Friday, May 29, 2009

Are you cool?

So I'm sitting here in my un-tucked shirt, ripped jeans, sipping a latte, twittering to all my "peeps" while I write my latest blog....ugghhhhh...Lord, please deliver us from "cool."

Here’s what’s hard though. Cool is such a desirable commodity is our world. In fact, many, many of my best friends are cool. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Cool is the word that never goes out of style. It is our verbal stamp of approval when we like anything. “Cool.” It’s blessing, approval, validation and pure goodness all wrapped up in one magnificent word.

To set the record straight, I do happen to enjoy a more modern, casual dress. I also like my coffee. Every now and again I “twitter”... only because someone talked me into signing up and now have about 60 “followers” that I feel obligated to throw down amazing status reports to.

Cool seems to have become a pre-requisite for nearly every occupation today…whether it’s being a Mom with the 'fly' stroller, McDonald’s and their latest offerings of uber hip coffee or churches with their trendy marketing and phat worship “experiences.”

Ok…I am not on a personal journey to Dorkville, nor am I saying that we should avoid the cool technology that the nerds of this world are creating for us. I just think we should take a step back and re-define cool.

To me, cool is confidence in who you really are. Cool is not being afraid to boldly forward the mission God has given you for life. And sometimes cool is saying I’m not going to do this just because everyone else on the planet is doing it. I love when I meet someone who tried watching LOST and had the inner courage to tell me that they hated the show. BRAVO!! I know a Pastor who preaches in one of the most relevant churches in our nation who doesn’t even come close to passing the “cool” test in his clothing and dress. But that’s what makes him so cool. He is confident in his calling and secure in his mission.

Here’s the deal folks; if you market and sell vacuum cleaners, you have a responsibility to attract the culture you live in to your sucking machines. You better find a way to make sure your vacuum cleaner is more than just a cool looking machine. It better be a better “sucker’ than the rest of them. If your machine looks like something out of Star Wars and still doesn’t pick up the dirt, then obviously…it doesn’t suck…and you do. Cool alone won’t cut it.

For those of us helping to lead the church, our job is also to clean up the dirt. Let’s remember our mission. Let’s be who we are knowing that there are people out there who will be attracted to the gift of personality, style and talent that God has placed within us. It’s not our tricked out 25 Flat-Screened Information Desk in the lobby that is going to save the sinner. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Cool? Cool.



7 Thoughts on the Art of Cool:

Here are some thoughts on cool for the church, market place and anyone else that is attempting to be cool.

1. If you have to convince people that you are cool, you're probably not.
  • Example: PC commercials.
  • Stop calling yourself cool and just be.

2. Excellence is more attractive than cool.
  • Do things well to attract people.
  • Better is better. Cool is not better.

3. Usefulness is more important than cool.
  • Is your message or product useful and applicable or just cool?
  • Relevant and cool are not synonyms.

4. Cool makes something popular, but once it's popular it begins to decrease in coolness.
  • Example: When your mom is on facebook it becomes a little less cool.
  • Oprah was the worse thing that could have happened to twitter.

5. Cool can not be copied.
  • You can't duplicate cool, but you can be inspired by it.

6. Cool has a very short shelf life.
  • Just because something or someone was cool does not mean they are or will continue to be.
  • Cool is constantly evolving and is subject to opinion.

7. Cool is overrated.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

I Pray You Enough

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, 'I love you, and I pray you enough.' The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too, Mom.'They kissed, and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?

Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this good-bye, forever ?

''Well...I'm not as young as I once was she lives so far away & has her own busy life. I have some challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I pray you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

She began to smile. 'That's a prayer that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I pray you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wantings.

I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Then, she began to cry, and walked away.They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE.

To all my friends and loved ones, I PRAY YOU ENOUGH.......

Friday, May 22, 2009

Random notes from my Mother's Day trip to Tulsa

I decided to take my Mom to Tulsa to see Joyce Meyer at a conference. On our way there, my friend called me and said he was going to be at the same event we were, and asked if we wanted him to save us a seat. My Mom was already tired and said, "no thanks". So, we kept going and talking, then my Mom said, "If you want to go, you can. I'll just drop you off then he can take you home." We talked a bit more, and I ended up calling him back and changing my mind! I thought I was going to be late, but I got there as the 1st song by Delirious? was playing. I'd never seen Delirious? before...have to say, awesome worship! Joyce was fun to see live! You would think that this would be an event with mostly women, but it was pretty well mixed. Actually, I didn't even sit next to a lady...Cool conference altogether. There were people outside with huge signs that said, "Joyce sends people to hell" and other things like that. The weird part was, the part that said Joyce was taped on or something...! She mentioned it that night and said it looked like it was Velcro-ed on!

