Slaying Dragons

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and all its righteousness, and all of the other things will be added to you.”

Most of us know that scripture by heart.  But ignore it daily.

We seek everything else first.  Money, power, prestige, friendships, ……all the stuff …that is just stuff.

Sometimes we pile up so much of our stuff, that its hard to see the light anymore.  We create procedures and systems for ourselves so that we dont have to rely on God to direct us .

We’ve created Dragons. 

Dragons that need slaying.

So today, with the heart of a child, search out the dragons that need slaying in your life.

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What Kind of Fan are You?

We all are fans of something.  Be it sports, tv, music, food, technology or whatever, we all are drawn to SOMETHING!

My son has a new blog.  Its because he’s grown into an awesome fan of the Raiders.  In fact, Raider Fans are ALL awesome fans. 

Its because they have chosen to relate somehow to not only the game of football, but to some attribute that they find in the Raiders, that they also recognize in themselves.

Now not everyone can relate to the outlandish, ghoulish costumes, but some of you do.

More of you probably relate to the cast off,  washed up rebel that somehow redeems himself in a new environment.  Even more of your probably long for the good old days, much like the Raiders of old.

But most all of you relate to something that is not as visible as the costumes, the rebels, the cast offs, the cheaters, or maniacs. 

Its hope.

We ALL long for that feeling that something better is coming.  That feeling of a glimmer of hope that somehow we will persevere, and even succeed. 

So what kind of fan are you?  One that is faithful only during victory?  Or one that stays loyal through thick and thin?

Jesus is that friend that stays closer than a brother, in fact, He will never leave us or forsake us.  It sounds like He is a great fan…..of us.

 

 

Happy You Near

That’s right….I didn’t spell it wrong. 

Happy You Near.

The New Year always brings thoughts of all the re’s.

Re-organize

Re-structure

Re-finance

Re-duce

Re-commit.

This year I’m committing to being near-er the Heart of God, near-er the needs of my family, and near-er to my calling.

What are you near-er to?

Oh…and Happy New Year too!

Christmas inside out

This year at CCFL we are doing Christmas inside out.  We usually do the big stadium thing.  Great music, lights, big crowd…its lots of fun.

This year we arent inviting the city to our big party.  We are dropping in on theirs. 

We’re visiting over 65 families in need, giving them a decorated Christmas tree and gifts for their entire family.  We are dropping in on business Christmas parties, public events, homeless hangouts, malls, foster homes, nursing homes, hospitals, and literally taking Christmas to the city.

Its refreshing.

Its contagious.

Its community.

It works.

Its sharing the miracle of what Jesus did.  Not just handing out candy canes and saying God bless you.  Its sharing the Gospel in a tangible way, to those in need and those with plenty.

I Love Christmas time!

Its a Pearcy family tradition to set up the tree, the train and decorate the house the weekend after thanksgiving.  We look forward to it every year, and it seems to give us enough time to enjoy the season.

My son Skylar has been saying for weeks “I Love Christmas time”.  His voice always has a special joy in it when he says that phrase, and I love hearing it.  I love hearing it because it helps me remember that I love it too, and I need the reminder.

I need the reminder because all the other junk seems to take over.  The lists, the duties, the church services, the pressure!

I love the excitement of the anticipation of Christmas.  The same anticipation that we should all feel at being in the presence of Jesus.  He is our gift. 

Just a reminder.

Calling them Out

If you haven’t heard this yet you need to.  It’s Mark Driscoll at the Southern Baptist Convention . 

He’s called out some of the top guns of the emergent movement. 

Is It Just Me???? ….or

Is It Just Me????……or

1. Is summer lasting longer this year?

2. Are there more finger pointers around lately?

3. Are there more self-appointed watchdogs than humble servants?

4. Does it take longer to get off the couch  than it used to?

5. That tender skin just under your eyes loosing its elasticity too?

6. Does your underwear get smaller before it wears out?

7. Do you think about staying at home because its too much work to travel?

8. Would you rather stay home than go out?

Just wondering.

Un-Loved and Un-Important

Ever notice how a simple word of encouragement lightens the heart?

People just want to be liked……no matter how much they say that they don’t.

Its in our genes.  We love us.  We are always on our minds.  We wish that everybody thought about us as much as we do.

In fact, we wouldnt worry so much about what people think about us, if we realized how little they do. 

I find it a constant challenge to communicate love and importance to our staff in a way that is genuine and consistent. I dont always do it well, but notice the benefits when Ido.

Make today “encouragement day”!

Direction Perception

In Cub Scouts, I learned how to use a compass.  It wasn’t a very good one.  I had to hold it very still for the needle to stop moving back and forth, finally pointing north.  Even though my cheap compass made true north seem like more of a “concept” than a unchanging fact, once I knew where it was, I could determine which direction I needed to go.

Once we know where we are headed, all we really have to do is get there.

Sounds easy enough.

The problem is, there are many things that distract us along the way.

Trees might block our view, mountains might make us take a temporary detour, and bodies of water cause us to take another vehicle.

The destination never changes…..it remains constant.

At times it appears that we can’t see the goal, are going the wrong direction, or didnt think that we would have to get there…..”this way”.

A good leader not only knows the destination, but realizes that the journey is rarely a straight line, rarely always visible, and never easy.

Can you see your goal?

Are you on course?

Are you in the best vehicle to get you there?

Not Sure?

If the answer to my question yesterday was “Umm…..no, I’m not sure that I’m supposed to be here”, then chances are…….you’re not.

James 1:5 says:

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Does your life seem unstable? 

Are you lacking wisdom? 

Did you ask God?  

Did He tell you anything?

A good rule of thumb to go by when you are seeking God’s wisdom, (especially when it has to do with your calling in life) is confirmation in scripture.  God speaks to us through his Word. (That’s why we have it!)

Another is confirmation in circumstances.  He opens and closes doors.

The last is stepping out in faith.  He wants to know that we believe Him.

Do you?