SOUL CAFFEINE By: Dave Willis

© Copyright 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION…………………….6 1. Two-Minute Bible Studies………….7 7 Things God wants you to know about Yourself

Leaving the Crowd and Finding a Savior God’s Healing Power It’s All about Jesus! How to be Happy according to Jesus How to impress God The Armor of God David and Goliath The Story of Esther The Real Message of Christmas The 6 Things Every Christian Must Do 7 Things God Hates 5 Things God wants You to do Today

2. MARRIAGE & FAMILY…………31 Date Night How to Be a Better Parent The Best Parenting Advice I’ve ever Childlike Faith 3 Keys to a Better Marriage Why Christians Should Never Marry Non-Christians

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A Life Lesson from Chuck E. Cheese 6 Questions to Ask Before You Get Married

3. CHURCH & MINISTRY………….45 What Churches could learn from Disney You Might be a Christian if… Empty Worship God’s Family What is Worship? How Preachers could be better Communicators Top Ten Reasons Why I Love the Bible!

4. PERSPECTIVE FROM SPORTS….57 Playing Hurt Life is like a Marathon March Madness What the Karate Kid taught me about Life

5. INSPIRING STORIES…………….63 Heart Transplant Finding Strength in Times of Tragedy What God is doing while you Sleep Nobody should Walk Alone A Message from God Whose Daughter is She?

6. WORK & CAREER……………….72

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A Message for those struggling to find Work 6 Questions to Ask before accepting a new Job Chasing Trophies

7. HOT TOPICS……………………….77 Pornography in the Bible The Truth about Abortion What the Bible Actually says about Money Homosexuality and the Church What does it mean to be a Man?

8. LIFE LESSONS…………………….85 Dealing with Disappointment Identity Theft The Myth of More How to make the Right Choice Don’t be a Hoarder Spiritual Sunburn Life’s Storms The Patch Principle Let God be your Financial Advisor Lessons from a Happy Meal

9. ANSWERS TO LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONS………………………99 Why are We Here? What happens when you die?

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How do you know if you are saved? What matters most to Jesus? How can you find God’s Will for your Life? Who does God love the most? How can you tell who your “Real Friends” are?

10. CHANGING THE WORLD……..110 How to change the world according to Jesus 5 Simple Ways to change the world How the reach the Next Generation How to be a Superhero Dangerous Faith

11. QUICK SHOTS OF SOUL CAFFEINE……………………………119 The Whole Bible Summed up in 200 Words Top Tweets The Best Advice I’ve Ever Heard The Power of “Thank You” A Prayer for Today

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS……………129 ABOUT THE AUTHOR……………..130

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INTRODUCTION When I go all day without caffeine, my head feels like it’s going to explode. This unpleasant sensation doesn’t happen very often, because I rarely go more than a few hours without a cup of coffee or a Diet Coke.

My Caffeine Habit is probably unhealthy, but I think it draws some important parallels to the Healthy Habit of Encouragement. When we go all day without encouragement, our very soul starts to ache. We’re starved for it and there seems to be a desperate shortage of it in the world.

This book is intended to be a small part of the solution. When you find yourself needing a quick jolt of encouragement, I hope you’ll read a few pages and find what you need. The readings are intentionally short, because I know that we’re all rushed for time, so by design, each reading can all be completed in two minutes or less.

I pray that the words will help give you hope, perspective, inspiration and encouragement. We could all use more of that!

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1. TWO-MINUTE BIBLE STUDIES

7 Things God wants you to know about Yourself Your true identity can't be found by "looking within yourself" for the answers. Our identity can only be found by looking to the One who Created us. Here are seven important principles God wants you to know about Yourself:

1. You are Loved. One of the most mind-blowing realities the Bible teaches is that the God of the Universe loves us! He loves you so much He sent His only Son Jesus to rescue you and bring you home. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

2. You Need Jesus. He desires to be the Savior of your Soul, the Leaders of your Life, your guide and your friend. Without Him, your life will never be what God intended it to be. With Him, you can experience all God has for you. Jesus did not come to make you religious; He came to make you alive! "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

3. You are a Masterpiece. You might now feel like it, but how you feel doesn't change who you are! God's sees you as a one-in-a-trillion priceless Masterpiece created in His Own Image. The Mona Lisa has got nothing on You! "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

4. You are Forgiven. Once you trust Jesus for forgiveness,

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your sins are no longer counted against you, so don't live in regret! You are not defined by what you've done. God never measures our value by what we've done or by what's been done to us, but by what He has done for us on the Cross. God's Grace takes away our sin and makes us a New Creation so we can live in freedom and peace. "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." 1 John 1:9

5. You are not Alone. We all have those moments where we feel lonely and abandoned, but even in your darkest hour, God is with you. He has never left your side and He never will. "...God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

6. You are part of God's Family. Our faith in Christ brings us adoption into God's family. You are literally a Son or Daughter of God and an heir in His Eternal Kingdom. "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! " 1 John 3:1

7. You have a Home in Heaven. Jesus is preparing a place just for you. A perfect place awaits where the trouble and pain of this life will be no more and you'll celebrate forever with your Savior and all of God's Family! "“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." John 14:1-3

Leaving the Crowd and Finding a Savior When I was a kid in Sunday School, we learned a little song about a Bible story. It started out with the lyrics, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man a wee little man was he."

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From the first line of that song, the teacher had my attention for a couple reasons. First off, I thought "Zacchaeus" was a cool name and secondly, I was a pretty short kid so I could relate to the Hobbit-like stature of the guy in the song. As I learned and song and story, Jesus started to seem more "real" to me. To my young mind, this story brought to life the personality of Jesus and it illuminated the simple path to Salvation that He offers us. As I read the story now in adulthood, I still find those beautiful aspects of our Savior's Character and love for all people. I also see the importance of getting away from the crowd if the crowd is keeping me away from Jesus!

Take a moment and read this familiar passage of Scripture and the let words sink in. I believe that this story has the power to change your life! The Scripture is in italics and I've added some additional comments in bold to help you apply these truths to your own life.

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way." Luke 19:1-4

Sometimes connecting with Christ requires leaving the Crowd. Remember that the Crowd can't save you...only Jesus can.

"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly." Luke 19:5-6

Don’t delay your response to Christ. Don't make excuses, just step out in faith!

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” Luke 19:7

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Jesus loves imperfect people (and that includes you and me). His invitation to us is based on His goodness, not ours.

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Luke 19:8

Once Jesus gives us new life, we need to start a new lifestyle. Once we've been made right with God, we need to make things right with people.

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:9-10

God’s Healing Power We all need healing. When Jesus was walking around Israel 2000 years ago, people doubted his ability to "save" but nobody doubted his ability to heal. Today, ironically, Christians trust completely his ability to Save them from sin and Hell but we often doubt his ability to heal us. The Bible teaches that He is "...the same yesterday, today and forever," so if He healed before, He can heal today. Below I've put one of the Bible's most familiar stories of healing along with some practical steps we can apply to our own lives.

"A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed."Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering." Mark 5:24-29

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An Encounter with Jesus brings Freedom and Healing.

"He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Mark 5:34

I believe that most of us want to experience a supernatural encounter with Jesus. We want healing (physical, financial, emotional and spiritual) in our own lives, but we don't always know how to receive these gifts that Jesus is freely offering to us. Below is a simple outline to follow. Remember, Jesus is not a genie in a bottle or a vending machine who exists to give you what you think you want. He is your loving Savior whose plans for your life are much better than your own plans. The healing He brings might not always look exactly like you think it should, but in the scope of eternity, it will prove to be exactly what you need for your good and God's Glory.

1. Believe in God’s Power.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

2. Pray with Faith.

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up." James 5:15

3. Trust God no matter what.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5-6

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It’s all about Jesus! The Bible teaches that your life is forever linked to Jesus Christ. He desires to give you hope, peace, grace and purpose. He didn't come to make you "religious," He came to make you alive! How you choose to respond to Jesus' invitation, "Follow me" will be the most significant decision of your life. Below is a simple outline of who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.

Why did Jesus come?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

Why do we need Jesus?

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

How do we follow Jesus?

1. Believe in Jesus and in what He has done for you.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:7-8

2. Confess that Jesus is the Leader of your life and the Savior of your soul.

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are

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justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

3. Repent of your self-focused and self-righteous ways and turn to Jesus.

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

4. Be Baptized into Jesus.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:26-27

5. Live a New Life for Jesus and spend eternity celebrating with Him!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

6. Obey Jesus' Teachings as your Standard for Living

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23

7. Tell Others how they can follow Jesus too.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

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How to be Happy according to Jesus We all want to find "happiness." It's so much hard-wired into humanity that even our nation's Founding Fathers made sure "the pursuit of happiness" would forever be a universally recognized right and freedom. The problem is, we're not very good at finding true happiness. The World seems to tell us that it could be found in buying a certain product or losing a certain amount of weight or living in a certain neighborhood, but as we've all discovered, there is more to it than that.

I believe that if we want a happy life, we should find our answers from the giver of life. Jesus gives us a roadmap to happiness in the first section of Matthew Chapter 5. This opening to His most famous public sermon (The Sermon on the Mount) is often called the Beautitudes because he begins each line with "Blessed." When he is talking about each of these groups being "blessed," he is essentially (in our modern language) saying that they are being truly happy. As you will see, Jesus' description of the path to true happiness is drastically different than what our consumeristic world offers, but I believe His path is the one worth taking.

Here's the text from Jesus' teachings. Below each verse, I've made some points in bold to give some application:

Blessed (Happy) are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

You must admit your Need for God.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Keep your Heart tender enough to feel Pain and Sorrow.

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Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

Trust God as the only Source of your Strength.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Desire to do the Right Thing even when it’s Hard.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

Forgive others as God has Forgiven You.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8

Come to God with Childlike Faith and Love.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

Be the First to stop the Fighting.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

Remember that Suffering for Christ in this life equals Glory with Christ in Eternity.

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How to impress God God is not easily impressed. I mean, honestly, how can we "impress" the Creator of the Universe? We can paint pictures, but He can paint sunsets. We can make money, but He can make galaxies. We can sing songs, but He can invent Music. As I read the Bible, I see that God isn't impressed by our rule-keeping our creativity or even our religious discipline nearly as much as He is pleased with our hearts when we are willing to love and serve people the way Jesus did.

There is a great line in the movie 'Gladiator" where the General inspires his men for battle by saying, "What we do in life echoes in Eternity!" The literal Truth of that statement can be found all over the Bible and specifically with the Teachings of Jesus. God is eternally impressed when we love the unlovable, forgive the unworthy, serve the poor and honor those who can't repay us (that's exactly what Jesus did). On the flipside, God is eternally angry with those who refuse to do those things.

I've put the text of one of the most sobering, challenging, thought-provoking and even controversial teachings in all of the Bible. As you read Jesus' Words, allow the Holy Spirit to direct your thoughts and actions towards loving people the same way God loves us.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:34-36

There should be no such thing as a Self-Focused Christian. What we do for others has eternal significance.

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It's impossible to Love God and Disregard People.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:37-40

There is no such thing as an "insignificant person." Jesus values lost and hurting people. Helping those who can't repay us is one of our purest acts of Worshipping God.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:41-45

God has no tolerance for our selfishness or our cold-hearted indifference towards others.

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

Every person will spend Eternity somewhere. You'll either be with Jesus in Glory or separated from him in Agony. Choose Jesus!

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The Armor of God The first time I suited up for tackle football, I was scared to death! I was a scrawny ten year old, and the stakes were a lot higher than they had been in flag football where I knew I wasn't going to get bulldozed to the ground by some dude who already had facial hair. The one bit of solace I had was knowing I had the right protective gear. I made sure my helmet was fastened, my shoulders pads were tight, and everything was covered the way it needed to be. The equipment gave me the confidence and protection I needed to engage in an epic, Pee Wee League rumble!

In life, we're in a series of battles. Chances are, you're in the middle of one right now. God doesn't want us going into battle unprotected, so He has given us the "equipment" we need for our protection and ultimately our victory. Below is a passage of Scripture from Ephesians which explains what "The Armor of God" is all about and how your can wear it well. I've put some additional points in bold to help encourage you.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Ephesians 6:10-11

God created you to be a Conqueror.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

To win the battle, you must know your enemy's tactics.

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:13

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To win the battle, you must follow God’s Game plan. His plans will always work out better than yours!

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:14-16

God has given us everything we need for Victory!

David and Goliath One of the most famous stories in the Bible is the story of a Shepherd boy named David who battled a Giant Warrior named Goliath. This story has come to symbolize courage, underdogs and even military strategy, but I believe the truth of this story teaches us a valuable lesson about something unexpected. The story of David and Goliath is really a story about Trusting God and being true to yourself.

Let's take a look at this familiar passage of Scripture and I think you'll see this story come to life in a new way...

“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” 1 Samuel 17:32

God will often call us to do things that don't make sense! David knew what God had called him to do. It didn't make sense for him to fight a Giant, but it didn't have to make sense. He knew God was with him so he moved forward with courage and confidence.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can

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fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” 1 Samuel 17:33

There will always be people who try to talk you out of your dreams, so you must resolve to stay true to what you know in your gut you need to do. Never let someone talk you out of something that God has called you to do!

Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 1 Samuel 17:38-39

Remember that when God calls you to something, He won't call you to become someone else to do it. He wants you to be the unique masterpiece He created you to be!

Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 1 Samuel 17:41-47

Remember that God is the source of your strength!

As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to

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meet him. 1 Samuel 17:48

Don't run away from the challenge, have the faith to run towards it. God is with you!

Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 1 Samuel 17:49-50

Don't focus on what you don't have, because God is all you really need. With God, you can conquer ANYTHING!

The Story of Esther The story of Esther is a story of Faith and Courage. It's also a story of how God can work through any set of circumstances when we're willing to trust and obey. Esther trusted God and consequently, she was able to save her entire nation from Genocide. Below are some passages of Scripture from the Book of Esther as well as some additional insights in bold to help you apply these Truths to your own life.

On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him…to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. Esther 1:10-12

Husbands, Always treat your wife with respect and adoration! If you use your wife, you might lose your wife.

Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than

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any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Esther 2:17

Esther was given favor and leadership, but it came with a price. Selfless Service is the price of Leadership.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

Esther had to choose between saving her people and protecting her own life. At some point, we all must choose between our Comfort and our Destiny.

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:15-16

Trust God and do what has to be done! Start with Prayer and End with Action. God will take care of the rest!

The Real Message of Christmas Christmas marks the birth of Christ which is the best news the world has ever heard, but why is that such good news? Why does that message get trumped by the sales at Walmart every year? Why does even the word "Christmas" get replaced with more generic "holiday" greetings?

The Bible holds the answers to the true story and the real meaning of Christmas. Let's look at Scripture's account of Christ's birth. I've put some additional points in bold to help

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you apply the Bible's principles to your own life.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:8-10

Jesus came to bring hope, life and grace to the world. He would live a perfect life and give His life on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins so we can be in right standing with God. He is the Good News!

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12

Sometimes God's Greatest Gifts come in unexpected Packages.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2:13-15

Hearing God's Word isn't enough. We must respond to it by following Christ. Seek Jesus! Good intentions don't mean much without good actions!

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:16-18

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The Shepherds shared the Good News that was shared with them. Once we experience "The Good News" Jesus brings, we need to share it with others. Our faith in Jesus is personal but it was never meant to be private.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:19-20

Treasure the Gift of God's Grace and remember the reason for the season is Jesus! Merry Christmas!

The 6 Things Every Christian Must Do I've been reading through the One Year Bible which is a wonderful source of daily encouragement to me. I'd encourage everyone to find a Bible Reading plan (check out www.youversion.com for several great options).

