Becoming a Student (expert) of the Word

If it takes 10000 hours to become an expert; I wonder what lives would look like if we spent that 10000 reading the Word -- becoming an expert on the love of God, the heart of a servant, the life of one who would give his all for us. It's a challenging thought...

Maybe the first step would be to read through the Bible in 2009.

If you need a place to get started, you can follow the reading plan on YouVersion. It’s extremely convenient since you can read the Bible for free from an iPhone, iPod, BlackBerry, web-enabled phone, or any computer connected to the Internet.

Can't wait to see the changes in 2009...Keep your fork...the best is yet to come.

Pursuing the dream...embracing the journey.

Back on Track

Back from holiday blogging break; we all need time out to chill, to laugh, to play, to think and reflect on another day -- with the start of a new year --- rather than reflect, how about we proflect (new word). What do we want the days ahead to look like; where do we want to be in a year? What is the legacy we want to leave? Where do we want to become an expert?

Malcolm Gladwell's new book, Outliers has many interesting insights. Basically, it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at anything! It doesn't matter whether it's athletics or academics. According to Gladwell, there are no "naturals." You have to put in the time. Generally speaking, the only difference between an elite person in any field and everybody else is usually a few thousand hours of practice time.

Amazing thoughts/reality to ponder. Anybody can become an expert in just about anything. Obviously, you need a baseline of talent if you're talking about music or sports, but you can accumulate knowledge and become an expert.

So here's the question: what do you want to become an expert in? Gladwell says, "Ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness."

Pursuing the dream...embracing the journey...

Christmas Worship

Merry Christmas as we celebrate the gift of LIFE that gives us all life. This Christmas may worship fill your hearts as we celebrate Him.

I worship on this Christmas Day
I worship in this season of praise
Born as my Lord, the Author of Life
Christmas Adored for a baby called Christ
Fixing my eyes where the honor is due
For the One worth remembering is You.

I will remember.
I will remember You.
I will remember.
I will remember You.

I worship this baby of peace
Like wisemen, lay my gifts at your feet
Born as my Lord, the Author of Life
Christmas Adored for a baby called Christ
Fixing my eyes where the honor is due
For the One worth remembering is You.

I will remember.
I will remember You.
I will remember.
I will remember You.

http://www.kimgentes.com/the-music/2007/8/1/i-will-remember-2005.html

Less is more and more is better

We’ve all heard “less is more” and sometimes that is true, but more is better too. Why?

More is better.

Giving more is better.

More people hearing the Good News is better.

More people taking steps in their spiritual journey is better.

More people experiencing life change is better.

More people having healthy marriages is better.

More people finding God’s purpose for their lives is better.

More people connecting to God’s heart is better.

More people experiencing His great love is better.

You’re the invitation and more is better.

Embracing the journey...pursuing the dream

Over My Head

Great truths to ponder...


"Over My Head" by Brian Littrell
I tried to figure it out
Time and time again and time again
I guess there's just some things I'll never understand
'Cause Your ways aren't our ways
But deep down in my soul, down in my soul
There is one thing I know that I know

I'm in over my head
Right where I wanna be
I'm so lost within Your love
The love that always covers me
So high, so deep, so wide
A strong and cleansing tide
My soul has found a place to rest
I'm in over my head

I've been holding on
Now I'm letting go, just letting go
Gonna let Your love carry me away
I don't know where I'm going
But I'm surrounded by the truth
And I can feel the current pulling me
Deeper into You

I'm in over my head
Right where I wanna be
I'm so lost within Your love
The love that always covers me
So high, so deep, so wide
A strong and cleansing tide
My soul has found a place to rest
I'm in over my head

You see me for who I am
You did reach out Your hand
You made me understand
That Your love has always covered me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYtg2Ep4KKc&feature=related

Good truth to know when embracing the journey...

E- Matters

Clement Stone gave more than $275 million to charities, which ranged from mental health, to evangelical Christian, to youth welfare groups. ''All I want to do is change the world,'' he once said. That's a pretty audacious goal, don't you think?

Realizing environments impact our ability to achieve our goals, he said:
"You are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Analyze your life in terms of its environment. Are the things around you helping you toward success - or are they holding you back?"

Advent gives us time to examine our environments. When we discover the environment is not helping us know Christ, and make Him known, it's time to change the environment. Either we can modify the environment we're in, or we can choose to move ourselves into a new environment. Either way, our action (or lack thereof) will yield dramatic results.

As we prepare for Christmas, we can prepare environments that will move us to embracing a deeper coming of Christ in us. It's amazing that He came to us, becoming one of us. One product of your environment is you! I'm asking him to prepare my heart for the environments He desires for me that I might be more and more like Him as I prepare room for Him.

Ezekiel 36:9 - See, I am for you, and I will come and help you as you prepare the ground and sow your crops.

Thankful

Thankful for a God, who is with us and in us.

Thankful for grace and new beginnings.

Thankful to be a part of His plan in the Kingdom.

Thankful for laughter and life.

Thankful for family, and friends, and colleagues to partner with in ministry.

Thankful for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing available through Him.

Thankful children, who are learning who He is and a husband, who leads with gentleness and generosity.

Thankful to have a home, clothes, food and much more...

Thankful for the opportunity to make a difference for those who don't...

Thankful...and blessed beyond measure in the journey.

Thankful for the simple things that make the biggest difference...

Embracing the journey...pursuing the dream.