind of relationship with us. He wants us to know Him so well that His thoughts become our thoughts, that His desires become our desires, that the things that break His heart break ours.

The only way you can get to this point in your relationship with God is by intimate, consistent time with God. I must study and read His word if I want to get to know Him well enough to know what He's like...

It's my desire that my prayers and relationship with God get to the point that it becomes conversational...I hope this helps you like it's helped me. I promise that if you can get to this point in your relationship with God it will take you to the next level.

No Need for Miracles...

2008-09-09T15:11:00.002-04:00

Do you ever wonder why you don't see any miracles anymore (or BIG ones at least)??? Yeah every now and then you see someone narrowly avoid a car accident, have someone anonymously pay for your meal, or Clemson's football team win a big game...JK about that last one, but I'm not talking about those kinds of miracles. I'm talking about miracles of such significance that it can ONLY be attributed to GOD.

Could it be that in our day to day lives we don't need God's miracles to get by??? Or are you living such a comfortable, safe, slow life that there isn't even a need for a miracle??? What happened to living such a dangerous life, such a God dependent life, such a radical life that the only way you would survive is if God stepped in and did His thing??? I live in a country where not many people serve God with such a reckless abandon that we have given everything that they have to love and share Christ with others so much so that we don't have money for their own food. Instead we neglect those who need food and choose to play it safe and keep OUR belly full. We don't really need God to show up and feed 5,000 with a little basket of fish and chips. We live in a culture that if we get sick we can just go to the Dr. and get fixed...we don't depend on God to heal us. I'm totally for Dr's, I go to them all the time, but I hope you see the trend...

There were people in the Bible that lived this kind of life all the time...Abraham, Red Sea and Manna Moses, "Perhaps" Jonathan, Goliath Slayer David, Paul, JESUS...you get the point. I serve the same God that these guys did, so what's the difference??? It's not God...maybe it's because they were living so in tune with God's voice that they HAD to depend on Him or else they were DEAD. I ,however, and many of us don't really need God...we are living such safe and comfortable lives that we basically say, "That's OK God...I can handle this one." If we were really living in tune with God's voice I don't think there would be a day where we could say, "That's OK God...I can handle this one."

Align with God's will and see God's power...

Lack of Goals = Lack of Faith

2008-09-04T11:42:00.002-04:00

Back in March I did a post entitled "Bucket List", in it I talked about doing things God has called you to do, etc. Well I want to follow up that post with this thought...A lack of goals equals a lack of faith.

You know why most of us aren't playing offense in our lives??? It's simple...we don't have any goals. You know why most of us don't accomplish what we want?? It's because we don't know what we want. We want to be successful, but we have never taken the time to define what success is occupationally, relationally, or spiritually.

Proverbs says, "Where there is no vision the people perish." You need a vision for job, your marriage, and your life. I think vision is the cure for sin. One reason many of us get entangled in sin is because we don't have enough God-ordained vision to keep us busy. Too many of us are living by default. It's a vision from God that keeps us playing offense spiritually. The way to stop sinning is not by focusing on not sinning. The way to stop sinning is by getting a God-sized vision that consumes all your time and energy.

So what are your goals??? What is your God-sized vision??? Do you even have one??? If not, ask Him to give you one.

Wild Goose Quote...

2008-08-27T13:09:00.001-04:00

"Most of us want God to provide miraculous signs before we come out of the cage. We want God to part the river before we get our feet wet. Why? So our faith doesn't require any faith!"

Quote from Wild Goose Chase...

WOW!!!

Speaking His Language???

2008-08-25T12:50:00.004-04:00

He spoke the universe into existence...
He commanded one man to build a ship then flooded the earth and killed everything on it...
He speaks through burning bushes and donkeys...
He sent 10 plagues into Egypt to convince someone to let His people go...
He parted the sea to let people walk through...
He stopped the Jordan River from flowing so people could walk through on dry land...
He killed a giant with a little boy's rock...
He went to extreme measures to convince Gideon that He was for real...
He spoke to Job through a tornado...
He healed the sick...
He gave sight to the blind...
He brought people back from the dead...
He bosses demons around like they are dogs...
He fed 5,000 people with practically nothing...
He died a horrible death on the cross...
He overcame death Himself and after 3 days He rose from the dead...

God is an EXTREME God...He doesn't do anything half-way. There is NO almost with Him. When He wants to make a point, NOBODY misses the point. His language is EXTREME...

But when we pray...most of the time we pray SAFE prayers. Do we really believe He is who He says He is??? There's nothing extreme about "Keep me safe...please bless this meal." Don't get me wrong praying for protection is fine...it's biblical. But when was the last time you spoke God's EXTREME language??? When was the last time you prayed something dangerous???

Have a Dead Faith???

2008-08-19T15:14:00.004-04:00

I know sometimes I get caught up in so many things that I forget some of the most important ones. Does anyone besides me find themselves in the same boat??? It does no good to work all day long "serving God" and then forget about your family. Right now I don't have a wife and kids, but what I do have is a mom and dad.

I tell them I love them all the time, but I don't always show it. Just like we can tell God we love Him all we want, but it is meaningless if we don't show our love. James 2:17 speaks on this very subject..."faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Basically this says you can say you love Jesus all you want, but unless you have some action with those words...it means nothing.

Here's my challenge...show your love today to someone. Don't just say it. If it's your mom and dad try cleaning up the dishes or something without them having to ask you. When you do then you can tell them you love them...and it will really mean something.

State of the Union...or Church.

2008-08-18T12:51:00.006-04:00

I was listening to a sermon by Craig Groeschel earlier this morning and he brought out something that was very disturbing. He was speaking in reference to the early church in Acts. He explained how the desire to know God more, serve Him, and see people meet Jesus motivated them to have a real impact on the world around them. In Acts chapter 2 you see how scripture tells how the state of the church was...

"44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in the homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying they favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

That gives us a great model of how the church should run and operate today. However, that's not what it looks like...is it? If you gave a state of the church assessment now it would probably be something alot like this...

