Archive for Thoughts

The Need for a Man In Between/Authority

{ August 4, 2009 @ 3:21 pm } · { refuel, Thoughts }
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I was just sitting here thinking of an old message I heard a long time ago.  There’s such a need for a man in between. 

We just need some Abraham’s & Moses’s.  Some men that went on the behalf of other people.  I love the story of how Moses repented for the people & God pardoned His judgement from falling on them.  Not because of what they did or prayed.  But it was Moses standing in proxy for a fallen people. 

I am on a journey with the Lord.  He’s showing me this beautiful thing of leadership & authority.  That apart from God’s authority we could never achieve God’s calling.  To step outside of God’s authority is to step outside of protection. 

Today in our staff meeting a vision was just even more clearly stated & I’m committed to that mission.  I’m mandated by Christ Himself to make disciples.  Baptize them. 

This coming Sunday as of today I know of 3 young people that are going to be baptized.  I’m praying that they get this concept of authority.

We need people that understand this & when you do, there is no fear to stand in the gap for other people.  I use to be afraid of that.  Now I thrive for it.  The reason I keep doing what I’m doing is not because it’s a profession.  But it’s because of the young people who come from broken home, neglected, misunderstood, abused, lost a family member to death, been misused, abused, raped, molested, beat, starved, hopeless, suicidal, etc…you name it, I welcome it.  Because never will a kid walk away from me & think that God nor myself doesn’t value them.

Listen up everyone, YOU MATTER!  God said He takes care of every little bird in the air.  There’s no such thing as a bakers dozen with God.  You’re not the extra junk thrown in with the deal.  You’re specific.  You have value.  You have talents.  You’re special.  You’re loved!

Love ya,

Josh

Strong Willed vs. Stubbornness

{ July 10, 2009 @ 11:29 am } · { Thoughts }
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So I was having this thought late, late last night.  This was inspired by a very close friend.  I was thinking about my friend & actually I have a couple friends like this.  But this random thought came to me.

I was thinking about the difference between being a stubborn person & then a strong willed person.  I feel we blur the lines between to two.  When really there is a major difference between the two!

Being stubborn is being stuck on what you feel is right.  Scripture says in 1 Samuel 15:23 – “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and STUBBORNness is as iniquity and idolatry….”

Stubbornness is idolatry?

I started thinking about that.  Really being stubborn is a refusal to change based on selfish and limited knowledge or ignorance.  You really are putting your self & ideas first.  There’s no real humility in being stubborn. 

Stubbornness to me is being coupled with rebellion. Its manipulating. Here’s how: You believe You’re right everyone’s wrong.  And to prove it you start manipulating others to try and believe your point of view.  When in actuality you might have a skewd view of reality.  But because of your perception, it’s your reality. 

Strong willed doesn’t need the approval of trying to convince others.  Strong willed is knowing plainly right from wrong. Our doctrine for example is something to be strong willed with. Its unchanging, know what we believe & feel based on biblical truth. 

Truth is absolute when it’s based on scripture. 

There’s nothing wrong with being strong willed, just make sure it’s something you’re not being stubborn about.  Because you might be wrong…& if you’re wrong on the issue, then you’re not strong willed.  To me, if you’re standing on truth, you’re not stubborn.  But if you’re standing on something false, you’re not strong willed. 

Just a random thought,

later!

Thoughts on Vision from a Christ Life Church Staff Meeting

{ July 8, 2009 @ 10:35 am } · { Thoughts }
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staff meetingHey Everyone, I just got out of our staff meeting, and I wanted to share a few thoughts that I think would help our leaders, and volunteers..really this is for anyone, esp in the ministry.  If you’ve got a vision for your life, PLEASE READ THIS!  But must caution you, it’s very challenging, but it’ll also put a fresh wind in your sail!

1.Take a stand for Greatness :

  •  What is Greatness?
  • What do consider greatness?  If you could be remembered for 1 thing, what would it be?
  • If you could only do 1 thing with your life & you knew you would not fail, what would you do?
  • Until you understand what it is, you’ll never sell out.  You’ve got to define what greatness is in your  life.

