This could be the most powerful three-minutes of your life today! Watch this and may it change your relationship with Almighty God!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Three Dimensional Coaching by Dr. Jeff Duke
I am a part of a FCA Coach's Bible Study that meets once a month at Prince Ave. Christian School! Today, Stuart McLean, our group leader, introduced us to the following video on Three Dimensional Coaching! It has some GREAT stuff!
If you lead people, this is some some good instruction for you to take advantage of! I know I will watch this again!
3-D Coaching - Jeff Duke - Part 1 of 4 from FCA on Vimeo.
If you lead people, this is some some good instruction for you to take advantage of! I know I will watch this again!
3-D Coaching - Jeff Duke - Part 1 of 4 from FCA on Vimeo.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Why host an exchange student
We've heard both sides of the story about hosting an exchange student. From, "Wow, that's so great that you are doing that"! to "Are you sure you really want to do that?"
Several weeks ago, David Douglas, HS Principal at Prince Ave, sent out an email requesting a host home for a Chinese student who is to start at PACS in the second semester. Lisa and I prayed about it and talked it over with the kids. It was a go!
Our two primary reasons? One, because we made a commitment to the Chinese that we would teach Elisabeth Chinese culture. What better way than to have someone from China to live with us. And two, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Today, I took Jason (that's his English name) to the school to get his class schedule, meet teachers and practice with the boys varsity basketball team. One of the classes Jason is required to take at PACS is Bible.
We met Jason's Bible teacher, Coach Billy Meeks. Coach Meeks was telling Jason about the class and the Book that is used. At a still small moment pause in the conversation Jason was having with Coach Meeks, Jason spoke up... "I know nothing about God." My heart was filled with compassion and I began immediately to pray for Coach Meeks and the classmates in Jason's class.
You want to know why we are hosting an exchange student...the Gospel! And my three kids, my church and our school have a front row seat on seeing a life that will be transformed not because of anything we have done, but because of the power of the Gospel! NOT ASHAMED!
Several weeks ago, David Douglas, HS Principal at Prince Ave, sent out an email requesting a host home for a Chinese student who is to start at PACS in the second semester. Lisa and I prayed about it and talked it over with the kids. It was a go!
Our two primary reasons? One, because we made a commitment to the Chinese that we would teach Elisabeth Chinese culture. What better way than to have someone from China to live with us. And two, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Today, I took Jason (that's his English name) to the school to get his class schedule, meet teachers and practice with the boys varsity basketball team. One of the classes Jason is required to take at PACS is Bible.
We met Jason's Bible teacher, Coach Billy Meeks. Coach Meeks was telling Jason about the class and the Book that is used. At a still small moment pause in the conversation Jason was having with Coach Meeks, Jason spoke up... "I know nothing about God." My heart was filled with compassion and I began immediately to pray for Coach Meeks and the classmates in Jason's class.
You want to know why we are hosting an exchange student...the Gospel! And my three kids, my church and our school have a front row seat on seeing a life that will be transformed not because of anything we have done, but because of the power of the Gospel! NOT ASHAMED!
I Was Broke. Now I'm Not.
Got your attention? Good!
Would you like to learn
IWBNIN - Group Study Promo from Greg Antisdel on Vimeo.
Would you like to learn
- How to develop a spending plan that actually works
- Strategies for eliminating debt
- The date you will become debt-free
- The amount of money you need for retirement
- The power of compound interest
- Investing
- Insurance
IWBNIN - Group Study Promo from Greg Antisdel on Vimeo.
Why Should Pastors Talk About Money
It's one thing to guilt people into giving and pastors are wrong for doing so. Manipulation is not appreciated either!
Here's the deal... People want to give to vision. They don't want to pay for someone else's debt. Most people I know want to give to something that is purposeful, has movement and is bigger themselves!
Here are FIVE reasons why should pastors talk about money?
1. It is a great opportunity to cast vision! Capital always follows vision! Vision leaks so cast it regularly...every four to six weeks.
2. The manner in which people handle their money is more than just financial, it is spiritual. Teach & Model stewardship!
3. It's all God's anyway and His Word is loaded with verses on money!
4. It's an opportunity for prayer! If God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, gather your flock together and ask God (your Heavenly Father & Rancher) to sell a few cattle!
