Concerning the spiritual discipline of encouragement… This is a hard discipline for most of for two reasons. 1. Our personal stories – it’s full of disappointment, hurt, anger, abuse, and shame. How does one overcome that to BE an encourager for someone else? 2. Our immaturity – it takes someone with some level of maturity read more
November is Missions Month at Grace! I love it but it does present some challenges – like how to lead your LIFE Group through this month. Here are a couple of ideas: Here’s Life Inner City Boxes of Love – yesterday by the time I got to the top of the stairs, every one of read more
Here are the posts, questions, and discussions for the entire “A Life That Rocks” series. Inner Disciplines: Prayer Silence/Fasting Marinate Serve Worship, Random Acts, More on Worship Communal Disciplines: Confession Application & Accountability Guidance Encouragement, Questioning Evangelism
What an anti-climatic 500th post…A Sunday afternoon with a splitting sinus headache. I’m watching the Broncos completely destroy the Eagles. And I’m realizing that the next time I preach is December 11th. Kinda weird, huh? The good news is that I’ll now have some opportunities to grab some face time with our LIFE Group leaders read more
Who are some people who continually encourage you? Why do you think they do that? Who are some people that you try to encourage? Is it harder or easier for you to see past faults to potential? How come? Which of the disciples (or women) do you most resonate with and their reactions to Jesus’ read more
1. Clean out garage…to use it actually for the cars. 2. Driving Range with Cooper. 3. Find movie that Amy and I both want to watch tonight. FFL Update… CBS League – tied for first place in my division. I like my team against the others in my division but don’t know if that will read more
At first I thought it was a joke…but apparently – we’re dead serious. A lanyard for the iPod shuffle. Are we freakin’ serious? If we are going to do stupid stuff like this – how about something useful… a Christian X-box controller… a LIVESTRONG band of many colors that shows the way to heaven… downloadable read more
This might be the greatest prank in my blogdom world, but it’s worth it if it is… Remember Catalyst Conference I went to? And my 10 minutes with Andy Stanley? “Andy” commented – and honestly – it sounds exactly like him. Inviting, funny, self-effacing, and disarmingly humble. And I think I’m going to take him read more
I’m speaking in an hour at Arkansas Baptist Academy all-school assembly. Middle schoolers and high schoolers…going to be fun. Below is what I’ll say.What are your top 5 goals of your life?Got your answers to those? Turn the person next to you and tell ‘em what they are. Here were mine in high school: Get read more
Certain Financial Guru who keeps the ship fluid: “Grant, where are your receipts?” G: (With a stack of receipts, folded, matted, stained, stapled, and mangled.) “Here they are.” CFG: “Are these all of them?” G: “All that I could find.” CFG: “Why can’t you keep track of your receipts? Just drop them in a folder read more
A blogging friend wrote this last week and I’m just now getting to read it… Parable of the 10 Virgins. How appropriate for me. When it is dark, that is not the time to ‘do your own thing.’ Stay put and wait for the Bridegroom. And that is where I am at. After a pretty read more
Just to give you heads up of where I am going this week – the disciples response to Jesus’ crucifixion, then his to their betrayal and abandonment. Ever thought about that? What did it feel like for Peter the first time he saw Jesus after his death? What about Thomas? What emotions were going through read more
Sorry for the delay/lateness of the post. Par for the course this week… Anyway – guidance. It’s helping others listen to the voice of God. Interesting definition isn’t it? Is that different than what you were thinking? How so? Is it freeing or more burdensome to think that YOU don’t have to fix people? In read more
This was found at ysmarko’s blog…a favorite read of mine… I read somewhere that the average size youth group in the US is 21. The more places I go, and the more students that I meet, the more I am convinced that there are really only 21 different teenagers in the whole world. They just read more
Thanks for the comments and emails. They mean a lot. One of my favorites: Jlo: Remember, “we are a paratroopers, we are supposed to be surrounded.” So what gives? Obviously, I’m NOT going to unpack all the details here. I’ll just process a little of what I think God is doing in me. Is He read more
Long time no post in G’ land. Mainly because I’ve been in Dallas with my brother-in-law….Tom – you can get the jist of what we did on his blog. But for all (both) my readers – I really need alot of prayer. Just really struggling right now.
