Five Things!

Five Things Andy Stanley is Thinking About
Andy Stanley closed the last session of Catalyst talking about stuff that is on his mind...
1) To reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things no one else is doing (Craig Groeschel) - we have 175,000 people within 10 miles of Northpoint, and we aren't reaching them. We aren't going to reach them by building another church building. We have to do something no one else is doing.
Become preoccupied with those you want to reach rather than those you are trying to keep.
2) The best idea for reaching the next generation isn't going to come from the existing generation, it's going to come from the next generation.
If you are over 45 years old, you aren't going to have any good ideas. It's your job to recognize the good ideas.
Don't do to the next generation what the previous generation did to you.
Be a student, not a critic.
3) I'm looking for what can't be done in church, but if it could be done would fundamentally change the church.
It always used to drive me nuts that the communicator and the leader had to be the same thing.
Multi-site solved this. Now the great leader doesn't have to be the teacher.
Like that, you may be the one to crack the code on something no one else has figured out that will fundamentally change our "business."
Pay attention to people who are breaking the rules. It's the rule-breakers who are oftentimes the problem solvers.
4) If we got kicked out by our board, and they hired a new guy, what would the new guy change or do different? Let's walk out the door and walk back in, and make those changes.
The problem with ministry is that we've fallen in love with the way we've done ministry.
It's not "no pain, no gain" -- it's "no pain, no change." Without pain, there typically isn't any change.
Ask: "Where are we manufacturing energy?" The things we aren't very excited about, it takes energy to get it done, but the results aren't stellar.
Acknowledge what's not working. Own up to it. And own up to why you aren't willing to do anything about it. What is it you fear? You need to deal with that. It is a leadership lid for you.
5) When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near. You look back with smiles and lots to celebrate, but you don't have a lot to work forward to.
Are you willing to be involved in the future more than the present?
Don't let success overshadow your vision.
Success breeds complacency and complacency breeds failure. I hope you enjoyed this post It rocked my world! Love yah Jason!!

No Reason!

Good morning to all I hope you slept very well and i pray your day is going well, now for my post!During the forty days from His resurrection to His ascension to heaven, Jesus was constantly appearing and vanishing before the disciples. I believe he was getting the disciples accustomed to the fact that, even when He wasn't visible physically, He still would be present and available spiritually. Before Jesus was crucified and resurrected, the disciples had expected the Messiah of Israel to come and establish and earthly kingdom, in which they would reign with Him. There was no doubt in their minds that Jesus was the Messiah, but when he was nailed to the cross, their conviction seemed like a gigantic blunder! Now, in the days following His resurrection, they began to realize how this was God's plan all along. Now they understood the prophecies of the Scriptures-that the Messiah would first suffer before He was risen and glorified. During this time, Jesus gave them this assignment: "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you" (Matthew 28:19-20). After instructing His disciples to wait for the power they would receive from the Holy Spirit to be His worldwide witnesses, Jesus was taken up into heaven before their eyes (Acts 1:7-9). At that moment an angel appeared and told them, "Someday.....he will return!" (Acts 1:11). You see The Father's promise, the Son's plans, and the Holy Spirit's power-all these would unite to turn these disciples into the most significant movement this world has never seen. Their lives would always be marked by worship of Jesus, witnessing for Jesus, and waiting for Jesus to return. So shouldn't ours be the same! I want you to do what I call a www check this morning! Evaluate you worship, your witnessing, and your waiting. I pray this makes you incredibly uncomfortable. Love yah! Jason

Just Random Thoughts!