"44 All the believers were divided. They didn't have much of anything in common. 45 Hoarding their possessions and goods they kept as much as they could for themselves. 46 Every now and then, if it wasn't football season and they weren't too tired, they would come to church for an hour and leave early to beat the traffic. 47 They loved Jesus when it was convenient for them, 47 yet they were despised by people because of their hypocrisy. And very few people were getting saved."

OUCH...that's not what God wants His church to look like. This is NOT acceptable.

We've got a Name...

2008-08-16T22:43:00.002-04:00

I know it's not much, but it's a start. Before I tell you the name of the future church in Dublin, let me tell you why I picked it. The name needed to describe what we are all about. The first impression that many people get about our church won't come when they walk into the doors for the first time, but rather when they hear the name for the first time. So if I only have one chance to make a first impression the name has to convey our mission. Then you ask...what's your mission??? Our mission is to serve our community, reaching people for Christ so that they can live a full life through the joy that comes by depending on JESUS. We want to represent Christ with our best effort in everything...serving, meeting needs, community, Sunday service production, discipleship, etc. By doing these things with excellence we will IMPACT the world with the message of JESUS.

That's how I arrived at the name...IMPACT CHURCH.

I prayed that God would provide a name that He could use and this is the one He laid on my heart. I know there are other churches also named Impact Church, but there isn't one by that name in Dublin...so there ya go.

Now you can pray a little more specifically...IMPACT CHURCH. Put it on your list.

Ryan Hall in Beijing...

2008-08-13T13:42:00.003-04:00

Something I enjoy is reading about or watching athletes who are about more than just sports. Earlier this year my good friend Brad posted a video about a marathon runner named Ryan Hall. Ryan is America's representative for the marathon in the Beijing Olympics. Just watch his video...it is awesome to hear about someone who runs for a reason. Not only is he an amazing athlete, he loves Jesus with all of his being.

This is especially interesting for me because I am training for a half marathon in December. This motivates me to use the time I train to get alone with God and really search for His will in my life. Anyways, check it out.

Good day in Charlotte...

2008-07-27T20:10:00.002-04:00

I had the awesome chance to ride to Charlotte, NC yesterday to go to Elevation Church. It has been something I've wanted to do for a long time...It did NOT disappoint. They have a multi-site, portable church and I must say they do it with EXCELLENCE. My good friend Daniel Harper led music up there this morning and killed it. Nice job bro. I also made a Russian friend who was a volunteer up there (Hey Irena!!!).

It was a great day. However, I am ready for some rest. Please pray for me as I attempt to get alone with God for a week...the week of August 11th. If you wanna pray specifically here's a list:

That God will use me in a HUGE way.
That God will show me my gifts, strengths, and weaknesses.
That God will give me wisdom.
That God will prepare Dublin for the church.
That God will show his power to Matt and change his life...I think He wants to use him in this church.
That God will PROVIDE.

Check back soon...I'll post updates as I get them.

It's been a long two weeks...

2008-07-26T10:34:00.003-04:00

Once again I have to apologise for the long time between blog posts...It's been a long two weeks. I just got back from Panama City, FL with the youth group from my church. We had our summer retreat (if that's what you wanna call it) down there and let me tell you it was AWESOME. Here are some of the highlights...

I was able to see over 130 kids get baptized.
I saw middle & high schoolers worship God with a passion that I haven't seen in a while.
I took communion with teenagers who understood the significance of it better that a lot of adults I know.
I saw kids get in groups to pray for each other asking God to strengthen their walk with Him.
I saw kids from many different backgrounds go from death to life.

I am physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. Please pray for me in the coming weeks as I move to Dublin and begin the ministry God has called me to down there. I can't wait to see what God's gonna do there in Dublin.

DUBLIN...here I come.

2008-07-11T14:41:00.005-04:00

Ok I know it's been a while since my last post, however I have been really busy this summer and I'm ready to announce the news...I'm starting a church in DUBLIN, GEORGIA.

I am moving from SC in a few weeks to begin the ministry in GA. I cannot wait to see how God is gonna work down there. I don't have a name yet and there aren't many details to be shared right now, but check back and I will keep you updated.

PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH IN DUBLIN...

As for now...I can't wait to spend the last few weeks in SC with my church at THE GAUNTLET!!! We leave Sunday night...LET'S GO!!!

Noise from Gainesville...

2008-05-16T13:23:00.004-04:00

I'm beginning to like what I see coming out of the University of Florida...for a change. For a UGA fan who was born in Athens it's hard to like anything that has to do with the Gators. Recently, however, there is some pretty good noise coming out of Gainesville. When you think about it though athletes at UF have a pretty good role model from a former Hiesman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel who has an awesome ministry going on in New Orleans.

Between the latest Gator football and baseball stars there is alot going on there worth mentioning...Tim Tebow and Matt LaPorta have really taken a stand for what they believe in on a very pulic stage.

Tim Tebow recently spoke at a prison in Florida and LaPorta is using a Major League Baseball affiliated website to share his faith.

Good work fellas!!!

Are You Bouncing???

2008-05-07T16:30:00.002-04:00

In the blog world there is a term/statistic called the "Bounce Rate". The bounce rate measures how many people just look at your site as compared to people who actually read and evaluate your site's content. If you look at a site for less than 5 seconds and leave the site you have just bounced. So if you have 4 site hits, but 3 people leave the site in less than 5 seconds your bounce rate is 75%.

Bloggers don't really want to have a high bounce rate. There are several reasons that blogs have high bounce rates...lack of important content, readers feel like you're trying to sell something, blog is boring, etc. A high bounce rate means that your blog health isn't too good.

Now that you have been educated on bouncing here's a couple questions:
1) When it comes to your life...are you always bouncing from one thing to another???
2) Are people always bouncing from you???

If you answer YES to these questions it probably means that you aren't involved with the right things. It's a good indicator that the things you give your time and efforts to aren't worthwhile. They probably lack substance and real meaning.

Taking that a step further...what does it say about you if people are always bouncing away from you???

I ALWAYS bounce from things that aren't worth my time.

Walking in Memphis...

2008-05-05T23:54:00.003-04:00

I had the awesome opportunity to speak at a CF fundraiser walk in Memphis this past weekend. It was a great chance to speak to people who are directly affected by CF. There are tons of things that I could have said about how I've lived with the disease, but I chose to speak briefly about something more universal.

