Ignore Conventional Wisdom & Take Changes

“Highly successful leaders ignore conventional wisdom and take chances. Their stories inevitably include a defining moment or key decision when they took a significant risk and thereby experienced a breakthrough.” Larry Osborne

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Benjamin Franklin

“Don't let your learning lead to knowledge. Let your learning lead to action.” Jim Rohn

"To achieve your dreams, you must embrace adversity & make failure a part of your life." Failing Forward by John Maxwell

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
Thomas A. Edison

“People are training for success when they should be training for failure. Failure is far more common than success;" J. Wallace Hamilton

Advance 09 Video - Preaching the Gospel to the De-Churched by Matt Chandler http://ping.fm/kFYkl

Snowed in? Taking Responsibility for Your Life - Andy Stanley 6 PM EST http://ping.fm/Jt3F2

Hurray! A truck is plowing our street!

Snowed in? Church canceled? Try doing a story/lesson from http://ping.fm/AjKWI with your kids this morning.

“I’ve become the Bible guy. Aren’t we all supposed to be the Bible guys?" Matt Chandler

I am impressed that our postal worker delivered mail on foot today in 6-12" of snow! #usps #postal

Do You Want To Go Away As Well?

'After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."' John 6:66-69 (English Standard Version)

God Means Christianity To Be Fun

"God means Christianity to be fun. There is to be a reality of love and communication in the Christian-to-Christian relationship, individually and corporately, which is completely and truly personal." from True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer

Love Must Never Be Faceless

"Christianity is not to love in abstraction but to love the individual who stands before me in a person-to-person relationship. He must never be faceless to me or I am denying everything I say I believe. This concept will always involve some cost. It is not a cheap thing." from True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer

Bring Forth Your Fruit Through Me

"Upon the basis of your promises I am looking for you to fulfill them, O my Jesus Christ; bring forth your fruit through me into this poor world." from True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer

"in our thoughts and lives now we are to live as though we had already died, been to Heaven, and come back again as risen" Francis Schaeffer

StrengthsFinder 2.0-Find your God given strengths through this online test. Amazon price now $10 http://ping.fm/pchzR

Mugged by Ultrasound-Why so many abortion workers have turned pro-life http://ping.fm/DaQhW

Take Up Our Cross Daily

'The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we were justified and our guilt was gone once for all. That is absolute. But if we want to know anything of reality in the Christian life, anything of true spirituality, we must “take up our cross daily”.' from True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer

The Internal Is The Basic

"The inward area is the first place of loss of true Christian life, of true spirituality, and the outward sinful act is the result. If we can only get hold of this -- that the internal is the basic, the external is always merely the result -- it will be a tremendous starting place." from True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer

"desire becomes sin when it fails to include love of God or men." from True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer

True Spirituality

"We do not come to true spirituality or the true Christian life merely by keeping a list, but neither do we come to it merely by rejecting the list and then shrugging our shoulders and living a looser life." from True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer

"if we try to guard our wealth, instead of using it to show it's not our god, then we will waste our lives, however we succeed." John Piper

"Missions & mercy are inextricable because the very Gospel we take to the nations models and mandates mercy to the poor at home." John Piper

"We are hypocrites to pretend enthusiasm for overseas ministry while neglecting the miseries at home." Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

Missions Exists Because Worship Doesn't

"Missions exists because worship 'doesn't. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. Worship, therefore, is the fuel and the goal of missions." from The Bethlehem Institute Affirmation of Faith

Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5

"if your work creates a web of redemptive relationships and becomes an adornment for the Gospel of the glory of Christ, your satisfaction will last forever and God will be exalted in your joy." Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

Would Not God Answer?

