Point for the Day

Invest in someone in whom you will likely never see the return (Exodus 2:10)

Great Quote Thursday

Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice- Charles Kettering

Point for the Day

Saying "thank you" is quite endearing yet requires such little effort

Point for the Day

Looking like you know what you're doing is sometimes half of the battle

Point for the Day

Love all you can while you can (Exodus 2:10)

Point for the Day

It's amazing what can be accomplished when you begin by simply asking nicely.

Point for the Day

When sharing your story, point people to Jesus (Acts 26:23).

Great Quote Thursday

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it- George Halas

Point for the Day

The example from the Apostle Paul on sharing your story: How I used to be; How I met Jesus; How I am now (Acts 26:1-23).

Point for the Day

The longer you stay at the base of the mountain, the taller the mountain looks. Start climbing.

Exponential Conference Notes- Matt Chandler

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. Here are some of my notes from a session with Matt Chandler:

You can motivate. You cannot transform.

Trust the word of God. It's worked for thousands of years.

If you waver from Biblical doctrine, you'll have nothing to save people to because you'll have nothing to save people from.

NBA Conference Finals Predictions

And then there were 4. And they are the top two seeds in each conference. Here are my predictions:

Eastern Conference
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (2) Miami Heat
The Pacers struggled down the stretch but have escaped the first two rounds of the playoffs. They give the Heat trouble much of the time, but this is the Eastern Conference Final.
Miami has cruised through these playoffs. But home-court advantage, and a Game 7 if necessary, will be played in Indianapolis.
Can Roy Hibbert continue his resurgence? Does Paul George continue his emergence? Can the Heat continue their path toward a 3-peat?
Heat in 6

Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Oklahoma City Thunder
Serge Ibaka is out for the remainder of the playoffs after suffering an injury against the Clippers in Round Two. His absence will hurt the Thunder's chances. Kevin Durant is the NBA MVP but he can't defend and rebound for Ibaka. Nick Collison will step into the void and Steven Adams will now play a much larger role.
The Spurs continue to try to redeem last year's Finals collapse. Tony Parker will play in this series following an injury in Round Two against Portland.This is classic battle of a veteran team against a rising young team.
Can the Thunder overcome the loss of Ibaka? Can the Spurs "old dog" trio of Tim Duncan/Manu Ginobili/Tony Parker continue to cheat time?
Spurs in 7 (because Ibaka's out)

Exponential Conference Notes- Andy Stanley

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. Here are some of my notes from a session with Andy Stanley:

Watch yourself preach. You'll either quit or get better. Some people say, "But I don't like to watch myself preach". You may not be the only one.

If you listen to the same person preach for a long time, you start to sound like them. Listen broadly.

People aren't on a truth quest. They're on a happiness quest.

If you don't care what people do with what you say, you don't care about people.

You don't preach just to make a point, you preach to make a difference.

Exponential Conference Notes- Robert Coleman

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. Here are some of my notes from a session with Robert Coleman:

Matthew 28: 18-20, the Great Commission, is God's plan to redeem the world for His glory.

8 Fundamental Principles in Jesus' Lifestyle:
1. Incarnation- Become a servant
Serving others brings opportunities to disciple; find where people hurt and need help (a shepherd goes after lost sheep)
2. Selection- Look for disciples
Notice receptive people around you; concentrate on a few serious leaders
3. Association- Build a relationship
Seek ways for casual fellowship; arrange times for prayer and study of the Bible; occasionally have extended periods of reflection together
4. Consecration- Teach obedience
Stress the outworking of faith; follow the way of the cross
5. Demonstration- Lead by example
Let them see your priorities and values lived; take them with you in ministry
6. Delegation- Involve in ministry
Make reasonable assignments; utilize their gifts and talents; give more demanding tasks as they grow in grace and knowledge
7. Supervision- Monitor their progress
Have frequent times of review; work on attitudes and character traits; affirm strengths and self-worth
8. Multiplication- Expect reproduction
Followers become like their leader; develop the vision of the coming kingdom; dream with them about their role in the harvest

Great Quote Thursday

If discipleship doesn't lead to multiplication and reproduction, it's not really discipleship- Robert Coleman

Point for the Day

Have questions about the future? Jesus says, "Trust Me" (Acts 1:7).

Point for the Day

Since we've not reached the "end of the age", the Great Commission is still in effect (Matthew 28:18-20).