I communicated the fact that people with CF don't want to be identified by the disease. I didn't want to be known simply as the kid with CF. So I challenged them to look at CF through a different lens...instead of treating it like a problem or a hurdle, I now see it as a blessing and an opportunity for leadership. I can do or say things now, because of my experiences, that people will give some thought. Hopefully, because of what I've gone through they can learn how to improve their lifestyle without going through the same things themselves.

So here's the application...think about your life and your story. I know most people don't have CF so replace that with mistakes you've made in your past. Do you see your past as a hurdle or an opportunity. Is there something that has happened that you have learned and grown from that people would benefit from knowing about??? Could you improve someone else's life by telling them about something you've had to experience in the past??? You can be a leader just by sharing your "problems" so others can learn from them. Are you better now because you have had to go through some difficulties???

I think 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 says it best when it comes to our weaknesses...

When God pulls us through problems it's kinda goes like this...the bigger the problem, the more glory God gets when He ultimately prevails. If it is a tiny problem and it gets better we can sometimes say that it got better because of something we did, but when it's a huge problem or weakness and it gets better it's ONLY because it was an act of GOD.

Good Friday...

2008-04-25T12:45:00.004-04:00

Since it's Friday and I don't have to work I got up this morning and did some much needed yard work. It was nice because the weather is perfect and I like the smell of a freshly cut yard...kinda weird I know, but I do.

Recently the Greenville, SC news channel did a story on NewSpring and Mega-Churches. It's pretty interesting and I thought you might like to check it out...

NewSpring News Story...

By All Possible Means...

2008-04-23T16:53:00.003-04:00

I am such a creature of habit. I get the same meals at restaurants, fold my towels the same way, make my bed the same way, and often get ready the same way. I also get on the Internet and start every workday the same way. I always check my facebook, email, and several of my favorite blogs.

Well today I got in the mood to do something different. Instead of watching my usual Youtube diet of funny videos and Hillsong music I thought I would see what was out there about one of my favorite authors Mark Driscoll. What I found was awesome. Driscoll was interviewed by someone who asked him questions about everything from church denominations to leadership. The site broke up the really long interview into little topical chunks which is very convenient...especially if you are wanting to link them to your blog.

Before you watch these clips read 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23 where Paul talks about what he will do to save someone..."all possible means". I should be doing this, but I'm not...are you???

OK with that in mind check out these clips:

Driscoll Clip 1...
Driscoll Clip 2...
Driscoll Clip 3...

Pretty good stuff...

Who Gets the Best Table???

2008-04-21T16:12:00.007-04:00

I was in a meeting today in which , among other things, we were talking about who or what takes priority in our groups. Trevor told us about this story that really opened my eyes...

I saw a marketing dilemma at a hot new restaurant I went to the other night.

We got there on time at 6:30 and the restaurant was about a third full. We were promptly seated at the worst table in the whole place, in the back, in the corner, cramped by the kitchen.

We were first time patrons, with reservations via the open table. That made us doubly second class citizens, I guess.

We asked for a better table, pointing to the one a few feet away. "Oh I'm sorry, that one is reserved."

The chances, of course, that a particular table is reserved are close to zero. What he meant was, "Oh, we have a regular customer who deserves that table more than you."

Hence the dilemma: Who should get your best effort? Should it be the new customer who you just might have a shot at converting into a long term customer? Or should it be the loyal customer who is already valuable?

Who would you give it to??? The correct answer is...THERE SHOULDN'T BE A BAD TABLE.

This story really smacked me in the face. It'll probably do the same to you. Are there areas in your life or ministry that this would relate to???

Beautiful Day for a Braves Game...

2008-04-18T15:08:00.003-04:00

It's 78 degrees and sunny in Anderson, SC...more of the same in ATL. What does that mean??? It's a great day for baseball. I am headed to Atlanta to see the Braves play the Dodgers. Paul, Chris, Chris, and Myself are driving down for an ol' fashon Dodgers butt whippin'. I used to not really like the Braves because I was always an Indians fan, but recently my allegiance has shifted. The big reason is because I really like Jeff Francoeur and John Smoltz. Yeah they are good players, but that's not why I really like them. The reason is because both of them are unashamed of their faith. I can really get behind them because I know that baseball isn't the biggest thing in their lives...

Check out this quick clip of Jeff Francoeur speaking at an FCA event and you'll see what I mean...

Off to Turner Field!!!

All Staff Meeting...

2008-04-17T11:49:00.003-04:00

At some point every month the whole NewSpring staff has a meeting. These aren't like usual staff meetings where they suck so bad that you wish you were getting attacked by fireants instead of sitting in the room, or you hold your breath until you pass out. These meetings are AWESOME and I can't wait for the next one.

Perry usually talks about leadership and speaks to us about what God is currently teaching him. Here are a few points he made:

Sometimes you have to say no to something good so you can say YES to something GREAT.
There has to be a day when you trust God's anointing more than you trust your study and prep.
Unless you remember where God's brought you from you will never be able to go where he wants you to go.
I shouldn't participate in corporate worship because I need a God fix...I should worship out of the overflow of my heart.

Here are some highlights from 2 Chronicles 20:

(Verses 6 & 12) Great verses on perspective...
(Verse 15) Do not be discouraged...or more specifically be COURAGEOUS.
(Verse 16) God always knows the path of the enemy. Nobody sneaks up on God.
(Verse 23) If we consume ourselves with God and focus on worship, the enemy will kill themselves.
(Verse 25) Plunder the enemy. Pray that money that is going into the world will come into the church and expand His kingdom here on earth.

Hope this encourages you like it did me...

Perry at NGU...

2008-04-16T14:28:00.004-04:00

I got the chance to tag along with a few of my NewSpring folks to North Greenville University today to hear Perry speak at their chapel service. Bcoop, Perry, Jason, Trish, Lindsey, and Myself all piled up in the whip and rode up to Tigerville, SC...yes the name of the town is Tigerville. It was amazing even though I felt like the donkey in the Kentucky Derby being with that crew.