Today's reading included Mark Chapter 1. Mark was the first of the Gospels to be written and in the very first chapter, I believe Jesus is giving us a pattern through His own actions for us to model. Jesus does six distinct tasks that are essential for every follower of Christ to carry out. If we'll do these six things, I believe God will change the world in us and through us!

1. Be Baptized

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9-11

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2. Resist Temptation

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1:12-13

3. Share the Good News

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:14-15

4. Partner with other Believers

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-18

5. Help those in Need

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. Mark 1:32-33

6. Stay Connected to God

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

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4 Christian Duties In Mark Chapter 6, Jesus sends out His 12 Disciples on their first Mission. Up until this point, they had just been soaking up information, but now it was time to put their knowledge and their faith into action. As Jesus commissions them to go, we see four distinct aspects of their duty. As modern-day Christ followers, I believe these four tasks are just as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago. If we will consistently put these into practice, we will succeed in our mission as well.

1. Rely on God’s Power, not your own.

And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. Mark 6:7

2. Trust Him to provide your needs.

He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes. Mark 6:8-9

3. Don’t Waste your Energy.

“Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” Mark 6:10-11

4. Help as many people as you can.

So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. Mark 6:12-13

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7 Things God Hates "God is Love." 1 John 4:8

The Bible clearly teaches that God not only does love, God is Love, so we often assume that a loving God doesn't hate anything. The Truth is, because God loves us so much, He hates anything that could harm us. For example, God created the gift of marriage, so the Bible teaches that "God hates divorce." God obviously loves divorced people, but His heart breaks when marriages end that way. He wants more for us.

When we learn what God hates, we'l be able to see more clearly the blessings and the potential pitfalls that are before us. The most famous passage in the Bible that deals with these issues is found in the Book of Proverbs. It says...

"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community." Proverbs 6:16-19

Let's unpack these one at a time:

1. Pride. "Haughty eyes" refers to the sin of pride. God loves all people so when we look down on others, it does harm to them and it does harm to us. Pride is pure Selfishness. Pride is the sin that got Satan kicked out of Heaven. Pride is the soil in which all other sin takes root.

2. Lying. "A lying tongue" refers to all lying in every form. Jesus is the Truth. Satan is the "Father of Lies." Truth and Love are the Cornerstones of God's Character, so anything that is the enemy of Truth is the Enemy of God.

3. Unprovoked Violence. "Hands that shed innocent blood"

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refers to all forms of attack (whether physical, verbal or psychological) motivated by selfishness. This behavior is the opposite of being a "Peacemaker" which is what God calls us to be.

4. Impure Motives. "A heart that devises wicked schemes" refers to all dark and secret motives that lead a person towards Sin. God isn't concerned with outward appearances...He wants us to have pure hearts and pure motives.

5. Rebellion. "Feet that are quick to rush into evil" refers to rebellion against God's perfect Law. Those who defiantly choose a path of lawlessness are choosing to make themselves Enemies of God. Despite our defiant sin, we can turn back to God (repent) and be received with open arms because of His Amazing Grace.

6. Injustice. "A false witness who pours out lies" refers to anyone who stands in the way of Justice. Whenever the helpless or innocent are victimized, God's Holy Anger rages. Lovers of God must also strive to bring Justice to all people...especially for the victimized and marginalized.

7. Dissension. "A person who stirs up conflict in the community" refers to anyone who become a threat to Unity and Peace. This one is listed last to give it special attention, because God deeply desires a unified Spirit of Peace within His Family (The Church). There is power in Unity and there is destruction in dissension. That doesn't mean we always agree, but it does mean that we work diligently to maintain what the Bible refers to as, "...the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace."

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5 Things God wants you to do Today If you're like me, you've spent a good amount of time trying to figure out God's plan for you life. I think that's a natural desire. We want to see the big picture. We want to know how all the pieces fit together and whether or not we're on the right track.

One of the most liberating discoveries I've found in God's Word is that we don't need to figure out the plan. We were never meant to. Not once in the Bible does it say, "Figure it out!" Instead, we're told to Trust God and live life one day at a time. That doesn't mean we don't have plans and aspirations for the future; it simply means we embrace each day as a gift from God and allow Him to set our course.

Since we know that God wants us to fully embrace the moment, instead of trying to figure out every detail of His long-term plan for your life, let's start by focusing in on what He wants you to do today. If we'll do these things each day, I'm confident God will take care of the rest.

1. Be Thankful. Give thanks for Today and for all you have. God's Will for our life includes a constant spirit of gratitude regardless of our circumstances. When we choose to give thanks, even if our circumstances don't improve, our perspective certainly will.

"This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28

2. Don't Worry. Refuse to let fear rob you of your peace. God is bigger than whatever you're stressed about! Give your worries over to Him.

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"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6

3. Seek God. He wants a relationship with you. He wants you to pursue His Kingdom because you will eternally be part of it.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33

4. Help Others. We live in a selfish world, but selfishness isn't part of God's plan for any of our lives. He wants us to care for others every chance we get.

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

5. Trust God. Every difficult circumstance in your life is something God will use for your good and His glory. He has great blessings in store for you. Trust Him and don't give up!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11

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2. MARRIAGE & FAMILY Date Night! Once a week, my Smokin' Hot Wife Ashley and I go on a date. It's something we look forward to all week. It's a chance to reconnect (without kids) and just enjoy each other's company. It's an opportunity not only to keep passion alive but it also keeps our friendship alive (and both passion and friendship are key to a healthy marriage).

It's heartbreaking for me to see how many marriages are really hurting. As a Pastor, I often talk to struggling married couples that would refer to how great things were "back when they were dating." I always stop then and ask, "Why did you stop dating?" They throw out all kind of excuses and with time and money tight, there are always reasons to put your marriage on autopilot, but your marriage is always worth the effort!

I can't think of a better investment than investing in your marriage. Babysitters might be expensive, but they're a lot cheaper than Divorce Lawyers! Make a Date Night a protected part of your calendar. If you're feeling a little rusty and need a few suggestions for what to do on a Date Night with your spouse, here are a few tips...

1. Go on a walk and hold hands. If the weather's bad, you can do it in Walmart. You always see entertaining stuff in the Walmart!

2. Go someplace new. It's easy to get in a rut of doing the same things over and over, so be intentional about planning new experiences. Try museums, festivals, new parts of town and places you don't normally go.

3. Get Dessert. If you need to save money, eat dinner at home

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and then go out someplace nice just to get dessert. You'll get the restaurant experience and the best part (dessert) without paying much.

4. Once in awhile get away overnight. This takes a lot more planning, but it will do wonders for your marriage. Start by planning a one-night stay at a local Bed and Breakfast so you'll be close to the kids if there's an emergency, but you'll still feel like you're a world away. When your kids get a little older, get away for longer periods.

5. Laugh. Go somewhere where you can laugh. Good stand up comedy is one option. When you laugh with someone, you're more likely to open up with them. Couples that laugh together stay together!

6. Pull the car over and make out. This one's my favorite.

Well, tonight's actually our Date Night, so I've got to run. I hope the spark in your marriage never dies out and even if it has, it can be reignited with a little effort. Never stop loving your spouse!

How to be a Better Parent I want to be the best Dad I can be. If you're a parent, I'm sure you can relate.

There's no task in life more important than raising kids, but some days it's so hard! Parenting is not for wimps! It's serious business and it can feel like walking through a mine field! None of us has it all figured out, but I've studied God's World and learned some valuable principles from Moms and Dads who are a lot farther along in their journey and I've put together a little list of 7 principles to help you (and me) discover how to be a better parent.

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1. Take time to listen. There are definitely plenty of times when we need to talk as parents, but often I forget how important it is to listen. Nothing communicates how much you value someone as much as simply listening to what they have to say. By asking questions and listening to your kids answers, you'll be simultaneously building their confidence and building a stronger relationship with them.

2. Use Action to get Action. My first instinct is to use anger to get action from my kids, but frankly, it doesn't work. It teaches them to respond emotionally. Dr. James Dobson teaches the principle that parents should use action instead of anger to get action from our kids. There should be clear consequence and rewards for specific behavior and we should always follow through. Our kids crave consistency in our actions and they respond with consistency in their actions.

3. Remember that there is no such thing as "Quality Time." Somewhere along the way we bought into this myth that "Quality Time" was a good substitute for spend lot of Quantity Time with our kids. I've learned that quality comes out of quantity and you can never plan for those magical moments that happen naturally when you're just spending time with your kids. They need more of you. I know we have to work and do other things too, but let your kids see that they are your priority and that you love hanging out with them.

4. Love your Spouse. It's easy to fall into the trap where husband and wife cease to becomes lovers and best friends and start to become "business partners" whose only focus in the children. One of the best gifts you can give to your kids is to model a loving, life-giving, committed marriage. Go on date nights, make time together a priority. You will be better parents because of it and your kids will be more confident and emotionally healthy too.

5. Create Traditions. Make the way you celebrate birthdays and special times something the kids always look forward to. Create memories that will last. Many of the will happen

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spontaneously but other happen as the result of good planning and establishing fun and consistent traditions.

6. Give your kids a foundation of Faith. The Bible says that if you "train a child up in the way he (or she) should go, when they're old they will not depart from it." You can protect your kids from every danger in the world, but you can equip them to face it with faith and confidence by creating a foundation of faith. Show them what it means to be a Christian in a secular world. Live out your own faith with authenticity and joy. Pray together (and not just at meals).

7. Give unconditional love AND hight expectations. Your kids should know that you expect a lot from them, but they should also know that your love for them is not in any ways based on their performance. I believe this fits in line with how God (the perfect parent) treats us. He has clear expectations for us and wants us to be at our best but His love for us is in now way based on our performance. He loves us just because we're His!

The Best Parenting Advice I’ve Ever Heard "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

I'm not a parenting expert. For people who know my children, you're thinking, "Duh!" My kids are precious and full of personality, and while they have their sweet moments, they're just as likely to shout of a "Potty Word" in public as they are to say "please" or "thank you." They're a work in progress (just like their parents). I tell you al that as a disclaimer; this wisdom I'm going to share isn't coming from some kind of "Jedi-Master Parental Guru." I'm just a guy trying to figure it out and along

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the way, I've heard some great advice that I've found to be effective and true.

1. "Don't use Anger to get Action. Use Action to get Action." Dr. James Dobson taught this basic principle which has deeply resonated with me. As parents, we all fight the temptation to respond to our children's disobedience with anger, but anger doesn't work...action does. When we calmly respond by giving cool-headed discipline, then our kids will respond. Granted, this is easier said than done, but I really does work.

2. Be intentional about what you reward. Discipline isn't just handing out negative consequences; it is also rewarding positive behavior. Sometimes we inadvertently "reward" negative behavior by giving into our kids demands because we're tired of fighting about it. This is a huge mistake, because we're actually reinforcing their negative behavior when we do that. I principle I've heard and found to be so true is parenting is that "Rewarded behavior is Repeated behavior."

3. Give Clear Boundaries. In a football game, every player on the field knows what is "out of bounds." On the highway, every driver knows not to cross the double yellow lines. Those boundaries are there for the protection of all and they actually exist to give freedom, not to restrict it. Many times, our kids don't have any idea what behavior is "out of bounds" because we constantly change the rules based on our own emotions. We've got to to clearly and consistently communicate the boundaries. Doing so will give our kids confidence and the ability to succeed.

4. Give Unconditional Love AND High Expectations. Most of us are good at either giving our kids a lot of love and encouragement OR giving them a lot correction. We either come across like a Hallmark card or like a Drill Sergeant. Kids are complex and they actually need BOTH.

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As our model for parenting, we should look to our Heavenly Father (God) who is the only Perfect Parent. He gives us unconditional love, but He also has very high expectations for our behavior. He gives us clear instructions and boundaries through His Word. He's interested in our comfort, but He is much more interested in our Character. He is with us in our pain and in our celebrations. He loves us with a perfect love. When we do the same for our kids, we're preparing them to become men and women of character, courage and faith.

Childlike Faith "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” -Jesus (Mark 10:15)

As a parent of young kids, I'm always doing my best to teach them how to be a responsible adult. That's what a parent is supposed to do, but Jesus' Words remind me that not only should I teach my kids, I should also learn from them. If I refuse to humbly receive God's invitation like a child, then I miss the whole point. The tough Truth here is that Hell is a real place that will probably be full of "responsible" adults, so let's take a lesson from our kids and start living out Childlike faith:

1. Receive God's Gifts with enthusiasm! Kids know how to receive a gift. Adults will politiely read the card and meticulously remove the wrapping while a kid will just tear in! Kids also don't worry about not having anything for you. Adults get preoccupied with reciprocating, but we can never repay or reciprocate God's Gift of Grace, so just be thankful and enjoy His blessings with kid-like enthusiasm. Don't let your pride prevent you from receiving it.

2. Trust what you don't understand. Young kids trust their parents (even though we're not always completely trustworthy). They ask all kinds of questions and they believe the answers

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they get even they can't fully comprehend what they're hearing. As adults, we tend to dismiss anything we can understand because it challenges our illusion of control. God is completely worthy of our trust and he wants us to come to Him with sincere, childlike faith.

3. Treasure time with Him. Maybe your kids are teenagers or adults and are too busy or "too cool" to hang out with you, but whether its fishing, shopping or just cuddling, the little kids LOVE spending time with Mommy and Daddy. Our Heavenly Father wants us to desire time with Him in that same way. He wants to be an active presence in our lives. He doesn't just want us to "Love" Him, He wants us to like Him! When we consider all He has done for us, what's not to love? Talk to Him, Learn from Him and simply enjoy Him. He's already crazy about you!

Important Disclaimer: Being "Childlike" doesn't give you permission to be "Childish". This means you must still go to work, pay taxes, wear clothing in public, refrain from urinating in swimming pools and try not to pick your nose while people are watching.

3 Keys to a Better Marriage "Marriage is hard."

That's usually the first statement I share with engaged couples preparing to tie the knot. I don't tell them that to discourage them, but to prepare them. Marriage is difficult, but it is also a God-given gift that can and should be the most fulfilling and life-giving human relationship in you'll ever experience if you're willing to work at it. There are many keys to a happy marriage, but these are a few that I've found to be universally effective.

1. Have Fun! Do you remember how much fun you had when you and your spouse were dating? Why did you stop just because you got married? For some reason, before all the

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honeymoon pics are even on facebook, we tend to get on autopilot and can start living life as co-habitating business partners. The spark can quickly fade if we're not intentional about making fun a priority. Go on date nights, buy flowers, take spontaneous mini-roadtrips, leave love notes around the house for each other. Do whatever you can do to keep adventurous fun alive in your marriage.

You might say, "We have kids, we don't have time!" I can relate, but trust me, the greatest gift you can give to your children is letting them see their Mommy and Daddy in love! The way your treat your spouse is showing your children how they should treat their future spouse.

2. Swallow your Pride. Someone once said, "Being in love means never having to say you're sorry." Whoever said that is probably divorced! The truth is, we should be so quick to forgive and seek forgiveness in marriage. Never take your spouse for granted. Never try to "win" the argument. See their perspective. You might say, "but I'm the one who is right!" Maybe so, but sometimes in marriage you have to decide between "right" and being happy!

3. Don't have an Exit Strategy. We live in a world where we don't like the confines of commitment. We don't event want to keep the same cell phone for more than a year! We tend to take this mindset into our marriages. Once things get tough, we start fantasizing about how great life would be if we were free of the commitment. Tragically, at least half of all married couples give in to this temptation. You marriage will get hard and there will be times you want to throw in the towel, but the vows you made are most important in those moments when you're most tempted to forget about them.

