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Here are some amazing testimonies of what God did at the retreat I just preached at in Utica, IL.

Crave Winter Camp 2010 | Day One Testimonies from Crossroads Community Church on Vimeo.

The Heathenism of WORRY

This was a devotional I read today by a great man of God that made me think and I wanted to share it with you as well. Be blessed!

THE HEATHENISM OF WORRY

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or,
What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek)" (Matthew
6:31-32).

Jesus tells us that worry-about the future of our family,
about jobs, about how we are to survive-is a heathen's way
of life. Jesus is talking here about those who have no
heavenly Father. They do not know God as he wants to be
known, as a caring, providing, loving Father in heaven.

"Take no thought for tomorrow" (v. 34). In these plain
words, Jesus commands us, "Do not give a thought, do not
give a worry, about what might or might not happen tomorrow.
You can't change anything. And you can't help by worrying.
When you do, you're only doing as the heathen do." Then
Jesus says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"
(v. 33). In other words, you are to go on loving Jesus. You
are to move on, casting all your cares on him. You are to go
on resting in his faithfulness. Your heavenly Father will
see to it that you are supplied with all the essential
things of life.

I wonder if the angels are baffled by all the worrying and
anxiousness of those who claim to trust in God. To them it
must seem so degrading, so insulting to the Lord, that we
worry as if we had no caring Father in heaven. What
perplexing questions the angels must ask among themselves:
"Have they no Father who is in heaven? Do they not believe
he loves them? Did he not tell them he knows all about their
needs? Do they not believe that he who feeds the birds and
the whole animal kingdom will feed and clothe them? How can
they fret and worry if they know he owns all power, all
wealth, and can supply the needs of all creation? Would they
accuse their heavenly Father of neglect, as if he was not
true to his word?"

You have a heavenly Father. Trust him!

The Notes You Don't Play

This is a blog posted by Pastor Steven Furtick. It said a lot to me so, I wanted to post it for everyone else.

The notes you don’t play

June 4th, 2009

I heard a famous blues guitarist interviewed one time, and he was asked to share his opinion on a few other guitar players.  The guys in question were neo-classical shredders: they played really really fast-lots and lots of notes.
The blues legend made a funny face, thought for a second, and admitted:
“I’m not a big fan of that style.  When it comes to guitar solos, I’m a minimalist.  I think the notes you don’t play are the really important ones.  That way, the ones you do play really count.  They stick, man.”

This applies to leadership on so many levels:
Often, it’s the notes you don’t play that make the biggest impact.

The angry words you don’t speak.
The superfluous ministries you don’t do.
The sketchy staff members you don’t hire.
The mild compromises you don’t allow.
The detail oriented meetings you don’t sit in.

If you want to be heard more clearly, play less notes.  Make every one count.

Money and Morals

So there's this website called www.ashleymadison.com, (check it out at your own risk.) Here's their slogan, "Life is short, have an affair." This website is designed for married couples looking to basically cheat.

The founder/president of the company says in the first 6 years of his site, it grew to 1.5 million members. He switched to "Radio Advertising" and grew to 3.5 million in 16 months. The founder started using "Howard Stern". At first, radio stations didn't run his ads, but then due to economic pressures, radio stations started calling him.

The radio ads aren't for everyone. WMVP/Chicago turned down the buy. I love what what the station VP said..."We approached it the way we would approach any advertiser that is promoting something that isn't consistent with our brand standards. Its far more important that we adhere to the standards we've developed over the years than to concede to a short term revenue opportunity."

On the other hand, WLUP/Chicago and Q101/ Chicago took the business. Their VP of sales thought "listeners wouldn't be offended."

(This article appears in Radio & Records Magazine)

Baby Ruthie

Follow me!

Recently I have been meditating on 1 Cor 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.  It has been a thought that I have kept close to me because I am sitting and writing this from the hospital awaiting the birth of my baby girl. I have been examining my example for last few weeks and asking myself some tough questions like: If she follows me... will she be close to God? If she listens to what I listen to... will it make her closer to God? If she reads what I read... will she be closer to God? If she watches what I watch... will she be closer to God? If she hangs out with the people I hang out with... will she be closer to God. If she could hear my thoughts for just one day... would that draw her closer to God?