Here are some highlights from Perry speaking out of Joshua 5: 13-15:

We must recognize who we are talking to (Jesus holding the sword).
We must repent...Joshua fell face down on the ground when he realized who he was talking to.
We must respond...Joshua asked, "What message does God have for his servant?"
Jesus said to Joshua, when he asked this question, "Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy." (God basically said to remove whatever it is that is standing in between you and My holiness.)
"Jesus doesn't choose sides...HE IS."
"Hyper Piper"
"Don't pimp your theology over Jesus."
"Not everyone is a christian, Not everyone wants to be a christian, and the reason some non-christians don't want to be a christian is because of the christians."

All of this was preceded by Lee McD's Bible study...and I've got FUSE tonight!!! WHAT???

It's been a GREAT DAY...

Fat and Happy...

2008-04-15T10:15:00.003-04:00

What would happen if all you did was chow down on food all the time but never worked out??? How do you think you would look after a few months of that?? What about years of that kind of life style?? You would probably become pretty fat and worthless wouldn't you...

I don't really want to make my point about food today. Even though I really enjoy working out, lifting weights, exercising, and all that good stuff that's not what I want to call out today. There are big consequences for consuming tons of food and not working out, but that's small change compared to consuming too much in your "christian life" with out taking action.

How much of your "christian life" is all about consuming??? (Reading more books, listening to more Hillsong, going and hearing more teaching and preaching, etc.) Just like with food, if all you do is consume and consume without any action to go along with it you will become fat and worthless. Pharisees, in the Bible, consumed more knowledge and info than anyone, but did nothing that God actually commanded.They just consumed knowledge so they could argue theology with their friends and look down on people who were "living in sin". It's no surprise then, that they were the only ones that Jesus consistently got upset with. Are you on your way to becoming a Pharisee???

Consuming is great if you take action, but don't become fat and worthless.

Quote of the Day...

2008-04-13T01:31:00.005-04:00

"God's plan done God's way will never lack God's resources."
-Greg Boone

That's good stuff...

The VARSITY Experience...

2008-04-11T00:13:00.004-04:00

Last weekend I went with a couple guys (Daley and Jay) to the Braves game in Atlanta. Anyone from Georgia will tell you that if you are in ATL you have to stop by and get a chili dog at the VARSITY. Neither one of the fellas had ever been to the Varsity so we hit it up for lunch on the way to the field. The food there is hit or miss, it kinda depends on the day you catch it on. But one thing that is a constant is the experience. The Varsity, in either location (ATL or Athens), is full of history. Anytime a president comes to ATL he usually goes to the varsity...it's just that kind of place. When you walk into the restaurant you become consumed by the atmosphere and all of the other customers and tourists. You then walk up to the counter and order your dogs and fries from the impatient, irritable cashier who talks to you as if you were a thief trying to rob them of their happiness. You then take your grease dog into one of the many dining rooms where you sit in a school desk and watch ESPN while eating your fresh cut fries and sipping COKE (Notice I said COKE, not any of that PEPSI CRAP...this is Atlanta the home of Coke). We sat by the window and watched people walk by and cars weave in and out of traffic. The varsity is a cool thing to do while you are in Atlanta, I definitely recommend it.

Here's the thing about it. When we left we weren't really talking about the food. We just kinda left having a cool experience. We got in the car and went to the game. We may or may not even think about our Varsity experience of 2008 ever again. When you strip it all down, that experience doesn't have any significance at all.

Too many people go throughout life jumping from one insignificant experience to another. They believe that what they do in life doesn't really matter and it's JUST AN EXPERIENCE, or just a cool story. But here's the deal...LIFE ISN'T JUST AN EXPERIENCE. What happens in life really matters, and there are consequences for what we do or don't do. You cant just leave from life, like we left from the Varsity, and never talk about it again.

This is made clear in Luke 16 when the rich man dies and goes to hell. He wants someone to go tell his brothers that he is in hell and all this is real. It's almost as if he's calling out from the grave wanting to let his brothers know that what you do in life does matter and you aren't just living a series of meaningless experiences.

Don't let your life become one big Varsity Experience. We were created by God on purpose, with a purpose, for a purpose...live with some significance.

Two Struggles of Mine...

2008-04-10T09:50:00.002-04:00

I sometimes like to use this blog to put into writing what I'm studying and what my thoughts are on it. I've been thinking on and off about this question for a while now and I'm just gonna put it out there. It's really intense...or at least it is for me, but here it is:

Why do I believe in, follow, obey, and worship God??? I know what the answer to this should be, but that's not what I'm asking...there is a big difference between what I should do and what I actually do.

Too often I use my supposed devotion to God as a blackmale attempt to get Him to do/give me what I want. Let that sink in for a second... An example is: I want a Godly wife so I'll become super-spiritual and read my Bible everyday and surely God will see my devotion to Him and grant me the desire of my heart. When in truth all I'm doing is trying to manipulate God by doing what He says in order to get what I want out of Him. I am doing this thing in order to get another thing. I totally miss the point in burying myself in God's word and obeying what it says.

Or I will endure some things that come up in life because I know they are temporary and one day I will be in Heaven where there are no problems. I think of Heaven as if it were this huge party in the sky that I don't wanna miss out on. And I think about how I'm gonna have a new body, and I'm going to have fun, and how I'm going to be in total bliss. But here's the kicker, I should do the "christian" things because God is my authority and I am called to obey Him. Heaven is going to be great...don't get me wrong. It's just that heaven isn't heaven if God isn't there. I should desire to meet God and be with him rather than just not wanting to miss out on a party or getting some sort of selfish personal gain. I shouldn't obey just because I don't wanna miss out on a party. Heaven isn't about how much fun I'm going to have, It's about God...period.

Those are two things I struggle with. I am too selfish and use God and His blessings (Heaven) as a way to get things I desire instead of desiring God for who He is and what He's done for me.

God doesn't exist for my benefit, I exist to glorify Him.

Big Thursday...

2008-04-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

Thursday is going to be a huge day for me. Why you ask???

1) Thursdays are my Fridays...I don't work on Friday and Saturday since I work all day on
Sunday.
2) I'm having lunch with Perry Noble. Yes you read right...the Perry Noble. He is one of the most
amazing guys on the planet. Seriously. I am sooo excited.
3) A new episode of THE OFFICE is coming on.

