May 2012
1 post
December 2011
3 posts
Talk
Loser talk- I can’t
Winner talk- I haven’t YET
Ephesians 3:20 & Matthew 17:20
November 2011
2 posts
1 tag
September 2011
2 posts
Ran Out of Gas
I had a commitment last night, that I was unable to keep, because I ran out of gas.
Literally, on the side of the highway. Sitting there, kicking myself for not stopping to fill up.
You’ve got to take time to fill up otherwise you won’t be able to keep your commitments. I have a lot of commitments. Jesus, my wife, my kids, our church, and the list goes on.
If I don’t take...
Sweep the Corners
I was sweeping the back steps this morning, something that I rarely do. I swept about six steps and realized that there was dirt trapped in the back left corner of each step.
I went back and swept the corner.
It looked good before, but it looked great after I swept out the corner.
I talk about it a lot, but that last 10% really matters.
I think I rant on it, because I get so ticked that...
August 2011
2 posts
1 tag
The Boat
This past Sunday, Pastor Chris Goeppner shared Matthew 14 (full text here). If you are familiar with this, you know that Jesus walks out into the lake in the middle of the night, during a storm, and calls out to His disciples.
Only one disciple heard the voice in the darkness and asked to join Jesus: Peter.
Peter got out of the boat, walked on water, and started sinking when he saw the waves....
Healthy Obsessions...
This morning I tried to make a list of things that I need to be passionate and obsessed with. Every list seemed slanted because if I really “Obsessed” about something, which means to eat, sleep, live, breathe it, then I would become out of whack and out of balance.
So the list is limited to 1. I will be completely and utterly absorbed with Jesus, because if I am obsessed with and...
July 2011
2 posts
know this
For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’ deut. 20:4
1 tag
Just Do It
Ever heard of the paralysis of analysis? If not, it’s when you look at something from every angle and become overwhelmed to the point where you never make a decision.
It’s not a big deal if you are by yourself and it has to do with picking out lunch or buying a pair of socks.
It’s a huge deal if others are waiting on your decision. These “others” can be family,...
May 2011
9 posts
3 tags
30 Rocks... Get it?
I am just a few short years away from the big THREE ZERO, so I am taking a little time to brainstorm 30 things to do before I am 30.
Any suggestions?
3 tags
A Dime A Dozen
Good Ideas are a dime a dozen.
Seeing a good idea through to the end is a bargain at any price.
What does seeing something to the end mean? Well that depends…
If it’s…
Your walk with Jesus, well that will continue through eternity.
Your physical health, it will be until you stop breathing.
Your new initiative at work, it will be until the product, proposal, pitch, or...
4 tags
Ride the Wave
Ideas, Productivity, Thoughtfulness come in waves.
I think that ordinarily I can be pretty productive, thoughtful, and a solid contributor of decent ideas. BUT THEN… there are times when I can’t sleep and I am just inspired to read, pray, and write. That’s when ideas FLOW.
Some are junk. Maybe most are junk. Once in awhile there is a gem.
If I don’t ride the wave...
3 tags
2 tags
1 tag
Ideas are Like Steak
Ideas are like steak. I prefer my ideas a little underdone.
Let me explain.
On the rare (pun intended) instances Kara and I opt to go out for steak (I prefer grilling myself) I will order my steak MEDIUM, sometimes MEDIUM RARE.
There is this ONE PLACE where the wait staff asks you to cut into your steak before they leave, just to make sure they got it right.
9 times out of 10, they get it...
God Loves and Hates
Proverbs 6
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
John 3
16 For God so...
EnVy ^ Pride - Part II
David Pinckney taught the 2nd Session of Acts 29 conference “EnVy & Pride- THe battle for Church Planters Soul.” It was held at Genesis Church, Woburn, MA.
prIde
R we MORE excited about what we DO with the GOSPEL or what the GOSPEL is doing with us??
Jesus came 2 bring HUMILITY back 2 Earth - Murray
Philippians 2
Trinity shows HUMILITY
Jesus was HUMBLE
PRACTICE...
1 tag
Envy ^ Pride - the Battle 4 Ur Soul
Last Monday, I took a trip down to Genesis Church in Woburn, MA for an ACTS29 church planters conference. I went with Philip DeFeo and Pastor Anthony Milas. Here are some notes from the 1st session.
EnVy- Matt Cruz, 7 Mile Road Church Boston, MA
- There is no 2 be SOMEONE else or SOMEWHERE else.
- EnVy is the SIDEWAYS GLANCE of the SOUL & Dissatisfaction.
- “Fight Club” -...