5. It is an opportunity to disciple people about money management; to teach them how to give, spend and save, and how God & Grandma's play an important role in financial health!
NOTE: there are three, no four, reasons people have a problem with pastors talking about money: (1) they've been burned by an egotistical and manipulative pastor, (2) they probably aren't tithing, (3) they have a tight grip on what they think is their money and (4) they hate capital campaigns!
Here's the deal... People want to give to vision. They don't want to pay for someone else's debt. Most people I know want to give to something that is purposeful, has movement and is bigger themselves!
Here are FIVE reasons why should pastors talk about money?
1. It is a great opportunity to cast vision! Capital always follows vision! Vision leaks so cast it regularly...every four to six weeks.
2. The manner in which people handle their money is more than just financial, it is spiritual. Teach & Model stewardship!
3. It's all God's anyway and His Word is loaded with verses on money!
4. It's an opportunity for prayer! If God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, gather your flock together and ask God (your Heavenly Father & Rancher) to sell a few cattle!
5. It is an opportunity to disciple people about money management; to teach them how to give, spend and save, and how God & Grandma's play an important role in financial health!
NOTE: there are three, no four, reasons people have a problem with pastors talking about money: (1) they've been burned by an egotistical and manipulative pastor, (2) they probably aren't tithing, (3) they have a tight grip on what they think is their money and (4) they hate capital campaigns!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Today, I discovered a box that was wrapped in paper and on written all over it was "Money for my iPad2". There was no note or indication of who or where it came from. To be honest, my first thought was someone knew my desire to have an iPad and gave their money anonymously for me to get what I wanted. But, that thought quickly left and I began to ask around to our staff what they knew.
Come to find out, a teenager in our church who has recently gone through some very trying times herself, gave every penny she had been saving throughout 2011 and gave it to our church's annual Christmas offering which will support our community and start new churches around the world!
That is generosity. Merry Christmas!
Come to find out, a teenager in our church who has recently gone through some very trying times herself, gave every penny she had been saving throughout 2011 and gave it to our church's annual Christmas offering which will support our community and start new churches around the world!
That is generosity. Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
When One Hurts...
When one hurts, we all hurt! Hurt, however, can manifest itself in different forms. Pain, frustration, emptiness, gloom, despair, agony to name a few. But there is a hurt that sends a message of compassion, concern and love: empathy.
Empathy is more than sympathy. Sympathy says, "I'm sorry for your loss!" Empathy says, "I feel your pain, I hurt with you, I've been there and I'm with you as you go through this!"
Empathy is more than sympathy. Sympathy says, "I'm sorry for your loss!" Empathy says, "I feel your pain, I hurt with you, I've been there and I'm with you as you go through this!"
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
How Would God Parent a Teenager?
Fifteen years ago, as a "green" and egotistical youth minister, before Lisa and I even had our first child, I said to a group of youth parents, "raising a teenager would be fun!" HA!
While children are a blessing from the Lord, and I would lay my life down at ANYTIME for all three of my kids, I can not truthfully say that raising a teenager is "fun".
Challenging? Yes!
Frustrating? Yes!
Difficult? Yes!
Proud moments? Yes!
Impossible? No...but it certainly feels like it sometimes.
Fun? Not yet!
So, God, how would You parent my teenager?
Answer: "Much like I parent You!"
With Patience
God is patient with us and desires for no one to perish but for all to have eternal life (2 Pe 3:9). Children need PATIENCE from parents. Do not be quick tempered (although this is easier said than done). "In your anger, do not sin (Eph. 4:26)."
With Silence
God turns his back on sin like He did with Christ on the cross. Many times, our prayers are hindered because of sin in our own lives. Therefore, it is important to agree with God about your sin. While God's love for us never changes, his hatred towards sin never changes either! Because of His holy character, it is impossible for Him to condone our selfish and proud behavior. Therefore, He pursues His children by silently and patiently waiting on the heart to break. At which time, He is there to comfort us and unload His love on us! A broken and contrite spirit is an acceptable sacrifice to God and is what He is waiting on (Ps 51:17). In parenting, there is a lot of wisdom in silence and waiting.
Through Hardships
God doesn't create the hardship...we do! But God, in His wisdom, treats us as sons by using hardship as discipline (to teach us). He is not treating us as illegitimate children. He is treating us as His own...adopted and grafted into His family! (Heb 12:7) Parents, your children WILL experience hardship! Most of the time it will be self-inflicted. Don't berate them or shame them! Just use it as a teachable moment in their life. More importantly, use it as a teachable moment in yours. Never stop learning and never stop teaching!