That's why this is going to be a HUGE Thursday...

Since this isn't a super serious post I'm gonna throw out a few random thoughts...

Terry struckout three times against Randy Johnson last night. Who woulda thunk it??? Just a sidenote, Terry said, "It's a good thing I suck right now 'cause he left a few cookies out there for me I should have smashed."
I scratched the spring golf itch yesterday...and SUCKED it up. I remember why I don't really take golf seriously.
I've been working out and I can't wait to go to the beach. I don't know when I'm gonna get to go, but I should have my beach muscles ready for it when it comes...more on that later.
I'm ready for the MASTERS to begin...
Im also ready for consistant warm weather to get here so I can start listening to my Summer Country Mix CD.

That's all for now...

Thanks Suzanne!!!

2008-04-09T00:12:00.003-04:00

I want to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful Suzanne Swift for taking time out of her jam packed day to help me create a banner for this blog.

Thanks to Suzanne I now know how to make banners on Paint.NET so I'll try to keep it fresh...

I'm still pretty new at this whole blogging thing...well this whole technology thing really, but I'm getting it.

THANK YOU SUZANNE!!!

Overwhelmed Aliens...

2008-04-07T10:33:00.002-04:00

There have been many times in my life where I felt totally overwhelmed. Some have been legitimate, some not so much. I have, on many occasions, felt like crawling into a hole because I felt so burdened...I wouldn't literally crawl into a hole because that would be weird and unproductive plus where would I find a hole that big??? I can remember being so stressed out over school because I had to make really good on a chemistry final in order to pass the class and stay eligible for basketball. I remember being overwhelmed when I realized that I was way outmatched in a high school golf match and I still had 17 holes to go. I also remember wondering if I was ever going to live and be able to get out of the hospital when I had a serious case of the flu as a freshman in college. There are tons of things that can make us worry and stress out...some silly like golf, and some as serious as life and death.

I used to deal with stress by matching it with lots of optimism. Which isn't necessarily bad, but I take a different slant now. I now take a more biblical approach to dealing with issues that come up. Anyone can easily get caught up in circumstances that come up in life, but life is bigger than circumstances. These two things kinda go hand and hand, but are both crucial...

First, I will take a step back from the situation and remind myself that I am not glorifying God by becoming a basket case. We were not created to stress out over little tests that God is giving us. His desire is that we become so close with Him and that we bury ourselves so much in His word that any problem or issue that comes up in life we will see it through a lens that is similar to how He sees them...temporary.

1 Peter 2: 9-11 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation , a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul."

Lastly, when I'm getting overwhelmed I remind myself that God is on my side. He is bigger than any problem I could have. He is outside of time which means everything I go through is in His past. A good example of this is when David is on his deathbed and he tells his son Solomon, who is probably as overwhelmed as anyone in history was when he was left with the responsibility of finishing the Lord's temple, Don't worry God is on your side...

1 Chronicles 28:20 "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, YAHWEH is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished."

As believers, God has got your back and your problems are temporary. The same God that created the world, parted the Red Sea, stopped the Jordan River from flowing, raised the dead, made the lame to walk, and the blind to see. That's refreshing if you ask me.

The Bucket List...

2008-03-30T10:00:00.003-04:00

Has anyone seen the movie "The Bucket List"??? I have. If not, here's the premise of the movie. There are two guys from two totally different walks of life that meet in a hospital...each are on their respective deathbeds. One guy has tons of money and one guy is poor. One day the rich guy looks over at the poor one and sees him writing out a list. On that list are a roster of things that he wants to do before he dies. Long story short, the two men say to each other if we only have a month to live lets do what we've always wanted to do in life. So the remainder of the movie tells the story of them living out the adventures that each of them had always wanted to do. They drove race cars, went skydiving, climbed mountains, etc...all the typical things that most people have always wanted to do, but for whatever reason they never did.

There were a few things that went through my mind as I sat in the theater and watched it up there on the big screen:

1) If there is something you want to do in life, then why the heck don't you do it??? If you want to drive to the pacific ocean DO IT. Why wait until you are about to die before you seriously consider doing it???

2) Are the things that are on your "Bucket List" things YOU want to do, or they things GOD has called you to do, but you just didn't do them? There is a HUGE difference between the two. My personal convictions call me to put the will of God before my own desires. What's on my list that God wants me to do??? Is there anything that He wants me to do that when I'm laying on my deathbed I'm gonna look back and regret not doing???

The two guys in the movie felt that if they didn't do these things that somehow death would be robbing them of their dreams. If they would have done some of the things sooner, then when they are about to die they wouldn't feel robbed of life. Similarly, if God calling you do something and you do it and you are seeking to be more like Him in all you do, then by living you are becoming more like Christ. Then when you die you aren't being robbed of anything either because your life reflected what you desired...God. To take that a step further, instead of feeling robbed by your death, you feel as if you have gained something by dieing because you achieve your ultimate goal...being with God forever.

That is what Paul is talking about in Philippians 1:21 when he says "for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

What is God calling you to do in life??? Don't have a bucket list when you are on your deathbed.

Job's Theme...

2008-03-25T00:05:00.004-04:00

The book of Job is one of my favorites. I feel like I can relate to Job almost as good as any other Bible character. Why??? Because like Job, I have gone through some tough stuff. Sometimes I feel like I am being picked on by God...am I the only one who thinks that? Alot of times people come to the conclusion that the book is all about persevering through trials and keeping your faith in God. Although this can be a valuable theme...it's just not the main theme. When God answers/questions Job from a F5 tornado (Job 38) he is not questioning Job's faithfulness and isn't inquiring about Job's feelings about all he has had to endure...God is asking God questions. I know that sounds weird, but God is asking questions of Job that there is no way he can answer. He is asking them to prove a point and put little Job in his place. With these questions He is saying you are not God and don't even deserve to carry my jock.

This, in my opinion, is the main theme of Job: There is a HUGE GOD, and I am not it.

I exist to glorify God...that's it.