"Oh, that young and old would turn off the television, take a long walk, and dream about feats of courage for a cause ten thousand times more important than American democracy-as precious as that is. If we would dream and if we would pray, would not God answer?" Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

when the trifling fog of life clears & I see what I am really on earth to do, I groan over the petty pursuits that waste so many lives-Piper

I am wired by nature to love the same toys that the world loves. I start to fit in..to love what others love..to call earth "home."JohnPiper

Wartime Lifestyle

"there is a war going on in the world between Christ and Satan, truth and falsehood, belief and unbelief. It tells me that there are weapons to be funded and used, but that these weapons are not swords or guns or bombs but the Gospel and prayer and self-sacrificing love (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). And it tells me that the stakes of this conflict are higher than any other war in history; they are eternal and infinite: heaven or hell, eternal joy or eternal torment (Matthew 25:46)." Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

More Than a Conqueror

"Affliction raised his sword to cut off the head of Paul's faith. But instead the hand of faith snatched the arm of affliction and forced it to cut off part of Paul's worldliness. Affliction is made the servant of godliness and humility and love. Satan meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. The enemy became Paul's slave and worked for him an even greater weight of glory than he would have ever had without the fight. In that way Paul-and every follower of Christ-is more than a conqueror." Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

The Far Side of Every Risk

"On the far side of every risk-even if it results in death-the love of God triumphs. This is the faith that frees us to risk for the cause of God. It is not heroism, or lust for adventure, or courageous self-reliance, or efforts to earn God's favor. It is childlike faith in the triumph of God's love-that on the other side of all our risks, for the sake of righteousness, God will still be holding us. We will be eternally satisfied in him. Nothing will have been wasted." Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

What Love Is

Paul had learned what love is. Love is not Christ's making much of us or making life easy. Love is doing what he must do, at great cost to himself (and often to us), to enable us to enjoy making much of him forever. So Paul responds to Christ's design, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

The Promise and Design of God

But when all is said and done, the promise and design of God for people who do not waste their lives is clear. "All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). And when persecution pauses, the groanings of this age remain. "We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23). We will groan one way or the other. As Paul said, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10). Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper

"There is more of God's glory to be seen and savored through suffering than through self-serving escape." Don't Waste Your Life-John Piper

People go deep with God when the drought comes

No one ever said that they learned their deepest lessons of life, or had their sweetest encounters with God, on the sunny days. People go deep with God when the drought comes. That is the way God designed it.

The Cost of Discipleship

"the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples, through Jesus Christ." John Piper

"Because I was created by God & for His glory...My desire is to make knowing & enjoying God the passionate pursuit of my life." Louie Giglio

"He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." from Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

“I have a dream my 4 little children will 1 day liv in a nation whr they will not B judged by the color of their skin.” #MLK @scottwilliams

“The time is always right to do what is right.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr #MLK @scottwilliams

“The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr #MLK @scottwilliams

We must use time creatively-& forever realize that the time is always hope to do great things Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr #MLK @scottwilliams

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr #MLK @scottwilliams

“If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr #MLK @scottwilliams

The measure of a man isn’t where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands @ times of challenge & controversy #MLK @scottwilliams

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr #MLK @scottwilliams

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr #MLK @scottwilliams

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr #MLK @scottwilliams

Haitian orphans rushed to new homes abroad http://ping.fm/loqo4

20 Retweetable Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes #MLK http://ping.fm/uuC8I

One of Jesus' Greatest Statements

John 6:37-40 (English Standard Version)
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

Keeping the Faith-Denzel Washington is > just an Oscar-winning superstar. He's a Christian who's serious about his roleshttp://ping.fm/vzSVD

Vision is the Cure for Sin

I think vision is the cure for sin. One reason many of us get entangled in sin is because we don’t have enough God-ordained vision to keep us busy. The more vision you have, the less you will sin. It is vision from God that keeps us playing offense spiritually. from Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

“The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be, may be the painful decision you refuse to make.”—Craig Groeschel

Foxe's Book of Martyrs

I think Foxe's Book of Martyrs should be required reading for every twenty-first century Christian living in a first-world country because most of us fail to fully appreciate the extreme sacrifices that were made and the courageous risks that were taken by our spiritual predecessors." from Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

Are You Afraid of Missing Opportunities?

