Brett Farve

OK - so Brett Farve is 38 years old and playing like he's 28. I am rooting for him and the Packers to win it all this year. Farve is playing in his 17th year and his age is allowing him to do some pretty cool things.

#1 He's making much smarter decisions.

His decision making process is amazing. That makes me wonder about ME. My prayer is that as I get older I too will make smarter decisions.

#2 He's having FUN

I've always said, "If you're not having fun being a (christian, husband, dad, employee, etc) then you're doing it wrong."

Watch #4 on the field - he's throwing snowballs and touchdowns and having fun. Life is better when you're having fun.

#3 He's leading.

Brett Farve is leading by example. Last week with his team down 14-0 and his rookie running back fumbling for the 2nd time in as many carries, and his team (which is the youngest in the NFL) needing an example, Brett stepped up!

How about you? When others are watching your life will they see you leading or following. Leadership, simply stated is influence.

Today's Life Application: There is always a process between the opporunity and the decision to do something - have fun, make wise choices, and lead along the way.

connect

How do you connect with others?

Last week I made a phone call to one of my Adult Leaders and this simple phone call has had an impact on several people on staff at our church. The purpose of my phone: to simply connect.

I made the phone call, not to ask for anything, to recruit, or submit a need, I called simply to connect.

I think too often we fail to connect or we try to connect (real quick) before we ask for something and our connection opportunity comes across as less than genuine.

So often our excuse is we don't have enough time so blow that theory up my phone call lasted about 1 minute. 1 minute to encourage someone and make their day.

Today's Life Application: It's the little things that make a BIG difference. People wanted to be valued for WHO they are before their valued for WHAT they can do. Everyone realizes that we need people for what they can do but if we'll get into their world and value who they are we'll see much greater returns on our investment.

My Life Week ONE Talk notes

My Life - Week ONE

Our decisions determine our destiny.

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV): “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:7 (NKJV): “Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”

Matthew 4:10 (NKJV): “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Big Point: We’ve got to ‘learn how to discern’

Philippians 1:10 ‘My prayer….is that you may be able to discern what is best…’

Video – Calling

Response: A good look at YOU in 2008

Today's Walk Away - my prayer is that you'll learn to discern what God's best is for your life so that you won't settle for just what's good.

Look at YOU!

Tuesday night at U-Turn we ended by having our students write down, in a word or two, what would define them in 2008. How we did this was really cool: I set up 8 mirrors in our room and had students walk up to the mirror, look at themselves and then write down that word. It was powerful.

Every morning when they look in the mirror I pray that word fuel their day.

Here are a few examples of the word (or two) that our students wrote down:

strength, purity, discipline, example, boldness, peace, trust, energy, evangelism, prayer, hope, love, forgive...

What word would define your 2008?

Today's walk away: God has big plans for you! Too often though we allow the fear of failure or the fear of trusting God to derail God's plan. Take a chance in 2008 - write down a word on your mirror at home that your pray will define your year. ***Note: use a dry erase one!

Willow Creek - Reveal

Took the Reveal Survey yesterday. At CLC we are in the process of having the whole church take the survey.

Willow has done us all a favor by being transparent in their learnings about their own ministry while also challenging all of us to consider whether or not we're really encouraging people to experience spiritual growth. (Tony Morgan)

Today's Walk - Away: How about you? Would you be willing to allow God to reveal where you are spiritually?

I think if all of us be open to hearing from God we would see our walk with God have much more IMPACT!

Stuck the landing!

Wow! For the second time since we have lived in Conneaut, school is cancelled because of the WIND!!

It is so windy, you can hardly walk outside!

It woke my wife up in the middle of the night. The wind was so LOUD it was unbelievable!

As she was listening to it, she told me she got an image of a large branch smashing through one of our windows, and she began to pray that God protect our house.

Well, this morning, she awoke to find this in our yard:

As you can see, the wind blew it with such force, that it stuck straight into the ground!

Today's Walk-Away - I believe prayer works! It's not just a 'get-out-of-jail-free' card but I am devoted to serving & loving a God that I have a personal relationship with!

relocation

I switched back over to blogger - I was gone for a while but I like it better at blogspot!