Your marriage might seem broken right now, but there is nothing so broken that God can't restore it! Trust Him. Pray for your spouse and work together to persevere. Surviving the tough times together will give you even more strength and

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intimacy once you reach the other side. Your marriage is worth the struggle! Don't give up.

Why Christians should never Marry Non-Christians Apart from your relationship with God, there is no more important and more intimate relationship in the universe than the relationship of Marriage. It is a beautiful gift, designed by God, to bring one man and one woman together in a physical, emotional and even spiritual bond.

What I'm about to say might offend you, but as your Brother in Christ, I love you enough to offend you with the Truth, so here goes...If you are a Christian and you are dating a Non-Christian, you need to break up! If you are already married, that is a completely different scenario, but if you aren't married, I can say with Biblical certainty that God's Will is NOT for you to commit your life to someone who is not following Him. Don't take my word for it, listen to what God says on the subject...

"Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers...How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" 2 Corinthians 6:14-15

"The men of Judah have defiled the Lord’s beloved sanctuary by marrying women who worship foreign gods" Malachi 4:11

“You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned?" Nehemiah 13:25-26

This Bible has a lot more to say on this subject and I encourage you to study it on your own. This brings up some important questions that you might be asking...

1. But I really "love" this person. Isn't that enough? No.

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God is love and God loves you. He wants what is best for you. You might need to readjust your view of love and marriage from what we see in Romantic Comedies to what we see in God's Word. If you are willing to disobey God for somebody you want to marry then what you feel isn't real love.

2. But doesn't God want to me keep dating this person so I can lead them to Jesus? No. There is a much better chance that they will lead you to bed. I'm sure you have good intentions, but God never intended you to be a dating evangelist.

3. But we're so compatible! We have so much in common? Isn't that enough? No. If the most important relationship in your life is Jesus and the most important relationship in their life is something else, you'll be pulling in two separate directions. That is an irreconcilable difference that trumps the fact that you really like the same movies and music.

4. So I should just break their heart and my own? Yes. If that's what it takes. Too much is at stake to do anything else. You need to trust the broken pieces of your heart to God and know that He is pleased when our faith leads us to tough choices. As for your boyfriend/girlfriend, keep praying for them and believing that God will reach them. Before you jump into a new relationship, make Jesus the first and foremost relationship in your life and then trust Him to bring the right person in the right time.

5. What if I can't find somebody else? Trust God. Pray and be patient. God will often ask you to wait for His Best, but He will never ask you to settle for anything less than His best!

6. What if I'm already married? Pray. Pray for your spouse and for yourself. The Bible is clear that if your spouse is willing to stay married, then you should stay married.

The bottom line is that we should all be willing to trade in

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our own opinions and our own feelings for God's Truth. Following Him means that we are willing to trust Him even when our feelings and emotions are telling us to do something else. Know that God has good things in store for you.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

A Life Lesson from Chuck E. Cheese My kids love Chuck E. Cheese. It’s basically just a big arcade with overpriced pizza, but to them, it’s paradise. From the moment we walk in, their little hearts start racing and their eyes get huge as they take in all the sights and sounds.

Immediately they want me to buy them tokens because tokens represent the currency of Chuck E. Cheese. Now the tokens have a picture of Chuck E. the Rat on the front and on the back they say in big letters ““This token has no real value.” How true a statement is that? No real value. They take their fistful of tokens and they begin to pump those coins into every brightly lit machine they can find. They play all the games, but they focus their attention on the games that give tickets because those tickets can be redeemed for prizes. Now, the so-called prizes end up being just as worthless as the tokens, but to my kids, it seems like treasure.

The more my boys play the games, the more selfish they seem to become. Sometimes they’ll even accuse me of stealing their tokens and tickets at which point I have to restrain myself from publicly spanking them. I’m thinking to myself, “How ridiculous!” I’m the one who loves them and gives them everything that they need and their greed has blinded them to the point that they’re loving a make believe rat named Chuck E. Cheese more than they love their own Dad!

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I think ever parent has at one time or another looked at their kids and thought, “They’re getting all worked up over stuff that doesn’t matter at all!” We were probably the same way as kids, but now as adults we see things differently. But…do we really?

I know that I’m just as tempted to spend my energy chasing after stuff that’s honestly pretty worthless. The tokens and tickets get exchanged for cash and credit cards and the prizes evolve from matchbox cars to real cars, but in the scope of eternity, my pursuits can be just as worthless as what my kids do at Chuck E. Cheese. The more I play that game, the more selfish I seem to become. My greed can even get in the way of me trusting my Heavenly Father who is the one who loves me and provides everything that I need.

I picture God looking at us sometimes and thinking, “My kids get worked up over stuff that doesn’t matter at all.” It doesn’t have to be that way. God wants us to have purpose and fullness in our lives. He wants us to chase after things that will matter for eternity. He wants to replace our worthless trinkets and prizes with eternal treasure.. He wants to take the journey with us and bless us every step of the way if we will just trust Him and Love Him with all of your heart.”

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

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6 Questions to Ask Before you get Married As a Pastor, I talk to a lot of couples who are planning to get married. I also talk to single folks who would like to get married someday. Choosing a spouse is one of the most important decisions a person will ever make, so it's a decision that needs to be approached with a great deal of prayer and planning.

To help you out, I've put together a checklist of 6 questions I believe every person should ask before walking down the isle.

1. Do I like this person?

I know that this seems like a redundant question, but it's really not. I talk to many couples who say that they "love" each other, but when you get past all those romantic feelings, there's no friendship at the core of the relationship. Marry somebody that you love to hang out with. Without a strong friendship, I believe a marriage is destined for failure. Don't just marry somebody you love...marry somebody you like!

2. Am I attracted to more than their looks?

Physical attraction is definitely important, but looks are going to change. That hot girl or guy you're staring at now is going to look a whole lot different in 40 years! You need to make sure you're drawn to who that person is, not just how that person looks.

3. Do I want this person to be the father or mother of my kids?

Before you get married, you need to ask more than "Do I want my kids to look like this person?" You need to ask "Do I want my kids to BE like this person?"

4. Can I be myself around this person?

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This is huge. If you feel like you have to be somebody else around your potential spouse, don't get married! There's nothing more exhausting than pretending to be someone or something you're not for somebody else's approval. Your spouse should bring out the best parts of who you are but never try to change who you are.

5. Does this person strengthen my faith?

As a Christian, I believe God's design for marriage is that a husband and wife come together with Christ in the Center. Without Him at the foundation, the marriage will eventually crumble. Marry someone who not only shares your faith but also strengthens your faith. Your spouse should bring you closer to Jesus, not drag you farther away.

6. Can I stay committed to this person No Matter What?

We live in a world where people like to quit anything the moment it gets difficult. The core of your marriage isn't feelings which change...it's commitment which never changes. When you say "I do" what you're really saying is "I Will." I will be here for you and with you through life's ups and downs.

If you can find someone who stands up to these questions and you can do the same for them, then I believe that you're on your way to "Happily Ever After!" Pray hard, plan well and say "I Do" with confidence and joy!

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3. CHURCH & MINISTRY What Churches Could Learn from Disney As a former Florida resident, my family and I frequently visited the "Happiest Place on Earth." With each visit, as I took in all the sights and sounds of Walt Disney's creative masterpiece, I started to feel convicted. I realized that Disney World is actually doing a better job of carrying out certain aspects of the Church's G0d-given mission than many churches are doing. I believe most churches would do well to learn these lessons from Disney:

1.VALUE KIDS. Disney elevates the value of children to the highest levels, and while Jesus raised the value of children more than any person in History (including Walt Disney) most churches see kids as a burden and not as a gift. The laughter of children should be the soundtrack of a healthy church.

2. VALUE CREATIVITY. God is the most creative force in the universe and His Body (the Church) should be the most creative force on earth. There was a time when churches were shaping the creative aspects of culture. Now, most churches are content to sit back and critique culture while not adding anything new.

3. VALUE EXCELLENCE. Every detail at Disney is executed with excellence. In most churches, we put forth a half-hearted effort and expect God to bless it. Excellence honors God and inspires people.

4. VALUE CHANGE. Disney is always looking to the future while building on their past. Most church are attempting to recreate the past while hiding from the future. The Church should be the most innovative organization on earth. Our Message doesn't change, but we must be constantly changing our methods to reach the ever-changing world around us.

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5. VALUE DIVERSITY. God's Kingdom is made up of people from all nations, races and backgrounds; so is Disney World. Most churches are made up of people who act, look and talk alike. God calls us to unity, not uniformity. We need to value and work to achieve church demographics the represent our communities' demographics.

6. SMILE. If Disney World is the "Happiest Place on Earth" then our churches should be the "Most Joyful Places on Earth". Happiness is based on outward circumstances, but we have the joy of the LORD which nobody can take away. The tragedy is that most churches are filled with people who don't seem to have any joy at all. Maybe this is one of the many reasons why an unbelieving world feels so much more comfortable at Disney World than they do at Church.

*Final Note: One thing churches should NOT do like Disney World is charging seven bucks for ice cream. Come on, Mickey Mouse, how much money do you really need?

You Might be a Christian if… I think Christians should laugh more. I mean, seriously, Jesus has saved us, forgiven us, restored us, filled us and has an eternal home for us, so we've got more reason to laugh than anybody! If you find yourself frowning today, I hope this post makes you smile. In the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy's classic "You Might be a Redneck" jokes, I've written a few just for us Christians...

You might be a Christian if...

You've ever used the word "fornicate" in a sentence! (I still can't figure out why we can't just say "sex" like regular people.)

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You've ever used the word "fellowship" when saying "hanging out" would have worked fine.

You think DC Talk invented rap music.

You miss church on Sunday, but you feel that you can still get church credit by eating at Chick-fil-a on Monday.

You rarely or never cuss out lout but you cuss in your head on Sundays when you're craving Chick-fil-a but then remember that they're closed!

You've ever participated in a "Trunk or Treat" because getting candy from car trunks in the church Parking Lot seems less creepy than getting candy from your neighbors.

You like "Veggie Tales" more than Disney and think Larry the Cucumber is cuter than Mickey Mouse.

You know who Bill Gaither is. (You might be a Baptist if you actually own a Bill Gaither Homecoming CD or DVD.)

Your grew up thinking that the Hymnal was twice as important as the Bible because they had twice as many of them in the pews in front of you. (This idea became reinforced when your church started stinging praise choruses that weren't in the Hymnal and World War 3 nearly occurred!)

You have a Pot Luck Dish recipe that your reputation is connected to.

You've attended so many potlucks that you've started seeing big bellies as a sign of holiness and you've even developed a subconscious distrust for skinny people.

You have ever been referred to as "Brother" so and so or "Sister" so and so.

You can name more than three TV Preachers.

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You've ever had a conversation with somebody about the difference in Calvinism and Arminianism. (Some of your right now are wondering if you were predestined to read this or if you just chose to read it.)

That's it for now. I'd love to hear YOUR "You might be a Christian if..." ideas. Just click the "add comment" button and post your own. I look forward to reading them! At least for me, this is a fun way to remember that we should never take our mission lightly, but should never take ourselves too seriously.

Empty Worship Have you ever been to Applebee's (or any restaurant) when you are celebrating somebody's birthday? For me, one of the most painfully awkward experiences on earth is the moment when your Server tries to recruit a bunch of fellow servers to gather around your table and force some false enthusiasm as they sing a birthday song. It creates a pretty funny contrast. In my family, we are wildly, passionately, joyfully singing (usually off key) at the top of our lungs to honor the Birthday Boy or Girl while we're being flanked by people singing the same song to the same person but without any heart or passion.

What's the point here?

I think most churches are full of people who sing songs to God with the half-hearted enthusiasm of the Singing Servers at Applebee's. The reason why there is no joy is because they are singing to a Stranger! They're singing to someone they don't know in the hopes that maybe they'll get a "tip" (or some kind of blessing) as a result of carrying out their duty.

NOBODY (including God) enjoys that kind of "worship." God is looking for loving family members around the table with Him laughing and learning and singing and feasting and just enjoying His company. He wants to give you much more than a "tip." He wants you to inherit the Keys to His Kingdom. He

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wants your worship to flow from your love for Him. He wants to give you a relationship; not a religion.

Out of that relationship, you'll begin to discover that every part of your life can be an act of worship. Connecting with God is not confined to Sunday mornings. He will be a constant presence in your life and as you grow in your love for him, your life (and your songs) will develop an intimate sense of love, passion and joy for God.

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

God’s Family Family is one of God's greatest gifts. Of course, all of us have a few rowdy relatives that we'd probably never choose to hang out with if we weren't related, but even with the occasionally awkward Thanksgiving dinner, most of us can agree that Family is a wonderful blessing. A family is masterfully designed to provide support, encouragement, accountability, love and a place to call home. It fills the most crucial human needs.

God's ultimate plan for Family reaches beyond just the physical into the spiritual. He has created a Family that will last forever and the Bible has a lot to say about how it looks and how we can and should be a part of it. Here are a few Truths the Bible teaches on the subject of God's Family:

God intended His Church to be a Family. Church is not a building or an organization...it's a Body of Believers making up a family. The World attempts to define us by race, gender, age, socio-economic status, outward appearance and all kinds of other factors that don't really define who we are. The Church is a place where all those labels should disappear and be replaced by the unity we have in Christ."There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

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As a Family, We are Defined by our Love. Jesus never intended for His followers to be identified by how they look or by the bumper stickers on their cars. The DNA of God's family is simply love. We must have a love for God and for each other. That's how the world will know we're part of God's Family."Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35

As a Family, We Need to Take Care of Each Other. God designed the church so that every person in it would have their needs met. Financially, relationally, and emotionally, we need to support one another and work together to provide hope and healing to people outside the Church as well."Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith." Galatians 6:10

God wants You in His Family. Maybe you feel like you don't belong anywhere, but here's one of the greatest Truths you'll ever hear...God loves you! He wants to be in relationship with you! You were created to be part of His family. It begins by reaching out to Jesus in Faith. "Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!" Matthew 12:50

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 What a Dancing Gorilla Taught me about Church On the way to church today, I passed something that I've never seen before...it was a dancing gorilla.

I guess to be more specific I should say that it was someone dressed up in a gorilla suit, but the suit did look real enough to fool my six year old. It was a guy dancing his heart out and holding a sign advertising five dollar pizzas. I sat at the intersection mesmerized by how much energy he was exerting in a hot, uncomfortable costume just to get his message across.

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On top of all that, the dude was actually a pretty solid dancer. A lot of effort for a guy who was probably making minimum wage. I was impressed.

Was his message life-changing? Maybe a good deal in a down economy, but I wouldn't call it life-changing. Even so, I found myself getting hungrier and catching a bit of his enthusiasm. Had I not been running late to church, I might have just pulled in and bought one of those pizzas.

What's the Point?

The world is often more enthusiastic about communicating insignificant messages than the church is about communicating the Gospel. We've got the greatest Message the world has ever heard, but we often find ways to bore people with it. I believe many churches need to completely re-imagine how they reach and teach their community and many Christians need to pray for boldness, creativity and authenticity in sharing their own faith.

The World desperately needs to hear the Good News, so let's communicate it with excellence, passion and creativity! In Titus Chapter 2, Paul writes that in every way, we should make the Gospel "attractive". I'm not saying that preachers need to start wearing Gorilla Suits and dancing as they preach, but I am saying that Churches (and Christians) should think outside the box when it comes to inviting people to church, witnessing and preaching. We don't need gimmicks, but we do need passion!

Go for it. Share your faith with unbridled enthusiasm. I think you will find a lot more people discovering the power of the Gospel and packing your church (and then you can take them out for some of those five dollar pizzas afterwards)!

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What is Worship?

The Bible has a lot to say about worship. It's a word we hear a lot both inside and outside of church, but if you're like me, you haven't always had a clear grasp on what "worship" really means. As I've studied the Bible, here's the most basic definition I can come up with...