Anyway, so that night was awesome and my friend actually rededicated his life to Christ. Way cool. When the conference let out, we walked out with the masses of people and kept walking and walking....and walking! Slowly there were less and less people around us...there were weird people and bums, mind you. If I had gone that night with my Mom, I'd have called a cab or something, but because I was with Levi, I was pretty content and realized that if something happened, we'd both beat up whoever came our way. Yeah, that's comforting. Well, turns out Levi parked more than a dozen blocks away. It was nice to walk and all the crosswalks turned as soon as we got to them. We passed a guy who was by the curb, chewing tobacco, smoking and on the phone. He was acting so passive and cool. He said to his bud on the phone in the most serious tone, "Spitting. I love spitting." I had the hardest time holding in the laughter!! Levi was like, "What?" I had a hard time regaining my composure...ah, good times.

The next morning I got up at 7...so much for my day off! We had to work out the shower times with the people who we stayed with...I had more time while I was there to study the Word and memorize scripture. I was grateful to get that time. The bed I stayed in was on drugs or something. It was so high...come on, that was funny.

So we went to the morning session and had a great time. My Mom loved being there. That's all I wanted. Afterward, we had time to just roam the town - My Mom's favorite thing to do! We went to lunch at Casa Bonita's and had some memories rushing back from years ago...they didn't have the buffalo head in the lobby though. That's sad. Here's a peek inside: Mexican style window ledge...Street lights inside love it!

We had some kind of nacho salad in the rain forest/cave place. Of course, the waterfall was loud! Can't forget the sopha-pias! There were awesome and sticky as ever! By the way, they have the same tables as Chili's...just sayin.

It's dark, but this is the flag to tell them, "Hey, I want something else to make my hands sticky...now!"

So we were shopping for hours...somehow my Mom never realizes the time that passes...hmm. We dropped by sonic later and the building was bigger than the space for cars...it looked weird.

Big Lots! They have the weirdest things! I found cool Wii accessories, a Sugar ladle and an apple corer , there was a wagon wheel randomly there as well . Water bottles bigger than your head , & a vase/decorative something!


As we left, this is what was in the case:
I don't know if you can tell, but there are power tools and motorized toothbrushes right next to each other. Like in the same department. That's funny.



I liked the feel of Tulsa. It had been a while since I'd been there. Although, I've decided I don't want to live there again. Yes, I miss the big city and crazy driving, but I don't miss the anger, confusion, self-centeredness, and smoke! More and more I am realizing the different cultures between two places, even a few hours away from each other. I like the kindness and sincerity of the people here. Also, I know my way around here! God also opened my eyes. He's been doing that every time I go back home. I saw more mattresses under bridges and everyone acting like these homeless people's situations were normal. Made me cry.

One thing I do miss about Tulsa is Thrift Stores. Hands down, that is the one thing that makes me sad. Growing up, that was where I got all my clothes. Here, there's just not great stores like that. I got a summer dress and some wicked Mannheim Steamroller Christmas tapes. Yes, you heard me right, tapes. As in cassettes. I found 3 of them!! Awesome. On the DL, I found a Rick Astley tape... and no, I didn't get it!

Driving around, I got some awesome ideas for a commercial for church to promote our newest event. Hopefully I'll get to that soon! Also, I realized another reason I like water is because you can't water down water. How about that for deep?

Of course we stopped by Fuddrucker's (best hamburgers ever!) and Freckle's (best concrete's ever!) Had a Razzamatazz! Apparently, that's cheesecake and raspberries - yum!

I keep talking about getting a haircut or trim and never do. It could have been the sugar in my system, but why shift the blame? I saw a huge sign that said "Discount Haircuts!" and that was convincing of a good job, so we went...The place was called HAIRCUTS NOW! A little pushy, don't you think? So, I've been wanting bangs for a while and the length was getting weird, so I went for it! The lady asked a few questions about the cut then, snip! By the way...I've never had my hair cut at a salon before! I know, crazy! My Mom always cut my hair, no joke. So this was a new experience in more than one way. The lady tried to make small talk and asked me what I was up to. This is how the convo went:

"You mean today or in general?"

"Both, what do you do? Are you a student?"

"Oh, no. I actually live in Ponca City. We're in town for a conference. The one with Joyce Meyer."

"Yeah? I heard about that. Is it good?"

"Yes! It's free too!"

"So, what do you do when your not on vacation?"

"Actually, I'm a DJ."

"Really? Cool. (Long Pause) So like at a bar or...?"