2. What’s the original vision God placed upon you as a child?

  • The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraints.”
  • MEANING: There’s nothing holding them.  And if you don’t have anything holding you, esp in your job, more importantly the ministry, then you’ll easily give up.

         -”Throw your heart over the bar & your body will follow.”- Norman Vincent Pealle

  • Have you  brought the bar down???

3. What’s really at Stake?

  • What is IMPORTANT??

            – Everyday we do our jobs someone’s life is at stake.  There’s someone son, daughter, husband, wife, father or mother that we’re dealing with. 

4. Listen to your HEART!

  • From your heart comes words: love, live, spend.
  • Solomon said, “Above all else…guard your heart.”
  • Meaning:  Out of the wise things he was going to say, the most important was guarding your heart.  You love, life, spend, parent, speak from your heart!

        – Sometimes we try to suppress this vision because God’s dealing with our heart. 

        -We can easily change the outside of our ways, we can act the part, but we start getting messed with when God really deals with our heart.

5. SPEAK UP!!

  • To keep the vision alive- SPEAK UP
  • ” A Goal is a vision you’ve given a voice to.” -Pastor Phil

        – This is why people HATE goals.

        -When you speak something, you’ve got to follow through.

        – If I could do this myself, then it’s probably not God!

       -God will not ask you to do something you can do on your own.  He wants you to trust in Him!

6. Learn to be Stubborn!

  • Never give up!!

         – Who are people that you admire? – The QUITTERS? NO!!!

              **You always admire those who never give up!

L.G. Hardwick, who is the Sr. Pastor of the 5000+ member Christ Church in Nashville, TN.  He has been at that church as Pastor for 60yrs. as of this year!  He built an amazing church there in Nashville, one of the most prominent in the country.  This is what he attributes his success in ministry to:

  • “My success has been, I’ve outlived all my Critics.”- L.H. Hardwick
  • Pastor Brendon keeps telling me that we might not be able to outshine a lot of people.  You might be more qualified, smarter, & better…You outshine me, but I’ll out last you.  I’ll work harder & stay longer. 
  • It also goes back to what John Maxwell says, “Your talent carries you to places your character can’t sustain you.”

I hope this helps someone out.  It really gave me a breathe of fresh air yesterday in our staff meeting.  I was taking notes like crazy.  There are some people you want to follow around with a voice recorder & Pastor Phil is that kind of guy. 

Don’t let this fall on deaf ears, take it & apply it. 

You’ve been challenged,

Josh

Self Convo: Going to Church

{ July 5, 2009 @ 9:20 am } · { Thoughts }
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So I was thinking, since I’m saved, do I really have to go to church?

Why wouldn’t you?

Well, I don’t think I need to go every week!

But isn’t going to church something you’re supposed to do since you’re a Christian?

I mean it doesn’t really say that, plus sometimes it’s the same thing over & over again.

True, but going to church is where you get up lifted.

Not really, they’re just always telling me not to do wrong & what I’m doing wrong!

Ouch, seems pretty negative. 

Tell me about it, it’s like saying, “DON’T TOUCH THAT BUTTON!”  I just want to touch it more!

Then maybe you should go because of the great people there.

Have you ever been to church?

On occasion.

Then you haven’t been to mine, the people there are stupid.

What do you mean?

Mean, arrogant, stuck up, hypocritical, crazy, hopeless, no fun, brainless, faithless, passionless, apathetic, lethargic, no vision, negative people.

Wow, sounds like you’re being pretty negative there.

I guess they rubbed off on me.

Didn’t Jesus say He loves His church?

Yeah, but does He really love it the way it is?  I mean it’s pretty ugly!

Whoa, now I know Jesus said the church is like his bride…so you just called Jesus’ wife ugly!

Never looked at it that way.  Lord, I apologize.

Well how about I just join of one of those TV churches?