Worship is the act of giving our praise, our commitment and our life to someone or something.

We all are worshipping something. Whatever in your life is most important is the object of your worship. For some people that is money. For others, it's pleasure or success or fill-in-the-blank. We're born with a desire to worship. I guess that's why we get so enthusiastic at concerts and football games. God wants us to channel all of our unbridled enthusiasm and adoration towards Him. As He becomes the object of our worship, our lives will come into focus the way God intended.

Let's explore some of what the Bible has to teach us on this important subject. Below I've put the text of one of the most famous conversations in the New Testament. Here, Jesus is talking with a Samaritan Woman about what true worship means. I've put some additional points in bold to help you apply the principles Jesus is teaching...

You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. John 4:22

You must Know God in order to Worship God. He is not looking for fans or distant admirers, He's looking for committed followers who intimately know Him and Love Him.

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23

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We must approach God with authenticity and transparency.

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth"." John 4:24

God wants you to come to Him with your Whole Heart.

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." John 4:25-26

All this is possible only through Christ.

Here are a few more aspects of Worship...

1. Worship is an act of Sacrifice.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1

2. Worship is an act of Obedience.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15

3. Worship is an act of Adoration.

"And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." Isaiah 6:3

In everything you do, from your Sunday Morning Church attendance to your Monday morning office meeting to playing catch with your kids, do it all to the best of your ability for the Glory of God and you'll be on your way to a lifestyle of worship.

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How Preachers could be better Communicators Most preachers are terrible communicators. There, I said it. You know it's true. I wish it weren't the case! I wish that God-fearing, Gospel-preaching Pastors were the standard for excellence in communication, but sadly, they usually are not. This is also among the primary reasons why an unbelieving world finds the message of Jesus so unbelievable...they've never heard it communicated with clarity, excellence and passion.

I don't pretend to have all the answers here, but I would like to try and bring some perspective. As a student of preaching and a teacher of the mechanics of public speaking, I've put together a checklist that has helped me and I believe these simple steps can be effective tools for other preachers as well:

1. Watch Yourself. You can't possibly know how you sound or look while you're preaching unless you go through the awkward process of self-evaluation. Record every sermon you preach and then meticulously watch and listen for ways you can improve. I guarantee that you don't look and sound the way you think you look and sound! Early on, my wife told me I was never smiling during sermons, and I told her she was wrong until I went back and watched the video. Sure enough, she was right (as usual). We don't know until we see what the audience sees.

2. Study Communicators other than preachers. Most preachers learn to communicate by watching other preachers who are also awful communicators which leads to a form of "Intellectual Inbreeding". Watch stellar preaching, but also intentionally seek out communicators outside the ministry who have mastered the art of timing and delivery. The best in the world tend to be stand-up comics, politicians, and actors who play lawyers on TV and in movies.

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3. REHEARSE! Most preachers don't rehearse their sermons and it shows. People are entrusting you with their most valuable resource, their time. If you aren't fully prepared to preach, then don't expect them to be fully prepared to stay awake. I don't always get this much time, but my best sermons are the result of 15-20 hours of preparation including 3-5 full run-throughs before I ever preach it to an actual audience.

4. Pray. If the first prayer you say about the message happens when you're in the pulpit before the congregation, you might as well just sit back down and let everybody go home early. Never underestimate the power of prayer and never overestimate your own ability. God will sometimes use ability, but God will always use prayer.

5. Give it your all. There is no higher calling than the calling to preach and teach so do it with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and God will do mighty things through you!

6. Give Information and Application. Prepare your sermon so that people have clear examples of how God's Truth can be applied to their lives, their relationships, their careers, their finances, etc. If we can't show people how to apply God's Word, they'll never grasp the importance of knowing God's Word. Always clearly state what the "next steps" should be.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

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Top Ten Reasons why I Love the Bible The Bible is the most famous, most controversial, most talked-about and most life-changing book in History. As a follower of Christ, I believe the Bible to be God's authoritative Word which is alive and active in the life of every Believer. The Bible has changed my life, so I've put together a fun little Top 10 List to highlight some of the reasons why I love the Bible.

10. It's the #1 Bestseller every year even though it's never been on Oprah's Book Club!

9. It has more suspense, action and drama than anything in Hollywood.

8. It shows me how to get to where I need to go better than any GPS.

7. It has more festivals, feasts and parties than Mardi Gras (but without the tacky beads).

6. It has answers to questions you can't find on Google.

5. It reminds me that God has more friends than facebook and more followers than twitter!

4. It has some pretty steamy romance (have you read "Song of Solomon?!")

3. It promises me that God's plans for my life are better than my plans for my life.

2. It has a Happy Ending!

1. It introduced me to Jesus who has saved me and changed me forever.

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4. PERSPECTIVE FROM SPORTS

Playing Hurt I love football season! As a guy with love handles, I get inspired by the physical phenoms who take the field after spending the off season putting their blood, sweat and tears into physical preparation. As physically tough as these guys are, it's not their physically prowess that impresses me the most...it's the mental toughness of the men who are willing to "play hurt". They fight through pain and injury and keep their eyes on the prize and find the strength to overcome the pain. For me, those are the true champions.

As I read the Bible, I see many examples of Heroes of the Faith who had to "play hurt" as well. The Apostle Paul was one of the most effective leaders in the history of the church, but for most of his life and ministry, he was living with physical, mental and emotional pain. He endured beatings, imprisonment, abandonment, ship wreck, betrayal, illness and countless injuries and disappointments. Through it all, he found strength in keeping his eyes on Jesus, "the author and perfector of our faith," and by saying, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

Maybe you are in a season right now where you are playing hurt. Whether your injuries are physical, financial, mental or relational, you need to know that God has a plan for you. Hold tight to His promises. He has promised never to leave you or forsake you. He has promised to bring good out of every situation. He has promised that your pain will ultimately bring about greater faith and perseverance in your life. He has promised that in Christ, all pain is temporary! One day, you will cross that finish line and receive a hero's welcome into Heaven. God is with you every step of the way, so don't give up!

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Life is Like a Marathon I'm in the process of training my my first marathon. I'm not very fast and I have love handles, so I'm don't feel like I'm really cut out for it, but it's a goal I've had for a long time and I'm excited to finally be doing it. I've been running longer distances lately and on those long, slow runs, God has given me some insights into how He wants to guide us through the race of life. Here are a few of the principles that have come to life for me through this process.

1. Pain is part of the process. There's no way to train for a distance race without having every part of your body hurting at some point. It's the same in life. Pain means we're growing; we're being stretched beyond our limits. In life, God always uses our pain to bring about growth.

2. Redefine Victory. I don't plan on "winning" this race. There will probably be some Kenyan dude finishing several hours ahead of me...in fact, there might be 80-year-olds finishing ahead of me! Victory for me is to finish the race strong having done the best I can do. In life, we're so quick to measure our progress against other people, but God never wants us playing the comparison game. His plan for each of our lives is masterfully unique! Run your own race and don't be prideful of anyone you're outpacing and don't be discouraged by anyone who is outpacing you.

3. Savor the Silence. Before today's run, I was disappointed to find out the my iPod was out of power, so I would be running in silence, but it turned out to be the most enjoyable run I've had in a long time. My life is full of noise from the time I wake up and I'll bet yours is too. When we build some silence into our days, God's voice becomes clearer as the noise of the world fades into the background. Put some more silence into your day and I think you'll find yourself feeling replenished by it.

4. Keep Moving Forward. You might not be going very fast,

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but always keep moving forward. The Apostle Paul write that he was, "forgetting what was behind and straining to reach the prize that was ahead." Don't focus on how far you still have to go...just keep taking one step at a time. God will always give you strength for that next step until you finish the race.

5. Stay hydrated. With running, if you don't have enough water in you, you'll never finish. In life, if you don't have the Living Water (Jesus) in you, you'll never finish.

March Madness One of my favorite events of the year is the NCAA Basketball Tournament. As a Kentucky Wildcat fan, "March Madness" marks a time of friendly office Trash Talk, brackets, junk food and a lot of fun. One reason why I love the tournament is that every year, there are underdog team who are counted out by all the commentators and so-called "experts" who end up winning.

These "Cinderella Teams" don't listen to the experts. They don't read all the press that says that they can't win. They don't care that the other team has already counted the game as a win. They step onto the court believing that they can and will be victorious. They play with fearless passion and relentless determination and leave the experts speechless when they do the impossible and claim victory. They choose to listen to the reassuring voice of their Coach who has been with them every moment of the journey, and he's saying, "You can do it! Don't give up! We will win this thing!"

There will be many times in your life when you will feel like the underdog. There will be people who will tell you your limitations. They'll try to put boundaries on how far you can go and list all the reasons why you'll never go any further. Here's what you need to remember in those moments...You should never let anyone tell you that you can't do something when God has said you can do ALL things through Christ! There

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is literally nothing you can't accomplish! He is with you.

You need to approach life with the bold determination of those brave teams who refuse to be defined by the commentators and critics. Choose to rise above it and listen to your Heavenly Father instead of listening to the critics. When the opposition seems to be winning and you feel beat up and too exhausted to go on, remember that God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggle and a reward for your faithfulness, so don't give up!

God has tremendous plans for you. Even in your weakness, His Strength will shine through and when it's all said and done you'll be given a reward far greater than a Basketball Trophy. If you don't believe me, just read the Bible. The end has already been decided. It's like watching a game on your DVR that has already been played. You can skip to the end and see that because of Jesus, WE WIN!

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What the Karate Kid taught me about Life

I was a child of the 1980's. I'll bet you're already getting flashbacks of leg warmers, Cabbage Patch Kids and big hair! It was quite a decade. I grew up on movies like Back to the Future, Top Gun, Goonies and my personal favorite...The Karate Kid!

If you've never seen The Karate Kid, the plot follows a teenage kid named Daniel who wants to learn karate so he can defend himself from local bullies. He meets a mysterious older man named Mr. Miyagi who turns out to be a karate master. They form a friendship and Daniel eventually begs Mr. Miyagi to teach him karate. Mr. Miyagi agrees on the condition that Daniel follows instructions no matter what. No questions asked.

Daniel agrees and shows up for his first day of lessons but instead of learning karate, Mr. Miyagi tells him to wax all of his cars. Daniel has to do it with a very specific circular motion to put the wax on with one hand and take it off with the other. By the end of the day, Daniel's arms and shoulders are hurting badly, but he doesn't complain. He shows up the next morning certain that this would be the day he finally learns karate, but instead, Mr. Miyagi tells him to pain the fence. He has to paint it with a specific motion of moving his hands up and down in a continuous motion so there aren't any streaks in the paint.

After several days of forced labor, Daniel finally snaps. He confronts his teacher and accuses him of making him a slave instead of teaching him karate. Mr. Miyagi says, "I've been teaching you karate. Show me how to wax the car. Show me how to paint the fence."

As Daniel begins to mimic the motions from those tasks, Mr. Miyagi begins to throw a flurry of punches and kicks at Daniel which (to Daniel's amazement) he is able to block. Daniel's body had been learning karate even though Daniel didn't realize it. Mr. Miyagi bows to his student and in that moment,

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something clicked in my head. For me, that wasn't just a moment of Hollywood magic; it was a moment where some truth's of God's World came to life in real and practical ways.

Here's the point...

So many times in my life, I feel that I'm begging God to reveal His Will, but it seems like all I'm doing is toiling away at some mundane, repetitive task just waiting for my life to begin. What I've come to realize is that God doesn't waste anything. He's always teaching us; always shaping us. He's preparing us to respond instinctively to the battles of life with a level of faith and skill we didn't know we possessed. You're on your way to becoming a "Spiritual Black Belt" and your Heavenly Father is with you every step of the way!

Maybe you're in a place right now where you feel that your prayers aren't being answered and that God has forgotten about you, but nothing could be farther from the Truth. The Truth is, God loves you, He's right there with you and He is using every difficult circumstance in your life for your good and His glory. If you're going through something difficult or frustrating, I believe it's because God is preparing you for something great! Keep trusting Him no matter what.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don't rely on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will guide your steps." Proverbs 3:5-6

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5. Inspiring Stories Heart Transplant In my hometown, there was a young man named Paul. One night, Paul's parents received the kind of phone call that every parent dreads...their son had been in a terrible car accident. They rushed to the hospital, and when they arrived, their worst fears were confirmed. Their son had been killed. In an instant, their world was turned upside down.

In that moment of tragedy and devastating pain, Paul's parents were forced to make a very difficult decision of whether or not to donate their son's organs. They decided that he would have wanted to save lives through his death, so with broken hearts, they signed the papers and they made plans to bury their son.

After some time had passed, they decided that they wanted to visit every person who had received the life-saving gift of one of Paul's organs. The hospital contacted the recipients and each of them was eager to meet them and thank them in person. They set out on a roadtrip to meet these people whose lives had been changed through their son.

Each encounter was heartwarming. They met a woman who had received one of Paul's kidneys, and she hugged them and thanked them and said that she would see her children grow up because of their son's sacrifice. They met a man who had received their son's liver and he hugged them and cried and he talked about the new life that their son had given him. They waited for last to visit the man who had received their son's heart.

As they pulled up the gravel drive, they saw him come out of his house to welcome them, and before the car had come to a complete stop, Paul's Mom had flung open the car door and raced to him. He stood their in bewilderment as she threw her arms around him and squeezed him so tightly that he could

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barely breathe. After a few moments of awkward silence, he tried to introduce himself, but she immediately stopped him and said, "Shhhh. Please don't speak."

She finally pulled away just far enough for him to see the tears streaming down her face. She smiled and with a trembling voice she looked into his eyes and said, "When I hold you close to me, I can feel my son's heart beating inside of you."

When I first heard this story, I felt like God was teaching me a life-changing lesson.

One day, you and I are going to pass from this life into Eternity just like Paul has done. In that moment, the money we made, the fame we achieved and the outward success we gained will seem very insignificant. In that moment God will rush to meet you with an embrace. The arms that created the universe will wrap themselves around you and all He will want to say to you and me will be this..."When I hold you close to me, I can feel My Son's Heart, the heart of Jesus, beating inside of you!"

That's really what this life (and the next) is all about. It's about knowing and loving Jesus, being saved by Him, and allowing him to give you a spiritual heart transplant. That's what it means to be Born Again. Because of what God's Son has done and the sacrifice He has made for us, we get to experience a new life that will last forever. That's the heartbeat of Christ.

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Finding Strength in Times of Tragedy Last night, by her hospital bed, I watched helplessly as a beautiful & joyful 4-year-old girl named Jayden Kerns left this world and went home to be with Jesus. In a tragic moment of heartbreak and devastation that rocks a family to their very core, there are no Hallmark Card Cliches that have the power to bring any peace. The Prince of Peace is the only one who can. As I continue to pray for Jayden's parents and family, I'm reminded that only God has the Power to bring true healing. Through the darkest night and the most painful tears, we can hold tightly to the promises of our God. Let me share with you some of God's Promises that brought me hope last night...

1. God is not Distant from our Pain. Sometimes we falsely see God as a cold, distant judge who is disconnected for our reality. The truth is, "God is near to the brokenhearted" and even the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept" reminds us that God feels our pain. He says, "never will I leave you or forsake you." He is with you in your pain.

2. All Pain is Temporary. The Bible says that one day "Jesus will wipe away every tear from our eyes" and "there will be no more crying or mourning or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

3. God will one day set everything right. He is in control even when the world is out of control and The Bible says that He will finally "make everything new." He will set right all that been broken and restore all that has been taken away. The temporary tragedies and injustices of this brief life will one day be eclipsed by the eternal glory God has in store for us!

