Parents: You Will be Defined!

Each one of us is “about” something. Something is going to define your life and mine. It will. I know that when I die, my kids are going to stand around and say many things, but inevitably it will get reduced to a sentence or two that begins this way: “Dad was . . . ”

You WILL be defined

The reason I love to think about the now is because we still are able to change and influence what our lives will be about. The sad part is that too many people don’t think about what their lives will be about. We just kind of live it, and in the end, we hope it will be good enough. And I know my drift (when I’m not intentional) is to make my life about things that matter less, not more. So what’s it going to be about for you? Who do you want to be?

Take some time this month to think about what you want your life to be about. Think big. Think small. And then be intentional about not letting this summer sneak by without your notice. Your life will be about something. So will mine.

What will define your life? You can either decide what your life is about, or your life can drift towards something. But either way, your life will be defined by something or someone.

2 Years without TV

It’s been about 2 years since me and Kim cancelled DirecTV and went without TV… well, sort of. About 2 years ago me and Kim purchased a Mac Mini and decided to go without “Live” TV/DVR. Our only source for entertainment has been online sources or direct movie/TV downloads. Since we have made the adjustment, we have loved it. Here are a couple of the bonuses we have seen:

1. No More Lazy TV.
   We still watch TV, but we only watch the shows we really want to watch. When we had regular TV, sometimes we would just sit down and watch whatever was on. Which inevitably led to more shows and more wasted time. When a show is really good, we hear about it from a lot of people and then decide to watch it.
2. Saved a Lot of $.
   With no monthly bills for cable or Satellite, we’re able to use that money in other places. Sure it was about $500 for the computer to hook up at first, but that paid for itself within the first year.
3. No More Kid’s Toy Commercials.
   One upside around Christmas time was that our kids never watched the 1,000′s of commercials for toy gadgets that they just “had” to have. They never bugged us about what toys they wanted for Christmas. It really is amazing how influential commercials can be on children (and us).
4. We Read More Books and Listen to More Music.
5. It Keeps My Idol In Check. I don’t think watching TV is wrong. But for us, it became an idol. Substituting family time or worse, time with God. Since the switch it has really put our hearts in check. I don’t just come home and unplug in front of the TV, but engage with my family.

Again, I’m not advocating that everyone get rid of their TV’s. But for us, it was one of the best things we ever did as a family.

JW

Book Review: 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner & Lane Jones

7 Practices of Effective Ministry was an amazing read for anyone in ministry! I would give this an easy 10 out of 10… it was THAT good. I didn’t agree with everything, but a majority of the book was so good that I’ll be in the process of applying and breaking down the practices for our ministry. Some books get you thinking, others are enjoyable. This book was a catalyst for brain. I couldn’t stop brainstorming. I’m sure my wife got sick of my constant thoughts and opinions while reading this. Here are a few of the highlights:

• The tendency in business, or in church work for that matter, is to mistake activity for progress. We think that just because people are busy and doing a lot of stuff that we are being successful. If all that activity isn’t taking you where you want to go, then it’s just wasted time.
• It’s usually good things that knock you off target
• You shouldn’t try to do everything; you should do a few things well
• Teach less for more: The problem wasn’t that they couldn’t teach me one thing. The problem was they tried to teach me EVERYTHING.
• Don’t be concerned about keeping the folks you’ve got, that you neglect the folks you’re trying to reach.
• If you want your church to stand the test of time, then you have to be replaced.
• The principles and practices described in this book are not and cannot be a substitute for God’s blessing or power.
• People tend to stop showing up when an organization is not winning.
• The church should be more determined than any other kind of organization to “clarify the win” simply because the stakes are so much higher: Eternity hangs in the balance.
• If the win is unclear, you may force those in leadership roles to define winning in their own terms.
• Before you start anything, make sure it takes you where you need to go.
• When you think programs you start by asking, “What is the need?”… When you think steps you start by asking, “Where do we want people to be?”… and second, “How are we going to get them there?”.
• Narrow the focus: Do fewer things in order to make a greater impact.
• If you really want to make a lasting impact, then you need to eliminate what you do well for the sake of what you can potentially do best.
• Maybe you feel that you are obligated to teach all of the Bible to a specific age group. Don’t try to do it. You cannot effectively cram all of the Bible into a few hours each week for a few years. That would be information overload- you would be teaching more for less. Teach less for more.
• Presentation, not information, engages a student’s imagination.
• The object of communication is not to cover a lot of material but, rather, to make sure people learn… if the student hasn’t learned, the teacher hasn’t taught.
• If you are surrounded long enough by people who think like you think, you will become more and more certain that’s the best way to think.
• … churches all over this country are striving to reflect the interests, values, and needs of people who are already attending church. The church today is primarily characterized by the insiders reaching insiders.
• This decision can’t be based on who we will keep, but who we will reach.
• If you want the practice to become a habit in your church, you must recognize and reward it when it happens.
• Leaders don’t volunteer, they are recruited.