We need people who are more afraid of missing opportunities than making mistakes. People who are more afraid of lifelong regrets than temporary failure. from Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

The Process is Glorifying to God

"We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end. His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God."
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Who I'm Becoming

God seems to be far less concerned with where I'm going than with who I'm becoming. I think some of us want to know the will of God more than we want to know God. from Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

Lord thank You that You want us to get where You want us to go more than we want to get where You want us to go-WildGooseChase–MarkBatterson

The Way God Makes Disciples

"Jesus didn't do orientations. Jesus did disorientations. Doesn't it seem like His disciples were in a constant state of disorientation? We think it’s because of their spiritual immaturity, but maybe it models the way God makes disciples. Sometimes God needs to disorient us so He can reorient us." from Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

We have a core value at National Community Church, love people when they least expect it and least deserve it-Wild Goose Chase–MarkBatterson

"It is much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one." from Wild Goose Chase by @MarkBatterson

His Grace Alone - Jerry Bridges

"Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of His grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Every day should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone." Jerry Bridges

Logic questions God. Faith questions assumptions. At the end of the day, faith is trusting God > you trust your own assumptions. Batterson

is impressed by the way the Saint are treating Warner!

maturity has less to do with long-range visions than it does with moment-by-moment sensitivity to the promptings of the HolySpirit-Batterson

Hurry kills everything from compassion to creativity

"Hurry kills everything from compassion to creativity and when you are in a hurry you don't have time to get out of your routine, do you? No room for Spirit-led spontaneity. Sponteneity is an underappreciated dimension of spirituality. In fact, spiritual maturity had less to do with long range visions than it does with moment-by-moment sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. And it is our moment-by-moment sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that turns life into an everyday adventure." Wild Goose Chase – Mark Batterson

The words "you're late" had the effect of making someone who was ordinarily compassionate into someone who was indifferent to suffering.

"One of my greatest challenges is keeping the fourth commandment. I have a tough time taking a Sabbath." Wild Goose Chase – Mark Batterson

"I know from experience that you can do the work of God at a pace that destroys the work of God in you." Wild Goose Chase – Mark Batterson

"If you're in a spiritual slump, let me give you a prescription: Go on a mission trip." from Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

The Geography of Spirituality

“We sit in the same padded pew, week in and week out, listening to stories about Jesus calming the wind and the waves. The disciples had a totally different experience. They were in the boat on the lake when the skies grew dark and hurricane winds started to blow. They walked beaches, climbed mountains, and trekked across the wilderness with Jesus. Their experience was four-dimensional, while ours is one-dimensional. So when we read the Bible, we tend to focus on theology, overlooking the Meteorology, the psychology, and even the geology that shaped the stories we read.” Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

I was uncomfortable with my level of comfort

"But over the years I've come to appreciate a unique dimension of the Holy Spirit's personality. Jesus called him The Counselor. He comforts the afflicted. But like a good counselor, He also afflicts the comfortable. And I came to a place in my life where I was uncomfortable with my level of comfort." Wild Goose Chase – Mark Batterson

One of the greatest acts of worship is keeping a good attitude in a bad situation. & doing a good job at a bad job honors God-Mark Batterson

We're waiting on God while God is waiting on us

You know why some of us have never seen God part a river? Because our feet are still firmly planted on dry ground. We're waiting on God while God is waiting on us! Wild Goose Chase – Mark Batterson

Well DONE. good and faithful servant

Some of us live as if we expect to hear God say, "Well thought, good and faithful servant." or "Well said, good and faithful servant." God is not going to say either of those things. There is only one commendation and it is the by-product of carrying out God-ordained passions: "Well DONE. good and faithful servant." Wild Goose Chase – Mark Batterson

Blog title...

It's not the book of Ideas or Theories or Words. It's the book of Acts. If the 21st century church said less & did more, maybe we would have the same kind of impact the 1st century church did. Wild Goose Chase – Mark Batterson

I wonder what would happen if...

Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the US Senate and was originally printed in his book Mr. Jones, Meet the Master :

"I wonder what would happen if we all agreed to read one of the Gospels until we came to a place that told us to do something, then went out to do it, and only after we had done it, began reading again? There are aspects of the Gospel that are puzzling and difficult to understand. But our problems are not centered around the things we don't understand, but rather in the things we do understand, the things we could not possibly misunderstand. Our problem is not so much that we don't know what we should do. We know perfectly well, but we don't want to do it."