We can cling to God's promises when the storms of life rage at their worst. Here are a few of those promises that have brought me peace in troubled times. I pray that these bring you peace as well...

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more

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death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:1

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with

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them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 13:18

What God is doing while you Sleep While my newly-formed earth slept in darkness, I created the light. While Adam slept in the Garden, I created Eve. While my Children Israel slept in slavery, I brought forth a Deliverer to set them free. While they slept in the wilderness, I brought food from heaven to sustain them. While they slept in a foreign land, I prepared for them a Promised Land. While the tiny town of Bethlehem slept on that Silent Night, I brought forth a new baby-My Son, Your Savior. While you were sleeping in in the darkness, I brought forth a great light.

I AM the One who neither slumbers nor sleeps.

I AM the One who will one day make all things New and all things Right.

I AM the One who created you, saved you and loves you.

I AM the One who is with you. Never will I leave you or forsake you.

I AM the One who will return like a thief in the night while the world sleeps.

I AM the One who gives Rest and Peace to those who trust in Me, so sleep in Heavenly Peace tonight knowing that I AM in control.

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Nobody should Walk Alone

My 4-year-old son, Connor, has such a big heart. He never wants anybody to be left out.

A few days ago we were watching one of his favorite cartoons which is "Martha Speaks." It's about a dog named Martha who can talk. It's actually really entertaining. In this episode, Martha went to the Dog Pound to help out with an adoption drive where they were trying to find a home for every dog in the pound. Martha was talking to all of the dogs and each of them was so excited about the prospect of finding a new home. As the drive went one, every single dog was adopted by a family...except for one.

There was an old, English Bulldog named "Pops" who was left out. Not only was he rejected by all the families, but now he didn't even have his other friends with him in the pound anymore. When my son realized that Pops was the only one left, tears started welling up in his eyes. He was really sad. I'm not going to lie...I was pretty sad too!

God never intended for any of us to walk alone. Our hearts should break for those who have been left out or rejected. God wants all of us in His Family where we are forever connected to Him and to each other. He created The Church to be a life-giving community and the hands and feet of Jesus to reach out to all who feel isolated or rejected. The bottom line is that God doesn't want anybody to feel like Pops! We all have a place in his family and we should all reach out to anyone who feels alone.

Maybe you feel like Pops. At one time or another, all of us have felt left out or rejected, but even in our loneliest moment, God is with you. Jesus has said, "Never will I leave you or forsake you." By the end of the episode, Pops was adopted. His story has a happy ending, and yours will too as long as you trust God. Let’s be more like Connor and reach out to the disconnected, because nobody should walk alone!

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A Message from God

I’ve never heard God audibly speak, but two years ago, I did receive a “Message from God” in a very unlikely way.

I had just moved my family to a new city and was serving as a pastor in a new church. The transitions and pressures of life and ministry with a young family were beginning to feel overwhelming. I felt exhausted, misunderstood, frustrated, discouraged and near the end of my rope. I wanted to quit. For the first time in my adult life, I wanted to do anything but ministry!

I was sharing all of this with my amazing wife one night and finally in frustration, I stood up from the couch and began to stomp around the living room like a toddler and said, “God, it feels like you are being completely quiet right now! Where are you? I could really use a message from you. Just tell me what I’m supposed to do here!”

I plopped back on the couch in frustration and threw my feet up on the coffee table. My wife said, “You’ve got something stuck on your foot.”

I looked down and there was a sticker on my heel. It must have been left on the floor by one of my kids. As I peeled it off to look at it, I had to catch my breath because I was overwhelmed by what it said. I was (and still am) convinced that sticker on my foot was as clear a Message from God as I have ever received. It simply said, “KEEP GOING!”

That marked a turning point in my attitude and my perspective. I wrote the date “6-30-10″ on that sticker and placed it on the front page of my Bible as a constant reminder to Keep Going. God gave me the strength to press through that difficult season, and very quickly, almost every area of life and ministry began to improve.

We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt like giving up and

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moments where we’ve wondered where God is in all of it. I pray that you are reminded that God is with you, He is for you, He will carry you through the struggle, He will bring Purpose from your Pain and He will reward your Faithfulness. Just Don’t Give Up. Keep Going until you reach the Finish Line!

“…And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Whose Daughter is She?

I had the opportunity to travel to Haiti a few years ago just months after a devastating earthquake ravaged the impoverished island nation. The short time I spent there was life-changing. I saw the best and the worst of all the world had to offer. I saw desperate poverty and powerful faith coexisting as thousands of Haitians with little food and no earthly possession gripped tightly to the hope they had in Jesus that no earthquake could ever shake.

Each day my team would load up in the back of a truck and drive to our worksites and along the way, we would pass a small Voodoo Temple. Voodoo is still a dark and prevalent force in Haiti and many have turned there for answers instead of turning to Christ. The Voodoo Priest there was a large, intimidating man who would stare us down each morning as we passed by. He seemed to be a man full of anger and he apparently saw us (and our faith) as his enemy.

On our final day, we drove by, and he wasn’t there. Instead, there was a beautiful little girl who was maybe 6-years-old standing where he would normally stand. She was dancing and smiling and waving to us. She seemed so innocent and full of life and possibility. I smiled and waved at her, but as we drove away, the reality of what i had just seen began to set in and I started to become angry.

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That little girl must have been the daughter of that angry Voodoo Priest who had made himself an enemy of God and Christians. In my mind, i started arguing with God saying, “Lord, that little girl doesn’t have any hope! She’s beautiful and innocent, but she is surrounded by darkness. She has no future! She will never know you! Just look who her father is!”

I’ve never heard God audibly speak, but I could sense in my Spirit Him whispering to me and saying, ‘Her father is not a Voodoo Priest. Her Father is the Living God and Savior of the World. That little girl is MY daughter and the plans I have for her life are as beautiful as she is. There is no darkness that my light cannon penetrate. There is no evil that my goodness cannot replace. There is no person who is out of the reach of my loving hand.”

I will probably never see that little girl again on this side of Heaven, but I believe that God has extraordinary plans for her life. For her, and for millions of children like her who are born in hostile situations, I pray that the love of God will break through and reach her. I pray that God’s people will rise up and be the hands and feet of Jesus to extend God’s Grace and Truth. I pray that we as Christians will be willing to go into the darkest places on Earth to rescue people, because that is exactly what Jesus has already done for us.

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6. WORK & CAREER A Message for those Struggling to Find Work Everyday I talk to people who are struggling to find work. The pressures of our crippled economy have had a devastating impact not only on our finances, but on the overall confidence of millions of people. Maybe you are among the multitudes who are struggling to make ends meet right now, and you find yourself feeling hopeless and even angry. You ask questions like "Where are you God?" and you seem to hear no reply.

I don't pretend to have a simple, magic answer to instantly eliminate your doubts and give you peace and prosperity, but there are a few things I want to share with you that I believe are personal messages to you from God. My prayer is that you find some hope in knowing that these words are true and they apply directly to your situation.

1. You are not defined by what you do. We tend to have an identity crisis when our means of making a living is taken from us, but God promises that our limitless value is found in Him, not in our vocation. You are valued because you are loved, not because you are employed.

2. God is with you. You might not feel Him, but He promises that He will "never leave you or forsake you" and He keeps His promises! I know you feel alone right now, but don't trust your feelings; trust your God. He hasn't abandoned you. He will carry you through this.

3. This Time you've been given is a Gift, not a Curse. God is growing you right now. He's stretching you which isn't a comfortable process, but it is strengthening your character. He may also be giving you time that you've not had in the past and that time is a gift. Use it invest in relationships, spend

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more time in God's Word, more time talking with your family, encouraging your friends and exploring the opportunities God will bring your way.

4. God has great things in store for you. You might believe that your best days are behind you, but they are not! God promises that He has great blessings in store for you. Those blessings aren't limited to jobs and finances; they include rich relationships, increased faith, and the joy that comes from knowing and trusting God.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

6 Questions to Ask Before Accepting a New Job The decision to accept a new job is huge. Jumping into the wrong opportunity (or the right opportunity for the wrong reasons) could prove to be devastating to your mental health. After you've asked your potential employer all the questions about 401k's, time off, and expectations, I think there should be an additional list of questions that you should ask yourself before accepting any new position:

1. Would I be glad to see my co-workers outside of work? ("The Walmart Test) If you ran into these people at Walmart would you be excited or would you run down another aisle and hide? Seriously, you'll be spending more waking hours with these people that with your closest friends, so you'd better make sure you enjoy being around them. If you don't have anything in common with your potential co-workers, you're probably going to be walking into a miserable office environment. If you can picture yourself hanging out, then

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you'll probably enjoy working alongside them.

2. Am I taking this job to impress people or to bless people? If your primary motivation for accepting a position is that it will make you look good at your high school reunion, then don't take it! Look for a job where you can make a living while also making a difference in the world. Don't just chase the money or the titles...chase opportunities to make a positive change in the world.

3. Will I look forward to sick days? If you think you'd prefer being home throwing up just so that you could get a doctor's note and have a day off from your job, then you don't need that job!

4. Will this job allow me to continue improving myself? You should strive to be a lifelong learner and continue to invest in yourself to maximize your potential. If your potential employers share in that vision and want you to become all that you can become, then you're probably looking at a very promising job opportunity.

5. Will my family be better off because if this job? Your job should financially provide for your family, but it should also give you the freedom to be there with them as much as possible. Your loved ones can do with less of pretty much anything if it means that they'll get more of YOU!

6. Do I have Peace about it? The Bible says in Colossians that we should let the Peace of Christ rule in our hearts. That basically basically means that we should allow God's peace to "call the shots" in our life. When you come to a big decision like this, commit it to prayer and ask God to give you peace about which choice you should make. If you're commit the decision to Him, you can't go wrong. His plans for your life are perfect and He wants you to have Peace and Joy in your work and in all aspects of your life.

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Chasing Trophies

"The only thing that counts is..." Galatians 5:6 (Don't worry, I'll give you the rest of the verse in a minute.)

When I was in college, a few mischievous friends and I tried to carry out a century-old tradition by climbing up into the steeple of our chapel on campus. We got lost in that big, dark building, so we never made it to the steeple, but we did find something that would forever change my perspective.

Our misguided quest led us to a hidden door. We entered a dark room. Enough moonlight was trickling in through the old, stained glass windows for us to see that room was full of something. My curiosity got the best of me and I decided that I had to flip the light switch and see where we were even if it meant we got caught trespassing.

As my eyes began to adjust to the light and the room came into focus, it took me a moment to comprehend what I was seeing. From floor to ceiling, from wall to wall, this room was packed full of a hundred years worth of...Trophies. There were trophies for everything: Music, Academics, Football, Baseball, Philanthropy and everything else you can imagine. I looked at these trophies and thought to myself, "At one time, these represented somebody's crowning achievement, and now, they're broken and dust-covered in a forgotten old room." A quote from Dr. James Dobson rang in my ears, "Life will trash your trophies."

That experience caused me to rethink my life's pursuits. I didn't want to pursue "trophies" that ultimately wouldn't matter. I searched God's Word for answers and I was surprised by what I found. Galatians 5:6 tells us plainly that the only thing that really matters isn't money or fame or success or even religion. It is simply "...faith expressing itself through love."

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In short, life is about loving Jesus and allowing our faith in Him and our love for Him to be our life's pursuit. When we do that, our lives have purpose, we become a blessing to the people around us, we become a part of God's family, and one day, we'll receive the only "trophy" that really matters...The Crown of Righteousness that God has promised to all who love Him.

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7. HOT TOPICS Pornography in the Bible Porn is a daily struggle for millions (if not billions) of men around the world. God wired us up to be visual creatures and with the pervasiveness and availability of pornography on the internet, many men have fallen into a destructive cycle. When guys get into a habit of looking at porn, they tend to respond to the sin by believing one of two lies:

Lie #1. This is not a big deal. It's not hurting anybody.

Lie #2. This is an unforgivable sin and I'll never be free from it.

Both of these lies keep men (including many Christians) in the cycle of Porn. God wants to set you free. Pornography in it's modern form didn't exist in Bible times, but there is one example that I believe perfectly displays the dangers of this sin. The passage is found in 1 Samuel where King David goes looking someplace he never should have been looking...

"One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her." 1 Samuel 11:2-4

David fed his appetite for visual lust with an ancient version of Pornography. He believed the lie that it wouldn't hurt anyone, but that first sin led to many others until adultery and ultimately murder had been committed. God's Grace is huge, so David was forgiven, but for the rest of his life, he dealt with consequences that started with one bad choice to let his eyes wander someplace they never should have gone.

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Sin always leads to more sin and more destruction until it is stopped. If you're one of the many who are caught up in Porn, please know a few important Biblical principles.

1. Porn is sin. Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 5 that "...to even look lustfully at a woman you've already committed adultery with her in your heart." Call it what it is. It's sin. It's wrong. It's destructive.

2. Freedom starts with Confession. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sings and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9...Confess to God for forgiveness and confess to a trusted friend (or your wife if you're married) for accountability. You don't need to fight this battle alone!

3. You can be Free! The Bible says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free so don't let yourself be enslaved by sin anymore." Do whatever you have to do to live in that freedom. It might mean drastic steps like cutting off your internet or putting in an internet filter. Do whatever you have to do to live in the sweet freedom Jesus died to give you!

Final Note: There are great Christian resources available for anyone struggling with porn at www.XXXChurch.com

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The Truth about Abortion This morning, President Barack Obama delivered a poignant speech at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. He spoke about the 6 million people who were killed simply because they were "different." He said that we must never forget the genocide and make sure it is never repeated. He rightly stated that ,"The World has too often failed to protect the innocents."

I agreed with what he said, but there is a heartbreaking irony in those words. There is a modern-day Holocaust that has taken more innocent lives than the combined total of every World War. More than 40 Million and another victim added every twenty seconds.

These innocent lives were not ended because they were "different" but rather simply because they were "inconvenient." Our modern day genocide is a legalized infanticide that we call...Abortion.

As a Christian, I don't see abortion as an issue of political preference any more than I see the atrocities of the Nazis as simple politics. The Bible clearly teaches that an unborn child is a person, created by God in His own image with infinite dignity and purpose.

To redefine life and give our tacit approval to the mass killing of the unborn in the name of forward-thinking political correctness, I believe we have given away part of our own humanity and broken the heart of our Creator.

Here are a few important principles for several key groups of people:

To the Women who have had an abortion God wants you to know that you are loved. Because of His Grace we are never defined by our sins or mistakes. You can be made whole and find physical, emotional and spiritual healing in the arms of the

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one who created you.

To the Women who are considering an abortion please choose life. Regardless of the circumstances that led to your pregnancy, life is always precious and life is never a mistake. Whether you give your child life through adoption into a loving family or your raise your child yourself, you will never regret your decision to bring your child into the world.

To all of us let's unite in prayer. Let's ask God to have mercy on our nation and world for allowing this travesty to continue for so long. Let's work together to reverse the unjust law that makes this practice legal. Let's do more to protect the "innocents."

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb." Psalm 139:13...Thank you, God, for the Gift of Life.

What the Bible actually says about Money The Bible has a lot to say about money. In fact, Jesus talked more about money than He talked about Heaven or Hell. He knew that this was going to be a big issue for us so He clearly told us how to see money in a healthy way. Some have taken his words and skewed them to say that He wants all people to be wealthy. Others have taken another extreme and twisted the Bible to say that money is evil. What the Bible actually teaches on money is a revolutionary concept which will bring freedom and peace to your life and your finances if you're willing to live it out. Here are the key Biblical principles that the Bible teaches on money:

Money is a good servant but a poor Master. No amount of it will bring contentment.

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Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11

Your Net Worth has nothing to do with your Self Worth. You have value because God made you and loves you, not because of your socioeconomic status.

Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” John 12:15

Keep an Eternal Perspective. "Real wealth" won't be given until we get to Heaven.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Keep Healthy Priorities. Put God first. He'll take care of the rest.

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

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Homosexuality and The Church Homosexuality has become one of the most divisive issues in our culture and that division has also stormed into The Church. I believe it's important for all Believers to have a Grace-filled and Truth-filled understanding of this issue from a Biblical foundation. I will do my best to address it in a few paragraphs. This post will be far from comprehensive, but I'm hoping it will spark some healthy dialogue.

I believe that most churches have done a shameful thing by singling out the Gay Community as some sort of special breed of "Super Sinners" and the schism between Evangelicals and those living a homosexual lifestyle continues to grow. I do not believe that this is God's will or a Biblical expression of God's love and grace. With that being said, I also know that the Bible has very set guidelines for the powerful gift of Sex. It is to be used and enjoyed within the context of a marriage between a man and a woman. Any use beyond that will eventually cause emotional, spiritual, and possibly even physical devastation. Any form of homosexual sex would fall into this category of being outside the boundaries of God's plan or more specifically...sin.

If you're living a homosexual lifestyle, please know that God loves you. He is for you. This, however, does not mean that He is for your lifestyle. Anyone of us can fall into the trap of trying to justify any type of sin, but whatever the sin (whether sexual or otherwise), if we choose to continue in it without repentance, we will slowly become more calloused and blind towards the Truth of God in our lives and find ourselves in the dangerous trap of rewriting Scripture to fit our choices instead of rewriting our choices to fit with Scripture. I encourage you to trust God enough to seek His plan for all areas of your life. The Bible teaches that His plans are plans to prosper and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future (see Jeremiah 29:11).

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What Does it mean to Be A Man? "Don't be afraid. Fight for your homes, your wives, your sons and your daughters." Nehemiah 4:14

Just a few hours ago I got home from a weekend Men's Retreat. We did the usual "man stuff" of eating red meat, shooting guns, watching football and as Donkey said to Shrek, "swapping manly stories." Basically, it was two days of testosterone-filled, manly awesomeness. All of that was fun, but the real "meat" of the retreat came when we charged into God's Word and began to explore what it really means to be a man. It turns out there's a lot more to it than eating red meat and watching football.

I believe that most of the world's problems can be traced back to one single problem...Men behaving like Boys. When men will step up and be the humble, loyal, courageous, servant-hearted leaders God has called us to be, then more peace will return to our homes, our churches and our nations. God has placed the responsibility to restore our homes and nations on men's shoulders. It's not that women can't handle this burden, it's that they shouldn't have to to!

It's impossible to cover all God's Word says about authentic manhood in a single blog post, but here are a few highlights to get us started on the right track. If we as men will do these things, God will bless the results...

Lead your family towards Jesus, keep your mind and heart pure (that means be careful what you're looking at and never look at porn), invite accountability into your life, give your close Christian friends permission to call you out when they need to, be in the Word daily, Pray (and more often than just before meals), treasure your wife, make time with your kids a priority, don't prioritize any hobbies ahead of your family, remove from your life anything that is making your a less effective husband and father, make church attendance and involvement a priority, create a safe, fun and life-giving

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environment in your home, give clear boundaries and consistent encouragement to your children, don't lose your temper if front of your family, show your wife love and affection, don't get drunk, don't play the victim, work hard to provide for your family, be responsible and disciplined with your finances, accept responsibility. Be a man of God!

As a final note, we also saw the new movie "Courageous" this weekend, and I highly recommend it! If every man in America watched this movie, our nation (and our families) would be a lot better off! Let's join together as to be the Courageous Generation God has called us to be!

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8. LIFE LESSONS Dealing with Disappointment Have you ever felt like a Failure? Join the club! You're in good company with the rest of the human race.

We've all experience setback, adversity, failure, pain and frustration. In many ways, I believe Disappointment is s universal language. It's something we can all relate to, but we don't talk much about how to get through it. I definitely don't have all the answers, but I do believe God gives us some important Truths to remember when we're dealing with life's disappointments.

1. You're not defined by your Failures (or by your Successes). We live in a world that tries to put us in either a "Winner" Column or a "Loser" Column. God doesn't categorize us that way. Your value isn't based on your performance; it's based on God's never-ending love for you.

2. You are growing through this process. You might now feel like it, but your'e being stretched, disciplined and strengthened as you endure life's hardships. God promises to work everything together for our good and His Glory. If you're going through something difficult, it's probably because God is preparing you for something great!

3. Great blessings are ahead. If God closes a door, it's because He has a better one that he wants you to discover. Sometimes it takes many closed doors before we're ready for the right one. In the meantime, we've got to choose the right attitude. Disappointment will always produce either Bitterness or Growth in your Life, but You get to decide which one!

4. God is Bigger than whatever is stressing you out! No matter how big the Fear or Failure might seem, God is bigger and He is with you! He says, "Never will I leave you or forsake

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you." Never let fear rob you of your dreams.

I don't believe you are reading these words by accident. I believe God wants to remind you that He loves you, He is with you and He will never let you down. Keep trusting Him and don't lose hope! Disappointments are temporary but your Destiny is Eternal. Remember His promises...

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Identity Theft Identity Theft is one of the most dangerous crimes in the world. It happens when someone steals your credit to make purchases in your name which can wreck havoc on your finances. As dangerous as financial identity theft might be, it's nothing compared to Spiritual Identity Theft which I believe is even more rampant and destructive. This happens when we allow the world to define us and we find our identity in anything other than God. The only way to have an accurate sense of identity is to know God and what He says about You.

Searching for purpose in anything but God will prove to be a dead end. Below are some of the most common "identity traps" followed by some of God's promises to help you discover true purpose.

Your identity is Not found in your Work.

So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. Ecclesiastes 2:20 (NLT)

Your identity is Not found in your Appearance.

The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People

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look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

Your identity is Not found in your Past.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

YOUR IDENTITY IS FOUND IN GOD. HERE IS WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT YOU.

God sees you as Priceless

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)

God sees you as a Masterpiece

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

God sees you as His.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

“But there is a God who made you for a reason, and your life has profound meaning. We discover that meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives.” –Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life

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The Myth of More When my oldest son, Cooper, was born, somebody gave us a DVD of Baby Sign Language that we started showing him when he was just a few months old. As new parents, we had no idea what we were doing, but we thought that if our baby learned Sign Language, then everybody would think that we really knew our stuff!

The DVD didn't make him a fluent phenom in signing, but it did teach him something. It turned out there was one sign that he picked up and consistently used, but he knew what it meant and he used it often. It was the sign for the word "more." Before he could speak a word, he had already discovered the instinctive human fascination with more.

As a baby, you just want more milk or more toys, but as we grow, the hunger for more grows. In adulthood, most of us are fueled by the drive for more money, more success, more pleasure, more fun, more rest, more sex and more of pretty much everything else. Our materialistic, hedonistic culture convinces us that we're not happy, but if we just but a little more of a certain product, then we will be. It's a viscous cycle that never ends until we discover a Life-Changing principle from the Truth of God's Word.

Here's the Truth..."More" will never make you happy. It's a myth. It's an empty pursuit. Contentment isn't a result of having more; it's a result of wanting less. Until you're content with what you've already got, you won't be content no matter how much you get!

God wants you to live in a spirit of gratitude and contentment. Don't let the selfishness of this world rob you of that. Choose to give thanks in all circumstances and be truly content with what you already have, and the "more" that comes your way will just be the icing on the cake. God has many more blessings in store for you, but you won't be able to fully embrace them

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until you're willing to trade more of this world for more of God.

How to Make the Right Choice Every day, life throws many choices our way. To make wise choices (especially on big and difficult decisions) we should always pray AND seek wisdom from trusted advisors. The Bible says clearly that "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)" Obviously, having good "advisors" is important, but with so many voices competing for our attention, how do we know which ones to listen to?

1. Listen to those with AGE & EXPERIENCE: 1 Kings Chapter 12 tells the story of Rehoboam who succeeded his father Solomon as King of Israel. Rehoboam made the fatal mistake of only listening to his young peers and neglecting the wisdom of the elders. His defiance and poor leadership split the nation in two. His passion was misguided, because he neglected the wisdom of the generation that had gone before.

2. Listen to those with YOUTH & PASSION: You need the wisdom of the old, but you also need the passion of the young. Jesus spoke often about how God has exclusively revealed certain wisdom to "children". The perspective of those who are young and full of vision and vitality will often challenge you to leave your comfort zone and pursue new challenges. Wisdom without action is pointless and young advisors will often push you towards action.

3. Listen to ENCOURAGERS: We all need a "Barnabus" in our lives; we need someone to come alongside and encourage us on the journey. This world has a desperate shortage of

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encouragement, so be an encourager and surround yourself with people who will be an encouragement to you. They will be like Caffeine for your Soul.

4. Listen to CRITICS: You need a Simon Cowell! Nobody wants to hear this, but we should listen to criticism. Give the most attention to constructive criticism from those who love and support you, but also consider the grain of truth that might be found in hostile criticism. As Rick Warren says, "Even a broken clock is right twice per day!" Abraham Lincoln surrounded himself with critical advisors who challenged him and very often disagreed with him, and those tense dynamics created one of the most successful presidencies in our nation's history.

5. Listen to those who LOVE YOU: The best advice will usually come from those who have no agenda other than loving you and wanting what is best for you. They're the ones praying for you and the ones there for you in life's ups and downs. Your spouse, parents, children, siblings and closest friends will usually hold this place of honor as your most trusted advisors.

Take all the advice you receive, pray over it, see how it lines up with the unchanging Truth of God's Word, and then take the best course of action. If you succeed, Great! If you fail, then you'll just have some good, hard-earned advice to share with someone someday!

Don’t be a Hoarder There's a show on TV called "Hoarders." It's about people who just accumulate junk and they never get rid of it. Their homes

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are filled with piles of trash so high that the only creatures who can navigate around the house are roaches and rats. The show is both sad and disgusting, but on a spiritual level, I think a lot of us live our lives as "hoarders."

We don't mean to become hoarders; it can just naturally happen over time until one day, we're buried under a pile of junk. We've got to be willing to clear away negative things that are taking up space to make room for new things that will bring peace back into our lives. In Colossians Chapter 3, the Bible paints a picture of some of the "junk" that needs to be removed that's taking up too much space in our minds, hearts and lives:

"But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Colossians 3:8

We can't get rid of this kind of junk by throwing it in a garbage bag. We need to pray for God's to remove it and we need to be willing to drastically change our attitudes, behaviors and decisions to push the remnants of these negative things out of our lives. Once they start to clear away, it's time to bring in new things to replace them, and just a few verses later, the Bible tells us what those new things should be...

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

These aren't things we can pick up at the mall. Again, we need to ask God to fill our lives with these attributes and be diligent in our efforts to hold onto them. We must allow God's Word to renew our minds and give us a new way of thinking that leads to a new way of living.

Keep in mind that this isn't a one-time process. The negative clutter has a tendency to keep working its way into our lives, so this should be a lifestyle pattern of clearing out the old (negative stuff) and making room for the new (positive stuff).

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Don't let yourself get buried by sin. Let's God's Grace sweep through your life and replace that junk with Joy.

Spiritual Sunburn I've never been good at remembering to put on sunscreen at the beach. By the time we park and I'm trying to contain all the kids and haul the chairs and towels, it's just so easy to overlook this simple (but very important) part of the process.

After several hours of splashing in the water and building lopsided sandcastles, I notice that my pasty white torso has turned to a shade of lobster red. By then, it's too late. The damage has been done. I put on my tee shirt to conceal the burn, but for the rest of the day, anytime someone touches my shoulder or hugs me or pats me on the back, I wince in pain.

In my experiences dealing with a lot of emotionally wounded people, I believe that there is an epidemic of "Spiritual Sunburn." It happens when we go out in the world unprotected and get overexposure to failure, negativity and betrayal. These emotional wounds create invisible "burns" on our mind and heart and cause us to wince in pain when people get too close to us.

Just like I have to rub aloe on my sunburns, we need to spread encouragement and hope to each other's emotional wounds. We need to pray for each other and to build each other up with our words. We need to be the Hands of Jesus spreading healing to a hurting world.

Through our words, our actions and our love, let's be part of the healing process.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up" Ephesians 4:29

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Life’s Storms When I was a kid, I was always scared to death of tornadoes. I guess I watched "The Wizard of Oz" one too many times! My fear wasn't of the storm itself, but of being in some unstable place when the storm hit. Nobody wants to be sitting in a treehouse when a twister or hurricane blows into town.

This need to be someplace secure during a storm seems to be one of the most universal human needs.Two thousand years ago, Jesus ended his most famous sermon (The Sermon on the Mount) with a simple but powerful illustration about how to build a life that will stand the storms of life. I've put the Scripture below with some points in bold to help you apply the lessons to building a foundation that will weather any storm.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24

God’s Word must be the Foundation of our lives.

"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:25

When storms hit, the right foundation makes all the difference.

"But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand." Matthew 7:26

“Foolishness” isn’t a lack of intelligence, but rather a lack of obedience. Choose Wisdom. (Read the Book of Proverbs in the Bible for a great description of Wisdom and Foolishness)

"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

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Matthew 7:27

Storms are inevitable, but destruction is optional. Trusting Jesus makes all the difference.

The Patch Principle When I was a young kid, I had a lazy eye. That basically means that one eye was much stronger than the other so while my my right eye could focus in with perfect vision, my left eye would be rolling around trying to see clearly. Because my eyes couldn't work together, I had no depth perception, so simple tasks like learning to catch a baseball become nearly impossible.

The doctor prescribed a remedy that sounded crazy to me. He wanted to me wear a patch covering up my good eye. I was thinking, "That's Crazy! Why not cover up my bad eye? Now everything is going to look blurry!"

It turns out the doctor knew what he was doing. With my strong eye temporarily out of the picture, the weaker eye had to carry the weight and slowly but surely it become stronger and more focused. By the time I permanently took off the patch, my eyes were able to work together beautifully.

I've been thinking recently about how "The Patch Principle" could apply to other areas of life and I believe there are many applications...

In Leadership there are occasions where you can help members of your team overcome their weaknesses by temporarily putting them in tasks or situations where they can't play to their strengths. Their weak spots will become stronger.

In Sports (and in Management) sometimes the strongest players need to be benched long enough to allow the weaker

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ones to rise the occasion and grow stronger under the weight of new responsibility. When the strongest players come back into the lineup, their teammates will have developed new strength and confidence making the team stronger.

In Life don't let your weaknesses hold you back. Instead of covering them over, temporarily cover your strengths and force yourself to grow in the areas of your weakness.

As your weaknesses become stronger, your actual strengths will shine even brighter!

Let God be your Financial Advisor Money is one of the most misunderstood and misused resources on the planet. The Bible teaches that God wants you to have a clear and healthy perspective on finances. If I could sum up the Bible's many teachings on money into one statement, I'd say it's "Money is a good servant, but a poor Master." When you discover true financial freedom, you will find more peace in all aspects of your life. Below are some of the most consistent financial principles found in Scripture. Apply them and you will see blessings (and not just financial ones).

1. Relentlessly eliminate your Debt.

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Proverbs 22:7

2. Wisely plan your Spending.

Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. John 12:15

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3. Systematically prioritize your Saving.

Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. Proverbs 13:11

4. Joyfully increase your Giving.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

5. Eternally maximize your investments.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 Don’t obsess about your Age When you're watching the news or reading a magazine story, it seems like one of the very first identifying marks we're told about a person is their age. Our culture seems to do a pretty good job of conditioning us from very early on to obsess about age. Cosmetic surgery is a multi-billion dollar industry, because we're all trying to rub on that "Oil of Delay" and hold onto youth.