Some More Links for Everyone!

Most Amazing Carrot Cake Recipe Kim made this for my “After-Fast” birthday cake and it was AMAZING!

Great thoughts on Preaching…

A Great Filming Tool Inovation for iPhone 3GS A normally expensive piece of equipment for sale just for iPhone… I would LOVE one of these!

Great new TV show for Leaders I’ve only seen a couple episodes so far, but I really like it!

Hearing God’s Voice A great blog post from, one cool pastor!

Mosaic Church Enters Doritos Super Bowl Ad Contest Erwin McManus’s church entered a funny video for super bowl day and it’s in the top 4… check it out, it’s pretty funny!

iPad already causing Trouble for Amazon It hasn’t even been released yet and Apple is shaking things up already.

10 Weird Trends for Teens in 2010 An interesting read for parents and anyone who works with teens

What If The Parisees Had Twittered? Funny post from Perry Noble

Print Solution for Your iPhone Want to print from your iPhone… here you go.

Who Do Teens Call, Trust and Talk With…? Mom? Dad? Friends? Boyfriend/Girlfriend? Find out here!

Do It Yourself Hacks for the iPhone Want a free way to have a loudspeaker for the iPhone… good idea and it works!

JW

Book Review: The War of Art by Steven Prssfield

The War of Art is a book about breaking through the blocks in our inner creative battles. I picked up this book from a good friend who recommended it. Overall, I’d give it a 7 out of 10. It was a good book, but just didn’t pull a lot out of it. The descriptive chapters on “resistance” and “the professional” where great! Here are some highlights:

• Self Doubt: If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), “Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?” Chances are you are.
• Fear: So if you’re paralyzed with fear, it’s a good sign. It shows you what you have to do.
• Professionals vs. Amateurs: The amateur plays for fun. The professional plays for keeps. To the amateur, the game is his avocation. To the pro it’s his vocation. The amateur plays part-time, the professional is there seven days a week.
• The pro views her work as craft, not art. She doesn’t wait for inspiration, she acts in the anticipation of its apparition. The professional is acutely aware of the intangibles that go into inspiration. Out of respect for them, she lets them work. She grants them their sphere while she concentrates on hers. The sign of the amateur is over-glorification of and preoccupation with the mystery.
• Technique: The professional dedicates himself to mastering technique… because he wants to be in possession of the full arsenal of skills when inspiration does come.
• The professional cannot let himself take humiliation personally. Humiliation, like rejection and criticism, is the external reflection of internal Resistance.
• … it’s better to be in the arena, getting stomped by the bull, than to be up in the stands or out in the parking lot.
• The Territorial Orientation: We humans have territories too. Ours are psychological. Stevie Wonder’s territory is the piano. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s is the gym. When Bill Gates pulls into the parking lot at Microsoft, he’ on his territory. When I sit down to write, I’m on mine.
• Destiny/Purpose: Here’s a test. Of any activity you do, ask yourself: If I were the last person on earth, would I still do it?
• Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.