God reserves the right to do anything He wants to do with my life, and He reserves the right to subject me to anything He wants to. Why? Because He is GOD, I am NOT, and He can.

Arnold and The Perception Principal...

2008-03-12T09:44:00.005-04:00

Why would you believe anything I say??? Why should you believe anything I say?? Why do you believe in the people/things that you believe in??

I really admire and look up to Arnold Schwarzenegger when it pertains to physical fitness and body building. He has accomplished more in the world of body building than 99% of anyone who has ever participated in the sport. He was a pioneer in the sport and almost single-handedly made the sport a national and "universal" phenomenon. He was the best body builder in the world for 7 years in a row. His small independent film, Pumping Iron, revolutionized the way people make documentaries. Oh yeah...he made several movies and is the governor of CA...and he wasn't even born in this country. Arnold was and still is very successful with everything he does.

Arnold has built a reputation of someone who does what he says he is gonna do...and people really believe him. He can rally the support of a whole state in attempts to rid California of childhood obesity. Why is he so successful?? Why do people follow and admire this person???

The PERCEPTION PRINCIPAL: The way people RECEIVE you and what you say is directly proportional to how they PERCEIVE you and what you say...Arnold has a legacy of following through with what he promises. That's why people perceive him as being reliable, therefore they receive what he says with optimism.

My hope is that people will receive what I say because they perceive me to be real. Do people receive what you say??? Why or why not???

Random Thoughts...

2008-03-10T09:48:00.003-04:00

I am really excited about the spring season being here.
I'm ready to go to the beach this summer...PCB the GAUNTLET baby!!!
I cant wait until baseball season kicks in full swing...I'm gonna go to several Braves games this year.
I'm crunk about going to Memphis in April to see Terry play.
The "Road to Absolute Dominance" is going well...I'll be huge by the time I go to the beach.
Marathon training is kicking my butt...especially when I run outside.
Unleash at NewSpring this Thursday is going to get so CRUNK!!!
Lee McD's new CD is NASTY!!!
I love Wednesday morning bible studys are off the chain.
The Masters are coming up in Augusta...I'll watch an hour of it then fall asleep, but that hour will be cool.
Oh yeah...I almost forgot...I've got YANKEES v. Red Sox tickets!!!
Tanner if you are reading this in AZ, DON'T EAT THE POISONOUS ORANGES!!!
The day that I get an iPHONE is drawing near.
Bennie...DO WORK SON!!! Get back from IRAQ safely...I'll wear my RANGER shirt tomorrow to represent.

Spring Fever

2008-03-05T14:57:00.003-05:00

It is now March 5th and I definitely have spring fever. All I want to do is go outside, workout, and watch baseball. This is the time of the year that I like the best...and summer, but right now this is the best.

Along with starting back on the "Road to Absolute Dominance", I have been training for a 1/2 marathon for 2 weeks now. Since I have NEVER run for distance in my life it is posing quite a task right now. I've been adding one minute per day onto my running times. Eventually, I will have to run for about 2 1/2 hours. That seems very intimidating right now, but I know I can get there. I've got until December to be able to run 13 miles at one time. I'll keep you updated.

Also, my day started off really cool today as it does on most Wednesdays. I went to my morning men's group led by the world famous Lee McDerment. For anyone out there that doesn't know Lee, he is the coolest person on the planet right now. We went through and discussed the book of Exodus...there are some amazing points about leadership that were talked about today. It blows my mind how someone who really isn't qualified to be a leader can become one of the best leaders in the history of the world...good stuff. Also Lee is having a CD release concert on Friday that is going to be amazing. I can't wait!

Now I've got to get back to watching the Angles' spring training live box score...

So Sore...

2008-02-26T09:12:00.005-05:00

"The Road to Absolute Dominance" began yesterday. Needless to say I am really sore. Soreness at this point is a good thing. I feel like I worked a little bit and actually got something done, but this hasn't always been the case. I can remember one of the very first times I ever really worked out.

I was a sophomore at Trinity Christian School in Dublin, GA. My friend Terry, who I mentioned in my last post, was a workout machine. He began seriously working out in 9th grade when he wasn't much bigger than me. He hardly ever took a day off from exercise. When you see how hard he used to workout it was no wonder that he gained like 40 pounds in a relatively short time period of 2 years. We were good friends at this time and he invited me to workout with him one day after school during the spring when I didn't really have anything to do. So I agreed thinking that it would be a cool thing to do and it just might help me somehow.

I showed up that day in the weight room weighting only 110 pounds at 16 years old. Terry, at this point, was about 6'3" and weighted about 185 or 190 which is a pretty good size for a high school junior. He came in and asked me if I was ready. Well, since I had no idea what was coming my way I answered quickly and ignorantly..."yeah I'm ready...what's my name?"

We began a FULL body circuit workout. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a workout with many different exercises that are done with very little rest in-between. And the FULL body part wasn't anything to overlook either. I had never really worked out...EVER. I can remember not being able to finish a set and Terry making me complete the reps with his assistance. Then we quickly jumped to the next exercise which Terry was conditioned for, but I wasn't even close to being able to go at that pace. We did squats, lunges, leg curls, bench press (incline, decline, and flat), arm curls, forearms, EVERYTHING.

When I left the school that day I was totally spent. I went home and ate dinner and went to sleep. I thought the worst part was over...WRONG. The next morning I couldn't walk from my room to the bathroom across the hall. I was sore beyond description. I tried to sit down in chairs and my legs would totally collapse beneath me and I would plop into the chair. I couldn't sit on the toilet. I couldn't lift anything because my chest was so sore. I was completely useless. There wasn't one single muscle in my body that didn't feel like there was burning hot acid in it.

Of course when I told Terry this he laughed like he was watching a Dave Chappelle stand-up or something. It was funny to him...painful to me. To this day I have never been that sore. Hopefully I never have to experience that again.

I know now that it was going to take something like that to get my attention. I didn't know how hard it was to get better. I thought that stuff was going to magically appear in my lap and I wouldn't have to work hard and go through some discomfort to get there. As bad as the soreness was, I look back and say that was good. I can see how my outlook on fitness and life began to chance that day.