We also seem to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to what others have accomplished by our age to see if we're measuring up and the deck always seems pretty stacked against us. As I write this, I am thirty-three years old. By age 33, Thomas Jefferson had written the Declaration of Independence, Alexander the Great had conquered the known world and my Savior, Jesus Christ, had saved the planet from their sins.

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If I compared my meager accomplishments to those guys, I'd pretty much feel like a bum!

Here's the good news...God's not nearly as interested in our age as we seem to be.

When you read the Bible, you'll see that He's in the habit of using people the world calls "too young" or "too old" to change the planet. He used a 100-year-old nomad named Abraham to start the nation of Israel, he chose an 80-year-old murderer named Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, He chose an adolescent shepherd boy named David to take on a Giant named Goliath, and He chose an unwed teenage girl to be the mother of the Messiah.

If you feel "too young" or "too old" to change the world, remember that God doesn't use people with the "right" age or the "right" resume...He uses people with the right heart.

Don't beat yourself up if you aren't where you'd hoped to be by this point in your life. God is just getting started with you! His plan for you is an eternal one (and Eternity is a really long time)! Keep trusting Him, seeking Him and being faithful to make the most of your current situation, and one day you'll see that you've accomplished far more for His Glory an the World's Good than you could have ever realized!

Lessons from a Happy Meal Last night I took my kids to McDonald's for a Happy Meal. We were on our way to a Flag Football game and in a hurry, so I didn't inspect the contents of our order until we were back on the road and I heard my boys giggling as they pulled out their Happy Meal toy. "It's Hello Kitty! It's a girl toy!" The folks at the Drive Thru Window had given us the girl toys by mistake. The boys laughed and joked for a moment expecting me to pull out the "real toy," but when I told them that those were the only

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toys, their moods become more serious. They were angry! They were acting like their meals had been laced with Leprosy an that "girl cooties" might have somehow infected their french fries. They thew the helpless "Hello Kitty" toy on the floorboard of the van and rebellion and disgust.

I started to think of a life lesson to share with them. Honestly, I wasn't doing it to be a good Father or because I'm a preacher and that's what preachers are supposed to do. I was just frustrated, running late and tired of hearing them complain, but through it, I think God taught us all an important lesson. I asked them if they knew any little girls at school who might like the toys. They immediately started talking about the girls in their class who would LOVE the "Hello Kitty" toy. As I helped them plan out giving the toy away, I think they started enjoying the anticipation of giving it away even more than they would have enjoyed the Action Figure they were supposed to get.

What's the Point?

I believe that very often, God puts gifts in our life that aren't there for our own personal consumption, but because we're all pretty selfish by nature, we disregard those gifts as trash instead of thinking about how we could bless someone else with them. What in your life do you have but you don't really need? There's someone out there who would be blessed to receive it and you would be blessed to give it. Don't hoard it, don't throw it away, choose to give it and not only will you bless someone else, you'll be blessed too. There is a purpose to everything if you will see its value through God's eyes and not your own.

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9. ANSWERS TO LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONS Why are we Here? Life's got all kinds of big questions...

"Why did God make it impossible for a man and a woman to be comfortable at the same temperature?"

"Why does my nose only itch when I'm carrying something heaving and can't scratch it?"

"Why do my kids seem to act their worst when other people are watching?"

The Bible doesn't address the lines at Walmart or why my nose itches, but God's Word does contain the answers to the questions that really matter. Maybe the Biggest Question of all has to do with our purpose. I think in some form or another, we've all asked "Why am I here?" "What's life's purpose?" "Does God have a plan for me?"

There's Good News for us all...God loves you and has extraordinary plans for your life! Your identity and your purpose are found in Him. If we're willing to Trust Him and follow His plan, we'll discover purpose in this life and hope for eternal life. Here are four important principles the Bible teaches in answer to the question, "Why are we Here?"...

1. We are here for God’s Glory.

Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

2. We are Here as God’s Children.

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See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

3. We are Here in God’s Service.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human bosses Colossians 3:23

4. We are Here on God’s Mission.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

What Happens When You Die? “…man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” Hebrews 9:27

You're going to die. I know that's kind of a morbid way to start a blog entry, but it's true! We're all going to die which leads us to one of the most universally asked questions since the dawn of time, "What happens when we die?" There are all kinds of different opinions on this, but at least for me, the only opinion I'm interested in is Jesus' opinion, because He's the one who has seen the side. Below I've taken a very famous story from Scripture where Jesus gives us a picture of what Heaven and Hell look like. There's a lot more in the Bible on this subject and I encourage you to explore it, but I believe this story straight from Jesus will give you a good start. The Scripture is below and I've made some points in Bold to help highlight a few main points. In this Story, Jesus makes it clear that we will

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all live forever somewhere...either with God or separated from Him.

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:19-21

Your Position in this life does not determine your Location in the next life.

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Luke 16:22-25

Heaven is a place of eternal fulfillment and Hell is a place of eternal suffering.

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' Luke 16:26

Death doesn’t end your life, but it seals your fate

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Luke 16:27-28

This life is your only opportunity to reach your friends and

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family for Christ.

"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:29-31

Final Note: Scripture points to Jesus as the Way to Heaven.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

How Do You Know if You are Saved? “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

I'm writing this post from a hospital where just yesterday, my beautiful wife gave birth to our third son. With the exception of God's Saving Grace, there's no greater gift from God than Children. Before my baby boy has done a thing to earn my adoration, I already love him with an unconditional love that only a parent can understand. When I hold him in my arms, I get a glimpse of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. I'm just an imperfect human father, so multiply my love by infinity and you'll see what God wants for His Children.

I don't want my kids going through life not knowing if they're part of my family and God doesn't want you going through life not knowing if you're part of His family. You can know if your'e saved! God wants you to have that confidence:

"Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son

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of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:12-13

Still don't feel peace? Here's why...

About fifteen years ago there was a popular World War II movie called "Saving Private Ryan" (trust me, this is leading somewhere). The premise of film is that there is a young Soldier (Private Ryan) whose brothers have been killed in battle. To spare his family the agony of losing all of their sons, the government orchestrates a rescue mission to save him and send him home. The rescue team is led by a no-nonsense Army Captain who seems to believes that the whole mission is a bad idea.

In the film's final scene, the Captain is fatally wounded while fulfilling his mission and saving the young Private. With his dying words, he looks the soldier in the eyes and says "Earn this! Earn it." The film flashes forward many decades and now Private Ryan is an old man standing at the grave of that Captain. You can tell he has been haunted by those words and trying to "earn it" all his life, but he never knows for sure if he has measured up. He pleads with the grave seeking approval, but he finds none.

What's the point?

Many People believe they have put their faith in Jesus, but they also believe that they have to earn what He did for them on the cross. Here's the Good News, when Jesus was hanging on that cross, dying to save you, He did not use His dying words to say, "Earn this." Do you know what He said instead? I pray these Words give you a supernatural peace that you've never felt before. Jesus said, "It is finished!"

Did you catch that? It is finished. That means done, complete, sealed, finished! That's God's Gift of Grace. Jesus has done ALL the work already! You couldn't possibly earn it even if

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you tried with everything you had, and God never expected you to. If you have put your faith in Jesus and in the Saving Work He finished for you, then you are saved! Let God lift away the weight of doubt from your shoulders. You were never meant to carry it.

If you have never put your faith in Jesus Christ, you have reason to have doubt. You are not saved, but you can be right now. The Bible says that if you confess that Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved (Romans 10:9). It's not a duty for you to earn, it's a gift for you to receive by faith. Reach out to your Savior and love God with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength. He's already done all the work and He did it out of love for you. It is finished.

What Matters Most to Jesus? What we pray about reveals what is most important to us.

It was the same for Jesus in His tie on Earth. His prayers revealed His heart and through those prayers we can see what matters most to our Savior.

Let's take a look at this passage of Scripture from John chapter 17. In this prayer, Jesus is pouring out His heart before the Father the night before he was going to be die on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. His words in this defining moment reveals so much about what matters most...

"“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me—so that

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they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23

In one Word, Jesus was praying for UNITY. He wants His Followers to be One Body, One Family and One Church. His Grace and our Faith makes this possible.

Unity does not mean uniformity. It doesn't mean that we all need to look, talk and dress the same, because God made each of us in a masterfully unique way, but in our uniqueness we still must strive for oneness. We are united by our love for God, our love for people and our desire to reach this world for Jesus.

The petty things that separate us as Christians are not nearly as important as what unifies us. Let's not get caught up in denominational competitions or in focusing on our differences. Let's focus instead on our Savior and the Great Commission He gave us.

When the world sees us loving each other, they will more clearly see Him.

How can you find God’s Will for your Life? My kids ask me questions all the time. "Daddy, why is the sky blue? Daddy, how big are God's feet? Daddy, how come I can't have ice cream for breakfast?" Like all human beings, my kids are trying to figure things out. They're asking question and as they grow, they'll eventually stumble on the biggest question of all, "What is God's will for my life?"

In one way or another, I believe that's a question that we've all

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wrestled with. The Bible says that we're born with this sense of "eternity" or destiny in our hearts, but for most of us, we have a hard time discovering what that looks like. I don't think that our loving Creator intended for this whole process to confuse us, because the Bible gives us some pretty clear steps for discovering God's will.

Step 1: Start by doing the stuff you already know is God's Will for your life. The Bible clearly gives us some basics to help us get started. It's clear that God's plan for your life begins in a relationship with him. I'm not talking about religion or rules; I'm talking about knowing Him and loving Him which is made possible by what Jesus did on the cross. Once we begin that relationship, God's Will for us includes prayer, being thankful, loving other people, serving, caring, giving and using His personalized 1000-page text message to us (The Bible) as our standard for living. These things are God's Will for your life.

Step 2: Discover how your unique Design reveals your Destiny. Ephesians 2:10 says that you are God's masterpiece and He has created you to do good works that He has already prepared in advance for you to do. I believe we discover those "good works" when we find places where our God-given abilities and our God-given passions intersect at a point of need in the world. When we're living out our destiny, we're going to be making the world a better place and finding deep fulfillment all at the same time. We can accomplish this through our vocation, but these dreams are often accomplished through service outside of our vocation.

Step 3: Get started right where you are. I believe the biggest mistake we make in searching for God's will is that we wait for conditions to become perfect before we start actually "doing" something. If you wait for perfection, you'll be waiting forever! Right where you are, in your school, in your job, in your neighborhood, in your home, God has already put world-changing opportunities all around you. Ask Him to help you see those opportunities more clearly and then get going! He

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didn't create you to sit on the sidelines; He made you to change the world!

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Who Does God Love the Most? A woman who had fifteen children was once asked by an interviewer, "With so many kids, how do you love them all the same?"

She smiled and gave an answer that he wasn't expecting, "I don't love them all the same."

Taken aback, the interviewer awkwardly asked, "Well...which one do you love the most?"

She gave a thoughtful smile and answered softly, "The one who is hurting the most, the one who feels the most loneliness, the one who is brokenhearted...that's the one I love the most."

God has a lot more kids than just fifteen, and I don't believe that He plays favorites, but the Bible does teach that God has a special place in His heart for those who are hurting. He's with us always, but in our moments of deepest despair, I believe His presence is strongest.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

If you are in a place right now where you feel like you're all alone, I want to reassure you that you are not alone. God is with you. Jesus has said, "Never will I leave you or forsake you." God loves you more than you can imagine. He will be your strength until the pain passes and He will bring good out of it somehow. Trust Him and know that you are loved with an eternal love.

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How Can You Tell Who Your “Real Friends Are?

What does it mean to be a "Real Friend?" How can you tell who your friends really are? Is every facebook "friend" you have a true friend?

Healthy friendships are vital to life, so it's important that we have good friends and that we become good friends to others. God invented friendship, so His Word is the ultimate source for determining how to do it right. Here are a few key traits that should be present in any healthy friendship.

1. Friends Forgive. Friends don't bring up old dirt and gossip about each other. They forgive and seek forgiveness with transparency and humility.

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends." Proverbs 17:9

2. Friends love unconditionally! They are there for you when you need them most, not just when it's convenient.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." Proverbs 17:17

3. Friends have your back! Loyalty is vital to friendship. There's no such thing as a "frenemy".

"There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

4. Friends tell you the truth. Even when it's hard to hear, friends will speak the truth in love.

"An honest answer is a sign of true friendship." Proverbs 24:26

5. Friends make each other better!

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"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17

6. Friends communicate openly.

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 14:15

Let's all strive to live out these traits in our own relationships and I believe our friendships will become more enriching, fulfilling and God-honoring.

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10. CHANGING THE WORLD How to Change the World according to Jesus God wants You to be a World-Changer!

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks some of the most profound (and most challenging) words that have ever been spoken. Essentially, Jesus is giving us a roadmap for how to change the world and how to change our own lives in the process. Below, I've put some Scripture along with my own points in bold to help you apply these teachings to your own life. I also encourage you to read the' "Sermon on the Mount" in its entirety which can be found in Matthew Chapters 5-7 in the Bible. I pray that these words of Jesus will change your life the way they have changed mine and millions of others.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

God calls us to give Light to a Dark World. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, we should reflect the light of Christ.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23-24

We must be quick to forgive and to humbly seek forgiveness.

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"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28

We must make Purity a Priority. All sexual sin starts in the mind!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborand hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:43-45

We are most like Christ when we Love the Unlovable, forgive the Unworthy and do good to those who won't repay us.

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:46-48

God wants to shine His Perfect Love through Imperfect people (that includes you and me).

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5 Simple Ways to Change the World

We all want to change the World, but most of the time, we don't know where to start! I think we often make the mistake of focusing too much on the "big" things, so we overlook the practical, simple steps we could take that would bring real change to our own lives and to the world around us. I believe that if we would adopt these five simple principles into our daily behavior, we would become World-Changers!

1. Keep Your Word. In a world where people break commitments faster than New Years Resolutions, be someone who holds true to your commitments. Don't quit when it gets tough. In your marriage, in your business and in your relationships, be a person of your word.

2. Do good to those who can't repay you. Jesus is the greatest world-changer who ever lived, and He consistently did good to those who couldn't repay. That's the essence of Grace. When we do good to those who pay us back, we're being good "networkers." When we do good to those who can't repay, we're being good World-Changers!

3. Forgive and Seek Forgiveness. When you've done wrong, admit it and be humble enough to do your part to try and make it right. When someone has done wrong to you, forgive them. It's been said that holding a grudge is like drinking poison and then hoping the other person dies! We live in a world with everybody pointing their fingers at others and nobody taking responsibility for their actions. Forgiveness is what breaks the cycle!

4. Love People more than Possessions. In a world where too many people love things and use people, be a person who has your values in the right place. Greed is toxic, but Selfless Love is World-Changing.

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5. Trust God. This may sound simplistic, but it's probably the most powerful one on the list. When you read the Bible, you'll see that God doesn't change the world with people who have the best resume; He chooses to change the world with people who simply Trust and Obey Him. Be willing to trade in your plans for you life in for His plans for you life. I promise that His will be better and more World-Changing!

How to Reach the Next Generation "Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation." Joel 1:3

There is an all-out battle going on to capture the hearts and minds of the World's Youth. The values and beliefs they are forming now are being cemented in their young minds and ultimately leading them either towards God or far away from Him. Unfortunately, now more than ever, young people are choosing a path that leads away from the faith because they don't see God's relevance to their lives. They're searching for significance and purpose apart from God, but any path besides Jesus will eventually prove to be a dead end. i believe The Church has been given the mission of reaching young people. God can save anyone at any age, but stats overwhelmingly show that if a person has not come to Christ before they graduate college, chances are, they never will! God’s plan for reaching the world has always focused on reaching the Next Generation. We must engage today's Youth with Authenticity, Love and Truth. Through our words, our Prayers and our actions, they must see God's love for them shining through us. They deserve nothing less! Below I've put some challenges and some Scriptures to help us get started...