"Umm, no. At a Christian Radio Station."

"OH! I was way off!"

"That's alright!"

"Well, that's really cool. I'm sure that's fun."

"It is, different every day, but fun!"

So then she just asked me questions about my hair and stuff and then i was done! Quick! It was cool to be able to share what I do and what I'm doing and be a witness without even trying! I hope she went that night.

The cut turned out well, I think. There are a few people around me calling it "Killer Bangs"...sounds so violent.

So that was my weekend. Fun, exhausting, long and memorable. My Mom said her favorite part was being able to hang out with her daughter. Awe...good. That was the point.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Keep eternity in view

Ask God to help you see your life from an eternal perspective so you can make the best decisions - ones that will use your time on Earth to make a positive impact that will last forever. Make God your top priority, and place people as a higher priority than things, because people have eternal value, while things don't last. Invest deeply in your relationships, doing all you can to serve other people and bring honor to God. Constantly sort through you busyness to decide what really matters eternally, and focus on that as you live your life in rhythm with God.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Anticipate what's next

Whenever you feel stuck in your current life stage, remember that it won't last forever. There will be an end to changing diapers when your kids grow older. You'll soon graduate from college and be done with the pressure of constantly taking exams and writing papers. Increase your hope by anticipating the next season of your life. While it's true that you can't predict with certainty what will happen in the future, you can anticipate what life stage you'll likely enter next, and look forward to it. Use the power of anticipation as motivation to complete your current responsibilities well. Do your best for as long as you're in your current stage, so you can move into the next one with no regrets when the right time comes. Rather than trying to live in a different season than the one you're in, trust that God has placed you in this particular life stage right now for a good reason and decide to live fully while you're in it.

This is where I am in my life right now. Hopefully by encouraging you, I will be lifted up as well. Have a blessed week!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Song of the week

This is an oldie but a goodie from Steven Curtis Chapman. Read through this and really listen to the words. Very humbling, challenging and true.

I made a list, wrote down from A to Z
All the ways I thought that You could best use me
Told all my strengths and my abilities
I formed a plan it seemed to make good sense
I laid it out for You so sure You'd be convinced
I made my case, presented my defense
But then I read the letter that You sent me
It said that all You really want from me is just

Whatever, whatever You say
Whatever, I will obey
Whatever, Lord, have Your way
'Cause You are my God, whatever

So strike a match, set fire to the list
Of all my good intentions, all my preconceived ideas
I want to do Your will no matter what it is
Give me faith to follow where You lead me
Oh, Lord, give me the courage and the strength to do ...

I am not my own
I am Yours and Yours alone
You have bought me with Your blood
Lord, to You and You alone do I belong
And so whatever


This is based from Proverbs 19:21

Many plans are in the human heart, but the advice of the LORD will endure.


And Psalm 40:8

I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

And Psalm & 143:10

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Why Wating is Really Trusting

Nobody hates waiting more than I do. At Wal-mart, I use the self-checkout, because there is usually no line. Unless, of course, I commit the crime of putting the bread on the wrong plastic bag and the machine begins yelling at me. Then, of course, I have to wait for the human to come over and fix the machine.

At the post office, I hate waiting an hour to mail a package. So I usually use the automated box that allows me to send anything slightly smaller than an elephant.

I especially don’t like sitting in traffic in large cities, where I believe they widen the roads once every 76 years. So I have a better chance of seeing a Comet than getting into the turn lane on my local highways. Nice.

So you can understand that I have an especially tough time waiting on God. He just doesn’t seem to fit His plans into my rushed, hurried, panicked world. And in reading the Scriptures, I’ve learned that He hasn’t changed.

In fact, almost all of the great men in the Bible had to wait. Some agonizingly long. Let’s look at three examples.

#1
Though Moses grew up in the house of Pharoah and was groomed to be the next in line for the throne, I believe he saw all of this as God raising him up to deliver his people, Israel. His mother probably had something to do with that.
As the years passed and Moses looked from the window of his stately palace and saw the oppression of his brethren, he grew more and more impatient. Finally, he acted on impulse and killed an Egyptian taskmaster.
So that meant 40 years in the wilderness. Here God’s people were suffering and their future deliverer is leading sheep in the backside of the desert. Yet God wasn’t delaying. He wasn’t stalling. He wasn’t anxious.
Finally, when Moses was broken and humble enough to be used as an instrument by God, God sent the 80-year old prince-turned-shepherd back to Egypt.
But do you see what is happening? The headlines wouldn't read, "Prince leads coup. Prince leads revolt. Prince overtakes Pharaoh." No, it wouldn't be about Moses anymore. It would be about God. How about, "God Miraculously Delivers His People"?

