Sibling Rivalry

If you or someone you know are a parent to multiple kids you more than likely have experience sibling rivalry, I know I have and here are some tips that can be used to lessen or eliminate it altogether.

1-Love Your Children and Don’t Show Favoritism.

Ask any son or daughter who the favorite child is in the family and you may get an answer—pointing to the rival. Sibling favoritism offends and infects the heart of a child and leads to feelings of inferiority, anger, resentment, and even bitterness.

The Bible story of Esau and Jacob is a prime example of how favoritism damages a family. We learn in the book of Genesis that the father of the boys, Isaac, preferred Esau while the mother favored Jacob (25:28). This led to deceit between the parents and to Jacob’s stealing Esau’s birthright and blessing.

In many families there is no favoritism, and you must challenge your children’s false belief that there is. You know that you love each of your children completely, but that you also have a different relationship and behave differently with each one. It is essential to know each child’s particular love language and to communicate your love in that style. You must constantly discuss this essential difference in how people receive love until your children get it—which may not be until adulthood or when they themselves have children.

2-Don’t Compare

Most siblings are already very sensitive to the competitive aspects of their relationships with brothers and sisters. Instead of asking themselves, How good am I at this? they ask themselves, Am I better than my brother [sister] at this?

It is best for parents to avoid directly comparing their kids to one another. You can comment on your children’s gifts and uniqueness apart from their siblings. For example, while it is good to say, “Jane is great at soccer, and David is a whiz at piano!” it is not good to say “Jane is better than David at soccer, and David kicks Jane’s butt at music.”

3-Counter Jealous Feelings

Often jealousy is at the heart of sibling rivalry. If an older sibling is experiencing jealousy of a younger sibling, try the following techniques:

Help the child verbalize his or her feelings.
When children are able to verbalize their feelings, they are much better equipped to understand them and cope with them. However, verbalizing feelings is not a simple process for children. For example, can you imagine a young child saying, “Mom, Dad, I’ve been feeling a bit neglected and insecure since my little brother came along and I could really use some more attention. Specifically, I would like us to spend more one-on-one time playing games together like we used to.” Yeah right! Children are much more likely to act out their frustrations. Only through practice and coaching can a child learn to describe their emotions and needs verbally.

Kids want attention, and even though it seems backwards, for some children bad attention is better than no attention at all.
Therefore, a good way for parents to improve a child’s behavior is to attend to good and okay behaviors and ignore the bad ones. For example, if your child behaved well while getting her shoes on, tell the child, “Thank you, honey. I am very proud of how good you are. You put on your shoes quietly when asked.” If your child misbehaves by putting up a fuss, ignore the behavior—don’t give her more attention.

Show the child the privileges of age.
All adults recognize that age has its privileges, but kids don’t always see it that way—especially when there’s an infant getting gobs and gobs of attention. Point out all the privileges of age to the older siblings. What are they getting because they are older? If they’re not getting many, give them some!

Hope these help.

Source: AACC

Settle It

Today we close the series on anger with the last action step, and that is that we must settled the issue.

A plan should be made for follow up, perhaps:
Finding an accountability partner
Individual counseling
Joining an anger management group
Considering medication.

The most important thing is to actively continue spiritual growth if we are going to effectively manage anger. The Bible says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Remember to:
Surrender—to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
Reflect—on the mercy and love God provides (Ephesians 2:4)
Pray—admit to God feelings and regrets (Matthew 5:43-45)
Forgive—choose to let go of resentment and bitterness (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Avoid—ruminating and revenge (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 1:13)
Give and receive—mutual respect with those close to you (Ephesians 5:31-32)
Love—even those who anger you (1 Corinthians 13)
Remember—what it was like to be on the receiving end of someone else’s anger (1 Samuel 19:9-10)
Resolve—the anger issues (Ephesians 4:26)

Underlying issues such as deep emotional wounds that have been identified in counseling need to be considered. Make plans to work on such issues through additional counseling and support groups.
There is a wonderful conclusion. Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”

Source:AACC

Control It

As we keep looking for ways to deal with anger, here are more tips and action steps:

Respond (rational action), don’t react (emotional retort).
Maintain a healthy distance until you can speak constructively (James 1:19).
Confront to restore, not to destroy.
Empathize (yelling is a failure to empathize). Speak slowly and quietly (makes yelling difficult).
Surrender the right for revenge (Romans 12:19).
If anger begins to escalate to wrath or fury, that is not the time to engage in interactions with others. Instead, temporarily redirect your energy to solo activities, or re-establish calm, before confronting others.

Remember that the Bible also tells us that we must not let the sun go down on our anger.

Source: AACC

Anger

Sometimes we as Christians feel that it is wrong to feel anger, we somehow feel it's unspiritual. Well we will never be "anger free" so then what do we do? Our goal should be to learn how to control our response to present anger: both the emotional and biological arousals that anger may cause.

Here are some action steps:

See It

Focus on the source of the anger. List the triggers. Until you can control the anger, avoid the triggers as much as possible.

Learn to identify anger before it is out of control.

Identify angry feelings while they are still minor. State out loud, “I’m feeling angry right now.”

Be aware of the first warning signs of anger, which may be physical changes. Anger promotes a sympathetic nervous system response (a physical state of readiness) and the following biological changes: rising heart rate and blood pressure, amplified alertness, tensed muscles, dilated pupils, digestion clenched fists, flared nostrils, bulged veins.

Step number two is to:

Delay It

Take a “time out”; temporarily disengage from the situation if possible (20-minute minimum).

Perform light exercise until the intensity of anger is manageable.
“Write, don’t fight”; jot down troubling thoughts. This exercise is personal and writings should be kept private, possibly destroyed, not sent.

Talk with a trusted friend who is unrelated to the anger-provoking situation: Don’t just vent—ask for constructive advice.

Pray about the anger, asking God to show you insight.

Read proverbs 16:32, "It is better to be patient than powerful; it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city". And Proverbs 29:11, A fool gives full vent to anger, but a wise person quietly holds it back. -Proverbs 29:11.

Hope these tips help, I'll be posting more of them soon.

Source: AACC

Redeeming Our Time

Imagine that you were given $86,400 a day, every day, for the rest of your life. Suppose you could receive that amount every day…but with a catch. You have to SPEND it every day. Do you think you could do it? We could probably have a lot of fun trying!

God gives you 24 hours every day. That’s 1440 minutes a day. Or 86,400 seconds…every day of your life. He makes that deposit in your life daily. But there is a catch: You have to SPEND it…all of it…every day. And guess what? You do…

Time, it is our most precious commodity. Wouldn’t you like to be able to buy back a day…or a week…or better yet a whole year? The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 5, admonishes us to “be careful how we walk…redeeming the time…(Vs 15 & 16)NKJV”. The word redeeming carries the implication of “buying up for oneself”, just like Christ has “redeemed” us. It means to consider “time” so precious that we are never wasteful of a moment.

Stop, look and see…where does your time go? Show me where you spend your time, and I will show you where your heart is. Golf? T.V.? Emails? Texting? Facebook? Twittering? Surfing the web? Are the “things” in your life stealing time that should be spent in relationships? A relationship with your husband or wife? Time with your kids? Or even more importantly, how about the intimate time growing your relationship with God? Not for study. Not to prepare for teaching a class. But simply because you need to be in His presence. One on one. His heart to your heart to Hunger and Thirst for Him. Redeem your time. Why? Because there are obstacles in the way.

Source: AACC

REFINE YOUR SKILLS

This is the last installment of the tips we have been learning to help us become better teachers, refining our skills.

Sometimes the more we use our voices while trying to discipline, the less effective they become. In other words, when we talk too much, children begin to tune us out. Instead, use these techniques.

Offer focused attention. Ever noticed that children seem to act up whenever you're crunched for time, short on help, or expecting a classroom guest? Children are very sensitive to our moods and can tell when we're under the most pressure. If you ignore or isolate them or, even worse, yell at them-the problems escalate and no one wins. The best solution is to stop and give children your undivided attention or, if they're young, simply hold them.

Move slowly and maintain eye contact. Look into children's eyes and truly focus on them, just as Jesus did. Avoid turning your back on a child you've just disciplined; otherwise, you may inadvertently set yourself up for round two.

