Thursday, June 30, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Refuel Conference- Jud Wilhite
Jud Wilhite is the Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, NV. Here are some notes from his session from John 4:
Reach out to the broken and you will always have an audience.
Ask- who is hurting in our community and how can I help them?
Helping broken people gets messy
Ministry is messy because sin is messy
Start to see restriction as an opportunity
Fight the martyr mentality; find the yes
If you always think small, you will have a small impact
Tell the truth in love; be yourself and tell the truth
Reach out to the broken and you will always have an audience.
Ask- who is hurting in our community and how can I help them?
Helping broken people gets messy
Ministry is messy because sin is messy
Start to see restriction as an opportunity
Fight the martyr mentality; find the yes
If you always think small, you will have a small impact
Tell the truth in love; be yourself and tell the truth
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Refuel Conference- Tom Mullins
Tom Mullins is the Founding Pastor of Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach, FL. He shared some practical life advice that he learned from his grandfather, calling his session "Grandpa's Wisdom". Here are some notes from his session:
Be conscientious, especially in the small things. Be trustworthy in little things.
Always leave a place better than you found it
Be the same person no matter where you are or who you are with
If people can trust you, they will follow you
Give your best where you are
Always give more than is expected
Go the second mile (the harvest multiplies in the second mile)
Hang out with second mile people
None of us are strong enough to run alone; we all need somebody to run with
Whatever you start, finish; be known as a finisher
You must commit to build a ministry
God blesses tenacity
Finish strong
Everyone needs:
A mentor (a Paul)
An encourager (a Barnabas)
Someone to mentor (a Timothy)
Be conscientious, especially in the small things. Be trustworthy in little things.
Always leave a place better than you found it
Be the same person no matter where you are or who you are with
If people can trust you, they will follow you
Give your best where you are
Always give more than is expected
Go the second mile (the harvest multiplies in the second mile)
Hang out with second mile people
None of us are strong enough to run alone; we all need somebody to run with
Whatever you start, finish; be known as a finisher
You must commit to build a ministry
God blesses tenacity
Finish strong
Everyone needs:
A mentor (a Paul)
An encourager (a Barnabas)
Someone to mentor (a Timothy)
Monday, June 20, 2011
Refuel Conference- Jonathan Falwell
Jonathan Falwell is the Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA and the host for the Refuel Conference. Here are some notes from his session:
If you are doing exactly what God has called you to do, you cannot fail
You've got everything you need to succeed (I Corinthians 1:4-9)
Focus on the Christian life, not the church life
Christianity is not the religion of church but a relationship with Christ
The greatest thing I can do for my church is to daily become more like Christ
If you are doing exactly what God has called you to do, you cannot fail
You've got everything you need to succeed (I Corinthians 1:4-9)
Focus on the Christian life, not the church life
Christianity is not the religion of church but a relationship with Christ
The greatest thing I can do for my church is to daily become more like Christ
Friday, June 17, 2011
Fun on Friday
While traveling to and from the Refuel Conference in Lynchburg, VA, there were several things that caught my attention:
Where did the name Hungry Mother State Park (I-81, exit 47) come from?
Rural Retreat, VA (I-81, exit 60) really does seem quite rural.
I never want to officially find out but I do wonder what "Speed Limit Enforced by Aircraft" really means.
People in Virginia are fond of regional museums. There are lots of them.
There are alot of really nice people in the city of Lynchburg but the city's road and interstate system makes it very difficult to get from "here" to "there" without a u-turn or going well out of your way to get to your destination.
Where did the name Hungry Mother State Park (I-81, exit 47) come from?
Rural Retreat, VA (I-81, exit 60) really does seem quite rural.
I never want to officially find out but I do wonder what "Speed Limit Enforced by Aircraft" really means.
People in Virginia are fond of regional museums. There are lots of them.
There are alot of really nice people in the city of Lynchburg but the city's road and interstate system makes it very difficult to get from "here" to "there" without a u-turn or going well out of your way to get to your destination.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Refuel Conference- Steven Furtick
Steven Furtick is the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. At Refuel, he spoke from Mark chapter 5:21-43. Here are some notes from his session:
Jairus didn't have time for someone to cut in line in front of his miracle (v. 24-34)
Sometimes walking in radical faith means practicing selective hearing
Don't try to apply human logic to divine principles
"Just believe" (v. 36) was a focused statement of purpose not just words of encouragement
Jesus doesn't see a situation the way I see a situation (v. 39)
If no one is laughing at or questioning your vision, your vision is too small
Jairus didn't have time for someone to cut in line in front of his miracle (v. 24-34)
Sometimes walking in radical faith means practicing selective hearing
Don't try to apply human logic to divine principles
"Just believe" (v. 36) was a focused statement of purpose not just words of encouragement
Jesus doesn't see a situation the way I see a situation (v. 39)
If no one is laughing at or questioning your vision, your vision is too small
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Refuel Conference- Ed Stetzer
Ed Stetzer, the Vice President of Research and Ministry Development for Lifeway Christian Resources, spoke from I Thessalonians 1:1-10 on "Idols, Identity and Loyalty". Here are some notes from his session:
The Gospel is not "you do"; it is "Jesus did".
