Moving to Wordpress!!?

The picture that you see above is the layout of my bog on Wordpress! I am thinking about moving from blogger to wordpress. In the last few days there have been some changes made which apparently makes it easier to make the move.

I am hoping the trasition will not be too hard. So go ahead and click here to take a look at it. I have a long way to go to make it look the way I want, but this is a start.

A BIG THANK YOU to human3rror for his tweet that led me to an article here that helped me with the transition!

Gmail goes offline!

Here is some great news for Gmail users!

Bush girls to Obama girls

Here is a great video/message from the Bush girls to the Obama girls.



What are your thoughts?

Don't park here! (Part 1)

No parking!

That is a sign we have all seen at a place where we wanted to park. It can be frustrating to see that at times.

I think that there are certain places in life, where we sometimes really want to "park" but we should not if we want to do great and remarkable things. One of the areas where we should not park is beside your past/mistakes.

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

All of us have made mistakes in the past, we are humans and that is expected but we make an even bigger mistake when we dwell on the past and especially when we dwell on the mistakes in the past. It is vital for us to forget those things that are behind us and press on to what God has in store for us!

This is especially true for leaders. 

What are your thoughts on this? What do you do to forget the past and press on?

In the name of Love

I just saw this of John Legend performing In The Name of Love by U2.
So I thought I would share it with you!


Here is U2 performing the song live in Chicago.

Speed Bump!

This past week everything was going on schedule for Sunday service! We wanted to keep the momentum going from the previous week. We had spent the previous Sunday talking about holiness which went great. It challenged the students and the small groups went well with lot of questions and great discussions for every age group!

As I was on my way to the church I got a phone call and I quickly learnt that the heating system in the Life Building (which is for the students) had problems and it was blowing cold air!!!

We tried to do what we could but had to cancel the service because it was FREEZING in the building!

Did you have similar experiences? If so how did you handle it? Would love to hear from you!

With Everything!

Make sure you watch both videos!





What are your thoughts?

Matin Luther King Jr!

Here are 10 quotes from MLK Jr. You can find many more by clicking here.

1. Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead & the unborn could do it no better.
2. Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
3. To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
   
4. Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.
5. A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.
6. An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
7. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
8. Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.
9. Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
10. The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.

Go ahead add some of your favorite quotes to the list.

Presidential Inauguration Live!

You can watch the Presidential Inauguration Live right here!!



Enjoy! : )

How much do you hate them?

This video was sent to me from a friend. It is a wake-up call to take the message of the Gospel seriously and it is time for us to make sure that we live our lives intentionally with keeping the eternal future in mind!

What are your thoughts?

Do they know?

As I thought more about What's at stake? I began to think about the responsibility that leaders have in make sure that the people following know what's at stake. It is vital that the people following know what's at stake because if they don't, there is a high possibility that they will not give it all they've got towards what you are doing together.

Other than casting vision, what are some of the ways that you can let the people following know what's at stake and get more commitment from them?

Please jump in and let me know your thoughts. how do you increase the level of commitment from people following you? Does anything change in the case of volunteers?

The story of Adidas

What's at stake?

What's at stake if you don't do what God has called you to do?

What's at stake if you stop doing some of the things that you are involved in?

What's at stake if you don't confront the sin habit in your life?

What's at stake if you don't work on your character?

What's at stake if you don't start leading with diligence?

What's at stake if your team does not give all they've got?

What's at stake if you don't spend time with your Heavenly Father?

What's at stake?

If the answer is "not much" then you might want to stop doing something, but if the answer is "A LOT" then you should start doing something! For me there is a lot at stake and I need God's Grace to work on these areas in my life.

In what areas of your life should you be asking this question? What would you add to the list? I would love to hear your thoughts.

One Prayer 2009

Lifechurch.tv launched the website for One Prayer 2009! If you don't know anything about it, it was something lifechuch.tv did last year and were joined by several thousand churches as they came together and prayed for several different things. 

If you are a Pastor you might really want to check it out and be a part of it! Take a few minutes and check it out!

Anne Jackson is giving away $6,100!

Anne Jackson who has been called a rockstar blogger by Perry Noble is giving away a copy of the Logo’s Scholar’s Library! So make sure you click here and enter to win! Don't miss it! Especially if you preach/teach from the Bible. This will be a great resource!

Action Method

Here is a tool that I just found out earlier today. Its called Action Method. It is a place to have clear action steps to get things done. Looks very promising. I just signed up today and I am hoping it will help me keep up with everything that I need to do. You can also collaborate and use it with your friends, co-workers etc. 

If anyone of you use it let me know, what you think about it. What tools do you use to make sure you are on track with what you need to do?

Sunday reflections.

I got the idea to start doing posts about our sunday youth services by reading Perry Noble's blog. 

Here are some of the things that happened in todays service:

1. It was the first time that we met for a youth service this year!!
2. Got to talk about consecration and what it means. 
3. We had the fire alarm go off just as we were getting ready to start the first service!!!
4. We had to move everyone but still had service in a different location! 
5. Very happy to see volunteers working hard and together!
6. Had a chance to talk to some students one-on-one about what God is doing in their lives. Exciting stuff!
7. Looking forward to what God is going to do this week in the lives of both the students and volunteers!!

I think thats it for today. I wiped out and need to get some sleep. Thanks for reading and Goodnight! 

Sermon prep!

Gettin ready for my talk with some help from youversion, Google Docs, and some illustration ideas from the web. 

What tools or methods do you use to get ready for your presentations/talks? Would love to hear from you! Have a great day! 

Interview tips

I saw this earlier today at the Deadly Viper. So I wanted to share it with you.
Since the economy is not doing that great and people are looking for new jobs, here are some interviewing tips from Ron himself!