Act detached from the deed, not from the children. Don't take children's misbehaviors personally. Pretend you're trying to win an Academy Award in detachment. As you begin acting that way, you'll actually start feeling that way.

When you do speak, pray that God will give you the right words and the right tone of voice. Our voices tend to go up when we're upset, which makes it harder for children to take us seriously. Instead, stair-step your voice down and use visual clues along with your words. As you state what you want children to do, nod your head and smile. As you state what you don't want them to do, shake your head "no."

Close the matter properly. Verify whether children understand you. Then ask kids to apologize to others involved, realizing that they may not. Don't force apologies; repentance is a learned skill. Even so, it's important to set forth the expectation that kids will apologize when they've hurt someone. Train children in the habit of apologizing and trust God to change their hearts.

Keep your sense of humor. Humor is an important principle of discipline because it helps us put things into perspective. Often we have to step back, take a few deep breaths, and pray that God will show us the lighter side of a situation. With little children who are squirmy and inattentive, you could say, "Did you eat wiggle worms for breakfast? I know you must've had silly cereal!" With older kids, you could say, "Is this my life, or am I in a TV show-because I'm ready for a commercial break!" Humor isn't for kids only; it helps us see the funny side, too.

When you have an established, loving discipline strategy, children feel secure and are able to learn more. And teaching becomes a joy, not a chore.

Source: Group

More Tips

Before we got so rudely interrupted by Tropical Storm Nicole, we had been looking at ways that we can be more effective in ministering to kids in the classrooms. We last look at Defining A system. Today we turn our attention to Tailoring that System, here we go:

TAILOR YOUR SYSTEM

Although rules need to remain consistent, it's also important to factor personalities into the equation. Children often hear rules through the grid of their God-given personalities.

For a strong-willed child who may evolve into a discipline problem without guidance, preface a desired behavior in words that empower; for example, "You can be in charge of cleaning up the block center."

Otherwise calm, peace-loving children may have problems making transitions between experiences. They respond best when you provide warnings and time to respond. For example, "In five minutes, we'll move on to our centers."

Fun-loving children may be busy talking with their friends and forget the rules. They usually respond well to warm, loving words about something enjoyable. You might say, "I wonder if we can get our centers all cleaned up by the time I count to 10? Then we'll have time to play a game."

Perfectionists may have trouble because they get stuck emotionally or can't do something just right. They usually respond well to encouragement. You could say, "I know you're upset that those colors don't match, but it's a very detailed drawing. I'm sure your mom will want to hang it up when you get home."

Hope these help. Tomorrow we will look at refining our skills.

Source: Group

Hello Nicole

One of the things we must get used to as residents of this great state of Florida is the fact that we get uninvited visitors all the time in the guise of hurricanes, tropical depressions, and tropical storms. Today is one of those days. We are getting ready to welcome Tropical Storm Nicole. As a result of Nicole stopping by we find ourselves with the need of canceling our Wednesday night service. We don't want to put any of our brothers or sisters in danger by having to drive through flooded streets. So stay home, stay dry, and have church at home like they used to do 2000 years ago. We will see you this weekend.

More Teacher's Tips

DEFINE YOUR SYSTEM

Don't wait until problems arise to create a discipline plan. Teacher training needs to include details about how to handle common behavioral problems-and when to seek help for the "bigger" issues as well. Try these steps.

Set ground rules. I've found that three simple rules work well for children of all ages: 1. When you want to talk, raise your hand and wait to be called on. 2. When someone else is talking, be quiet. 3. Keep your hands and feet to yourself unless you have permission. If you teach young children, you may need to repeat these three guidelines every week.

Establish a clear discipline process. I recommend this simple three-step approach. The first time children violate a rule, walk to them and quietly tell them the rule. In other words, assume they have rule amnesia, which is prevalent in childhood. State the desired behavior first; for example, "We use our hands to love and help, not hit." For a second violation, walk to children and ask them what the rule is in your room. For a third violation, have an immediate consequence related to the misbehavior.

Develop logical consequences. The purpose of a consequence is to retrain the brain and transform the heart. Training through discipline requires that the deed and consequence be logically related and that it occurs right away. The consequence helps children see that their choices determined what happened. This brings accountability into the picture.

This one is EXTREMELY important. Consequences must maintain children's dignity. Respond only to the current misbehavior and don't bring up a long list of past offenses. Instead of saying, "You always…" or "You never…," simply say, "Because you've chosen to do this behavior, this is the consequence."

For example, if children talk rudely and inappropriately, they must find a nice way to say the same thing. If children hurt someone else, they must do something kind for him or her. Connected, immediate consequences can lead to significant changes in children's behavior.

I have noticed that these tips also help in parenting. Tomorrow we'll look at tayloring the system.

Source: Group, Jody Capehart

Teacher's Tips

You love God and children. You feel called to teach and be enthusiastic about the year ahead. But now you find yourself faced with disruptive children. You don't want to give up; you're just frustrated beyond belief.

This probably sounds familiar. Most children's ministry teachers or volunteers have the passion and the right attitude, but relatively few are equipped for when the "little angels" behave less than angelically. Unfortunately, that leaves many formerly upbeat teachers ready to throw in the towel.

How can you prevent discipline problems from diminishing your effectiveness and joy? Here's a bounty of practical pointers:

RELY ON GOD

Ground your discipline strategy in God's Word. Hebrews 12:11 says, "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening-it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way." Children usually don't view discipline as training in right living, though. They often interpret strictness as meanness. Although the former is okay, the latter is never appropriate.

A discipline policy is really a discipleship process that allows us to demonstrate Jesus' love. Although we may not like everything children do each moment, we always love them. They need to hear and feel that from us often.

Adults' character and conduct are very contagious to children, who learn more from how we act than what we say. So it's important to respond in a Christian manner rather than react in the flesh. When we adults rely on God to model respect, manners, concern for others, and a gentle spirit, we teach volumes.

Discipline is far more effective when you move slowly and quietly, praying for God's guidance. Prayer is the Christian version of "counting to 10." It slows down our human reactions, puts things in proper perspective, and gives the Holy Spirit opportunity to work. In our weakness, God can use us to glorify him.

Tomorrow we'll look at more pointers.

Source: Group, Jody Capehart

This Weekend at CCk

If you want to see what God can do even in seemingly insurmountable circumstances...
If you want to hear a miraculous story of how God calls the most unlikely people to do his work...

If you want to be inspired to see how God might use your life to impact the world...
Then, join us this weekend as we welcome Pastor Raul Ries from Calvary Chapel Golden Springs to tell his story at all of our regularly scheduled weekend services.

Growing up with an alcoholic father who abused him and his mother caused rage to fester inside Raul. He lashed out by joining gangs and committing crimes in the Los Angeles area. The violence and pain escalated - until one day a judge told him it was either prison or the military. Raul chose Vietnam and came back angrier than ever. Eventually Raul's rage reached its boiling point, and just as he was about to do the unthinkable, God intervened. He has an amazing story, you don't want to miss it! So come and join us and don't forget to bring a friend.

Don't Quit

September 8, 1990. The Texas Rangers were hosting the Kansas City Royals at Arlington Stadium. 34,412 fans were watching these two teams battle.

During the second inning, Bo Jackson, a fierce hitter for the Royals smashed Nolan Ryan’s first pitch to him right back at the mound. And it wasn’t pretty. Ryan misplayed the baseball and the line drive hit him right in the mouth. Ryan’s lip was split wide open and there was blood everywhere. Amazingly, he refused to leave the mound. With a shirt stained with blood, and a busted and swollen lip, he pitched to the 7th inning. The Rangers went on to win the game 2 – 1.

Crazy? Yes. Tough, hard-nosed baseball? You bet. Nolan’s picture from that day is hung everywhere as a reminder to keep “the fight” in you. To “get up” and keep doing battle.

The writer of Proverbs understood this. Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again.” Wow. Can you imagine getting knocked down seven times and still getting back up? It sounds like the fight between Rocky Balboa and the Russian in Rocky IV! The Apostle Paul quoted Jesus when he felt his knees buckle from the pressures and pain in his life. II Corinthians 12:9, “My GRACE is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Catch this, Paul went on to say that he was glad when he felt weak, because that is when he knew just how strong the power of Christ is. That’s what kept him in the game.