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Our Words will teach the Next Generation. (Let your words be consistent with your Actions) "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

Our Example will inspire the Next Generation. (Sacrifice time and resources to reach them)

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Our Love will reach the Next Generation. (Don't just tell them...Show them!)

"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically." Romans 12:9-11

We don't need to be perfect to reach them, we just need to connect them to the One who is Perfect. We need to live out our own faith in a way that is genuine and honorable. Through our actions and our words, and our Prayers, we must show the Next Generation that God is not only relevant, He is the only path worth taking! Let's resolve together to unite in prayer and in action to fight for the hearts and minds of the Next Generation. They're worth fighting for!

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How to be a Superhero I vividly remember my first big prayer as a kid. I had just watched the original Superman movie with Christopher Reeves and immediately knew my destiny. I was going to be a Super Hero! All I needed was some tights, a cool name, some hair gel and, of course, the ability to fly. I was pretty sure I could get the rest of the stuff on my own, but flight was going to be a problem.

I had just learned in Sunday School that if you pray in Jesus’ name, God would give you whatever you asked for. That sounded like my ticket to flight! I stood up on a big rock in our backyard and I looked around to make sure none of the neighbors were looking then I closed my eyes as tightly as I could and I mustered up the best prayer a 5-year-old could make.

I said, “God, please let me fly like Superman! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!”

I felt a surge of adrenaline pump through my tiny body and I raised my arms to the heavens and leapt off that rock and you will never guess what happened next…I flew! Okay, I didn’t actually fly. In reality I feel to the ground and scraped up my knees and my faith.

I was so confused. I thought prayer was supposed to work! I thought that God wanted to give us the desires of our hearts, and I had never wanted anything so badly as I wanted to be a Super Hero. I thought maybe I had prayed wrong, or maybe God was mad at me for something. Maybe I was never meant to be a Super Hero and I just needed to lower my standards and give up on my dreams.

That disappointing moment stuck with and I came to a place where I subconsciously lowered my standards and decided not to expect too much out of life. Sadly, I think that’s where most

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people get stuck. We start out in life with all kinds of hopes and dreams and unbridled energy, but along the way, the disappointments of life replace our dreams with disillusionment. It was never meant to be this way.

I’ve come to discover something that has changed my life and I believe it will change your life as well. I’ve learned that all of those hopes and dreams that God placed inside you as a kid are desires He still wants to fulfill. Your destiny won’t look exactly like you imagined (there probably won’t be tights involved), but your reality can be something even better than you imagined.

Here’s the bottom line. God created you to a Super Hero! He made you to change the world. You were never meant to be a spectator in life just going through the motions and barely getting by; you are meant to be a courageous agent of change fulfilling a God-given destiny that will impact eternity. Even as you’re reading these words, I believe there is something stirring inside of you that recognizes these words as Truth. All you need to do is have the courage to Trust God, Live out your Faith, Selflessly Love People and you will change the world for God’s Glory!

Dangerous Faith The World would love to "water down" your Faith.

We live in a world that that will accept your Beliefs as long as your Beliefs don't change the way you think, act or live. In other words, our Politically Correct World would prefer that you have a Belief System that you don't actually believe. God doesn't want you to have a watered down faith. He wants you to have a World-shaking, soul-saving, life-giving, Dangerous Faith!

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For me, this story below is one of the most inspiring stories in the Bible, because it represents real and radical faith. As we will see in this story, nothing communicates the authenticity of our faith like doing the right thing even when the right thing is dangerous!

We pick up the story when three young, God-fearing men have refused to bow before an idol because it would bring dishonor to God. They refuse to dishonor God even when the king threatens them with execution by being burned alive in a furnace. That's Dangerous Faith! I've put the Scriptures below with some additional points in bold to help you apply the powerful truths of this inspiring story to your own life...

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Our Courage is a result of our Confidence in God.

"Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:24-25

With God, we will Never walk through fire Alone.

"Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I

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decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon." Daniel 3:28-30

God will increase our influence when we live out our Convictions.

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11. QUICK SHOTS OF SOUL CAFFEINE The Whole Bible summed up in 200 Words God made the whole universe and everything in it. He made people in His own image. We are His Masterpiece. He created us to be in relationship with Him, but we rebelled. Even in our Sin, God still loved us and already had a plan for making everything right. He gave the Law to guide us, and prophets to teach us, but they didn’t have the power to save us. To bring Salvation, He had to come in person, so He sent His Son Jesus Christ. He is Immanuel. God with us. The Way, The Truth and The Life. Jesus showed us the Way then gave His life on a Cross to pay the penalty for our sins. After three days in the grave, He rose to life displaying His power over life and death. He gave His Holy Spirit to guide us and created His church to bring hope to the world. Everyone who rejects Jesus will spend Eternity separated from God. Everyone who repents and follows Jesus will be saved. His Grace is a gift we receive by faith. Jesus will soon set everything right and make all things new and we will be with Him forever. Amen.

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Top Tweets This book started out of a twitter feed (@Soul_Caffeine) that exists simply to bring Christian encouragement and inspiration. Below is a collection of some of the most popular tweets that have brought encouragement to thousands of people. I pray these words bring encouragement to you as well! God bless...

God has a Purpose for your Pain, a Reason for your Struggle and a Reward for your Faithfulness. Don’t Give up!

Never let Fear cheat you out of your dreams. God is Bigger than whatever you're worried about!

God is for you, so don't lose sleep over anyone who might be against you!

God promised that everything would work out, not that everything would make sense. Trust Him.

Show respect even to people who don't deserve it...not as a reflection of their Character but as a reflection of yours.

The Bible never once says, "Figure it out," but over and over it says, "Trust God." He's already got it all figured out.

Jesus said "Never will I leave you or forsake you," so even in your loneliest moment, you are never alone!

God loves you more than you love yourself. His plans for your life and better than your own plans for your life.

If you ever feel insignificant, just remember that your Father is the Eternal King of the World. You are Royalty!

3 important principles: 1. God Love You. 2. God is in Control. 3. If you ever feel overwhelmed, refer to numbers 1 & 2.

Don't let a false sense of urgency rob you of your peace. God's

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timing is perfect. Be patient and enjoy the moment.

Don't try to change people; just love people. Love is what changes us!

When God closes a door, it's always for your good. It means it's either not the right time or it's not the right door!

You are not defined by your mistakes. You are defined by your God, and He loves you no matter what!

You can't focus on your Blessings & your Problems at the same time. The one that has your focus will shape your thinking.

No matter where you've been or what you've done, remember that God loves you and has extraordinary plans for you life.

God loves you more than preteen girls love Justin Bieber!

If you're following Jesus, then you're always headed in the right direction!

Jesus' final words from the Cross were "it is finished," not "earn it," so live in the freedom of His Grace!

If you're motivated by love, then you can't fail. Love always wins in the end.

Don't let anybody tell you that you "can't" do something when the Bible says, 'You CAN do all things through Christ!"

What you see as "Bad News" might just be God's way of redirecting you towards a better path.

Believe in Yourself. God made you and He never makes mistakes!

You can boldly and fearlessly walk into any situation knowing

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God is with You!

Never feel unqualified. God uses people with a willing heart, not a perfect resume.

Don't look for someone else to complete you (unless that "Someone Else" is Jesus)!

Let your decisions be driven by your Faith, your Principles and your Commitments, not by your Emotions.

If you want more joy in your life, work to bring joy to others and you'll find it coming back to you.

Take all the love you have, multiply it by eternity and then you will have a glimpse of how much God loves You!

The Bible says all things are "possible" for you; it never says all things would be "easy" for you. Don't give up!

You may feel alone, but God is with you. You may fell unloved, but God loves you. You may feel insignificant, but you're Priceless to Him.

When you're committed to something, you make a way. When you're not, you make an excuse.

Worry Less, Pray More. Fight Less, Forgive More. Judge Less, Love More.

God is in control even when your world feels out of control.

If you live your life to please people, you'll live in frustration. If you live to please God, you'll live in His Peace.

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The Best Advice I’ve Ever Heard I've been blessed to have been around some wise people in my life. I always try to pick their brains and ask for advice in the hopes that some of their sage wisdom might rub off on me. Over the years, I've kept track of the "Greatest Hits" and just like they were given freely to me, I'd like to give them to you. I hope and pray that these words help you like they've helped me!

In no particular order...

"Don't Take it Personally." My Mom is one of the most forgiving people I've ever known, and because she doesn't hold onto grudges, she has more peace in her life than most anyobody you could meet. At one point in my youth, I was offended for some reason by some insignificant thing somebody had done, and she just said, "Honey, you can't take it personally. It's their issue and you don't have to me it your grudge. Forgive and move forward." I've tried to repeat that advice and it's helped me have some of that peace that she's found.

"Live for Jesus." We all want to live for something bigger than ourselves. My Dad shared this advice on video in the hospital room when my third son was born. I was going around the room asking people to share a nigget of wisdom that we could all watch and be reminded of when watching the video later. Dad simply said, "Life for Jesus" which I've seen him live out in his own life and I can't think of a better way to live. Following Jesus doesn't just bring benefits in this life, but anything we do in this life for Jesus, lasts for eternity!

"Don't spend more than you make." There are few things more enslaving than debt and we live in a world that is addicted to it. I''ve definitely had my share of debt, but my wife and I have worked to apply this simple principle to our own finances and it's brought so much freedom to our lives and it's

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also allowed us to be more generous than we could have been with all the limitations of maxed out credit cards.

"Make sure your Spouse is always your Best Friend." My wife Ashley is my best friend! Before we were even married, we had some wiser older couples share their wisdom and talk about how feelings change and evolve in every relationship, so a marriage can't be based on feelings, but it can be rooted in friendship. Now don't get me wrong, I've got more passion and chemistry for her than ever, but even more important than the "feelings" is our friendship. We talk about everything, we make date nights and trips a priority and we make fun a lifestyle.

"Trust the Bible." We live in a crazy world and most people seem to have a worldview that's rooted in...well...nothing at all. God intended for His Living Word to be our foundation, our compass and our guide through all the ups and downs of life. It holds the keys to life, grace, love, prosperity, contentment and pretty much everything else. Trust it from beginning to end and make reading it a daily part of yoru life. The people in life I've admired thte most are ones who make the Bible a vital part of their day.

"Leave every person better than you found them." Every moment and every interaction is an opportunity to use our words and actions to either tear down or to build up; to encourage or discourage; to hurt or to heal. Be intentional about leaving every person better off than you found them from small acts of kindness to the biggest acts of love and sacrifice for others. This comes back to the "Live for Jesus" advice, but Jesus lived this out better than anyone in History.

That's the best advice I've ever heard. Below are some that didn't make the list but they still receive honorable mention...

"Don't eat yellow snow."

"Don't post anything on facebook while you're intoxicated."

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"Don't get drunk in the first place."

"Unless you're playing with your kids, don't spend time playing video games if you're a grown man. That's lame, bro."

"Floss daily."

"Don't make major purchases impulsively."

"Choose your battles wisely."

"Tip well for good service."

"Learn something new each day."

"Make goals and work hard to reach them."

"Never put money or hobbies or career ahead of people."

"Don't go grocery shopping while you're hungry. You'll buy a bunch of junk."

"Say 'please' & 'thank you""

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The Power of Thank You "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6

"Thank You" is one of the most powerful phrases in the world.

Giving our gratitude is simple, and yet most of us aren't very good at it. I think the reasons why include our own selfishness, our busyness and the fact that we're often too preoccupied with all the stuff that we think we need that we forget to give thanks for all that we already have. The Bible is clear that in all circumstances, we should give thanks. That means regardless of our circumstances we always have a reason to be thankful!

Below is a famous story from the Bible which illustrates Jesus' miraculous power, while also showing the power of saying "Thank You." I've put some additional points in bold to help you apply these Biblical principles to your own life.

"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosymet him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Luke 17: 11-13

To Experience the Miraculous, we must admit Christ’s Great Power and our Great Need.

"When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed." One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan." Luke 17:14-16

Don’t just ask God to Bless You, look for ways to Bless God.

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"Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:17-19

God Blesses those who choose an Attitude of Gratitude.

Maybe you already possess a grateful heart and you're constantly thanking God for all the good He has done in your life, but if you are like most of us, you can identify with those nine other guys who were so preoccupied with their new healing that they didn't think to thank God. Their minds probably instantly raced to all the things they wanted and needed to do illustrating a point that I believe relates to all of us...Until you're thankful for what you've Got, you won't be thankful no matter what you Get.

Let's resolve together to choose an attitude of gratitude. Like the Old Hymn says, "Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done!" When we stop to give thanks, we're honoring God, and also inviting more peace, perspective and blessing into our own lives.

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A Prayer for Today LORD, I've got to admit, I've already wasted a big chunk of Today because I've been thinking about yesterday and worried about tomorrow. I know you want me to embrace the fullness of the Present, but my own fear, stubbornness, doubt and regret all get in the way. Forgive me. Please let this prayer be my prayer Today and everyday from now on.

Father, in Jesus' Name I'm asking you to change the world through me Today. Please cancel all of my own plans and replace them with Your Plans. I know your plans are better even when I don't fully understand them. Please interrupt my routine with people who need to be encouraged and helped and give me the Grace and Wisdom to help them. Please clear my mind of my many past regrets and future plans, I know that you've already paid the price for my past and paved the path to my future. Today and everyday, my life is in your hands. Please forgive me of my pride, doubt and selfishness and give me the strength to be free from every form of sin. I know that all sin starts in my mind, so renew my mind with your Truth and guide my thoughts and my actions. Please help me to see the world through your eyes, Today. Help me to see people and love people the way that you do. Let me live Today with the focus and resolve I would have if I knew it was my last day on Earth. Use me as a living instrument of your Grace and Love. Today is a day that you have made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for the countless Blessings in my life. Today, please help me to choose an Attitude of Gratitude. I love you, LORD. Thanks so much for loving me and for reminding me with every Sunrise, that you are a God of New Beginnings, Second Chances and Beautiful Grace.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am one blessed Dude.

God has given me a wonderful partner and best friend in my wife, Ashley. I love you, Sweetie! You make me a better person and I love being your husband. You are an amazing Wife and Mommy! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in the years ahead! God has given me three adorable little boys who bring such joy and light into my life. I love you Cooper, Connor and Chandler! I can’t wait to see what amazing plans God has in store for each of you. I’m so honored to be your Dad. I love you so much.

God gave me a Mom and Dad who lived out their faith in an authentic way and gave my brothers and I such a solid foundation. I’m so thankful for their love and guidance through the years. I still want to be like you guys when I grow up! I love you both. God has placed two great Brothers (Ben & Drew), many relatives and countless friends in my life who have sharpened and encouraged me. I’m so thankful for their love and support.

God has blessed my family with an amazing church home. Stevens Creek Church is a wonderful place to do life. I’m so thankful for the love of an awesome church family, the partnership of an amazing Staff Team and the leadership of Pastor Marty Baker who has given me countless opportunities to grow, lead and serve. It’s a joy to be part of “The Creek!” Most importantly…God has given me His Love and adoption into His family through my LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. I live my life For His Glory!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dave describes himself as a regular guy who has been blessed with an amazing wife, three incredible kids, a loving family, great friend, an awesome church and a Perfect Savior. He serves as a Teaching Pastor for Stevens Creek Church in Augusta, GA.

For more encouragement, please follow @Soul_Caffeine on twitter and visit www.stevenscreekchurch.com