Tom’s well chronicled back problems landed him in Dallas on short notice. So, we hurriedly packed up the kids and headed to D-town to help out with the recovery. Funny thing happened on the way to the Doctor – he said there was another doctor who Tom should have the surgery from…in Vienna…125 miles from read more
Drug Dealers & Pastors…I got to thinking about how in the world could I relate to a drug dealer. (Don’t ask why)At first blush – you’d think these two…er, professions would be worlds apart. I’m not sure about that anymore…consider…Both often find themselves lieing to impress their clients…Both are selling something that could kill you…Eventually you are read more
In the ongoing mystery as to how the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks is Alabama 6-0, yet another chapter of “What the heck was Mike Shula thinking?” First the Arkansas game… Then the Florida game… Today – I give you the Ole Miss game… It’s one of the cardinal rules of SEC Football – if you take read more
Here is the story that Spike Lee is going to make a movie about Katrina and the government’s failure in that disaster. First of all, Spike. Glad you felt sorry for the victims of Katrina while you were in ITALY AT A FILM FESTIVAL!!! Are you back in the country yet? Second of all, retire read more
The provocative Bono: …if only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would be transformed. When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my s— and everybody else’s. So I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this man? And read more
I met with Ms. Bobbi today. She is, well, just in case she reads this – I’m not telling you her age. She – is in my mind – what the perfect grandmother to someone my age should be. She used to drive a BMW with 104,000 miles on it. Then she got a speeding read more
I’m in the blahs….but never fear….here are the things that make me smile… Batman Begins on DVD next Tuesday…. I’m in 3rd place in both my fantasy football leagues… my daughter thinks I’m the coolest dad in the world… my brother-in-law is famous (sort of)… The Tide is 5-0… The Broncos are 4-1…. Coop and read more
The original link for application. The original link for accountability. Now, for some crazy questions. Why is application considered a communal discipline? Where do you normally lean on accoutability – being or keeping? What examples in scripture do you see? Where in our culture do you see this? (Million Dollar Baby might be worth discussing!) read more
Catalyst 2005 Posts – official Catalyst Site Catalyst – Erwin McManusCatalyst – Donald MillerCatalyst – Louie GiglioCatalyst – Lenoard SweetCatalyst – Andy StanleyIf I Had 10 Minutes With Andy StanleyThe Braves Tickets, Part 2The Braves and CatalystIn Atlanta….stumbled on some tickets
The very first sermon I ever heard of Erwin McManus was “A Barbarians Way Out of Civilization.� It ended up being the basis of his book. It also ended up being a flag on the hill for me – no more sissification of Jesus. The felt-board Jesus might not have died that day – but the sermon delivered read more
Donald Miller speaks as he writes – he’s humble, funny, pointed, insightful, and authentic. Somehow he was able to make me feel like I was sitting across a table from him drinking a coffee as opposed to in arena of 8,000 others.1925 – Scopes Monkey Trial, church lost and our response was and still is read more
There is just nothing quite like “On the Job Training.” That’s what an Intern does. We covered most of this here, but let’s hit a couple of highlights. We spend (in most cases) a year getting an intern ready. What is ready? We want a Life Group leader to be able to: know why we read more
Here is the application. 12 pages. Long, isn’t it? It ought to be. If a LIFE Group leader is the front-line pastor, we better make sure there is a gifting and calling to do it. Who can fill it out? The short answer is anybody. I think the longer answer is better. As Coaches and read more
Let’s be honest – being a LIFE Group leader is hard but good. It’s frustrating and fulfilling. It’s stretching and freeing. It’s awesome and horrible. It’s also not for everybody. There are some people that should never be on the worship team. It’s just too painful – for everyone involved. The last place on the read more
What exactly are we looking for in an Intern? It comes down to two big categories – character expectations and practical expectations. Notice we are using the word expectation. We EXPECT these traits to already be in the mix. Character Expectations – Interns I didn’t intend for this to be an acronym…it just kind of read more