When life delivers those devastating blows, resolve to get up to stay in the fight. How? With God’s Grace, and in His Strength.

Source: AACC

911

Once a kids pastor always a kids pastor, and living on that premise finds me always looking for tools to either help kids or help the parents who are raising them. While on that search I found this article and I thought it was good, so I'll share it with you.

Every school kid in America knows to call 911 in a crisis. Not if everything’s well or fine and the day is normal. But in an emergency…when there is tragedy or danger… that’s when you dial 911.

When you are in trouble or need help I’ve got another number for you. Remember…Psalm 91:1… “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.”(TAB)

Is your heart heavy? Discouraged? Sick of the way you are living? Have you been hurt? Are you tempted beyond what you feel you can handle? Then go to Psalm 91:1. Dial it in. God knows and He’s there for you.

But the key is to dwell in the “secret place” of the Most High. That’s your responsibility. To spend time with the Father. Soak in His presence. And then when trials and hard times come…and they will come…you can remain stable and fixed. You can “be still” and “know that He is God”…and that this crisis – this journey – this season – this too shall pass. Don’t fear. Be secure. Where? Under the shadow of the Almighty.

Is all well with your soul? Then God has called you to care. Millions of people are searching right now for God. They need and want His touch. Let God use your hands to dial the number for them. 911. He will answer. Bear their burden with them. Lead them to the secret place. The place of safety and stability. A place where they can, and will, learn to Hunger and Thirst…for His protection…for His presence…

Source: AACC.

Amazing Weekend

This past weekend I had the opportunity and the privilege of witnessing God moving in the lives of people. We had Pastor Bob Coy the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale speaking at our West Campus. He kicked off our new series called Story. As we expected we had a great turnout for the three weekend services. There were close to 3000 people that came out to hear him speak and they were not disappointed. Pastor Bob is a great communicator, not only that, but he is also totally committed to God and to spreading His Word. Bob shared his testimony and what God has done and is doing in his life. He did it in a down to earth manner and simply had us all laughing at times and also crying at other times. Overall it was great to see how the Lord used him to bring people to a saving relationship, as several people responded to the invitation to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I am also thankful and at the same time humbled by the commitment of all the volunteers that gave of their time and their efforts to make this event happen. Without their help it would have been impossible to minister to so many people. From the set up and break down crew, to the Kidz Ministry volunteers, to the security people, greeters, ushers, everyone served with a smile on their face and a willing heart to help. I am honored to be the campus pastor serving alongside this great bunch of Jesus crazed people, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to more events like this that we can continue to bring people to light through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to read more about Pastor Bob's story go here.

More on Becoming a Better Parent

Here are so more tips on becoming a better parent.

Tenderness

Tenderness is to love unconditionally, and it is having a soft hand of discipline even when children irritate, argue, or disappoint. It is the same message Jesus shouts to us, in any condition of sin or grace, we are worth everything to Him!
Also learn the way your child gives and receives love and overdose him or her with that love! According to Christian child psychologist Fran Stott, “Every child needs at least one person who’s crazy about him.”

Teaching

Whether present or absent, a parent is always teaching something to his or her child. Your child learned something from you today, guaranteed. Don’t miss a moment to teach your child important life lessons. And if one parent is absent, assure the child that he or she deserves two parents, even though one might not be around.

Tenacity

Today kids need structure and stability more than ever, for their lives are more erratic, confusing, and rapidly changing than for any generation in history! Parents, be a reference point, an anchor that holds firmly against powerful countercurrents.
The hardest part of parenting is staying persistent. Your investment now is what your child has to “bank” on as he or she grows into a compassionate, competent adult. The truth is children grow up way too soon. Never quit
being the parent your child needs.


Tomorrow

The most beautiful part of God’s love for us is in what Scripture calls the “blessed hope”, an eternity with Him in heaven. Parents, fill your children’s hearts with hope. Believe in them. Dream with them. Look expectantly to the future! Be big on praise, forgiveness, and grace, and be small on criticism. There is no better inheritance, no amount of money or privilege or worldly power that can compare to a legacy of hope in a godly future.

Well there they are, I hope and pray that they can be helpful tools in our journey as parents. I know they have helped in my relationship with my kids.

Source: AACC, Fran Stott

Becoming a Better Parent

Our goal as Christians should be to become the man or woman that God wants us to be, and for some of us that means being the best parent that we can be. Whether a single parent or a family unit the following steps can help us in achieving just that.

The following guidelines are called the “super Ts” and are the foundation of any good parenting, whether the parent is single or not. They are a basic guide for all parents on how to build relationship and bring up a happy and healthy child. (It should be apparent that for many of these tasks, the single parent will need the help of other adults. No one person can accomplish all these alone.)

Time

Kids spell love T-I-M-E. There is no substitute for every hour, minute, and second of quality time fathers and mothers spend with their children. Kids need heavy doses of you every day if possible.


Touch

A hug and kiss, holding hands, brushing hair, wrestling, high fives, even cuddling on the couch, most child experts agree kids need at least eleven touches a day.

Talk

Find the interests you and your child share, and talk! Or ask your child about his or her day. Remember, communication is more nonverbal than verbal, so be careful of all the different ways you “speak” to your child.


Truth

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (NIV). Parents’ morals fill the little hands and hearts of their children. Therefore, ground your child in the truth of God’s Word.

I'll look at more of these tomorrow.

Source: AACC.

Spiritual Intimacy Part IV

So far we have looked at several action steps to improve our Spiritual Intimacy, they were:Talk, Listen, Sharing,Praying,Doing Bible Study and Spiritual Learning. Today I want to look at the last two action steps, they are:

Worship and Serve Together.

Worship is a vital part of spiritual intimacy and finding a church where worship brings you directly into the presence of God may be a key goal. Instead of the husband going to a men’s retreat, and the wife to a women’s group, attend religious activities together.

Make sure you are both actively involved together in your church ministry. This not only includes sitting together during services but also volunteering together and having your marital relationship be a vital part of your identity in the church.

According to Gary Chapman, "Because service to God is so central in the Christian life, it also plays an important role in developing spiritual intimacy within marriage. Spiritual intimacy greatly increases when a husband and wife serve together."

Well, there they are, I pray and hope that it may help some of you like it has helped me.

Source: AACC, Gary Chapman.

Spiritual Intimacy Part 3

Continuing our journey to find and apply actions steps that will help us in our spiritual intimacy, the next action step we look at is,Bible study and spiritual learning.

Many couples find studying the Bible together a comfortable way to build spiritual intimacy. The downside is that studying together often takes more time than praying together, and it can feel impersonal if the study is more technical than reflective. Few couples will feel very close studying the ontological argument for God’s existence, for example. The key to building spiritual intimacy through religious spiritual study is bringing in one’s own personal reflection. Ask, how does this particular Scripture convict, encourage, or challenge us? Sharing and listening to each other’s reflections are key components of building spiritual closeness through study.

We got one more area to look at I'll post soon.

Source: AACC

More on Spiritual Intimacy

Continuing on the actions steps to find spiritual intimacy with your spouse, last post I wrote about Talk, Listen, and Share, in this post we will look at:

Pray, Pray, and Pray Some More.

Paul Tournier, in his book To Understand Each Other, writes:
"Happy are the couples who do recognize and understand that their happiness is a gift of God, who can kneel together to express their thanks not only for the love which he has put in their hearts, the children he has given them or all of life’s joys, but also for the progress in their marriage which he brings about through the hard school of mutual understanding".

It is said that few spiritual endeavors have as great a potential for building spiritual intimacy as praying together. If praying together is not your style, or if makes you uncomfortable, you and your spouse can pray separately for each other daily, then talk about what you prayed. It is likely that over time, simply talking about prayer will help you be able to pray together comfortably.

Try some or all of the following tips they may help minimize any discomfort either of you feel about praying together:

Try praying together when the two of you are already in a spiritual mindset, such as after a church service or before small group meetings.

Try praying together when there is less pressure, such as while riding in a car or listening to music or taking a walk or while in a large crowd.