There are some things you don’t need to pray about...God has already spoken. What you need to do is quit praying and start acting. Batterson

refusing to allow your human responsibilities to get in the way of pursuing the passions God puts in your heart-WildGooseChase–MarkBatterson

live our lives within the guardrails of God's good, pleasing&perfect will...But...have a gnawing feeling that something is missing-Batterson

We try to remove the danger. We try to remove the struggle. And what we end up with is a caged Christian. Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

"I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals." from Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

"Instead of following the Spirit, we invite the Spirit to follow us." from Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

intellectual analysis usually results in spiritual paralysis-Nothing more unnerving or disorienting than passionately pursuing God-Batterson

Made to Stick: Creating a Simple Strategy http://ping.fm/DueZA

Explore flu trends, Richmond, VA http://ping.fm/gLo3W

"some people will struggle with abandoning other programs to focus solely on the ministry process God has given your church." Simple Church

Leadership expert Tom Peters once commented, "It is easier to kill an organization than it is to change it." Simple Church-Rainer & Geiger

The church, as a whole, is doing more & more. And the church, as a whole, is making less & less of a difference. Simple Church-Rainer&Geiger

In general, simple churches are so focused on their ministry process that there is little time for special events-SimpleChurch-Rainer&Geiger

eliminate nonessential programs, limit adding more, reduce special events, ensure the process is easy to communicate&understand-SimpleChurch

The Ultimate Guide To Using Facebook as a Job Search Tool http://ping.fm/RE51K

New Christians who immediately became active in a small group are 5 times more likely to remain in the church five years later-Simple Church

“The picture is clear: people stick to a church when they get involved in a small group.” Simple Church by Rainer & Geiger

"Sadly, in many churches people are stuck in the same place spiritually. And there is no intentional process to move them." Simple Church

"We have a clearly defined process for moving a person from salvation to spiritual maturity to significant ministry." Simple Church

At Northpoint, less really is more. They have done so much less than most churches but have been able to accomplish much more. Simple Church

People are now challenged to come to one service and one small group a week. Simple Church-Rainer & Geiger

people are challenged to do three things a week-Come to a worship service, be in a small group & serve in a ministry. Simple Church

They committed to one statement that features their simple process: Connect to God, others, ministry, & the lost-Simple Church-Rainer&Geiger

Like many churches they had vision, purpose, strategy & mission statements. It was too much, too confusing. Simple Church-Rainer & Geiger

people understanding how we propose to make disciples, rather than just being told that we need to make disciples-SimpleChurch-Rainer&Geiger

Immanuel strategically moves adults from worship services to Bible fellowships to small groups...
People naturally progress. Simple Church

The key is to choose the best. Eliminate the unnecessary & keep the best. "I pray this-that you can determine what really matters-Phil1:9-10

Church leaders must have the single-mindedness of the apostle Paul who said, "One thing I do" (Phil. 3:13) Simple Church by Rainer & Geiger

Most churches are like poor relay teams. Instead of caring about the handoffs, they are preoccupied with programs-SimpleChurch-Rainer&Geiger

Clarity is the ability of the process to be communicated & understood by the people-Clarity involves certainty & it eliminates confusion-SC

churches that are vibrant & growing are simple. The vibrant churches are much more simple than the comparison churches. Simple Church

Like the homes on the television show, many churches need an extreme makeover. http://ping.fm/rRbdi

MUSIC MATTERS By Andy Stanley http://ping.fm/RIsNU

enjoyed Mute Math - OK

enjoyed Mute Math - OK

Why do big companies ***? http://ping.fm/X4MfJ

Doing It Wrong by Tim Bray (Enterprise Systems, I mean. And not just a little bit, either. Orders of magnitude wrong.) http://ping.fm/3I3nz

the overprogrammed & busy church is the norm. The simple church is the exception, ... that should not be the case-SimpleChurch Rainer&Geiger