Exponential Pre-Conference Notes (Continued)

Last week I attended the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. Here are some of my notes from the Pre-Conference Discipleship track led by Discipleship.org:

Jim Putman
The win is disciples not converts.
Need to go deeper? Feed yourself.
Lots of guys are great speakers and can draw a crowd but they can't make disciples who make disciples.
5 levels of spiritual growth:
1. Spiritually dead (unbelief)
2. Spiritual infant (ignorance; they just don't know)
3. Spiritual child (never confuse number of years with maturity)
4. Spiritual young adult (focusing on God and others; serving)
5. Spiritual adult (a disciple maker)

Bobby Harrington
Discipleship must multiply or there is a failure to launch.
If we're not making spiritual adults, we're likely not making disciples.
Discipleship is not biblical without an emphasis on multiplication.
By not multiplying and reproducing, we embarrass Jesus.
How does the Jesus I believe in and the Gospel I preach determine the person I am and the disciples I make?

Robert Coleman
If discipleship doesn't lead to multiplication and reproduction, it's not really discipleship.

Exponential Pre-Conference Notes

Last week I attended the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. Here are some of my notes from the Pre-Conference Discipleship track led by Discipleship.org:

Bill Hull-
Discipleship isn't about making disciples. Discipleship is about Jesus.

Jeff Vanderstelt-
The sacrifice of Christ redeemed my past, directs my present and secured my future.
We want people to not just believe a message but to submit to a Lord.
Everyone who is a Christian is a minister.

Robby Gallaty-
Knowing Christ leads to loving Christ leads to obeying Christ
Believing right leads to behaving right
Get into the Word until the Word gets into you
When people don't know what to do, they don't do anything at all.

More Parkerisms and Turnerisms

Raising two sons, 10 and 6, means we have lots of fun conversations in our home. Here are some more:

Me: Guys, how about Pop Tarts for breakfast?
Turner: You're learning.

While I was trimming bushes-
Parker: Daddy, I want to help now.
Me: Okay, sure.
Parker: But only for 5 or 10 minutes.
Me: I'll take it.

After he explained the difference between vowels and consonants-
Me: Wow, Turner! Did you learn all of this in first grade?
Turner: No, I just know it in my brain.

Great Quote Thursday

Are the things that you are living for worth Christ dying for? Oscar Muriu

Point for the Day

His resurrection proved Jesus is who He was (Luke 24:39-43).

Point for the Day

You'll be disappointed if you give up on Jesus too soon (Luke 24:21).

Point for the Day

Jesus' response to the doubters: Test Me. You can trust Me (John 20:27).

NBA Playoffs- Conference Semi-Finals

The NBA Playoffs continue tonight with the beginning of the conference semi-final match-ups. Here are my thoughts on each series:

Eastern Conference
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Washington Wizards
Indiana struggled down the stretch in the regular season and then struggled to eliminate the Atlanta Hawks in 7 games in Round One. Paul George must step up and Roy Hibbert must show up against the Wizards for the Pacers to advance.
Washington looked amazing in Round One against the Chicago Bulls. They had a strong inside/outside attack that was more impressive than at any time in the regular season.
There's a reason the Pacers were the #1 seed in the East but the Wizards are hot right now. Has Indiana righted the ship?
Pacers in 7  

(2) Miami Heat vs. (6) Brooklyn Nets
Miami wasted no time in dispensing the Charlotte Bobcats. 4 games, all business. Interestingly, Miami lost all 4 games against Brooklyn in the regular season.
Brooklyn played an extremely even Round One series against the Toronto Raptors. The series was not settled until under one second remained in Game 7.
Miami can coast at times in the regular season but this is the playoffs.
Heat in 6

Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Portland Trailblazers
San Antonio had the best record in the league during the regular season and then had to battle their in-state rival Dallas Mavericks for a full 7 games to advance. But in Game 7, they looked amazing.
Portland impressed in Round One with a young, powerful inside (LaMarcus Aldridge)/outside (Damian Lillard) attack that the Houston Rockets could never solve.
Until proven wrong, go with the future hall of famers.
Spurs in 6

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (3) Los Angeles Clippers
Oklahoma City consistently struggles to match-up against their Round One opponent Memphis Grizzlies. After escaping in 7 games, the blueprint to defeat the Thunder is out there: great defense and a solid half-court game.
Los Angeles (aka Lob City) is exciting to watch. Chris Paul directs a team as well as anyone, Blake Griffin can jump out of the building and they have a deep bench. But they're not the best defensive team.
This should be the best series in the conference semi-finals but Kevin Durant is the MVP for a reason.
Thunder in 7

Great Quote Thursday

What comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us- A.W. Tozer

Point for the Day

When you don't know what to do next, do what you know to do now.