Try reading the Psalms together. Read a passage, and then pray about the content of the verses. Instead of making up prayers on the spot, find a book of prayers and pray them together.

Solicit prayer requests from others. Make a list and pray for the specific issues on that list.

Pray together silently.

Source: AACC,Paul Tournier.

Spiritual Intimacy

In today's society where the divorce rate is so high, we must always be on the lookout for ways that will help us make our marriages stronger. One of the ways I think that is essential for the health of a marriage is that of spiritual intimacy. There are many ways couples can work to build spiritual intimacy. The following action steps give several of these ways.

Talk, Listen, and Share
Spiritual intimacy cannot occur in a relationship unless there is meaningful communication about spiritual matters. Set aside some time each week even if it is just fifteen minutes to talk about spiritual growth and the things of God.
Spouses need to be able to talk about:
What God is doing and not doing in their lives.
What they have learned about God recently.
Ways that God is speaking to or leading them.
Their doubts or faith problems, including any sense of disconnection with God.
Spiritual areas in which they need improvement.

Keys for listening include:
Be attentive to what your spouse is saying.
Do not condemn or judge your spouse’s struggles or mistakes.
Be supportive and reassuring, emphasizing God’s mercy and grace.
If you feel compelled to share a contrasting point of view, share it as your interpretation, not God’s. And don’t make it seem that your spouse has a warped understanding.

Preaching at your spouse, including pointing out his or her sins or beliefs that seem wrong to you, is not a good way to build spiritual intimacy.

So talking, listening, and sharing is a good place to start. More action steps to come.

Source: AACC

Perseverance

Do you know who invented the light bulb? Thomas Edison. Do you know what else he discovered? Perseverance. He simply refused to give up. At least 6 other men had tried, failed, and given up on the light bulb. But Edison learned the importance of hard work, determination and a “can do” attitude, 6000 that’s how many different plants fibers he tried in the hopes of finding one that would work for the filament of the light bulb. He finally found that a carbonized cotton thread glowed a soft orange when voltage was applied to it. After this, it still took Edison over 2,000 attempts to light his bulb successfully. When asked what kept him going after so many failures, he replied, “Those weren’t failures. I discovered 2,000 ways that didn’t work.” Each try brought him closer to his dream.

The Apostle Paul certainly understood challenges and discouragement. In 2 Corinthians Chapter 11 he relates some of what he went through in his travels, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Five times I received 39 lashes…Three times I was beaten with rods… Stoned once… Shipwrecked three times… Spent a night and a day clinging to life in the sea” And the list goes on. And yet this same Paul wrote in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”

Are you discouraged? Down? Filled with confusion? Or maybe doubt? Do you wonder if God is listening? He is. And even though you can’t see or feel it yet… He is at work in your life. Never, ever give up on God. Keep moving forward. Do not lose heart. Keep looking up. Your miracle is, quite possibly, just a prayer away.

Source: AACC

The Law of the Garbage Truck !

A friend of mine sent me this and I think is sooo true. I hope the rest of your day is "garbage free."

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car just by inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy I mean he was really friendly.

So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of The Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run all around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointments. As the garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, resentments, anger, and frustration; so........... Love the people who treat you right, Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it, and ninety percent how you take it.

Have a blessed, garbage-free day!

From Negative To Positive

Peer pressure. Just say those two words, and they can strike fear in your heart! But add the word "positive" to this alliterative statement and you have a wonderful tool to help kids learn to make the best choices. Positive peer pressure. These three words pack a powerful punch, just the kind of positive punch we want in children's lives to help them make good decisions when we're not around. It's important to understand the nature of positive peer pressure and take action to foster its benefits. Read More Here.

Are We Protecting Our Kids

As a parent raising kids in this date and age I want to make sure that my kids (they are not kids anymore) feel safe. In my constant search for tools to achieve that goal, I came across this information, I pray it helps you. We as parents must ask ourselves some questions and be honest in our answers. For example, how is it going with our kids? Do they feel safe with us? More importantly, do they feel protected?

* From the “bully” down the street…
* From the fear of failure…
* From peer pressure…
* From the daily evil in their lives…

In today’s world we want to protect our kids from ALL of the pain life often delivers. But we can’t. However, we, as moms and dads, can be a place they can run to. We can be their refuge. Our kids can feel safe. They can feel protected. And understand this spiritual phenomenon, we are an EXAMPLE to them of the protection found in their Heavenly Father. The pattern we set with them as they grow up, directly affects how they will relate to God throughout their whole lives. The degree of intimacy that we establish with our kids now, directly affects the level of intimacy they will have with their Heavenly Father for years and years to come.

I am convinced this is what Solomon meant in Proverbs 22:6… “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it”. It is not so much about discipline as it is about relationship. The relationship they have with us will be mirrored in the relationship they have with God. The quality of our relationship, I believe, also directly impacts the effectiveness of our discipline strategy. Show me a home where all you do is discipline, and I will show you a home that has lost relationship.

This week as we interact with our kids lets commit to pray over them. Pray with them. Listen to them. Laugh with them. Spend time with them. Show them we care. Let them know that they are important. That they matter. And as we do this, they will hunger and thirst for relationship, with us, and more importantly, with God…

Source:AACC.

More Effective Leadership Tips

Here is the last batch of tips:

11. Make corrections and changes when necessary.

12. Don't let your volunteers get in a rut. Don't keep doing the same old stuff in ministry. Watch out for complacency and familiarity. Keep volunteers excited by doing new things.

13. Always set the pace; be the leader. Be the kind of person you'd like to work for. Dare to lead no matter what. Give your volunteers an example to follow and a model worth imitating.

14. Don't fret about what you don't have. Commit yourself to help your volunteers grow into the next level as leaders.

15. As you experience success, don't forget about the things you did that caused you to gain success. Don't quit doing what has worked for you.

Well there you have it,delegation is not an option for those who want to succeed in ministry, but to succeed, you must take inventory of where you are. Start small and go from there.

Source: Group, Jim Wideman.

Effective Leadership (Contnd)

Here are some more tips on delegation:

6. Push authority down. It's extremely important that you always delegate authority along with responsibility. Those you delegate to can only carry out the tasks you desire with proper authority.

7. Put your heart into the level of leadership under you. People can't represent you well if they don't have your heart. And you can't put your heart into your volunteer leaders without making a commitment to spend time with them. Take someone with you whenever you can. Be quick to pass on what you know to someone else. Allow those around you to ask questions. Establish excellent lines of communication. Take advantage of every communication tool available.

8. Establish accountability. Teach your volunteers how authority works. Help them understand the chain of command.

9. Support and encourage those who help you. It's imperative that you build a support structure around your volunteers.

10. Dare to confront those who are doing it wrong. When you see things that need to be done differently, gently confront people. Don't wait for things to become a problem. Be on the offense and deal with things as they come up. What if volunteers quit? Why be negative? If they quit, they quit. But what if they change and become super leaders?

More to come!

Source: Group, Jim Wideman.

Effective Leadership

In my years of being a manager I have come to realize that the best resource I had was the people that worked with me or for me. Once I came in to the ministry I realized that people became a more valuable assets since now I was dealing with mostly volunteers. My dilemma was, how to maximize their potential. I found out that the best way to maximize their potential and abilities was through delegation. The bottom line is that over the years I found out that I cannot do the work alone. The Bible talks about leaders that tried to do the work alone and were headed to failure, one example is that of Moses. He learned the hard way about doing the job alone. In Exodus 18, we're told about how Moses did everything in ministry by himself, and it caused problems on the job. It was tough on the people, Moses, and his family. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, gave him wise advice and counsel. Simply put...he told Moses to delegate or die.

In reading about the subject of delegating I came across an article by Jim Wideman were he talks about 15 delegating tips that can help us in becoming more effective leaders. I agree with them and I will share some of them here in hopes that it may help, here they are:

1. Identify what you need to be doing. There's a right way and a wrong way to delegate ministry to others. Delegation isn't finding someone who's willing and then dumping part of your ministry responsibilities on him. There are some projects that are easier to delegate than others. There are other projects that you should never delegate -- and still others that if you do delegate, proceed with caution.

