Challenging Normal

The last two weeks have been crazy busy!

Perry Noble hit the nail on the head with this post on four stages he went through as a leader.

Leadership is making the tough decisions - if all you are worried about is being popular and worrying about what people think then leadership is not for you.  Leadership is about making the hard calls even if you are alone.  Leadership is choosing right over popular.

Resting and watching some movies this weekend.

Mark Batterson wrote about emotional endurance here.

Barbara Graves blogged about splinters here.

The LifeChurch.tv crew shared something that made me laugh here.

Pete Wilson wrote a stirring posts about being vulnerable here.

Shaun King blogged about the myth of balance here.

Yesterday's inauguration made a mark in history that has elicited much attention. For me, I have begun to reflect on the issues as they affect my own life. Regardless of your opinions and your circumstances, there are always positives and negatives to be derived. The real question is, "what will this season mean for you?" I have blogged in the past about grief and changes in life as we have transitioned into the new chapter in our lives, but today I am pondering a new level or new season. In order for new growth to occur in spring, there must be a purging in winter. I have always begrudged winter because it is a rough season when the cold kills off nature and restricts our activities.

God has used failures and separation in my life to begin teaching me that my better days are ahead of me and not behind me. Without the purging during the winter, there would not be healthy growth in the spring. With life as tough as it is these days, what areas of your life is God trying to purge? What good things can you find in your current season?

I have started challenging myself every day to concentrate on the excitement of the better days that lay ahead. Living each day is tough, with all of its failures and disappointments, but anticipation, I believe, is an antecedent for fear and doubt. Embrace where you are and learn from this season and hold on because the best is yet to come.

All eyes are on Washington DC today. Today there are millions of people that have packed themselves into the Nation's Capital and millions more who will be watching it on TV. Today will be the inauguration of the 44th President of The United States. There are some big words being thrown around like historic, monumental, and others. There are some crazy comparisons that are happening. Obama is the next Lincoln, Kennedy, or someone else.

This Martin Luther King Jr. speech is the one that stirs me the most.

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long.  And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize—that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards—that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school.

I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others.

I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question.

I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry.

And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.

I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison.

I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice.  Say that I was a drum major for peace.  I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.  I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind.  And that's all I want to say.

If I can help somebody as I pass along,

If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,

If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong,

Then my living will not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,

If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,

If I can spread the message as the master taught,

Just wanted to share some other thoughts from "An Enemy Called Average."

It is cold and I love cold weather.

Mark Batterson wrote about building a ministry that endures here.

• Wednesday is my favorite day of the week.

Winter Encounter is February 15-17 in General Coffee State Park in Douglas, GA.  Cost is $45 and it covers food, lodging, and travel.

Have you ever realized that your attitude affects your outlook on life? Or that the people you are around effect your attitude? I have just started my new job and I am around a lot of people every day, all different kinds of people with various personalities. Each day I have been praying for God to help me with having a good attitude and favor with people. At the end of the day, my outlook on life is significantly altered depending on who I have been around that day.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best "People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is a confession of character." This quote has made me begin to question what my attitude is saying about my character. I want to be a positive, passionate person who loves Jesus and makes him famous. However, my attitude does not always support my goal. My fear is that my attitude will misrespresent my character to others. You cannot repeat tomorrow, so what will your attitude say about your character?

It is my sincere hope that I can evaluate my attitude and outlook on life everyday, so my character will speak for itself. Who is influencing your life? What kind of character do you have?

There was a trend that went through Youth Ministry a few years ago. Youth Pastors would roll out a casket or tombstones and would talk about legacy. We would ask questions like, "What do you want on your tombstone," or "How do you want to be remembered?" Nothing wrong with those questions. There is nothing wrong with doing those things, but I have just changed the question that I ask.

The other day I was sitting at my desk working on some planning for the new year and I had a question that I asked myself. This question gripped my soul and has not turned it loose. The question is, "Will there be students in Hell looking for me?" This question has raised what I believe is a legitimate fear. This is not your usual fear, this fear has me evaluating how I have done ministry, taught, and lived over the last 10 years.

One of the things that I am doing this year for my personal growth plan is to read more leadership books.  Right now I am reading "An Enemy Called Average," and it is really messing with me.  Let me share something I read the other day...

It felt good to get back into some sort of routine this week.  The break was good but I need routines in my life.

Perry Noble wrote about the church and the auto industry here, here, and here.

Mark Batterson talks about creating culture here.

Craig Groeschel wrote a stirring post on who care who you're not here.

Steven Furtick blogged about swatting gnats here.

Pete Wilson talks about being the church here.

I wonder how many people are like me, you have a great idea and you make plans to follow through with it and the interruptions come. Everyday, I am realizing that I have great thoughts that could benefit others and add spice to life, but I don't seem to follow through. Intentions are great but without action, they are just waning notions. How awesome would life be if we all learned to act on at least half of our good intentions?

I am realizing that my good intentions turn to regrets and missed opportunities. So for this new year, I am going to attempt to turn over a new leaf and turn my good intentions into a reality. I want to see how more purpose and passion can be added to my life by connecting with others in small ways. Life is much to short to be consumed in the mundane tasks of life or swallowed by the rat race of our society.

Are there good intentions you have been dismissing? How can you connect to others in this new year? I'm gonna make each day count . . . what will you do?

It is safe to say that I have seen my share of tough times in the ministry over the last 12 years. There were days that I was sure that I was not going to make it out alive. As 2008 was closing out and we were ready to ring in 2009, I sat in my office and reflected. I not only thought back over the trials of this past year but other battles that we have fought as well.

The other day I was having an a conversation with my friend Chris and He made a statement that I have not been able to shake.  He says that there is a difference between a good idea and a God idea.  As I have pondered on that statement, this is what I believe the difference between a good idea and a God idea is:

Well it is 2009.  You have set your resolutions and a lot of us have already broke them.  I am trying something a little new this year.  Instead of resolutions I am setting personal goals.

Happy New Year!

This year has been full of ups and downs like no other. God has used many things, experiences, and people to stretch and grow me. As I have sat and reflected over the past couple of days on what 2008 held, I wanted to share some highlights with you.