Fellowship with God

Here are the notes from the first prayer school during consecration:

How do we develop the fellowship with God?

1. We put our faith in God. Mark 11:22, I John 5:14-15
   
2. When we communicate with God in prayer, we have the assurance, the belief that He hears us when we talk to Him. 
   
3. The first step of faith becomes the building block for the next step of faith, which leaves that step with God, and steps out in obedience. Matthew 17:20
   
4. We do not put our faith in our own ability, talent or possessions. We must become lovers of God. Separating ourselves from the thing or things that distract us from loving Him totally.  2 Timothy 3:1-5
   
5. When our hunger is lacking for God, then our prayers are more from the head rather than the heart, and lack deoth. 
   
6. Fellowship with God should move beyond the mechanics of prayer, beyond just the principles of prayer, to the spirit of prayer. 
   
7. Our faith is not knowing the principles only, but knowing the person behind the principals. 1 Timothy 1:12, Phil. 3:7-11
8. Faith and fellowship with God builds a healthy relationship of one heart interacting with another heart. 
9. God intended for us to experience a prayer-inspiring relationship with Him while on earth.
10. More than just endlessly existing as a believer, but experiencing eternal life to the fullest.

Pitfalls (that destroy our fellowship with God)

1. Ministry - being driven by the role and making things happen, tempts us to forgo the "passive" pursuit in spending time with God. 
2. Work related duties - extensive reading and paperwork on the job compel us to forgo reading The Bible. 
3. Full time ministry - For some of us the only time we use the Bible is to counsel, sermon preparation and ministry work. The Bible becomes a textbook rather than the living Word of God!
4. Substituting our public prayer for personal conversation wit God. 

How to avoid pitfalls

1. Evaluate how much time you set aside to spend with God (is it quality time or rushed?)
2. Does my fellowship with God face many intrusions? (Setting aside the right time in my day to avoid interruption)
3. Measuring my moment in prayer with God. Develop a habit of journaling. 

Our faith and fellowship keep us connected to the Father. Acts 27:21-25

 

Are you taken hostage?

Got this from Scott Williams blog. He is a campus Pastor at lifechurch.tv


Hostage - Envy from Nick Jones on Vimeo.

Boldness to pursue

Here are the main points from Sunday (1/4/09)

Hebrews 10:19-25, 1 Samuel 30:1-10, 17-20.

4 principles:

1. David believed the Word God gave him to pursue.

2. David believed that God had and God would make a way for his pursuit.

• The enemy were slowed down because of the spoils.
  
• David had nothing to slow him down. Sometimes we need to be stripped off everything so that we can pursue at full speed!!
  
• God sent others to David to come in agreement. Matt 18:19,20 Deuteronomy. 32:30

3. David believed that he would find what he was looking for.

• A warrior-king always presupposes/speaks/declares that victory will be his!!
  
• Jesus said count the cost and see if you will win!
  
• Psalm 34:13-14.
  
• Pursue the peace of God
  
• Pursue Godly conversation.
  
• Pursue good works. Do the right thing.

4. David believed he had the strength to pursue the enemy.

• He knew God would keep his word!
  
• Verse 23
  

Consecration 2009

Today is the kick off day for consecration at my church. My Pastor/Bishop will be talking about Pursuing God for a few weeks. Really good stuff! So for the next couple of weeks I will be posting the main points from the messages on Sunday and prayer school which will be held every Wednesday afternoon. If you live in the Hampton Roads in Virginia then come and join us!

Very excited and expecting God to move in a BIG way!!

Who & Where are you?

I just want to get to know some of you who read or visit the blog. So if you can take a minute and let me know your:

Name 

Place 

blog/twitter/facebook etc.

I would really appreciate it. I know there are people that I have not met who are reading the blog so I just wanted to put some names and faces if possible. 

Read with me!

I started reading the Bible using the 1-year reading plan at youversion.com

It is a really great website that allows you read the Bible online in many translations and languages. You can follow other people, make your insight about certain scriptures known to others, highlight and tag verses etc. So check it out!

If you are interested then join me here, so we can do it together.

Mocha Club

After you see the video make sure you click here to see the website and see how you can get involved.

oh... and there is still time for The 50,000 shoes in 50 days challenge.

Goal Setting

As we enter a new year, many people will be making resolutions and setting goals. Some stick with the resolutions and goals while others don't. This post was inspired by a tweet from Tony Steward. You can follow him here. 

The following steps/points were taken from Peter Daniels book How to reach your life goals. It is a great book. You can see some of his videos on YouTube, AOL or Google video. 

So, here you go:

1. Define your goal: If you don't have one make finding a goal your goal! Clearly define your goals in terms of ultimate achievement. Also if you can describe your subordinate major and minor goals. 

2. Set out your strategy:  A step by step improvement towards your goal. This will help give and save energy. It gives you direction. 

3. Plan out your problems: Problems can be planned out. Attitude might be the biggest problem you have. Make a plan to get rid of your problems with God's help. Don't keep having excuses for why you treat people the wrong way, hot tempered, etc.

4. Build in reserves. (mentally, physically, financially): Sometimes it can get uphill all the way and you need a vertical relationship with The Savior. Ask awkward questions, challenge the statements that are made. Have spiritual reserves. Spend some money on your brain and build mental reserves.  Build strong friendships that you can lean on during tough times. 

5. Relate to time frames: This helps you with not getting disappointed. Divide time into small bite size chunks. Mix suitable goals in the same time frame. All goals must fit into time frames. 

6. Create a master plan: this is how you plan to achieve the goal and get the job done. Protect your progress with checkpoints.

7. Do it now: Don't procrastinate! Theories are great, knowledge is power and good intentions are weak promises but decisive action can turn the smallest dream into reality. 

So what are your goals? What are you working on?