2. Identify things others can do, and let them do those things. Once you delegate jobs, ensure that the responsible people are properly trained and coached. Next, identify areas where you could use a capable worker. Don't just assign a task; empower a person to do the task well.

3. Qualify all workers. Jethro gave Moses requirements for workers in Exodus 18:21: "But select capable men from all the people." A major rule of delegation is to qualify who you delegate responsibility to. Are they capable and able? If not, then help them become capable and able.

4. Define exactly what you want done. Everyone needs a job description. Especially volunteers! Give them checklists to show what you want them to do and to show you what was done.

5. Train and teach those you recruit. You must model to others how you want it done. Classes are good, but hands-on training is better.

Well that's good enough for now, I will share more in other post. Read Article Here.

Source: Group, Jim Wideman

Daily Living

Have you ever wondered how we as Christians are supposed to live our daily lives? As you study the Bible you come to know that we should live daily by and in the grace of God. But what does that mean? How do we live by God's grace? Does it mean that we do nothing and just wait for things to "fall" on our laps? I don't think so. We have to take an active part, we must become fully involved in living by grace. However, our involvement develops through ways and means that God has ordained, ways that you or I would have never imagined. There are two characteristics in particular that are essential in living by grace, they are, humility and faith.

In the book of James 4:6 it says that "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble". That tells me that the grace of God does not flow into and through lives of self-sufficiency. What do I mean by that, lives that depend upon their own resources and their own abilities, and as I read the verse I take it to mean that those lives are actually resisted by the Lord. So in this context humility admits my/our comprehensive need for God to work in our lives.

The other characteristic is faith. In the book of Romans 5:2 it speaks of Jesus, "through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand." Here we see that the spiritual ground on which we stand in Jesus is a realm of grace. So how do we access that grace? How do we avail ourselves of it in every day Christian living? It is done by faith, by trusting in the Lord, day by day and step by step. In every situation that we may find ourselves daily, whether we need to make a decission or comitt to an action, everything needs to be dealt with by faith. That is what is meant by having total dependance upon the Lord, relying on His word, His provisions, His promises.

In light of all of this then I am to totally surrender to my Lord and trust that He will enable me by faith to live a life of grace.

Source: LICM.

Deja Vu

Even though is my day off today, I got up really early (6 am). I did it to take part of what has become for me a yearly "tradition" for the past I would say 10 or 11 years, that is taking my daughter to her first day of school. This year was special, not only because she is now a junior in high school, but also because she is starting a new adventure in her education. She started in the S.A.S program, a program that is geared for students to work on their college at the same time as high school. Is kind of like a dual enrollment program. Anyways, as I was driving my daughter this morning (driving like a maniac I add, since we were running late), I realized how this might be the last year I get to do this since she will be driving by herself pretty soon. It also made me think about the brevity of life and how fast it goes by. I still remember the times of dropping her off at Pre-K and so on. It reminds me of what the Bible says:"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away".Psalm 39:4. So we must live our lives to the fullest and savoring the moments we get to spend with our love ones. For those of you that have kids that are young enough to be driven to school, enjoy it (in spite of the traffic), because before you know it, they will be all grown up and gone.

Family Force 5

Get your tickets for

Family Force 5
in concert

Sunday, September 12

@ 7:00pm

at Calvary Chapel Kendall West Campus

John A. Ferguson High School

15900 SW 56th Street

Tickets on sale
on the LiFE FM website.

www.909lifefm.com



Tickets are $15.00 per person.

No childcare provided.

Lazy Saturday

What a beautiful morning today. This is why people want to come and live here. Anyways, after a great invigorating workout, my wife and I went to breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants (Sergios). This has turned into somewhat of a tradition for us and is one that I have grown to look forward to. It gives me time to re-connect with my wife and catch up on the goings on of the past week, and look forward to the coming one. I am grateful that I can do this.

Hypocrisy in Action

Speaker of the House Pelosi says that those who disrupt and protest at town hall meetings are un-American, however check the video out, and see her commending protestors and disruptors during protests agaisnt the war. I guess it only applies when people protest agaisnt what she supports, what a hypocrite.

Going to Jail for Praying?

Students, teachers and local pastors are protesting over a court case involving a northern Florida school principal and an athletic director who are facing criminal charges and up to six months in jail over their offer of a mealtime prayer. Story Here.

Sharing with Others

This morning during my devotional time I read from 1 Corinthians 9, is a chapter were Paul shares with us his views as it pertains to sharing the Gospel. He left us with some helpful hints about how to share God's message with others. He shows us that if we want to communicate, we must first take the time to understand the other person. Paul was a master at listening to his audience and afterward finding common ground with them. He did this before he told them about their need to change. As we seek to help others, we do well by applying Paul's method. We must begin by gaining their confidence. We don't need to be good at winning arguments; which seems to be the popular thing to do now a days. Instead we need to be good at listening to them and showing them we care. We should be like Paul who listened to the needs of people and then presented his message in a way that met their specific needs. We can do the same as we carry the message of hope to hurting people.

Dealing with Opposition

If you are like me, you have probably felt at one time or another that doing God's will is bringing lots of opposition in your life. Well we are not alone, this morning I was reading the book of Nehemiah (very practical book by the way) and as I read, I realized that carrying out the will of God will always bring opposition. My, and your and even Nehemiah's experience is no exception. We may face ridicule, or sarcasm and those things may sting. But we must not focus our attention on the sarcasm or the ridicule; we must continue to look to God as we seek to obey His plans for us.

So then the question to be asked is; how do we counter ridicule and disdain? Well it is essential that we seek God and also keep our guard up. We must counter ridicule with prayer. But we must also remember that prayer must be accompanied by action. And finally we must also realize that there is a cost to obeying and following God's plan, but spiritual growth is always worth the pain and sacrifice.

Dealing with Sin

This morning I was reading the Book of Ezra the tenth chapter, is a hard chapter to read. I can say that God was being harsh in dealing with His people, I mean making them divorce their wives and leave them and in some instances with their children. But these were the consequences that sin brought to their lives, and is the same with me, I have to know that sin in my life will always have terrible consequences, and not only for me but for those around me that love me and care for me. This reminder must help me in my choices.

I also must remember that if I do nothing about the sins in my life, I will never move forward. I must confess these sins to God and then take action against them.

In this chapter we read that the people did not stop at mere confession; they also committed themselves to reform, redirecting the course of their lives back into alignment with God's commands. It is never enough to just acknowledge that we have sins in our lives. We must follow the example of these Israelites and follow our confessions with action,accepting responsibility for our sins and then taking active steps to eliminate sinful and destructive behaviors from our lives.

The Insider

We continue to go through the book of Jonah we are currently in the 2 chapter. Pastor Pedro named this teaching the Insider and it focused on Jonah 1:17-2:10. This is what I took away from the teaching today:

>God prepares a way. God will cause storms in our lives to bring us back. He will do whatever it takes to bring me back to where I need to be.

When we run from God, we miss out on His purpose for our lives.

>God hears us pray. It must be real prayer, we must be honest when we pray. We must own up to our mistakes our prayers must be repentant.

>God gives us a new day. No matter what we have done, God will give us another chance if we are sincere in our repentance.

If we want to go anywhere in life we need to die to self.

If you run from God you will always get burn.

God will restore the years that the locust has eaten.

Big Brother is Coming

The White House strategy of turning supporters into snitches when they see "fishy" information about the health care debate may run afoul of the law, legal experts say. Story Here.

Awesome Quote!

"Congress treats the American taxpayer like an all-you-can-eat buffet ... Pelosi and Reid, you need to put yourself on a diet, or we'll do it for you in 2010". Lynne Marino.

Congress Gets an Upgrade or The Irony of Hypocrisy

Congress plans to spend $550 million to buy eight jets, a substantial upgrade to the fleet used by federal officials at a time when lawmakers have criticized the use of corporate jets by companies receiving taxpayer funds. Once again our representatives laugh in our faces and spend our hard earn tax money. Read Story Here.

Discipline

I don't know about you, but there have been times in my life when I have made a mess of things, and is during those times when I find myself calling out to God in desperation. I have to say that He has never failed me although some times I have failed Him. Anyways, I have always felt great joy and gratitude when He has picked me up and does not allow for my problems to defeat or destroy me. Sometimes I have gone through some long, dark nights struggling with my problems before experiencing the joy of victory. All these things have taught me that there are times I must wait on the Lord. But when I do finally overcome, the joy of success is only that much sweeter.