These are gut wrenching questions that deserve an honest answer! So, let me ask this. If the ones that are looking up to you... If they watch what you watch... will that draw them closer to God? If they listen to what you listen to... will they grow closer to God? If they hung out with you and your friends... would they be closer to God. If they just shadowed you for 1 day... would their life be more like Jesus or just more like YOU?

I believe ever leader needs to really meditate on this scripture and ask these hard questions. There is a generation that is following your example. The question is... will it lead them closer to Christ?

If you want to change, ask yourself the right questions.  Follow me as I follow Christ!

1 hour to go

Here I am thinking and sitting and waiting in the hospital room for my baby girl to come into this world. It is 2 am and she is almost here. WOW! I only have a few moments left before I become a dad. How scary! I know it is 2 am and I am tired but I am worried. Will I be a good dad? Will I always be there?  I know that is a fear and I know its late and I know that I am nervous. I just work around hundreds of students whose dads are non-existent and I see what that does. So, with just a few moments left of not being a dad, I am determined that I will always be there and I am going to work hard to make sure she knows that I will always love her and I will always take care of her.  Thank you Lord for the gift of life that you are about to give us. Thank you for trusting us with this precious little one. It is crazy knowing that today is going to be her birthday... I guess we will start with the birthday spankings... Ha! JK!

Warren Buffett on the Economy

Everyone is talking about the Economy these days... rightfully so! I came across this today and I thought I would share it. Obviously Warren is a little ahead of me when it comes to money and the economy. Maybe someday I might catch him. Being called the Oracle is kind of nice...

Here is what he says:
Warren Buffett tells CNBC's Becky Quick the U.S. economy has "fallen off a cliff."

During a three-hour appearance on Squawk Box this morning (Monday), Buffett said economic developments have been very "close to the worst case" that he had imagined, although conditions would be far worse if the Federal Reserve hadn't stepped in last September.

Other highlights:

• The economy "can't turn around on a dime" and a turnaround "won't happen fast."
• Predicts unemployment rate in U.S. will go well above its current levels before the downturn ends
• But, five years from now, the economy will be running fine.  The strength of the American system will pull it through, just as it has many times in the past.
• Democrats and Republicans should work together and not try to take advantage of the economic situation to achieve partisan goals.
• Inflation has the "potential" to be worse than the 1970s.
• Most banks are in "pretty good shape" and can "earn their way out" of the current problems given the low cost of funds.  Banks, however, "need to get back to banking."
• Extremely important that the government make clear depositors won't lose their money if banks fail.  Obama needs to make a "clear statement" in support of the banking system.

Character Revealed

I am pondering this today as I sit at my desk this Sunday afternoon. I have been on a journey for many years studying character and applying what I have learned. I have always said that character is who you are when no one is looking. I have also always said that character is who you are when the pressure is on. Pressure always causes the real you to come out. Recently while listening to Pastor Bryan he mentioned character and what AW Tozer says about it. Here is what he says:

AW Tozer says that character is revealed by these seven things:
1.     What we want most
2.     What we think about most
3.     How we use our money
4.     What we do with our leisure time
5.     The company we enjoy
6.     Whom and what we admire
7.     What we laugh at

The real me is revealed in these 7 areas... To be honest when I read this list I was totally under conviction and knew that I needed to make adjustments to certain areas of my life. One of the ones that hit me the hardest is #7 what we laugh at.  So many times I will laugh or joke about things to just be liked. In doing so, I revealed a character flaw in myself. How about #3 how we use our money... Ever looked online at your bank statement and thought man, where I spend and use my money is really revealing who I am. I do know this, that after reading this list and musing on it for awhile I have come to the realization that I really need to keep working on my character. Just when you think you are doing good... You come across a list like this one.

May it stir you to growth like it has for me!

Insanity

So they say that the definition of Insanity is doing the same things over and over but expecting different results. I am pretty sure by definition that I would be considered Insane. I have noticed that I am still doing the same things I did last year but I am believing for better results. Strange but true!

WOW! We are so creatures of habits...

I have started this 10 year life plan and it has caused me to think a lot. So, before I publish my goals and mission for this year I have come up with what I call "Life Tips".  You should seriously take a gander at these:

1. It ain't (I know... not a word) as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad; then get over it.
3. It can be done!
4. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
5. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
6. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
7. Check small things
8. Share credit
9. Remain calm. Be kind
10. Have a vision. Be demanding.
11. Don't take advice from your fears or naysayers.
12. Consistent optimism is a strength multiplier.