"Daddy, Can I Go Make Some New Friends?"

The other day my children and I were at the park. As I was walking along holding Anna's hand she looked up and asked, "Daddy, can I go make some new friends?"

This simple phrase resonated in my heart. "Making" new friends described the process very well.

Prov 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

There are many people who feel lonely, isolated and alone, simply because they do not realize that friendship is work and close friendships have there costs.

However, the benefits far out way the price.

True Friendship will require us to...

1. Take Risks

We must take the risk of rejection. We must open ourselves up. We must be willing to reveal our weaknesses, failings, and fears.

2. Make an Effort

Close friendships are work. Casual acquaintances may spring up over night but deep friendships have to be cultivated. Phone calls, emails, and trips out of your way must be made to grow and maintain strong friendships.

3. Be Selfless

Selfishness has killed so many budding relationships. Many times we must sacrifice our own desires; our own likes and dislikes; so that a friendship can continue. Selflessness does not mean that you must always give in, but it is the wisdom to know when you should and the meekness to do it.

Good things in life seldom happen by accident. Therefore, deep friendships happen on purpose. "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly."

As my little Anna does on a daily basis, go out today and "MAKE" a friend.

You will be glad you did.

The Secret to a Good Relationship

When seeking a relationship we are always looking for something to be right. We look for the common ground where we can build a strong relationship. Most of the time we either over look or learn to live with the things that we do not like.

However, when we are looking to get out of a relationship we do the very opposite. We search diligently for the wrong. We focus on the irritating things that we dislike and ignore the common ground.

The Secret to a Good Relationship is to keep our focus on the common ground while continuing to build a consensus on our differences...

An Oddly Beautiful Word...

The word that I write about today is one that may seem out of fashion. Many consider it an embarrassing memory of a by-gone era.

It was popular before political correctness began to creep into our pulpits. It was a staple in the diet of prayerful churches before sensitivity training was en vogue. It existed before the term "seeker sensitive" was contrived by weak minded and cowardly so-called "preachers."

The beauty of this word lay in the fact that it was not just a word, but a response. It was an atmosphere that permeated our services. It gripped our hearts as the powerful Word of God was preached by prayerful Godly men.

The word? Conviction...

I know...I know...there is no beauty in that word, you say.

However, I beg to differ. There is nothing more beautiful than when the Word of God goes forth in power and the hearers submit to the message in repentance and obedience.

What happened? Is conviction dead?

No... However, I do believe that in many places it is on life support.

I believe that it has suffered in two critical areas:

1. Weak Delivery

Many preachers have allowed the culture of tolerance and acceptance to move into their consciousness. The voice of those who have "itching ears" have drowned out the voices of the hungry.

2. Insensitivity of the Receiver

Many that hear the Word of God have lost their sensitivity. Our media driven society as desensitized the hearts of people.

Pastor Jesse Williams preached a powerful message in Mississippi almost 10 years ago. It was entitled "The Death of the Most Famous Preacher." His message was about the death of conscience.

How do we revive conviction?

1. It is time for our preachers to pray, fast and commit to delivering the whole Word of God. Let me clarify something, conviction preaching does not and should not have to be mean or angry preaching. In fact, true conviction preaching is a product of love. Conviction is not condemnation!

2. We must cultivate a hunger in our churches for more of God. A hunger and a love for the Word of God. We must allow the oil of the Holy Ghost to soften and heal the calluses that have covered our hearts.

The oddly beautiful word...Conviction!

Rev 3:19-20 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Simply Profound... (50 Nuggets of Advice for Ministers)

This list was compiled by a group of ministers on WordShare Forum. Simply Profound...