Preached today on confession. (By the way, let me know how the podcast thing is coming along. I just submitted our stuff to iTunes so that might be coming as well.) If you never reach a high risk place of confession, your walk with Christ will stagnate. To focus on the inner disciplines and neglect read more
“Can you promise me that if I take off my mask, I won’t get hurt?” “No. I can’t promise you that.” “Then why risk it? Why take the chance? Do you have any idea of what you are asking?” How would you have responded to that? What do you say? “I promise that if you read more
I first met Louie Giglio as a freshman in college. He was at Baylor starting this ‘renegade’ movement that used electric guitars and was borderline charismatic. It was called Passion. My biggest fear is that we have complicated worship instead of making it simpler.Worship is placing our life in His hands for His plans. A great big response. That’s it. It’s read more
Catalyst – Len Sweet“It is the height of spiritual arrogance is to ‘take Jesus’ somewhere. Like we got there before Jesus did. Like we brought to Jesus’ attention this people. Like we cared for them before Jesus did.�“Ironic that I’ve been asked to speak at a ‘leadership’ conference – me, being the anti-leader guy. I still go back to read more
These are my notes from Andy Stanley’s 1st Session at Catalyst. This session may end up having a more profound effect on us (Grace Church) than we could ever imagine.Your leadership ability has the potential to take you further than your character can sustain you.Leaders get into trouble when their integrity doesn’t keep pace with the read more
If I had 10 minutes with Andy Stanley, I’d ask for 20…but that’s a whole other story. Andy, Your Catalyst Conference this year – in terms of content from the speakers, was by far the most challenging and paradigm shifting I’ve ever experienced. That’s quite a compliment from me – if I do say so read more
A huge tip of the hat to Rob Terrell and Jerry Hertzler for the encouragment and help. (“I’d like to thank all the little people for making this possible…”) Here is the RSS feed to subscribe to Grace Church Podcast. Quit downloading the sermons every week – subscribe!!!
Okay -I forgot to tell you the most incredible story about our tickets. We had pretty good tickets to start with if you remember. I get a call from Shane. Shane is the President of Frontline Tickets.com. Shane tells me that Will Call is not allowing him to drop off my ticket so I can read more
Jeremy so eloquantly pointed out that Atlanta’s regular season dominance (14 straight Division titles!!!!) is only matched by their post-season ineptitude (1 Championship). Unfortunately, I too think the Braves will be done this series. I think it will go 4 games because after Clemons, the Astros are hurting….but so are the Braves. Catalyst… Heard Andy read more
This is awesome! Another black sheep has returned to the fold – WELCOME Mile 20!! This is of course in response to your comments here. No. You can’t throw water on the post. This is a DIALOGUE, not a LECTURE. So your comments aren’t water at all but rather a HUGE, NEEDED PIECE of the read more
I’m here with Rowland at Catalyst (pretty cool website). Goal: Release, Refresh, Renew, Recharge And the NLDS between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros starts tomorrow….at 4.09 pm….at Turner Field….in section 119, row 16. I think we will have plenty of opportunities to release, refresh, renew, and recharge.
The greatest cooking doctor in NWA decides to hang up the single life….
Wayne, since this has become our personal way of communication…here are more of my random thoughts… Have people bring something from their house that reminds them of a God story in their life. Set up posters through out your house and have your life group members write out prayers to God on the top half, read more
Ever been “pissed off at God?” Row asked that question this morning…in church. Brought back images of my pornography and masturbation sermon. (Which can be downloaded here…Acts 19 passage…he he he.) I thought this morning was awesome. The Journal Devo fed into where Rowland was going so well, the space and time to encounter God read more
I might have to recant what I wrote here because after the beating The Tide put on the Gators….. I was beginning to believe…. until…..But Mike Shula once again proved that he is one of the dumbest smart people on the planet. Explain to me what in the world was Tyrone Protho doing on the read more
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