Archive for February, 2009

I am Second

Posted: February 11, 2009 in Culture, Faith, Inspirational, Life, Ministry, Movies, Music, People, Spirituality, Sports, Technology
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Tonight we are starting a new series at REVIVE, the Shannon Oaks Church weekly teen worship service.

My partner in crime, Ben Vos, will be speaking over the theme “I am Second”. Basically, “I am Second” is about knowing our true place in this world. It is about knowing the importance, necessity, and urgency of putting God first in life and everything else (including ourselves) second. We will be diving into how we truly put God first when we live in a society that screams the exact opposite message. We will also take a look at what consistently keeps us from living the “I am Second” life.

The idea for this series came after seeing billboards scattered throughout the Dallas area that simply said “I am Second”. The mysterious ads list a website – IAMSECOND.COM – with provocative testimonial videos by celebrities like movie star Stephen Baldwin, Dallas Cowboys tightend Jason Witten and former American Idol contestant Jason Castro. The website also has a lot of “non-famous/normal” people sharing stories of eating disorders, loneliness, drug abuse, pornography addiction, and much more.

We are utilizing these videos throughout the worship experiences. Here is one of the testimonies we are showing tonight. This is Brian “Head” Welch, former guitarist in the band Korn.

If you are a teenager in the Sulphur Springs area, you need to be at REVIVE tonight. If you are a parent of a teenager in the Sulphur Springs area, you need to make sure your teenager is at REVIVE tonight. It will be powerful.

REVIVE, 6:30-8pm, Shannon Oaks Church

Gym Guys

Posted: February 10, 2009 in Culture, Funny, Life, People, Random, Sports
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One of my passions in life is lifting weights. During those times in the gym, I think a lot, I process a lot of life, I release stress, I escape reality, I pray, I people watch, and on top of all that, I stay in shape. I love being in the gym.

Upon spending many hours in the gym over the years, I have come realize that there are many (what I like to call) “Gym Guys” that you should never become. I have given these “Gym Guys” names and descriptions. I only ask that you read these descriptions and NEVER become one of these five Gym Guys…

THE “I GRUNT SO LOUD EVERYBODY IN THE GYM HEARS ME” GYM GUY. You can hear this guy lifting weights in the parking lot. This is the obnoxious guy that makes everybody else in the gym feel uncomfortable because he is obscenely grunting like a drunken mule. You are not sure if his head is going to explode or if he has turrets. The really obnoxious ones might even end a lift by declaring for all to hear, “Man, that burns!” Don’t be that guy.

THE “I MAX OUT EVERY TIME I LIFT” GYM GUY. If you are not familiar with the term “max out”, that simply means the maximum of weight you can lift one time for a specific exercise. The occasional max out is ok, but should never be done on a consistent basis. If you do max out all the time, it screams insecurity. These Gym Guys probably go around obsessively asking everybody how much they can bench and probably can be caught flexing in the mirrors. Don’t be that guy.

THE “I AM OFFICIALLY SPONSORED BY UNDER ARMOR” GYM GUY. This guy is decked out from head to toe in official Under Armor. The official clothing size of this guy is “tight”. Headbands and wristbands are probably visible. This guy lives life by the motto: look good, play good. Don’t be that guy.

THE “I STILL USE THE POWER LIFTING CHALK/POWDER” GYM GUY. These guys leave a constant reminder for anybody that follows them that they are serious weight lifters. Instead of wearing weight lifting gloves or going all natural, these guys powder those paws up to get that moisture-free, tight grip. One, it is not 1987. Two, you are not going to be winning Mr. Olympia anytime soon. Three, you make a huge, nasty mess everywhere you go that I do not want to touch. Don’t be that guy.

THE “EVERY TIME I LIFT I CYCLE THROUGH 15 EXERCISES BUT GET MAD IF YOU INTERRUPT MY CIRCUIT” GYM GUY. This guy does not take the traditional approach of going to one exercise, pumping out three lifts, and going on to the next exercise. No, this guy takes 15 different exercises, using 15 different machines or equipment, and goes through a circuit or cycle of exercises. This guy will do one exercise, leave the weight on the bar, go work out other places for 35 minutes, but will expect that no one move or use that original exercise. This person acts like they own the gym. This person can be seen rolling his eyes a lot in frustration at people using “his” equipment. Don’t be that guy.

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That’s some free advice. Don’t be any of those “Gym Guys”. Can you think of any more “Gym Guys”?

NEED YOUR HELP

Posted: February 9, 2009 in Culture, Life, Movies, People
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I’m doing some research and need your help answering this question…

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE MOST POPULAR MOVIES FOR TEENAGERS THE PAST 2-3 YEARS?