1. Pray always
2. Be patient
3. Love the Word
4. Keep a journal of ideas
5. Remember that God is sovereign
6. Listen to your wife!
7. Nothing happens overnight
8. Be a Giver
9. You are a servant… never a master
10. Take notes on everything, keep every note you take
11. Hurting people hurt people
12. You can only see 30% of what people are feeling, treat them accordingly
13. You are always a leader, whether you are doing well or not
14. Every person is valuable and all flesh is designed to fail
15. Nothing can take the place of prayer
16. Always look for a door of reconciliation… always
17. Saints are sheep - they have to be led, they can’t be driven
18. Take care of your family – saints will come and go
19. Relationships are invaluable, connect with as many peers as you can
20. To thine own self be true - don’t copy anyone, develop your own ministry
21. Never seek a position or title. If it is God’s will, it will come
22. When it comes time to “step down” then step down in the same way as you “stepped up” – with grace, dignity, thankfulness that you had the opportunity to serve the kingdom
23. Always leave something better than the way you found it. Leave a legacy for the next person
24. There are two primary choices in life: Accept things as they are or accept responsibility for helping to change them.
25. Know when to be silent
26. Never lose your ability to dream!
27. People are not going to understand you and some are not going to like you… get over it!
28. Don’t feed people yesterday’s bread
29. People resist change, God loves change
30. Men who challenge you are not your enemies; they keep you in check and are often sent by God
31. Refused to be offended.
32. Don’t preach for response
33. Talent alone does not justify using someone, a servant's spirit does
34. Don’t throw rocks at every dog that barks
35. Give the Word the credit it deserves
36. The message is more important than the messenger
37. There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us, that it does not behoove any of us to talk about the rest of us
38. Living a sermon is more important than preaching one
39. Prayer accomplishes more than preaching
40. Lessons not learned will be repeated
41. Spend more time praying over a message than you do preaching it
42. Love people; use money - Do not love money; use people
43. Trust is the greatest commodity you can give or receive
44. Do not accept gifts that make you beholden to the giver
45. Do not dwell in an ivory tower and neglect the flock
46. Do not dwell with the flock so much that you cannot be a prophet on Sunday
47. Stand up straight, speak boldly, and sit down quickly.
48. Always leave them wishing you had preached longer opposed to wishing you had quit sooner
49. Only say …”I am closing “ once
50. Never give a position to appease.

Surrendering Your Future

God called Abraham out of the land of Ur. He called him to leave the land of idolatry; the land of his fathers; everything that he knew and even who he was.

Abraham surrendered it all. The Bible said when he was called out that he obeyed not knowing where he was going.

He surrendered his past.

In the story of Abraham there is a great lesson for us. When God calls, He calls us out. He asks us to surrender our past.

This level of commitment is basic and in many ways, easy compared to the next level that He calls us to.

We bring our sin, our guilt, our hurts, our failures and our pain to God. Our shattered dreams are healed and restored in his presence. The guilt of our past fades into peace and contentment in the light of His mercy.

However, the story of Abraham does not end there. God promises him that he is going to have a son and that his seed will be as the stars in the sky and the sands of seashore. Isaac was promised and chosen.

Therefore, I am sure that it was devastating to Abraham when God told him to take Isaac and sacrifice him.

When Abraham looks at Isaac he not only sees his beloved and long awaited son, his own flesh and blood, he sees much more.

He sees in Isaac the face of his dreams. He sees his promise. He sees the future.

God was not only asking for his son. He was asking for his dreams, his ambitions, and his legacy.

As Abraham bound Isaac to the altar he also bound his desires.

As he raised the knife he surrendered his future.

Surrendering our past is an obvious benefit to us. We give God our guilt, our hurts and our pains. He takes the tattered pieces and weaves them into something beautiful.

However, are we willing to surrender our future? Are we willing to give God our dreams, our hopes, and our ambitions?

As we surrender everything we desire it releases us to be completely led by Him.

Position, titles, prestige, or even geographic location no longer dominates our desires.

Completely surrendering our future to God opens up a whole new level of covenant, power, and anointing.

As God told Abraham, "now I know."

A Leap of Faith

Jump out of the Boat!

Throw the mantle down!

March around the wall!

God cannot fail. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

When we are in tune with His purpose we have the authority to call things that are not as though they are. We can speak to the mountain and it shall be removed into the sea.

We live in a faithless and perverse generation. Our faith is being tested on every hand.

Fear and doubt are trying to silence the voice of faith. The church and the men and women who lead her, need to be bold enough to pray the prayer of faith; to speak the word of faith; to preach faith like never before.

This is our day.

I believe that God desires for the church to take the limits off of our faith.

I believe that God desires to enlarge our territory.

I believe that he wants to release the church from the bonds of fear and doubt.

Sickness, Spiritual Oppression, Financial Burden are no match for a church that will take a leap of faith.

God will honor your faith!

Jump out of the Boat...God will guide your steps...

Throw the Mantle down...He will part the water...

March around the Wall...He will give you the victory...

Memorial Day

The true meaning of Memorial Day is not about cookouts, parks and family fun. Those things are great and I enjoy them, but it is the day that we remember those that have so selflessly given their lives for the ideals of Liberty and Freedom.

So, this memorial day as we run from place to place enjoying the activities of the day, let us pause to remember those brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that today, we might worship without fear.

Thank You!