Posts Tagged: "success"

worst day most important day post

Maybe The Worst Days Are The Most Important Ones

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

I’ve been playing around with this idea… what if our worst days – the ones we would cancel if we had the power or ability to – were, in fact, the most important days?

There’s a growing trend with churches in our area to cancel services on the Sunday following Christmas. One leading church has been doing this for years – they now call it “Volunteer Appreciation Sunday.” I think what they’re saying is: thank you for volunteering all year – our gift to you is a Sunday off.

I’ll be honest. I’m skeptical.

I think the real reason for cancelling services isn’t gratitude. I think it’s… Read More

pastor success post

The Question: How Would You Define Success As A Pastor? My Answer…

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

A few days ago, I was asked this question online: “How would you define success as a pastor?”

Before I could respond with a positive answer, my brain first went to all the things I would NOT define as success for a pastor (like celebrity status, number of church campuses, number of attendees, book on the NY Times Bestseller list, having a conferences for other pastors so I can tell them what they should be doing and how they should be doing it, building mega-campuses, being on TV, getting invited to preach around the world, driving a Bentley, etc.).

When I was done eliminating what success is NOT, I started thinking about the essence of what it IS to me.

What I came up with isn’t exhaustive – but it is the core of who I want to be and what I want to be known for as a pastor.

Here’s my reply… Read More

loving the work mona lisa

A Case For Loving The Work (That You Do)

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

In this fascinating NPR story “Good Art Is Popular Because It’s Good. Right?” the question is asked,

Why Is The Mona Lisa – Or Any Piece Of Art – Successful?

Quoting from the piece…

“The Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the world because people believe that there is something profoundly special about it, some quality so distinguishing that it deserves to be as famous as it is.

But is that true… Read More

stuff I dont believe anymore lochness

Success Will Make My Insecurities Go Away

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

I can’t speak for everyone, but I do know this about myself: I’m not particularly inventive when it comes to my picture of what success is.

How do I define success?

I see it on someone else and I want it. Whatever it is that they posses or have attained or are currently doing – that’s what I want.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever made a truly unique goal for myself. All my goals have been modeled after someone who was more successful than me.

I see someone’s house that is better than mine and now I want one like it… Read More

myths urban legends and other religious bologna THE APOSTLE

Life Coach Jesus & The Winner’s Circle

- - Life With God, Popular, Uncategorized

There is a notable trend in the modern church today…

It’s a shift away from the blatant prosperity “God wants you to be rich” teaching towards this modified variation of it: “God wants you to be cool and successful.”

People feel cooler because they attend a cool church with a cool band and a super-cool pastor who hangs out with loads of really cool people.

There’s no need to always be talking about money – that’s passé now… Read More

jon bones jones header

Strength For Plan B -vs- Athletes w/ Phil 4:13 Tattoos

- - Popular, Uncategorized

One of the most common “Christian” athlete tattoos…

Philippians 4.13

(I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me).

Inspiring, huh?

UFC light heavy weight champion Jon “Bones” Jones has it tattooed on his chest.

And we see it a lot because, you know, UFC guys have their shirts off all the time.

Tim Tebow wrote it on his face for an entire season (kinda like a temporary tattoo, right?)… Read More