Bu who will you call when you have marriage problems.

Dr. Phil of course!

No, seriously, not going to church is like a student who doesn’t go to school, or a soldier who won’t join the army, a citizen who doesn’t pay taxes or vote (got a lot of those in America)

Ok I get it.

It’s like a salesman with no customers, a captain without a ship, an author with no readers…(Pretty much like this blog L)

Another thing I don’t like is how guilty the church makes me feel…& then I get to pay for my guilt every time they pass that gold shiny offering plate.

Not going is like a tuba player without an orchestra, a football player without a team, a bee without a hive, a banker without money, a doctor without parents.

Are you done yet?!

Yeah I ran out.

It’s about time.

Well, how will the church get any better if you just sit here complaining about it?

What do you mean?

Think about it!  If everyone sat & complained, then the church would stay the same & never change & get better. 

I’m not just complaining, I’m not going & then when it gets better I’ll go!

My point exactly…it’s never going to get better unless you make it better.  The people make the church what it is.

Good thinking, I like that idea, I’ll go just to change everything!!

Hold up sparky!

What is it now?

There are actually some sincere people there as well, & you don’t need to change everything.

Why not?

The church doesn’t need a new program or idea, I’m sure there are plenty of ideas.

Then how will the church change?

Being consistent.

Huh?

I know it’s foreign to a lot of Christians.  But just doing what you say you’ll do.

I’ll try my best, but what if I mess up?

Too late, you already messed up because you’re running late for church!

Oh ok, gotta go…good talk!

Married to My Covenant

{ June 23, 2009 @ 9:54 am } · { Thoughts }
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I was talking with a good friend yesterday & we were discussing how our humanity is. It’s very frustrating the constant battling & barrage of temptations that our flesh struggles with.  During our conversation an old thought starting coming to me that dealt with the life of David & his famous affair with Bathsheeba. 

If you remember the story of how he saw her showering on the roof top while he was away from battle.  He was at the wrong place, at the wrong time.  STORY OF MY LIFE!  It seems I’m that type of person & stupid stuff happens to me. 

While e sees her, he falls for her….big problem.  SHE’S MARRIED.  So long story short, he has her husband sent to battle & killed. 

Well, they end up together.  Funny thing though was he kept flirting around with Bathsheeba.  And Bathsheeba’s name meant ‘covenant’.  He kept flirting with his covenant.  He would never marry the covenant. 

So Bathsheeba gets knocked up & they have a son.  But his son is going to die.  So David prays, cries, fasts & does everything Sunday school taces us to do.  But guess what?  None of it worked!  Talk about frustrating.  But isn’t that like us?  We screw up & then run back to God.  Then we act surprised when He doesn’t answer us.  And then our excuse is that we’re waiting on the Lord when in actuality God is waiting for us to get our act together.

David’s son dies.  And it’s then that he comes to this amazing revelation.  I’ve now got to bury the past & marry the present (Bathsheeba/Covenant)

When David buried the past (his dead son & sin) & married the present (his covenant) that is when Solomon was born.  And Solomon was the wisest & riches man in history & ever will be.  Even richer than ole Billy boy himself!

MEANING THIS:  “When you bury your past & marry the present; your covenant…that’s when wisdom & riches will be birthed into your life.”

Stop flirting with your calling & anointing.  And this temptation & battling with our weaknesses SUCKS!  For real it’s frustrating & tiring.  But guess what?  The greater the kingdom responsibility, the greater the struggle. 

I heard T.F. Tenney once say, “With every new level comes a new devil.”  It’s so true.  If you want a powerful ministry & anointing, then expect a great struggle.  And if you’re being fought so hard, that means the devil knows your potential to greatness.  He knows his time is short & that you’re going to hurt his kingdom.  The gates of hell shall not prevail. 

Keep or head up.  Look unto Jesus the author & finisher of our faith! Bury the past of all your mistakes.  God is faithful & just to forgive.

Trying my best to keep up the good fight of faith,

Josh

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