See the quote below from Mark Batterson.  Amazing thought about how we should interact with others.  Too many times I find myself withholding blessing until someone proves that they’re worthy.  Hopefully, I’ll pre-bless the next time I’m given the opportunity.

http://evotional.com/2008/06/called-to-be-blessing.html

Evotional.com - Originality, Authenticity, Creativity via kwout

Tracking

I’m starting to track information through Technorati.  You can view my scant profile here: Technorati Profile

Investing

We went to a party last night thrown by one of the doctors my wife works with.  He wanted to say thanks to all the residents for helping him out for the past year.  He’s also a Christian and goes to NewSpring.  So, what does he do?  Bring orange drink and cookiesto work?  Say thanks by dropping off a tract in everyone’s mailbox?  Throw a nice party, but make everyone watch the Jesus video?   

Nope - He throws a party at his neighborhood clubhouse for all the pediatric residents and his peers who wanted to come, complete with BBQ.  Not just any BBQ either, he went First Class and had it catered by Sticky Fingers.  There was also homemade peach cobbler & ice cream for dessert.  Wow.

As we were leaving I was talking with my wife.  She says that this doctor has helped the residents out so much that they should be throwing him a party.  He’s using his influence to serve & give, and it shows in the number of people who showed up and all the positive things I’ve heard about him.

Makes me wonder how I’m using my resources and influence.  If I’m entrusted with even more one day will I use it to get the most mileage and favors from those around me, or will I serve, give, and invest in others?

It's Simple

During this season of my life I’ve been trying to switch some things up.  So, I’ve been using The Message REMIX Solo for my time with God.  I heard Andy say a few months back that if you were getting bored reading through the Bible that the problem wasn’t the Bible, it was your plan.  Whenever he starts getting bored, he just changes his plan.

I was reading this week from the end of Joshua.  It reminded me once again of the continual cycle that Israel went through.  They followed God with abandon, and then a generation or two later (sometimes even in the same generation) they turned from him.  When things got rough, they turned back to him again.  Looking at this cycle from a bird’s eye view is quite frustrating.  I think, “You’re experiencing God in ways most people never will, and yet you can’t stay faithful for a few years?  C’mon!”  Then I think about my own life and see the same cycle.  I realized that if I could remember/do a few things that I might help avoid the cycle.  They’re actually pretty simple (the first three resemble, unintentionally, the three points of Andy’s sermon series Simple):

Follow - Jesus, daily try to spend some time with Him

Believe - God’s is who he says he is & that he’ll do what he says he’ll do

Obey - Because he’s got my best interest at heart

Make Wise Choices - based on what I know, try to make the wise decision

Congrats Casey

Congratulations are in order for Casey Ross (I’m sure he’ll get a slew of blog comments and twitter (@caseyross) reponses from my zero person readership). 

He’s just been hired as the Director of Ministry Services at Browns Bridge Community Church.  If you’re a little unsure exactly what a Director of Ministry Services is (as I was) you can read about it here on his blog.  He’s a great leader and is going to do an amazing job in his new role.  Here’s a great post on leadership/systems he had earlier this week.

Housecat?

In the words of Dorothy Sayers: “To do them justice, the people who crucified Jesus did not do so because he was a bore. Quite the contrary; he was too dynamic to be safe. It is has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have declawed the Lion of Judah and made him a housecat for pale priests and pious old ladies.”
 

I read this on Mark Batterson’s blog and thought it was worth sharing.  You can check out the full post here

Points to Ponder

Is it crazy to want to move to a different city just because of a church?

“That was a lot like visiting someone’s home, and once they let you in the door, they ignored you the entire time you were with them. At Northpoint we want to create enviroments that pick people up in the parking lot and take them somewhere throughout their time with us.”
— Andy Stanley quoting his wife Sandra after they visited a church a few years ago.

Flowchart

Today was flowchart day.  I think there’s more work-flow education coming tomorrow.  I’m sure I’ve been in the dark for a while, but I used Microsoft OneNote today.  Cool program.

Flow Chart

Moleskine

I’ve had a pocket one for a while, but today I upgraded to the regular ruled notebook.  I also got the set of three pocket cahiers.

I’ve also seen the light.  I’m surprised with my organizational prowess that I’ve never thought of organizing one before.  However, here are some good places to get ideas for Moleskine organization - getting started?  Some other ideas.