Pray

"Pray", a cooperative prayer videoproject between the GBOD and the Kaleidoscope Institute is in full swing. Listening to Safiyah Fosua teach and preach "Prayer Essentials" has been a spiritual renewing of the mind. Reflection on how we teach our congregations to pray, language of the church that may not connect with an unchurched populace as well as music that moves my heart that is unfamiliar with those new to the faith awakens again my sense of the need for greater intentionality of purpose in presentation of the Gospel. I wonder...

Truth in the Message

"Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12

Do others know from how we act at home, at work, at play, that we have Jesus in our heart and live for Him each day? D. DeHaan

Hypocrite is a Mask-Wearer

Hypocrisy is living life with a double standard so that there is a discrepancy between what one is and the image one projects to others...Living with integrity starts with being transparent...its not about life style--being good, doing the right thing, not sinning....We must stop presenting ourselves as the message and begin presenting Jesus as the message

Live the message of Christ...Love

I invite you to take the "love" test: read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 but substitute you name each place the word "love" is used or implied. How do you measure up?

Read a Gospel this week...Hear Jesus' call to commitment.

Lead Where You Are...

Leadership defined by James C Hunter author of The World's Most Powerful Leadership Principles:"The skills of influencing people to enthusiastically work toward goals identified as being for the common good, with character that inspires confidence".

The author highlights skills, influencing and character as key to effective leadership. I find the foundation upon which these keys are to be developed in Mark 12:29-31. From this I connect that to lead is to serve...wherein it follows that we must become the change we wish to see in the world!

Are you willing to sacrifice ego, lust for power, pride and other self-interest for the greater good? ...Jesus did!

Are you willing to serve others, forgive, apologize, and give others credit even when you don't fell like? ...Jesus would!

Are you willing to extend yourself for others, be rejected, under appreciated and even taken advantage of at times? ...Jesus did!

Are you willing to sacrifice and subordinate anything that gets in the way of doing the right thing? ...Jesus would!

Will you say yes? ...Jesus did!