The lesson, even if you do things right it may hurt...bad. That doesn't mean that what you are doing is wrong. Stick with it, the soreness will eventually wear off and you will be stronger than when you started.

Working Out and Spring Baseball

2008-02-24T17:34:00.003-05:00

I know it has been too long since my last post...sorry...life happens. On my last post I said that I was going to give a weekly update as to how my road to getting back in shape is going. Well it has started, but thats about all I can say about it. I played basketball 3 times last week which might not sound significant, but when you haven't played in a LONG time...it's not too bad. It's a good start anyways. Tomorrow I begin my weight lifting part of my fitness plan which I like to call "The Road to Absolute Dominance"...don't ask. My goal is to get up and workout in the morning 4 days a week...we will see how that goes.

Also, it is here...one of my top 3 favorite times of the year. Spring Training Baseball. I don't know why I like it so much, but I'm so excited about it. I went and saw Clemson play in thier opening series yesterday...beatuiful weather, baseball, good company, good times. I can't wait for MLB spring training to start on friday so I can follow my boy Terry Evans with the Angels. He's a great guy...keep up with him.

That's all for now. Check back tomorrow...

Pumping Iron

2008-02-12T09:58:00.000-05:00

One of the movies on my top 5 favorites list is Pumping Iron. This movie follows Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1970's as he pursues a record 7 Mr. Olympia titles. Mr. Olympia is the title given to the best professional body builder in the world. I really like this movie for a couple of reasons...I love Arnold and it is super inspirational. I can't watch this movie and keep my shirt on at the same time...it's impossible. All I want to do after seeing it is go to the weightroom and squat until I can't walk.

Regretfully my workout schedule changes with the seasons. During the spring and summer months I love to workout. During the fall and winter...not so much. I don't know why this is. My only guess would be that during the spring and summer I take my shirt off alot, therefore I want to look big so I workout. It sounds silly I know, but it's the truth.

Well with spring right around the corner I'm about to dust off my Pumping Iron DVD and get back in the weightroom. Here's what I'm gonna do...I am going to use this site to journal my workouts. I am going to post my goals and give weekly updates as to what I'm doing and how I'm making progress. Hopefully, if I let someone else know what I'm doing it will keep me more accountable about staying on task and reaching my goal.

My status as of now...I weigh about 145 pounds and haven't worked out with weights since September. My goal is to GAIN 20 POUNDS BY SEPTEMBER. Gaining 20 pounds over the summer for anyone is a huge task, but I'm gonna do it. I will post next week about my progress.

In the words of Arnold in Pumping Iron...IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

Fear and Uncertianty

2008-02-11T10:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at NewSpring was GREAT!!! Every week I leave saying that there is no way that it can get any better than that, and every week it does. AMAZING!!!

The thought of the message...God didn't create us to be mediocre. He doesn't see us as who we were or who we are, but as who we were created to be. We stay stuck in our same wasteful routine because of FEAR and UNCERTIANTY.

What are fear and uncertianty holding you back from doing? What goals are you putting off pursuing? Did Ben Franklin know that he wasn't gonna get zapped by lightning when he flew his kite? Did Lance Armstrong know for sure that cancer wasn't gonna kill him when he was training for the Tour de France? Nothing that turns out to be amazing and life changing will ever be guaranteed beforehand. It's going to take some kind of risk and uncertianty to achieve great things.

Don't be average...You were created to be GREAT. Don't let fear and uncertianty let you from becoming what God created you to be.

Good Advice...

2008-02-10T11:40:00.001-05:00

When I was a sophomore in high school I was a measly 5'4" and weighed only 115 pounds. That's a pretty good body type if I was a female cheerleader, but I wasn't. I was a varsity basketball player with dreams of becoming a college athlete.

Every three months of my life since I was born I have gone to see my doctors in Atlanta for a check up. While at these check ups, among other things, they check to see how I am growing. For patients with CF, whether or not they are growing like a normal person is a good indicator as to how their body is dealing with the disease. At this point in time my body wasn't fighting CF efficiently enough to allow me to grow and be healthy at the same time. Because of this...I stopped growing. So when I was 16 years old my doctors recommended that I get a feeding tube. The talk of a feeding tube wasn't a new to me, however. They had told me for a long time that it would be a good idea to get one and advised me to do so. For whatever reason, pride being the biggest, I never got the tube put in.

Until this point I was pretty much able to do what I wanted to do as far as basketball was concerned. I always played on my team and was pretty successful, but my 10th grade year wasn't like that. I never got off the bench unless it was to get garbage minutes at the end of a game. That really bothered me. I knew that if I was gonna play college basketball I needed to be on the court. And I wasn't getting on the court unless I grew some...no matter how good I got.

Since I had grown up with my doctors in Atlanta they knew me pretty well. They knew my dreams and goals therefore they knew what motivated me. That day in 1999 they rephrased their advise into a way that they knew I would accept it. They changed the way they said things just enough to get my attention. They stopped telling me that if I didn't get a feeding tube that it would stunt my growth...they now told me that my growth had been stunted and now it's just a matter of damage control. I wasn't going to be as big as I should have gotten, but we can still salvage something. Then they said that there wasn't a college basketball coach in the country that wanted a 5'4" 115 pound point guard. That was enough to get my attention and I got the feeding tube put in the next week.

Very long story short, the doctors advice was good advice. I grew about 6 inches in the next year and put on 25 pounds. The only regret that I had was that I hadn't gotten the feeding tube sooner. I had a good junior year in basketball that next year. A lot had to do with me getting bigger.

My advice to whomever is reading this...listen to good advice and take it.

Hard Work and 100 Trips...

2008-02-07T10:15:00.001-05:00

As a rising sophomore at Anderson College (now Anderson University) I stayed in the upstate instead of going home to Georgia for the summer. I had several reasons for staying in SC, but one of the biggest ones was to be able to work on my game during the months off for summer break. One of the weeks during the summer I was able to work the AC basketball day camp there on campus. One of the perks of having summer camps at colleges like AC is because it is a week during the summer when several players from the team are on campus to help out with the camp. Since colleges basketball coaches are a little obsessed with working thier players as much as possible, they get very excited about what they can do with thier players and really take advantage of the situation.