I have also realized this, that sometimes we may be in the most danger when everything in our lives is going well. We tend to get overconfident and think nothing can happen to us. But we must remember that pride and overconfidence usually come before a fall. We must always remember that we can't make it alone. How do we keep things practical, by practicing spiritual disciplines, by staying close to God, seeking Him through prayer, meditating on His Word, and worshiping Him. These are all key spiritual disciplines that will help us in our spiritual walk.

Twitter Down

If you were having problems posting on Twitter or Facebook, this might be the reason why. Twitter, Facebook, LiveJournal, Google Blogger and other Web sites were hobbled Thursday Twitter was completely down for many users and it all appears to have been because of a coordinated online attack on one political blogger in the Republic of Georgia. Read it Here.

His Plan

There are some things about God that I still can't wrap my mind around, one of them is that He has had a good plan for us, yes for each one of us from the beginning of time. If we ask Him to work in our lives, that plan will come about. No matter how many mistakes you or I have made, God can still turn things around so they work according to His plan. Our part in all of this is simple, we just need to surrender our lives to Him and seek to follow His will as He reveals it to us. No matter what you or I have done in the past, God still loves us and can work His restoration within us.

Sometimes we might feel as if we have lost our direction, and our tendency is to blame God or feel that somehow He is making things worse. Well it is during those times that we must remember that He has wonderful things planned for us, things even more wonderful than we could ever imagine. We must remember that if we surrender our lives to God, He can build new lives for us that are beyond our wildest dreams.

This all may cause some of us to wonder how we could ever know God's will and plan for our lives. This is a valid question and one that I have asked myself many times, and the answer is that we can know God's mind and heart because He has given us His Holy Spirit to live within us, to communicate with us. What a privilege that is! God's presence in our lives will guide us in the way He wants us to go.

Decisions

Sometimes when I talk to people about God and starting a relationship with Him, they tell me that they are not ready to commit because they don't want to lose their friends. Some also tell me that they don't want to deal with people mocking them. I can understand and even relate to what they say, however, I also tell them that we ought to look forward to what God is doing with our lives and not look back and become depressed or discouraged. I remind them that God has a new life for us that He has yet to unfold, and one day we will be made sinless just like Jesus.

We also need to remember that when we decide to be real about our relationship with God there will be opposition. When God starts to do a great work in our lives, enemies almost invariably rise up against it. There will be adversaries against our work as we seek to obey God's plan for our lives, but we must trust in the Lord to help us persevere in obedience to His will. Today, we must accept the reality that many will not be supportive of our new way of life. We must never allow such people to stand in the way of our spiritual transformation.

Simplicity

The closer I get to the Lord and the more I seek to learn from Him I realize how simple it is to have a close personal relationship with Him. It seems that is us that complicate things. Let me explain, God makes it clear in the Bible that we need nothing but willing hearts to receive God's power and forgiveness. It is also clear that we have no power or ability that can overcome the power of sin in our lives. In fact, a life of self-sufficiency is ultimately self-destructive. When we surrender our lives to God, we accept His way, only then can we experience His power in our lives. Sounds simple right? But we tend to complicate things by adding all kinds of "hoops" to jump through. We as humans try to add our wisdom to the process when the Bible clearly says that God's plan for our redemption doesn't utilize our human wisdom, strength, or skill. And we don't have to be famous or rich to receive God's forgiveness and power. It is in our nature to be self-sufficient and as such we may have a hard time accepting all this. We want to feel worthy of our salvation. But until we can admit that we need God's help to change, we will not have the power to redirect the course of our lives.

This simplicity also applies when we talk to others about Jesus. Many times when we are sharing with people about Him we overwhelm them with a series of complicated explanations and instructions. We have to realize that doing this will only confuse them and maybe even turn them off to our message. We must keep the message plain and simple, and that is, that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves; God has done everything necessary for our deliverance. As we share this incredible great message, lets remember to keep it simple, and trust the power of the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of the people we are trying to help.

Chicago Style Politics

Following reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been orchestrating an effort to intimidate members of Congress and Governors who raise legitimate concerns regarding the effectiveness of the stimulus, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Emanuel saying “While this type of scare tactic may work In Chicago, it will not work to intimidate me or other Members of the United States Congress.” Read letter here.

Random Thoughts

These are some of the thoughts I took away from my devotions time this morning, they might seem like they are all over the place but I know that there is a reason for it.

Encouragement is extremely important for anyone pursuing spiritual growth and a vibrant relationship with God. We all need encouragement to face new and difficult tasks. As we seek to live as God says we will need the encouragement and support of others. our relationships with those who encourage us will help us preserve our spiritual gains.

Success: Worldly success is never the final measure. If we refuse to live according to God's plan, we will not be truly successful in God's eyes.

God's Will: We can never ignore God's will without suffering the consequences. As we discover God's will, we need to act on it, redirecting the course of our lives to align with His plan.

Fear: We have nothing to fear in this life if we put our complete trust in God as our guide, deliverer, and protector. If we continually seek God, we can be assured that when problems come, He will watch over us, make our way secure, and draw us even closer to himself.

The People are Fed Up

I got this article from the Family Research Council:

Being home is no picnic for the Democrats in charge, as one blogger makes abundantly clear in a home video taken during a recent townhall meeting on health care. In a packed gymnasium, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius were booed so loudly that you can barely hear their answers to some basic questions. The comments that were audible only managed to cause more outrage.

One audience member asked how Americans can be confident in Congress to reform the health care system when members won't even read the legislation. Sebelius's response? "I'm not a member of Congress," which apparently absolves her from understanding the $1 trillion plan her Department will be tasked with implementing. That answer is still better than Sen. Specter's explanation, which was, "...[W]e have to make judgments very fast, and every bill is... understood by me before I vote." Sebelius tried to interrupt the hissing crowd but her defense of Senate Democrats was almost impossible to hear amid the jeering.

Of course, the mainstream press would have us believe through carefully choreographed broadcasts that Americans are perplexed but receptive to the White House plan. Producers have been wary to air anything but footage of the President in a controlled townhall environment, where he answers softball questions from a handpicked crowd. The media may show the grassroots as an agreeable bunch on the President's proposal, but as you'll see from the video on Panzramic, these public forums are turning into a public relations nightmare for the liberals in power.

In "Townhalls gone wild," Politico chronicles another side of the debate that includes "screaming constituents, protestors dragged out by the cops, [and, sad to say] congressmen fearful for their safety." More Democrats are canceling meetings, concerned about "angry, sign-carrying mobs" that greeted a long list of their colleagues including: Reps. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), Thomas Perriello (D-Va.), Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), and Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.). Bishop, who was escorted away by police after his meeting got out of hand, said, "I have no problem with someone disagreeing with positions I hold. But I also believe no one is served if you can't talk through your differences."

Unfortunately, Americans are talking. The leadership just refuses to listen. Until it does, House and Senate Democrats can expect a long, uncomfortable August where the temperatures outside are nothing compared to the heat they're feeling inside their District offices. FRC has posted a schedule of townhall meetings across the country and sample questions you can ask. Please make a point of going to the forums near you and share--in a respectable manner--your thoughts with your congressman. While you're at it, why not bring your video camera?

Only in a Free Country

Have you seen this poster?

Apparently, it's beginning to appear in odd places in Los Angeles, but nobody seems to know who's responsible for it.

Be Doers

In our Christian walk is not only good to read and learn the Bible, but once we have done that, we must do what the Bible says. God's words are available to everyone. Men and women can both learn, discern, grow, provoke, and encourage each other in what God has to say to us. We also need to understand that to be doers we need to set aside significant resources to devote to God and His kingdom. It will demand a great deal of commitment and sacrifice, but no matter what we give up,the gains will always be worth the cost.

As we become doers we need some definite standards of right and wrong. Without God's Word, such things become matters of individual opinion. That is why we see that today, whole systems of faith are based on opinions, they are founded on what people want to hear rather than what God has to say. Our path to being doers of the Word must follow the way God has set out for us in the Bible.