With Sacrifice
God gave up His most treasured relationship so that we could experience the gift of eternal life. Raising kids requires great sacrifice, discipline and spiritual maturity! Love is the great motivator!
With Grace
"Love covers a multitude of sin." (Prov 10:12, 17:9 & 1 Pe 4:8)
We are saved by Grace! (Eph 2:5-10) Maybe GRACE should be Lisa's new name!
God's compassions are new every morning! (Lam. 3:22-23) Every morning begins a new day! A clean slate! A new beginning! While we may still have to be silent, patient, gracious, and sacrificial, God's mercies are NEW every morning towards US. Therefore, dispense that same compassion on your kids as well.
If you thought this post was for you, think again! It was for me!
While children are a blessing from the Lord, and I would lay my life down at ANYTIME for all three of my kids, I can not truthfully say that raising a teenager is "fun".
Challenging? Yes!
Frustrating? Yes!
Difficult? Yes!
Proud moments? Yes!
Impossible? No...but it certainly feels like it sometimes.
Fun? Not yet!
So, God, how would You parent my teenager?
Answer: "Much like I parent You!"
With Patience
God is patient with us and desires for no one to perish but for all to have eternal life (2 Pe 3:9). Children need PATIENCE from parents. Do not be quick tempered (although this is easier said than done). "In your anger, do not sin (Eph. 4:26)."
With Silence
God turns his back on sin like He did with Christ on the cross. Many times, our prayers are hindered because of sin in our own lives. Therefore, it is important to agree with God about your sin. While God's love for us never changes, his hatred towards sin never changes either! Because of His holy character, it is impossible for Him to condone our selfish and proud behavior. Therefore, He pursues His children by silently and patiently waiting on the heart to break. At which time, He is there to comfort us and unload His love on us! A broken and contrite spirit is an acceptable sacrifice to God and is what He is waiting on (Ps 51:17). In parenting, there is a lot of wisdom in silence and waiting.
Through Hardships
God doesn't create the hardship...we do! But God, in His wisdom, treats us as sons by using hardship as discipline (to teach us). He is not treating us as illegitimate children. He is treating us as His own...adopted and grafted into His family! (Heb 12:7) Parents, your children WILL experience hardship! Most of the time it will be self-inflicted. Don't berate them or shame them! Just use it as a teachable moment in their life. More importantly, use it as a teachable moment in yours. Never stop learning and never stop teaching!
With Sacrifice
God gave up His most treasured relationship so that we could experience the gift of eternal life. Raising kids requires great sacrifice, discipline and spiritual maturity! Love is the great motivator!
With Grace
"Love covers a multitude of sin." (Prov 10:12, 17:9 & 1 Pe 4:8)
We are saved by Grace! (Eph 2:5-10) Maybe GRACE should be Lisa's new name!
God's compassions are new every morning! (Lam. 3:22-23) Every morning begins a new day! A clean slate! A new beginning! While we may still have to be silent, patient, gracious, and sacrificial, God's mercies are NEW every morning towards US. Therefore, dispense that same compassion on your kids as well.
If you thought this post was for you, think again! It was for me!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Proud of Prince
Prince Ave Baptist Church and Prince Avenue Christian School has had a tremendous influence in the life of my family even before Lisa and I became a family 17 years ago. Lisa grew up going to Prince Ave Baptist Church as a child and teenager and even went to PACS for a period of time. Today, our three kids attend Prince Ave and Lisa is a 3rd Grade Math, English and Bible teacher.
If you haven't heard, the PACS Football team is in the Final Four of the State Playoffs for the Single A division. PACS won the Team of the Week from Fox 5 and was all over the news on Good Day Atlanta! I have posted FOX 5 videos on my blog or you can click here for a slide show.
It's a Great Day to Be a Wolverine!
If you haven't heard, the PACS Football team is in the Final Four of the State Playoffs for the Single A division. PACS won the Team of the Week from Fox 5 and was all over the news on Good Day Atlanta! I have posted FOX 5 videos on my blog or you can click here for a slide show.
It's a Great Day to Be a Wolverine!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)