Fun on Friday- More Turnerisms

My youngest son, Turner, just turned 4 years old. The combination of a developing sense of his world, an expanding vocabulary and a creative young mind have led to what we affectionately refer to as Turnerisms. Here are some more:

Turner: "Daddy, I wish I could stand on a ball and juggle and not get hurt".

Me: "I love you big guy".
Turner: "How am I growing up so big"?

Before a recent nap:
Turner: "I will always love you Daddy. I will never stop loving you".
Me: "I'll always love you big guy. I'll never stop loving you either. Where did you hear that"?
Turner: "I made it up myself".

Great Quote Thursday

Trust is earned or lost in simple ways that we communicate - Michael Maslansky (The Language of Trust, p. 69).

Me? Series Notes- Nehemiah 8:13-18

When Ezra the scribe reads the words of the Law to the people, they realize they have overlooked the festival of booths that their forefathers had previously observed. In observing this practice, originating during the time of the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites would gather branches and limbs of trees and construct temporary coverings or tents ("booths") in the wilderness to show their absolute reliance upon God. By the time of Nehemiah, the practice was no longer being observed as it once was.

Under conviction based on Ezra's reading of the Law, the people of Israel begin to observe the festival of booths once again. Considering that Jerusalem had just been restored, and individual homes had been built throughout the city, moving into a booth, even on a temporary basis proved their appreciation and obedience toward God.

Here's The Point: Just as the children of Israel had chosen to ignore the practice of observing the festival of booths, oftentimes we grow to overlook disciplines that were once crucial to our own spiritual growth. Consider these examples:

1. Years ago when you barely made any money, you tithed. But now, you make ?0,000 a year and to tithe on that amount would be costly.
2. There was a time when you read the Bible daily but now your world has gotten so busy and you simply can't find the time anymore. Because you have more important things to do.
3. You used to journal your thoughts, chronicle what God was teaching you, showing you, on a daily basis. Journaling used to mean so much to you. But now, there's just not time.

Maybe, just like the Israelites in Nehemiah's day, we need to assess what is important.

Book Review- The Language of Trust

A book I happened upon in a clearance bin at a local discount store, I was pleasantly surprised with The Language of Trust- Selling Ideas in a World of Skeptics by Michael Maslansky with Scott West, Gary DeMoss and David Saylor. Written as a book for business, The Language of Trust addresses the importance and proper use of language in what the authors call the "post-trust era" or PTE.

Previously, experts used to be sought out for their expertise. But now, with information so readily available through multiple sources (websites, blogs, social media, etc.), the need for "official" information is left to the determination of the seeker. In a society in which people are more skeptical than ever before, the way in which an idea is presented carries great weight. Connecting with an audience requires attention to the wording used, the context, as well as the medium being utilized.

Here are some great concepts detailed in the book:
Four Principles of Credible Communication-
Be Personal- The Personal Principle: It's not about you, it's about them
Be Plainspoken- The Plainspoken Principle: If they can't understand you, it's your fault
Be Positive- The Positive Principle: Negativity breeds Contempt
Be Plausible- The Plausibility Principle: Life isn't perfect; neither is what you are selling

The book is filled with great quotations, statistical information to support the positions taken, and practical advice for improving the quality of an individual's or organization's communication.

Great Quote Thursday

One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you- Dennis A. Peer

Me? Series Notes- Nehemiah 9

When the people heard the Book of the Law of the Lord read to them (v. 1-5), they were convicted to confess their sins before God. Not simply there own sins, but the sins of the Israelites from ages past. From verses 5-38, the people retrace their history from the book of Genesis through the books of the Kings. There were many high points (God choosing Abram- v. 7; the rescue at the Red Sea- v. 9-11; God speaking from Mt. Sinai- v. 13; many more).

But there was also a pattern of disobedience toward God (v. 16; 19; 26; 28; 30; and more). Reading the Israelites' history as it's recounted here is very much like a roller coaster- lots of ups and downs.

But through it all God was faithful: "But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love"- v. 17b.

Here's The Point: When was the last time you took time to look back at your history to see how truly gracious God has been to you? Your life probably has some roller coaster effect to it as did the Israelites.

In class on Sunday, each of us wrote out at least 5 ways that God had been "gracious and compassionate" and "abounding in love" toward us. It was a great time of reflection that I'd encourage you to do.

Great Quote Thursday

The Bible was written for us to apply- Tim Miller