Hello! What a Beautiful Day here in Anderson, SC. I have been so busy today I had a car detail this am along with a leg workout! My exercise and diet plan are going great! My first weigh in is on Wednesday and I am very excited to see the progress I've made! Our leaders from our Church www.newspring.cc have been in Kenya for a week please lift them up in prayer as they are wanting to see God's vision for our Church in Kenya! Our church starts a new series this week named "I WANNA NEW MARRIAGE" I AM PUMPED UP! You know it's interesting how many couples have said I do and then they don't anymore! As Christians I believe our marriages should be the best on the planet filled with LOVE, SEX, SEX, AND MORE SEX! Reality is this.... not everyday will our marriages be perfect, we will argue, fight and have disagreements like everyone else! It's how we handle those disagreements between ourselves that count! We should have a Christ like view of marriage and always keep Christ front and center in our finances and our marriage! 80% of marriages end because of finance issues! I'm telling you me and my wife have been together for 8 years and putting Christ first in your finances works! If you don't believe me try tithing the 10% just for 3 months and watch what happens! God will rock your world! OK back to marriage every couple should have 1 date night a week and I don't care if you have 10 kids or 1 kid find a babysitter it works trust me! I firmly believe the reason our nation is in the shape it's in is because kids don't have family time anymore! They see mom and dad argue and fuss and they may feel its their fault sometimes! So they isolate themselves and become wrapped up in a culture that tells them SEX at 12 is OK and DRINKING and DRUGS will help you deal with life! Reality is this..... Kids lives are falling apart one by one and why NO LEADERSHIP at home that's why! So parents step up to the plate and fix what is broke! Some of you out their may need a relationship with Jesus! That would be the best step toward fixing your marriage and your relationships with your kids and family! I pray today for renewed marriages and relationships! I pray for the kids out their feeling trapped that God would show them the way to find true life! I pray dads and moms would step up to the plate and quit being PASSIVE! And finally I pray that if the very person reading this needs JESUS in their life they would ask him into their lives! Pray= Dear Lord JESUS I want you in my life, I know I'm a sinner and I need your forgiveness, I believe you died on the cross and rose from the grave, come into my life and take complete control, I give you everything JESUS Amen! If you prayed that prayer you made the best decision you will ever make, now find a church that will love you and that teaches the word of God1 I pray you grow in the knowledge of Christ! It will not be easy in fact it will be harder now than ever! But remember Christ lives in you and you are his child! He takes care of his children! Father thank you I ask all things in the name of JESUS AMEN!

Why Do Christians Waver?

Hello!Good morning to all! I just finished a killer workout and some lunch! Today I plan on relaxing and taking some time for myself! I believe quiet time is essential in our walk with God! When I say quiet time I mean complete quietness; no cell phone, no TV, no radio just total silence! This is so necessary it’s amazing how clear you can hear the voice of God when you just get alone with him and LISTEN! Try it! I have been wondering what to blog about today and I was told Character! I usually write all my blogs in advance on paper after alone time with God, but this one is coming straight from my fingers! The title “Why do Christians waver?” I believe it’s because our commitment to stand is not grounded in God’s character, but rather upon the characters with which we are standing or our circumstances. We as believers must be anchored in the God who does not change. Malachi Chapter 3 verse 6 says “I the lord do not change”. You see we can’t base our lives off of emotions and circumstances, we would never be happy! The kind of character you have reflects who you are as a person! You see Jesus is reliable and trustworthy. That is the kind of character he is looking for in his children! If any of you have kids you can honestly say you want them to be reliable and honest with you all the time! It’s the same way with Jesus Christ he expects us to be true to him and to others! Life is hard; no one can say it’s easy. I firmly believe character is important; your word is all you have so when you give it to some one follow through with what you said you would do! Remember your children learn from you! Have a great day! With Love Jason

Update!

Hello!Good morning peeps! I want to write today about a new step for me! I am 6 foot 3 and I weigh 295 pounds Yeah that’s too much! So today I started a workout plan and changed my eating habits! I have set a goal to lose 65 pounds by the end of the year! It’s going to be tuff but nothing in life is easy! I will be talking about my exercise and new eating habits on my blog pretty often! So join me on my weight loss journey and let’s do this together! I will close with a Quote as promised! Love Yah peeps! All self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.

Are you Tired?

To all of you leaders out there remember this Quote!Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.

Coming ALIVE!

Good Morning folks! I am in AWE of what Christ did yesterday at my home church(@www.newspring.cc) people let go of grudges and some were made brand new through Jesus Christ our Saviour! Life change never gets old to me I love seeing people make the decision to live for Jesus! HEY IT"S THE BEST THING GOING I hope you enjoy today's quote it rocked my world the first time I read it!"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."