Are the people in his church being transformed? Is his church making real disciples, the kind of disciples Jesus made? Simple Church

Can Megachurches Bridge the Racial Divide? http://ping.fm/yH7Zs

The families of one hundred soldiers are getting brand new laptop computers from Dell http://ping.fm/zhIRD

"The last reformation was a reformation of creeds. The next reformation will be a reformation of deeds." Primal by Mark Batterson

if God gives you a dream...&then the dream dies, it may be that God wants to see what is more important to you-the dream or Him-Phil Vischer

"Loving God with all your strength really means loving God with all His strength...It's about what God can do in you & through you." Primal

most church problems don’t come from the abundance of sin but rather the lack of vision ... isn’t enough vision to keep churches busy-Primal

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us." C. S. Lewis

"Taking out the garbage is romantic. Why? Because love isn't measured by words spoken. Love is measured by calories burned." Mark Batterson

One God idea has the potential to make more of a difference than a thousand good ideas. Take yours captive&make it obedient to Christ-Primal

"Change of pace + Change of place = Change of perspective" Primal by Mark Batterson

we create culture & change culture ... by taking those God ideas captive & turning them into reality via blood, sweat & tears-Mark Batterson

We need fewer commentators & more innovators. We need fewer critics & more creators. We need fewer imitators & more dreamers-MarkBatterson

"Faithfulness is playing offense for the kingdom even if some Pharisees find it offensive." Primal by Mark Batterson

God "doesn’t just want you to worship Him with your memory; He wants you to worship Him with your imagination." Primal by Mark Batterson

Have you ever noticed how many times Psalms tells us to sing a new song? ...repeated no fewer than half a dozen times. Primal-Mark Batterson

"In essential things, unity. In nonessential things, freedom. In all things, love." Rupertus Meldenius

The goal of knowing the Bible isn't Bible knowledge.The goal of knowing the Bible is knowing God.Anything less is bibliolatry-Mark Batterson

The way you master a text isn't by studying it. The way you master a text is by submitting to it.You have to let it master you-MarkBatterson

"Awed silence in the presence of divine beauty is a form of worship that is often deeper & truer than sung words." Primal by Mark Batterson

LovingGodWithAllOurSoul: a soul full of wonder,flooded with the glory of God,awed by beauty & mystery, that hallows God above all-Batterson

"Is it possible we've studied the God of logic without truly worshiping the God of wonders?" Primal by Mark Batterson

"What if ... our litmus test for worship was a heart that breaks for the things that break the heart of God?" Primal by Mark Batterson

"What do you think brings more joy to the heart of our heavenly Father - singing songs or caring for the poor?" Primal by Mark Batterson

I believe that God will bless National Community Church in proportion to how much we give to missions & care for the poor. Mark Batterson

Mall Effect-Malls are designed to feed greed. Mission Trip Effect-the antidote is one trip to a third-world country-Primal by Mark Batterson

"The blessings of God are always a means to an end. And the end is blessing others. We are blessed to bless." Primal by Mark Batterson

"If you are in Christ and Christ is in you, you cannot be okay with suffering or injustice or starvation." Primal by Mark Batterson

Rick Warren-the five global Goliaths-spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases, & rampant illiteracy.

It is a sad commentary and sadder irony that Christians are often viewed as heartless...we have engaged our culture mind-first-Batterson

If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow & suffering enough http://ping.fm/rkiDH

Does your heart break for the things that break the heart of God? Craig Groeschel

before confronting...our culture, we need to be humble enough, honest enough & courageous enough to repent of what’s wrong with us-Batterson

"Christianity has a perception problem...Christians are more known for what we’re against than what we’re for." Primal by Mark Batterson

I wonder...if the accumulated layers of Christian traditions & institutions have unintentionally obscured what lies beneath Primal-Batterson

Christianity that is more educated but less powerful, more civilized but less compassionate more acceptable but less authentic-MarkBatterson

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year by Don Whitney http://ping.fm/Ogzc1