photo by JL Nights

It’s funny how the stories that matter most to you are your own. Your most significant life moments are cherished most by you. When someone mentions they fractured a bone in their body your mind conjures  the details of when you did something similar. A friend tells you about their holiday in Hawaii and you blurt out your favorite restaurant and beach. You hear someone say, “I hate church” and you respond, “ditto” and proceed with a tragic church memory. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: friendships, future, lifestyle design —

Photo by KidCudi.com

My legs and arms were in full swole effect at the gym the other day while I was bangin Cudi in my brain. I don’t usually get loose with Cudi or hip hop for that matter but I’ll be honest, I was goin hard at the gym. This particular level of fitness needed some flavor. I needed more than a four chord Hillsong beat with soothing heavenly melodies. A quick scroll down on my iPod gave me Cudi. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: destiny, kid cudi, lifestyle design, pursuit of happiness, pursuit of happyness —

A few quotes have jumped around in my brain like a crackhead in a rubber room. I have heard worthless  words of religion constructed and displaced into everything around us. They continually explode in my brain and echo more reasons why Christianity is mediocre. Christianity is replicating mediocrity and indecisiveness. Maybe a better phrase is, Christianity is gettin Ho’d out!

Ho’d out in the sense that Christians only take the parts of the Bible they like and quickly move on. Ho’d out in the sense a young man or woman hangs out with another man or woman who they “just like to have fun with.” You know the Sex and the City mandate; “friends with all the benefits”. You get all the fun with minimal responsibilities. You have tons of friends with zero depth. You have a belief in the Bible because you think it gets you into heaven, but don’t know what it says. Am I getting warm yet? Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: barack obama, Psalm 119, religious dialogue, wear on your sleeve —

photo by Willow Creek Media

Last night my brain got the better of me. I completely confess to my utter foolishness concerning Bill Hybels. As many of you may know, my mouth and brain  run (bolt) fast. Not only do these gifts work fast but are equally blunt. While these characteristics can be extremely advantageous (which they are), they can also be disastrous (which they also are). Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: apology, bill hybels, online apology, repent, twitter apology, willow creek organization —

photo by @LifeRefresh

A few weeks back I noticed an announcement at church about baptism. Let’s be honest, 90% of the  church announcements displayed I am on my phone either checking twitter or my Espn app. Don’t ask why, you do the same thing.

We all know church news and announcements are  transitional fillers. No one could possibly remember a church news announcements when they only watch it 1x every 7 days. Why do we remember Budweiser ads? Simple, they are replayed religiously every single day, during every single show men watch. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: baptism, baptize, baptized —

I have shot off a few things recently concerning mentors/coaches in life but after reading the book of Acts some thoughts shook me up. Before we discuss Acts, ask yourself the following questions.  Who have you identified in your life as a mentor? Who do you contact when an important decision is made? Who are your counsellors? Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: apostle paul, barnabas, coach, mentor —

Rick Renner took the stage last night at the Connect 2010 conference at Family Harvest Church. He brought his usual big smile which would be greatly needed.  Rick’s opening statement described the famous Jewish exile known as Daniel and how he was gruesomely castrated.

I found my mouth drop, my legs slowly cross and my right hand grab my crotch (since I am right handed). It wasn’t a crotch grab a-la Michael Jackson or one of those brief re adjustments you see on the baseball diamond, this one was of thankfulness.

Yes folks, Daniel, the famous Jew in the Bible who was stolen away from his family and forced to work for the Babylonians was in fact castrated. Castrated … castrated … castrated!! Isn’t it weird when a man reads that word his arms instinctively move lower toward this region. His palms start to get a bit moist and forehead squeezes in discomfort. Legs and lower extremities become motionless and your future vanishes like smoke.

The following notes are directly from Rick Renner. I will not post all of them because it is enough information to write an incredible book and make a fortune. I would suggest for you to check out a few additional things from Rick Renner. He will blow your mind with all things considered in most areas in the Old and New Testament.

1. Find Rick on Facebook

2. Tell Rick on Facebook why he should be on Twitter. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: castrated, castration, connect 2010, daniel, eunuch, family harvest church, rick renner —

Photo by C3 Churches

A guest post by one of the finest leaders in Australia. I read his stuff, I give credit to his stuff, I steal his stuff, I take his stories and make em my own stuff and on this rare occasion, I am reposting some THAT goodness to you. If you don’t know Josh, maybe check him out. If you do know Josh, then thanks for sharing. Follow him here and STOP DOING DRUGS. Not sure who that last tangent was for …

You will probably like his magic_ness. He is extremely creative, he even spaces his blogs out super nice and neat. When he writes it’s as if  you’re watching an artist paint. I don’t even know how that is possible on a computer keyboard … but it is… because HE does it. Words will explode in your face, paint will splatter and you may just feel a bit of sweat in your own palms. Excitement is contagious. Enjoy … Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: c3 church, christian city church, josh kelsey, psalms 46 —

Photo by PhotoBucket

{This is a guest post from a friend. The story is gripping and surprisingly true. If you have ever watched Pulp Fiction, you will really get into this.  Approximately 4 minutes total read time.}

Oh God Please Give Me The Strength To Kill This Guy! Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: lifestyle design, marine, power of words, pulp fiction —

I can remember as a young kid first hearing about this psychotic doctor named Jack Kevorkian. We only lived a few hours from Michigan but I still recall the word euthanasia in my tiny 8 year old brain. Of course at that time in my life I thought this was either a new country in Asia or some sort of Chinese dish at Mo’s Noodle Shop.

HBO pulled together an incredible collection of footage concerning Dr. Jack Kevorkian and produced You Don’t Know Jack, starring Al Pacino and Susan Sarandon. If you have HBO and are curious as I am concerning this eccentric doctor, scope this film out. If you are unfamiliar with Dr. Jack Kevorkian for the sake of time, click here and brief yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: abimelech, ahithophel, al pacino, assisted suicide, doctor death, euthanasia, hbo films, jack kevorkian, judas, samson, saul, sauls armor bearer, suicide, susan sarandon, you don't know jack, zimri —