Other people's idols are easier to spot than our own
Not all idols are carved stones of primitive people (fame, fortune, beauty, sports)
Any creation that takes the place of the Creator is an idol
Church attendance and ministry success can become an idol of the heart for a minister
Pursue faithfulness not false idols of success
You cannot lead what you do not live
Some people treat church attendance like a vaccination
It's easier to look like a Godly pastor than it is to be a Godly pastor
The Gospel is not "you do"; it is "Jesus did".
Other people's idols are easier to spot than our own
Not all idols are carved stones of primitive people (fame, fortune, beauty, sports)
Any creation that takes the place of the Creator is an idol
Church attendance and ministry success can become an idol of the heart for a minister
Pursue faithfulness not false idols of success
You cannot lead what you do not live
Some people treat church attendance like a vaccination
It's easier to look like a Godly pastor than it is to be a Godly pastor
Monday, June 13, 2011
Refuel Conference- John Maxwell
I recently attended the Refuel Conference in Lynchburg, Virginia. John Maxwell, the leadership speaker and author, was the opening speaker of the conference. Maxwell encouraged all in attendance to develop a "life list"- a list of things you should do everyday. These items must be about who you are and out of your calling. The "life list" must be personal and small in number, no more than a half dozen. Here are some notes from Maxwell's session:
Before his session ended, Maxwell only had time to share three "life list" items from his list-
1. Value People
Follow Jesus through the Gospels and see how He valued people
Ask yourself- what can I do today to add value to people?
Nothing is neutral; valuing people is intentional
Valuing people who are different from you is extremely important
You must value everybody, not the just the people who are valuable to you
2. Manage the Decisions I Make
Think decision management not decision making
We prepare or repair daily
It only takes 14 days to stop managing a good decision
3. Be Bigger on the Inside Than I Am on the Outside
Be better on the inside than I am on the outside
Success has a way of messing people up
Be very careful- don't let your reputation become larger than your character
Job (in the Old Testament) was bigger on the inside; God knew that, Satan did not
Don't follow anybody who doesn't follow somebody; everyone needs to serve someone
Before his session ended, Maxwell only had time to share three "life list" items from his list-
1. Value People
Follow Jesus through the Gospels and see how He valued people
Ask yourself- what can I do today to add value to people?
Nothing is neutral; valuing people is intentional
Valuing people who are different from you is extremely important
You must value everybody, not the just the people who are valuable to you
2. Manage the Decisions I Make
Think decision management not decision making
We prepare or repair daily
It only takes 14 days to stop managing a good decision
3. Be Bigger on the Inside Than I Am on the Outside
Be better on the inside than I am on the outside
Success has a way of messing people up
Be very careful- don't let your reputation become larger than your character
Job (in the Old Testament) was bigger on the inside; God knew that, Satan did not
Don't follow anybody who doesn't follow somebody; everyone needs to serve someone
Friday, June 10, 2011
Fun on Friday
Hoping the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks goes the full seven games. It's been interesting to watch Miami's Big 3 go against Dirk and a bunch of guys who play their specific roles.
If you've seen one Hallmark Channel movie, you've seen pretty much every Hallmark Channel movie.
Another Turnerism: "Don't say oil. It can hurt your stomach. Say, I like your clothes". We have no idea what that means.
If you've seen one Hallmark Channel movie, you've seen pretty much every Hallmark Channel movie.
Another Turnerism: "Don't say oil. It can hurt your stomach. Say, I like your clothes". We have no idea what that means.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Great Quote Thursday
Your life on earth will be measured by two things: what you accomplish with your life and what you accomplish with your legacy- Phil Cooke
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Book Review- Jolt! by Phil Cooke
Jolt! by Phil Cooke is written along the lines of any number of books by John Maxwell. Comprised of 25 chapters crafted around 5 areas of life that could use a "jolt" (your direction; what matters; your potential; your heart; your future), Cooke encourages the reader to take the time and effort to improve their life.
Cooke is a professing Christ-follower but also a Hollywood producer. That combination allows him an interesting perspective on culture. Drawing from his media experiences, he offers a wide-ranging book that covers a broad set of topics. To support the various concepts he addresses, Cooke includes numerous quotations throughout the book.
As with any motivational book along the lines of Jolt!, this book offers an opportunity for self-improvement. However, there is nothing necessarily exceptional about Jolt! It's not that it is a poor read; it's that there is nothing in Jolt! that meets the back cover promise that the book "will revolutionize your thinking and shake up your life". While helpful, the jolts don't really "establish a new direction, maximize potential, overcome insecurity, and create an amazing future and legacy".
I reviewed Jolt! in conjunction with Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program, was not compensated for this review and the opinions expressed are solely mine.
Cooke is a professing Christ-follower but also a Hollywood producer. That combination allows him an interesting perspective on culture. Drawing from his media experiences, he offers a wide-ranging book that covers a broad set of topics. To support the various concepts he addresses, Cooke includes numerous quotations throughout the book.
As with any motivational book along the lines of Jolt!, this book offers an opportunity for self-improvement. However, there is nothing necessarily exceptional about Jolt! It's not that it is a poor read; it's that there is nothing in Jolt! that meets the back cover promise that the book "will revolutionize your thinking and shake up your life". While helpful, the jolts don't really "establish a new direction, maximize potential, overcome insecurity, and create an amazing future and legacy".
I reviewed Jolt! in conjunction with Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program, was not compensated for this review and the opinions expressed are solely mine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)