Hearing and learning God's Word is important, but we must act on what we hear. If we refuse to act, the hearing is all in vain. To be a doer, we too, must hear the Word of God and then act on it.

We are not All the Same

There have been times in my past when I was tempted to do things that were not necessarily wrong but that could have led me toward a fall. I knew that such activities were dangerous, but it was hard to turn away, especially since some of my friends were involved. But as I got closer to the Lord and studied His word I learned that when we feel something is wrong for us, it is wrong for us. It may not be wrong for someone else, but that is not our concern. We are responsible for our own lives. We must accept this responsibility, which includes keeping our own consciences clean. I also learned that we must not only avoid sin, but we also avoid the path that leads toward sin. And this is why is so important to have people to hold us accountable, because is in those instances that they can help by reminding us not to follow the paths that have led us to sin in the past.

Living to Please Others

In today's society, the concept of putting others ahead of us is foreign. Almost everything that we come in contact with tells us that we must do whatever it takes to please ourselves. Well that is not exactly what Jesus taught, He taught different, He told us that God wants us to show consideration for others. However, our spiritual pursuits should never cause us to be selfish. Rather true spiritual growth will be characterized by our willingness to take others into account and show care for them. Jesus who is our highest spiritual example, came to serve others, not himself. Therefore, we too, must learn to be patient with one another. This does not come naturally. In order to do it we must seek God and ask Him to help us develop the attitude of Jesus when dealing with others. This will motivate us to nurture our personal relationships, showing consideration and deference to others.

Does this Surprise Anyone?

Ex-Idol Contestant Says Show Is Rigged, some ousted season 8 American Idol top 36 semi-finalists including Felicia Barton, Kendall Beard, and Ju'Not Joyner participated in an online chat with the Idol website AI Now today. And during his frank online conversation with fans, Ju'Not came right out and said that the TV talent show is in fact rigged, and that its contracts are unfair to contestants. Full Story Here.

This is a New One

W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch. Four of the most powerful business leaders in America arrived at the White House one day last month for lunch with President Barack Obama,but even for powerful CEOs, there’s no such thing as a free lunch: White House staffers collected credit card numbers for each executive and carefully billed them for the cost of the meal with the president. Read Full Story Here.

The Danger of Criticism

Criticism is something that lures and entices people, and can destroy relationships, and cause major problems in the church, we must be vigilant and take personal inventory of our lives and see if we fall pray to this. Today I took some interesting thoughts from my time with the Lord dealing with this same subject, I was reading from Romans chapter 14. This is what I took:

We may find it easy to judge and criticize others who are still struggling spiritually. We might even be tempted to show them how "strong" we are by participating in activities that would cause them to stumble, tempt them to sin, or even offend them. We must realize that even if we have progressed spiritually to the point that certain circumstances no longer trouble us, we still need to be sensitive to the fact that our friends may be led astray by our activities. I know that we might say that is a big responsibility, but is what Jesus expects of us. And our love for others should lead us to avoid activities that might lead to their downfall. I found that the more mature we are, the more responsible we will be to respond to others in a loving way.

At times we may be tempted to point out and criticize the failures of others instead of looking critically at our own lives. But let me remind you that it isn't our primary responsibility to "straighten" out other people's lives. Besides, the job of "straightening" out our own lives is more than enough to keep us busy. If we spend our time pointing the finger at others, we will never make progress ourselves.

They Don't Get It Do They?

Despite the questionable impact of the first stimulus package, there is actually discussion of a second stimulus package. So far, the states have spent roughly 10 percent of the $787 billion package, but it has yet to register on the "recovery" radar. In fact, the only thing that seems to have changed is the unemployment rate and not in the direction the President had hoped.

Given where the money's been directed, maybe none of us should be surprised. Mark Kelly of the Heritage Foundation did some digging on where the House Speaker funneled her District's dollars, and the list of projects is enough to send taxpayers through the roof. Let me put it this way: Nancy Pelosi is trying to stimulate a lot more than San Francisco's economy. While the average American is worried about losing his shirt, Congress is funding actors who aren't wearing any!

Here are some of the Speaker's pet project that are being funded with yours' and mine hard earned dollars:

According to Kelly, $50,000 was sent to an initiative called CounterPulse in San Francisco that just sponsored a "Perverts [Sleep Around]" event on July 25, urging people to "Join your fellow pervs for some explicit, twisted fun!"

A company called Jess Curtis/Gravity, Inc. will receive $25,000, presumably to help boost their Symmetry Project, which features nude couples in compromising positions.

Other programs are too crude and embarrassing to even mention. But shouldn't that say something to the third most powerful leader in America? If these projects are too obscene to talk about, what business does the U.S. government have funding them? This isn't just waste it's reckless, indecent garbage sponsored by Congress and paid for by you and me. If these are the priorities of America's new leadership, then we should definitely get a second opinion on their vision for an issue as significant as health care. For more on Pelosi's "waste" line, visit Mark's blog here.

Sources: FRC. Mark Kelly

Respect for Authority

I posted before that in my opinion one of the reasons society is so messed up is because of the lack of accountability, no one wants to be held accountable for their actions. Well today I look at another reason I think is promoting the decline of society and that is the lack of respect for authority. Yet as I read my bible i see that God is very clear about this subject. this morning I was reading the 13 chapter of the book of Romans and there we see how God defines authority and what our duties are.

In this chapter, Paul is very clear in pointing out that government (authority) exists because God allows it to exist. Therefore, we are told to submit to the government as we would submit to God Himself. And we may wonder how God could want us to submit to authorities who do not always act with perfect justice. Well this too is addressed in the Bible, for example we see in the book of Acts 4:13-22 that there is a place for civil disobedience. Sometimes we need to resist evil, even if it is sanctioned by the governing authorities. But we must remember that we are called to support and obey authorities that seek to uphold justice. However, when governing authorities stand in direct contradiction to God's will, we need to seek the support of others and try to change the situation.

Accountability

It's my opinion that one of the main reasons why our society is so messed up is because no one wants to be held accountable for their actions. We see the perfect example in corporate America, we see how companies are run irresponsibly and when they get in trouble instead of accepting responsibility, what do they do? They run to the government and ask for a "bailout". And is not only businesses, we see it too in individuals. We see how people spend irresponsibly, and buy things they can't afford, creating great amounts of credit card debts, but when is time to pay, they try every available loophole to not pay. Well as I was doing my devotions this morning, I found that the Scriptures have a lot to say about accountability, here are some of my thoughts:

When we are ill-equipped or unprepared for a certain role in life, it is important that we find a godly mentor to give us direction and hold us accountable. All of us need the help of a godly mentor who knows what we are going through. We must avoid the tendency to "go it alone". We need to ask God to provide others who will hold us accountable, help us grow, and preserve our spiritual gains.

Procrastinating when God has shown us what He requires is a form of disobedience and a lack of accountability. plans to do God's will "tomorrow" should never be mistaken for obedience. If we know what God wants us to do, we need to get on with it.

So now we understand that we need to be accountable and that we need people around us that will help us in this endeavor, but we also need to be open for their help, why do I say this, because when we are confronted with our sin, it is tempting to deny its existence. But instead, we should admit it, repent of it, and seek God's forgiveness. Then we can redirect our course and praise God as He redeems our lives.

And finally let's remember that we all must take responsibility for our actions. While we may realize that some of what we suffer is a consequence of our parents mistakes, we must not use this as an excuse for our own failures or lack of accountability. We need to take responsibility for them. We also need to take responsibility for how we choose to deal with the suffering brought into our lives by others. We alone are accountable to God for our actions and reactions.

Some Thoughts for Tuesday

Here are some thoughts I took away from my devotions this morning:

Conflicts can help me pinpoint problems in my life. Once I see them, I should accept responsibility for them and ask God to help me redirect my course. There have been times in my life were I have rebelled against God and after those times I have realized that I need to repent and renew my commitment to Him. I have found that He is always willing to offer me a fresh start no matter how serious my failures have been.

Sometimes doing right requires careful planning. Even when I entrust my life to God, He expects me to take action.

As I face difficult circumstances, I can find encouragement in the fact that God is ultimately in control. If I entrust my life to Him, He will lead me through even the darkest situations.