Please help me out by making a comment a below with your answers.

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UPDATE (8:33AM) – It seems that the most popular answers are STEP BROTHERS and 300 for teenage guys and TWILIGHT and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL for girls.

Once You Start, You Never Go Back

Posted: February 9, 2009 in Family, Life, People, Technology, TV
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I am a technology freak. 

I love technology. I love figuring out how to use technology. I love getting new technology. I love learning about new technology. 

This can be a very expensive passion at times. Never the less, technology is a passion of mine.

I have found that when it comes to technology (and other areas of life), there are certain things that once you start using them, you can never go back to how it was before. Those times where once you start using something, you know that how you used to do things is no longer an option.

I have experienced this recently with HDTV. Heather and I have been saving and putting money aside for over a year for a new television. Being the technology freak that I am, I could not just get any TV. I had to get the top-of-the-line, 46 inch, HD compatible, 50,000:1 contrast ratio, 120hz, LCD TV. Heather simply wanted it to be “cute” and “pretty”. After doing our homework and finding the perfect TV that we wanted and could afford, we decided to not buy each other any Christmas presents and let the TV be our Christmas present to each other.

Having a TV like that without having high definition television is just wrong, so we immediately upgraded to HDTV. My television watching life will never be the same. After I started watching sports in high definition, I do not think I could ever go back to watching it the old way.

That’s what I mean by “once you start, you never go back” experiences.

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What are some of your “once you start, you never go back” experiences? Don’t limit yourself to technology. Maybe your experience could be flying first class, going weekly to a counselor, going on a foreign mission trip, or taking a daily multivitamin.

Preached Today

Posted: February 8, 2009 in Faith, Life, Ministry, Spirituality
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This morning I got the privilege to preach this morning at the Shannon Oaks Church. Thanks for all of you that prayed for me this week.

To listen to the message, CLICK HERE.

Christians Are Like Manure

Posted: February 5, 2009 in Books, Faith, Life, People, Spirituality, Sports
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Here’s a quote from Crazy Love by Francis Chan that caught my eye…

A friend of mine once said that Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly. Which are you? The kind that reeks, around which people walk a wide swath? Or the kind that trusts God enough to let Him spread you out – whether that means going outside your normal group of Christian friends, increasing your material giving, or using your time to serve others?

There is a lot of truth in his words. The times that I get stretched and put myself in spiritually uncomfortable situations are the times where I see the most growth.

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The next book on my  to-read list is Beyond Belief, which is Josh Hamilton’s autobiography. To get a cliffnotes version of his story, check out this video clip below of his testimony from an amazing website (iamsecond.com).

Thought-Provoking Quote

Posted: February 4, 2009 in Culture, Faith, Inspirational, Life, Ministry, People, Spirituality, Sports
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Listening to a podcast recently, I heard this quote:

“What you make optional in life, you will eventually stop doing.”

I have not been able to shake this quote since hearing it. It has me thinking. Over and over again I have been asking myself, “Is this quote true?”

After thinking long and hard about that question, I have come to believe that the answer is yes. Let’s think about this…

For example, let’s take a look at my upcoming marathon on Saturday, February 28th. As of today, I have been training for 20 weeks for this race. Because training has been optional, there have been many times when I have made excuses to cut corners or simply stop running – a tight hamstring, no energy, not enough sleep, bad weather, stomach problems, etc. It has been a weekly battle to keep waking up and pounding the pavement. However, something changed last Friday…I officially registered for the marathon. Now training is not optional. I have broken down and paid the entrance fee and there is no turning back. When the alarm goes off this Friday morning for the dreaded 20-mile training run, there is no doubt in my mind that I will be ready to run. It does not matter what the situation, I will running because now it is not optional.

Let’s take a look at another example…

What about church? Is church optional for you and your family? Being involved and working full-time for a church, I have seen many people where church is optional. When something is not easy or convenient - staff member change, leadership disagreement, a shift in direction of a ministry, etc – I have seen way too many people walk away from the church. It became optional. If church is optional for you, you will eventually stop going.

I hope you chew on this quote like I have. Test it. See for yourself if it is true. Tell me if you think it is wrong. Tell me why you think it is wrong. I would love to hear your thoughts on this…

“What you make optional in life, you will eventually stop doing.”

American Idol

Posted: February 3, 2009 in Culture, Funny, Life, People, Random, TV
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Today is the day that FOX’s hit reality television show American Idol looses me. Starting tonight my interest level will progressively get lower and lower until I stop watching the show all together. There will be no more space on my DVR reserved for this show. I will not be texting my votes to see my favorite singer advance to the next round. I’m done.