January 2011
5 posts
Matthew 18
Jesus gave the following guide for handling conflict between 2 people who are believers.
Matthew 18:15
Jesus wanted the matter handled quickly and in private, so that God could be purely & properly praised in public.
We are probably wise to follow the instruction. In years of doing this, I have never seen it go past v. 16.
Steps 1 & 2 are private. Step 3 is public and still...
Things to Keep in Mind... #3
ASKS don’t always apply to INVITING PEOPLE INTO LEADERSHIP.
A lot of MY ASKS are to EXISTING TEAM MEMBERS and they are ASKS of their TIME.
Think about it. When I ask a person or a group of people to meet with me for 60 minutes, I have essentially asked them to say “there is nothing more important for me to do than be with you and this team”
They are driving in from a long...
Things to Keep in Mind... #2
There are 2 kinds of ASKS.
1. When I am asking someone I already know.
2. When I am initiating with someone I don’t know.
I guess some people have natural salesman personality and could get a YES response out of anybody. Those folks naturally know how to make each of these asks.
Me? Well, I don’t have that ability and therefore follow to methods for making these ASKS.
TO THE...
Things to Keep In Mind... #1
Been absent for awhile, but decided to write a few posts on the topic of “MAKING ASKS.” It’s more for me then for anyone who might read this, so here it goes!
Every Ask I Make is an ASK of THE PERSON and an ASK of MYSELF.
This means:
- I am committing myself to structuring my day, my week, and month to develop this person
- I have already developed a structured plan to help...
December 2010
3 posts
Open on Christmas?
Perry Noble listed these Top Five Times People Are Open To Considering Matters Of Faith in a post today…
#5 – After the birth of a baby (28%)
#4 – After a natural disaster (34%)
#3 – After a major national crisis i.e. 9/11 (38%)
#2 – During the Easter season (38%)
#1 – During the Christmas season (47%)
I can relate to all of these except #4. What about you?
NEXT WEEK Granite United...
Patriots Post Game
Q: A win tonight doesn't guarantee anything, but you guys talked about how you can't win your division losing to the Jets twice. Can you talk a little about the ramifications of tonight?
BB: Well, we can't do anything about any of that. We just wanted to come in tonight and play well and beat the Jets. That was our goal tonight. At the end of the year, after the standings are in I'm sure we'll know what the situation is, but right now we don't really care about that. We're just on to Chicago and try to do a good job up there against the Bears. It's nice to win. That's great, but there's another quarter of the season left to be played, so there's a lot of football left.
* Belichick celebrates but never loses focus on what's next. Lots of wisdom there. Celebrate. Enjoy it and savor it for a minute, but realize that there is still 1/4 of the season left to play. *
http: //www.patriots.com/mediacenter/index.cfm?ac=videonewsdetail&pid=46442&pcid=155
November 2010
11 posts
This is what I am listening to START MORNING OFF... →
Your 1 Step Plan to Productivity →
This is repost from Nick Laparra. Lecrae posted this on his twitter account. I thought it was good so I stole it!
If something comes easily and without sacrifice it... →
This is a repost from the Strategic Pastor of Next Level Church, Daniel King
Decisions Decisions Decisions →
This is a repost of Pastor Anthony Milas, Lead Pastor of Granite United Church.
Some additional thoughts: Decisions need to be made because 1.) time is short 2.) people are precious to God & they deserve faith filled shepherding and leadership 3.) contenders walk it & pretenders talk it 4.) one way or another things will happen, pulling the trigger allows us to set in motion a...
How to Decide What Shoes to Bring for BAREFOOT...
This weekend @ Granite United Church we are collecting gently worn shoes for several local and Boston shelters. Here are a few ways to know if the shoes you are bringing are “gently worn”
FIVE WAYS TO KNOW YOUR SHOES ARE NOT GENTLY WORN… 1. Your spouse asks you did pass gas or is that your shoes that smell2. Hey I have a pair of shoes somewhere outside in the shed, under the...
Dreaming →
Best Blog Ever →
October 2010
3 posts
August 2010
2 posts
Listening to This →
July 2010
4 posts
Blame it on the...
Couldn’t sleep tonight. Wish I could blame the TRIPOLIS PIZZA and MAD MAGGIES ICE CREAM me and the family had tonight, but alas that would not be fair.
I’ve got so much on my mind from the last month of life and ministry, plus looking towards this week. Tons of stuff on my mind (and 1 repetitive song- Airplanes… curse you rdio.com!!!!)
Lots of ministry stuff on my mind. Full...
June 2010
5 posts