Regardless of what my spiritual heritage has been, however, I must accept responsibility for my own life and for my relationship with God.

When I feel cut off from God, I may be tempted to doubt that He is able to rescue me. It is at such times that I must rely not on feelings but on facts. I must remember who God is and what He has done for me in the past.

Killing Cockroaches

During my vacation in the Bahamas last week, I had the chance to read the latest book from Tony Morgan, Killing Cockroaches. The book is a quick read (I read it in three days) with some pretty insightful information that have great application for leaders in the church and pretty much for anyone doing ministry. Here are some of the key thoughts that grabbed my attention and kept me thinking:

"It is God's church, so I am confident that his intentions will ultimately prevail".

"All leadership comes with responsibility. And even though it's God's church, I have a job to do".

"The only problem is that safety breeds contentment, which ultimately limits the need for faith. We have to find that place of healthy tension between being confident in our calling and knowing that we cannot complete the mission without God's intervention".

"Leaders must battle the status quo. We have to challenge the existing process and identify new methods for fulfilling our mission. Yes, the message is the same, but we live in an ever-changing world".

"At some point we'll all have to give an account for what we've done with our lives and for that which the Lord has given us".

"I've found that knowledge can get in the way. We can get consumed with knowledge. It can slow us down".

"You get to decide where your time goes. You can either spend it moving forward, or you can spend it putting out fires".

"But we learned long ago that to try to make everyone happy, you have to be comfortable with mediocrity".

"It's important that my kids have a great experience. If you can't convince me this will happen, I'm probably not going to risk visiting your service".

"If your church shut its doors today, would your community know it?".

"If you have to manufacture excitement, it's probably something you should stop doing".

This book has really had an impact on me and it has made me rethink about how to do ministry, there are a whole lot more thoughts I got from the book and I will post some more later. I do think that if you are doing ministry or are in any kind of leadership position this is a must read.

It's Better in the Bahamas!

I remember a few years back the Bahamian tourist people started a campaign to bring attention to their islands, and they made commercials that always had the phrase "It's Better in the Bahamas". Well this last week my family and I were blessed with the opportunity to find out if the phrase is true. Yes we spent a whole week in Freeport. We had been to the Bahamas before but i don't count those times because we were there on cruises and to me that is like the movie Vacation were they stopped at tourists spots for about ten seconds. Anyways, this time we really got to spend quality time on the island. I must say that we were not disappointed, we got to do a whole lot of relaxing and hanging out at the beach working on our tans. To me is very important to spend time with my family and I did just that.

During our stay we got to meet the locals and I must say that I found them to be friendly and courteous, wow what a difference from, oh never mind, I won't go there. We also got to do different things like para sailing, yeah my daughter and I did just that. I got to tell you that I don't much like heights but I felt that i needed to 'conquer" my fear, and besides my daughter kept pestering me about it. I must say that it was an awesome experience just to see the island from the air and feeling like you are flying, if you never done it, give it a try.

Getting ready to strap the chute.

Getting ready to take off.

Coming in for the landing.
A vacation is not complete unless you hit the local eateries, and we did just that, I got to say there were two things that I found delicious, one was the "Bahamian style" pizza and the other was the local dessert called guava duff. Man I could eat those two things all day long. All in all the week went by too fast, but I thank the Lord that I got to experience the Bahamas with those that are most important to me, my wife and daughter.

So over all I had an amazing week, awesome time with my wife and daughter. These are the things that matter, spending time with those you love. And is true It is Better in the Bahamas.

Musings on a Monday

Well vacation is over and the new week has started. I had a great time but it's good to be back home. One of the things I really enjoyed on this vacation was the times of devotions I had, I really felt the Lord speaking to me. I really want to continue with that discipline and in doing so I will share what I feel the Lord is saying to me; so here are some thoughts on today's devotions:

As I reflect on my life, I must judge my past performance by God's standards of justice. I must also look honestly at my failures, and avoid the tendency to get defensive.

I have come to realize that if I'm fearless in my stand for truth and honesty, I will then build the foundation for true spiritual growth.

God is in charge of my world! He is master over all peoples and nations!

As I learn to believe in God's control even when things aren't going my way, I find that my life can still be serene in the midst of conflict. I can know that God desires what is best for me. Seeking His will and obeying His direction for my life is always best.

Tolerance may be a virtue, but endorsing sin never is, and the consequences of sin can last for generations.

If God is on my side, even the greatest of difficulties will not stand in the way of victory.

I have noticed that the most common command in all of Scripture is "Do not be afraid".

God shows me time and again that no matter how terrible the circumstances, He is able to give me victory, all I need to do is trust in Him.

I don't know about you, but is hard for me to give up control. I want to do things my way, and of course I want to take the credit for success. but that is exactly what God says not to do. He tells us to surrender all to Him. I need to learn to give my battles to Him. Whether I like it or not the truth is that I can't win them alone. But with God's help, I have found that no enemy is too large or terrible. I have found that if I'm willing to put my life in His hands, He will give me the victory.

As I honestly reflect on my spiritual condition, I come to realize that my strength comes from God as I seek Him through prayer and meditation on His Word.

Loving the Unloved

God specializes in loving those who are unlovely and undeserving. The fact is, not one of us deserves God's love, and those of us who think we deserve it are refusing to see the truth. God's love is bestowed on all who admit their need and respond to His love for them. Sometimes those who are despised by society are the first to admit their need for God. That is why such people often have the most dramatic stories of how God has transformed their lives. No one is innocent of wrongdoing; yet no sin is too great for God to forgive. Therefore, those who have admitted their failures are better off than "respectable" people who are refusing to see the truth about their need for God. Admitting that we have failed and need that we need God is essential. We must not allow pride and social standing to keep us from admitting our need for God at any point in our spiritual growth process.

The Glorious Fourth

In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams told her of the actions of the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. "The second day of July, 1776 [the actual day the Declaration was signed], will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever."

As we celebrate Independence Day, as John Adams so aptly predicted, we must not forget nor overlook the intense struggle our Founding Fathers faced. Their Christian faith played a critical role in an era that altered the history of the world.

There is not a better example of this seamless devotion to God and country than Samuel Adams. In his time, Sam was far more famous than his cousin, John. Sam was known as the last of the great Puritans and the father of the Revolution. It was Sam Adams who organized the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence. (By the way, if you're going out to a Tea Party on Saturday, historians believe that the first tea party, the one in Boston, was organized by Samuel Adams. It was that Boston Tea Party that lit the fuse of the American Revolution).

When Sam Adams was elected to that First Continental Congress and traveled to the gathering of leaders in Philadelphia, he thought the Continental Congress needed to begin its work on its knees--in prayer. But when the motion was made to call in a local clergyman to lead the worship, John Jay of New York and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina objected. We are too diverse, they said. We could never agree on whose prayers to say.

Rising to his feet, Sam Adams spoke: "I am no bigot," he said, "I can hear the prayer of any man of piety and virtue who is a friend to his country." Deeply moved, the delegates voted to approve Sam Adams' idea. The next morning, amid reports of the British moving against the people of his hometown of Boston, Sam knelt in prayer with his fellow delegates, as the Rev. Jacob Duch? prayed. "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me, and fight against them that fight against me."

That inspired move by Sam Adams did much to overcome suspicions among the delegates. Joseph Reed of Philadelphia called that prayer "a masterly stroke." Those Founding Fathers could now work together for liberty.

Soon, Sam Adams would sign the Declaration of Independence. Alongside Sam Adams' name you can find that of Charles Carroll, a delegate from Maryland. Carroll was the richest man in Congress and the only Roman Catholic. Nowhere else on earth in 1776 could you find an Evangelical like Sam Adams pledge "his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor" alongside a Catholic like Charles Carroll. They both risked death by hanging for signing that great Declaration. But they served the King of Kings and had no fear of King George III.

In our efforts to maintain the freedoms won by our forefathers we must be like them--people of action and prayer. We must never sever our personal faith from our public stand for faith, family and freedom.

Resources: FRC

I'm Back

I have been away from blogging for awhile, it's been kind of busy with school, work, and life in general but I'm back and will try to keep up.