Every season, the first few episodes of American Idol (where they travel to major cities holding singing auditions for the masses) are some of my favorite television all year. As much as I love comedies such as The Office and Seinfeld, I get more pure, uncontrollable laughter watching the terrible auditions from American Idol. Now that the show has advanced to the point where there is only good singers, they have robbed me of that weekly, uninhibited laughter. Now the show gets boring to me. The show changes genres – from a comedy to a drama – and looses my interest in the process.

Now instead of getting television gold like physics guy George Ramirez…

We get only good singers that have talent (cough…boring…cough).

I’m not complaining though. I understand that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. My life could use one less hour sitting in front of the television. Only getting a few of those open audition episodes makes them that much better when they do come on.

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I can’t be alone on this one, can I?

I am Preaching…

Posted: February 2, 2009 in Uncategorized
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One more thing you can be praying for this week…

I have been asked to preach this Sunday at the Shannon Oaks Church.

This Week I’m Praying For…

Posted: February 2, 2009 in Faith, Friends, Life, Ministry, People, Spirituality
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Prayer is powerful. Prayer works. I want to be praying for you. I want you to be praying for me. I want to open myself up to you more for prayer. Whether it is successes, failures, praise reports, illness, struggles, a 3rd party, or whatever the reason, I want to be praying for you.  My commitment to you is this: if you take the time to let me know of something that you want prayed for, I promise I will pray for you. l hope this can be a weekly segment on the blog.

This week I’m praying for…

  • REED WHITE. I’m praying for his continued health. I’m praying for his new heart to continue to be healing. I’m praying that he will soon be out of the hospital and driving Mom & Dad crazy at home.
  • RYAN & KEELEY WHITE – parents of Reed. I pray for strength, peace, and resolve beyond what you have ever experienced.  These guys have been spiritual rocks; this week I pray that God will surround them with other spiritual rocks for them to lean on. (For updates on the White family, CLICK HERE.)
  • PAREY DRAPER. A teenager who has been involved with Shannon Oaks has been having major headaches and eyesight trouble. After going to the doctor, a tumor has been ruled out. The doctors are reviewing other possible causes.
  • SCOTT & ERIN PITTMAN. This wonderful couple are now pregnant and expecting their first child sometime this summer. Scott is one of my best friends and was my roommate in college for many years.
  • HOT HEARTS RETREAT. This weekend a small group from our  youth group is going on a retreat. I pray for changed lives through this awesome event. I also pray that relationships will be strengthened.
  • ERIC CHONG. Praise God that his visa application process goes smoothly. He will be leaving China soon to visit the United States.
  • CODY. Got this message last week about Cody, “I have a first grade student, Cody, he is 7 yrs old. He was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia in February 2008. He has been battling this off and on since the diagnosis. In October the doctors thought they had taken care of it. They did a bone marrow test, and found the leukemia had returned then. They were in line for a transplant, and have not been able to have the transplant yet. He has had 3 different rounds of chemo, and cannot do anymore because it will damage his heart. I do not know where he is to go from here, I just know that this family needs prayers now more than ever. He is their only child and he is their world…They decided to go ahead with the bone marrow transplant. This being his only chance of survival, and the chance is only 10%. I spent 2 hours with him on Wednesday, and he acts like a normal little 7 year old boy, who loves football! I appreciate all the prayers, we need a God sized miracle right now. Hopefully the transplant will be in the next week or so.”
  • SOC/SM TEENS. I pray for these guys everyday. This week I am specifically praying for a group of Jr High students who have started praying together before school every day. My prayer is that they will remain faithful in praying for their school, their generation, and their city. I pray that they will continue to walk in boldness.
  • MCMILLAN FAMILY GRANDPA. The McMillans are a special family at our church. Janene’s father, a pastor in Missouri, is having some health problems. He is being a trooper and still preaching every Sunday from a chair. I am praying for healing.
  • FRANK GRAY. Frank is the new Senior Pastor at the Shannon Oaks Church. He and his family will move here in the next two weeks. I’m praying that all the life details line up smoothly as the Gray’s move from Orlando, Florida to Sulphur Springs, Texas.
  • LOCAL CHURCH I’M PRAYING FOR THIS WEEK – FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SULPHUR SPRINGS. I try to pray every week for a local church. Hey, there’s no competition. We are all on the same team. I just want more people to know Jesus. 
  • There are a couple more, but for the sake of confidentiality and privacy, I will keep those unspoken to the general public.

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What else? What did I miss? What can I be praying for you this week?

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