Dealing with Conflict - Lazarus Principle

It's a fact... EVERYONE will have conflict at some point in their short lives! Personally, I abhor conflict. I am a loyalist at heart and to a fault, so if there is any conflict in my relationships, it becomes very difficult for me to function. There are others, like a colleague of mine at my current place of ministry, who seem to let conflict roll off them like water off a duck's back. I can't do that! I lose sleep... I fret... I cannot think about anything else... I am severely distracted and bothered until it gets resolved.

So, how do you deal with conflict when it arises?

I use the "Lazarus Principle". I forget where I got this idea from, but when I heard it, I knew this was what I needed to help me deal with conflict.

The Lazarus Principle basically states: "you don't let something lay dead for more than four days, or else in the words of Lazarus' sister Martha... 'Lord...he stinketh (John 11:39).'"

So, if you have a conflict with someone, deal with it redemptively and quickly or else it will begin to stink and effect your entire life!

The Greatest Book I've Ever Read

Did you know that God was actually micro-blogging before micro-blogging was cool? I mean, who doesn't like verses that say, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" or "He will make your path straight"?

For the longest time, I would take the Bible in "parts"...like a prescriptive that addressed my current struggle or relationship issue. Never would I consider taking the Bible as a whole and complete book. Oh yea, I knew God's Word was "living", "active", "God-breathed", but in my mind I thought certain parts of the Bible were antiquated and unnecessary for me to read. Boy, was I wrong.  

In 2007, I sensed God was urging me to read His Word through. So I commited to do just that starting January 1, 2008. Twenty-one months later... All I can say is that I'm pumped about my future! 

Allow me to summarize what I've read over the last 21 months:

God has a plan to redeem His creation, destroy sin and death, give you an abundant life NOW and give you a place in heaven where there is no more pain, night, tears or suffering. And all of this is done through and found in JESUS CHRIST....our ONLY HOPE. He is called "Faithful and True" and "His Name is the Word of God" (Rev. 19:11, 13).

If I die today, my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The Lamb is Jesus and the ink is His Blood! I will be in heaven with Jesus. What a great future!

Schwinn Airdriver 1100 - finally figured out how it works on a Presta Valve Stem System

The Schwinn Airdriver 1100 bicycle pump is a 5-n-1 pump that can be used from anything to pumping up soccerballs to pumping up bicycles which have either the Schrader or Presta valves. Here is a website you can go to for a picture: http://www.switchbladenozzles.com/5in.htm

I'm new to mountain biking so I wanted to get a pump that could work on the Presta valve stem my tires have, and I did not want it be a "cash-ectomy" on my budget. So, I found this Airdriver 1100 made by Schwinn.

Pumps are not supposed to be difficult to use. BUT.... this one is! I could not figure it out! I even had an experienced mountain biker try to use my "Airdriver 1100" and he couldn't get it. Needless to say, I was frustrated...but I couldn't throw it away nor take it back to the store because it was on clearance and not returnable.

So... I vowed to figure out this blasted bicycle pump.AND I DID!!!  
So, here are the basic instructions for pumping up a bicycle tire with a Presta Valve Stem using the Schwinn Airdriver 1100 :

1. Unscrew the Presta Valve to the top of the stem to allow air to flow...give it a quick tap to verify that air is flowing.

2. Remove the gold adapter located on the (what I call) the aluminum trigger. (You have to put it in the UP position to remove the adapter.)

3. Screw the adapter directly to the Presta Valve Stem for the tire you are increasing the pressure for.

4. With the trigger in the DOWN position, attach the pump to the adapter which you just screwed on to the tire.

5. Pull trigger into the UP position and commence to pumping to the desired air pressure.

6. When desired pressure is reached... detach pump from adapter by putting trigger in the DOWN position and then pulling the pump off the adapter.

7. Unscrew adapter from the Presta Valve and repeat instructions on other tire if necessary. If not necessary, put the pump up and live to ride another day!

Connecting Disconnected Students into Local Student Ministries

If there is one thing I've consistently heard from parents over the 18 years I have been in student ministry it's this: "My son (or daughter) doesn't come to youth because she doesn't know anybody."

The responsible (almost guilty feeling) side of me, sympathizes with the concerned parent and I do my best to accommodate their request to encourage their son or daughter to come to youth.

But then there is that hidden "smart alec" side of me that wants to say... "Well, duhhh! Your kid never comes to anything we do SO...how do you expect him/her to make friends if he/she is not even here or does anything with us?"

The truth is, I really don't have much sympathy for this excuse anymore because there are students who come to church, get connected, grow spiritually, participate in youth ministry opportunities AND their parents don't encourage them to do anything spiritual.

The problem here lies within both the parents and the church.

So what can be done to connect disconnected students to local student ministries?

Parents... do your kids a favor and help them develop friendships at church. Please set an example and get involved yourself by developing relationships with people at church. If you think that you are going to develop strong connections by just coming to a worship service for one hour per week, you are kidding yourself. If you want to have meaningful relationships with the people who attend church with, you have to get involved in a small group or a ministry.

Churches... let's do our parents, children and students a favor by helping them get connected to other believers! If you see someone at church you don't know... introduce yourself and begin a new relationship. Don't be silent and expect someone else to do it. If you think that "SOMEONE" else will do it, then "NOBODY" will. If you see someone that has that "deer in headlights" look... ask them if you can help and answer any questions they may have. Treat your church as if it were your home! You wouldn't ignore a guest in your home would you? Here's an idea...If you are a Sunday School leader, take your class roll and start calling people to invite them to your small group!

Parents and Churhes... let's stop making excuses and giving into excuses and let's start advancing God's Kingdom!

ABC News Video: "'Sexting' Teens Can Go Too Far"

Parents... This is happening right here in Barrow Co., GA.

'Sexting' Teens Can Go Too Far - ABC News

Shared via AddThis

Why are 20-Somethings leaving the church? See this video for the answer and a solution!

Threads Research from threadsmedia on Vimeo.

I love my wife!

August 27, 1994, was the day I married the most precious gift I have ever received besides my salvation! That's right... my wife is a gift and I am madly in love with her! I don't mean to sound cheesy or mushy... I'm just exposing my heart.

I love my wife not for what she does for me, but because of who she is! She is my best friend, confidant, partner, teammate, prayer warrior and lover of my soul. She is my soulmate who loves me in spite of my failures, age and flab. She is my cheerleader and greatest encourager. She is my bride and I am humbled to be her husband!

I love you Lisa!