Deep Thoughts by Mr. G

Ever get stuck in a rut? Wonder where God is when you fail or make a mistake? Sometimes it isn't so much on what you know but WHO. The author reminds us that in the midst of our own shortcomings - we can find grace and success by not trusting in ourselves alone but learning from God. He talks about what matters most: Your Example, Preaching, Prayer matters. How you react to failure and rise above it and give the focus to not yourself but to HIM!! One of the quotes that stood out to me is "We often end up reducing the God of all grace and truth to a program that we seek to carry out in our own strength and for our own glory. Or we become cause-centered in our ministry focusing on certain issues ..... But if in the end we are more oriented to the issues of justice than to the God of justice, we get the cart before the horse and we lose sight of the only one who can motivate ..." or "we sometimes become more theology centered rather than Christ centered."

Blog less ... be more there in person. Social media less, off the internet .... be more there ...play more. laugh ...cry .... As I'm home this week ...I'm seeing that there is a lot of work to be done and not just online. So let's focus on being there in person for people.

What does one want in their preacher? The best conversationalist? The best communicator? The best dressed? Nope, nope and nope. People know that they shouldn't put their preacher on this pedestal; nor that is he perfect. In fact most preachers just need to point people, well, to Jesus. So here is three things I think people want in their preacher. I. Committed. A committed preacher to stay where they are. Committed to the Lord and to the local work. Pursuing to be Jesus' hands and feet to the World. II. Caring - care for people. Care for the Lord. Put love into action. III. Compassionate. Similar to caring but also be that listening ear. Compassion doesn't mean empathize but sympathy. Be there for the person but don't have to be that person. (Most times you are not them anyways) Being compassionate means displaying the Fruit of the Spirit ..."love, joy peace, patience ...." So what do you think people want in their preacher? Thoughts?

I see a lot of guys blogging everyday, (I use to be that guy) and wanting to get fame and recognized. They spend lots of time on facebook or other social media sites and wanting people to read what they had written. Trust me Ignore the hype, ignore trying to get numbers. Write what you are passionate about and write to yourself and not to gain an "Audience." Weird thing is one of my writings has ended up being published and now in a discount store: Ollies. I saw the book and my quote in it .... (The book was Making Sense of the Church BTW) ...I got thinking wow .... I'm no longer a celebrity. (Not that I ever wanted to be) So for those that post and want to be a celebrity ....Forget about it. Write what you know. Don't blog every day. Get off the computer and be Jesus to others. (Fact is I'm saying this much so to myself than others). The internet is ONLY a tool ... it isn't the point. The point is to point others to Jesus. Though I love Social media ...

the following illustration hits home .... that Christianity isn't just about a one time thing but it is about ongoing transformation. That Change should and is happening. As Romans 12 says: "1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. " (The Message) “You have perhaps heard the story of Spurgeon, the great pastor in the nineteenth-century London, who was walking

Yesterday was one of many hard funerals I had done. A young 26 yr old mother. Here is what I gave as a comfort to people I. God loves you.And that never changes. II. We're to stand firm in God's Word. III. God is the God of all comfort. I'll never forget holding this young lady's baby who died in the accident as well. In the midst of it all, I'm glad and humbled that I had a chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus to hurting people who lost a loved one. Continue to keep the family in your prayers. Two lives taken too soon!! Thanks.

Here is something I wrote as I finished up my series of "Not a Fan...." "A Fan of Jesus brings attention on them. A follower of Jesus - attention on Him! A Fan of Jesus has extremes of Worst day ever or best day ever ... A Follower of Jesus recognizes the blessings, trials, and tribulations. A fan of Jesus treats people as if they were the Boss of them. A Follower of Jesus treats people through His eyes. A Fan of Jesus only looks out for themselves ... A Follower of Jesus ...looks out for others.