That's the where the story picks up. I was only on the JV team at AC at this point in time. I was the epitome of a "gym rat" and spent alot of time looking for ways to get better at basketball. During the afternoons at this summer day camp my coach, Doug Novak who is now coaching at The Citadel, conducted a workout in White gym for one "lucky" camper and half of the varsity players that were there. There were two workouts per afternoon so the other half of the players on campus that week wouldn't miss out on any of the fun.

White gym was our old gym at AC it was very poorly ventalated and had NO air conditioner. Summer day temperatures in South Carolina run around 90-95 degrees which is really hot if you're sitting in a lawn chair sipping lemonade. Now imagine being in a non air-conditioned gym with no fan (approx 105 degrees), running your tail off doing the NBA style conditioning workout. Whatever you just imagined in you head...multiply that by about 100 and you get my picture. The 100 trips, as it was called by the clever coach Novak, was one hundred trips up and down the court runnning and shooting. The only relief during this hour was shooting 2 free throws every 2 minutes to catch your breath...or colapsing... I guess if you died you could rest. It was the most demanding thing I've ever done. I remember times where I COULD NOT SEE while I was running. I rung my shirt out after the workouts...twice. I could have filled a water bottle with all this sweat. It was by far the hardest thing I've done. DID I MENTION THAT I WAS ON JV, AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS?

I was subjecting myself to near death workouts that I wasn't required to do all because I had a goal and I knew that this was only going to make me better. It was rediculous, but I did it. It had to pay off. There wasn't any other JV player working as hard as I was that summer and I knew it. I wanted to play on varsity and this was one of the ways I would get there. I could have very easily and comfortably been sitting in my air conditioned room watching sportscenter for the 8th time of the day, but this is what I chose to do.

Hard work pays off. Two years after the 100 trips I finally made varsity. If you want something bad enough you will have to get out of your comfort zone and work.

Setting Goals

2008-02-05T09:58:00.000-05:00

There are two types of goals...short term goals and long term goals. Most of the time your short term goals, if you achieve them, move you closer to seeing your long term goals become a reality. My short term goals were all made with my long term goal in mind. My long term goal that I set when I was in elementary school was that I wanted to one day play college basketball. It is hard to know what you want to be when you grow up, but you always know what you want to do. I wanted to play basketball like my favorite player Bobby Hurley. My driveway often became Cameron Indoor Stadium and I was always playing point guard for the blue devils. As a kid I would work on drills so I could become a better player in my recreation league. I always wanted to work hard at becoming good enough to play on an all-star team (short term goal). Those goals eventually led me to the point of becoming good enough to make a school team. From making the school team my goal was to then get some playing time. Then I wanted to make varsity. Then I wanted to become a starter on varsity. Then I wanted to play on a college team so I went to Anderson College to play on a JV team. I wasn't satisfied still...so I worked on my game and made the varsity team at AC.

You get the point??? I started working on my long term goal when I was just a kid in my driveway. You see how all my short term goals helped me achieve my ultimate goal of playing college basketball. So what should you do today??? If you are reading this...what do you want to do?? Set a goal right now!!! Then set a short term goal that you can achieve in a month or two, then set another one. Before you know it you will be looking back on the last 10 years and you will see how all those little goals helped you to get where are...achieveing your goal. Keep yourself accountable too. Write the goals down and post them somewhere. If you let other people know what your goal is then they can help you.

Here's an example...I want to gain 15 pounds of muscle this summer.

There are 3 months during the summer...5 pounds per month...basicly 1 pound per week.

It takes 3500 extra calories to gain 1 pound.

3500 calories/7 days = 500 extra calories per day along with my workout program.

When you break down your goals and put them into achievable goals the big goal seems easy. If I'm working out every day, 500 calories is VERY EASY. You can break down just about any goal into easy to reach smaller goals.

Give it a shot...

3 Basics...

2008-02-04T14:51:00.000-05:00

In order to know where and how you should begin, you need to know where you want to be...This thought is a good concept to introduce this blog. I want to give you 3 basic ideas or concepts that I have learned to be valuable...

1. Have a GOAL...As far back as I can remember I wanted to play college basketball. Everything I did revolved around sports. I played basketball all the time. I was motivated by basketball. I can remember making decisions with the thought in mind...will this help me play college basketball? My goal was to play college basketball. Without having this goal, some of the biggest decisions in my physical life wouldn't have been made right. Find something that motivates you...SET A GOAL...do whatever it takes to achieve it.

2. WORK HARD EVEN WHEN IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE...Nothing worth having will come without a sacrifice of some kind. There were many days where I did NOT want to get up, get dressed, workout, and put in the time to get bettter. However, I knew that if I wanted to see my dream become a reality it wasn't just going to drop into my lap. I can speak from experience on this one. Unless you put this into practice you will NEVER be what you want to be. NEVER. It's not easy to work hard. It's not comfortable, but if you do it anyways it will eventually pay off and you will be glad that you went through with it.

3. LISTEN, SEEK, and APPLY GOOD ADVICE...This is one that took me a while to get. I used to think that if I would just work more or try harder that it would compensate for something else that I needed to do, but just wasn't doing. That didn't work. I was beating my head against a brick wall for years trying to tear it down when someone was giving me the keys to a bulldozer and I just wasn't listening. In my case, doctors were giving me advice that I wasn't taking. Because of my pride I wasn't listening. Once I put my pride on the shelf and took thier advice I grew and got better. Don't let your pride get in the way of taking good advice.

I'll tell a specific story about each of these points in blogs to come. This stuff is for real...it worked in my life and it can work in yours.

My Mission...

2008-02-03T11:49:00.000-05:00

For anyone reading this blog...welcome. The purpose of this blog is to let you into my world. My hope is that anyone who may be dealing with CF would read this blog and become encouraged. I know there are people who want to live life to the fullest and chase thier dreams, but feel like they are limited in what they can do. The only limit you have is the one you put on yourself. Everyone isn't able to get up and dunk a basketball on thier first try...I know I didn't. However, I wouldn't allow myself to fail. You shouldn't either. Keep up with me and I'll tell you what you can do to get everything you want out of life.