#2
As a young man, God spoke to Joseph through dreams. In these dreams, Joseph was leading and his brothers and even world leaders were bowing at his feet. Kind of heady stuff for a teenager, don’t you think? And it didn’t play too well with his brothers.
But Joseph knew God was calling him to a special place. A place of impact and leadership and power.
So that’s why Joseph was probably stunned and shocked when he found himself in the bottom of a pit, praying his brothers wouldn’t kill him. Or when he found himself sold into a strange country, Egypt. Or when he was thrust into prison on rape charges.
Didn’t seem like those dreams were panning out too well, did it? Didn’t seem like God was working out His plan?
Oh, but God was working out his plan. And Joseph, while he didn’t know a lot, He knew He could trust God.

#3
Okay, so this prophet comes to his house, dumps some oil on his head, and then whispers in his ear, “Oh by the way, you’re going to be Israel’s next king.” But then it was back to the shepherd’s fields, back to being the forgotten son and brother, back to obscurity.
David was anointed king as a teenager, but he waited 14 long years to assume the throne. And those 14 years were hard years. He was Israel’s next king, but there was his madman, Saul, who was determined to see David dead and buried.
If you read the psalms you can experience David’s angst. He scratched his head in wonder, “Why is God allowing Saul to do this?” “Why doesn’t God just move Saul out of the way?”

But again, like Moses, like Joseph, David had to learn to trust God. And waiting, is trusting. David had to be broken, humble, and read to lead God’s people.


Do you see a pattern developing here? God often gives his people a dream, a desire, a calling and then puts them through a period of waiting.

It is in this waiting where your real courage and character are forged. It is in this period of uncertainty that you’re life takes on a whole new dimension. You learn how to trust God. You learn to lean on God. You learn what’s important and what’s not important.


So if you’re like me and you really hate to wait, know that waiting is trusting.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The death of an era...


So my fan, of about 7 years, died today...I will miss you Lasko Breeze Machine, my friend. You were what made the Summers bearable. You were always a welcome feeling in the middle of the night when the cool side of the pillow was no longer cool. I can only hope to have another fan as great as you. Thank you for all your hard work and for never giving up...til now...

Journals!


So...I realized today how many journals I have going...wow, I have to say this is a revelation to me. Just see for yourself...I actually have one that's not pictured, it's my "Tracking Journal" and it's at work. They do all have a purpose, from left to right: "Devote a month to seek God Journal", "Learning Journal", "Bible study Journal", "Future spouse Journal", "Semi-Daily Journal", "Scripture Journal", "Quote Journal", "Trip Journal", "Healing Journal", "Grateful Journal", "People I'll see in Heaven Journal" and then there's the one floating above...It's one of the newest and.....it's blank!

What should I use it for? Prayer Journal? Lists of music? Random something?? hmmmm....

Grace for the Moment

God will meet your needs of today, today. This is His plan, help in the hour of need. Grace for the moment. The concerns of tomorrow will be met tomorrow. Provisions for next week will arrive next week. God meets the needs of the day, each day.

For that reason He taught us to pray: "Give us the food we need for each day." (Luke 11:3)

Bread represents our basic need. We need only a couple of things every day: breath, bread and a cherry topped chocolate ice cream sundae...(ok, the cherry is optional). Christ explains God's schedule for meeting such needs. Day by day. We don't pray for an annual allotment or monthly shipment of bread. He gives not a bakery or a truckload. He gives daily portions.

When the wilderness wondering Israelites grew hungry, he responded with daily downpours if manna and coveys of quail. God told them to gather just enough food for the day, but some did not listen. "But some of the people did not listen to Moses and kept part of it to eat the next morning. It became full of worms and began to stink..." (Exodus 16:20).

Don't we do the same thing? Try to solve tomorrow's problems with today's resources and today stinks. It gets wormy. Jesus could not have been more clear: "Seek first God's kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have it's own worries. Each day has enough trouble of it's own" (Matthew 6:33-34).

Trust God, friend. "Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it." (Hebrews 4:16, emphasis mine).

God gives grace for the moment. And in this moment I pray that God and His word would give you eternal strength and amply provide for you. May He heal your heart with heaven glipses and steel your character with strength portions.

God bless you in all you do.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Church Online

I attend Life Center in Ponca City, it's a part of the lifechurch.tv network. We meet Sunday mornings from 10-11 and through the week at various Life Groups. We watch the same messages people all around the world watch. At specific times they have a live service onlinehttp://live.lifechurch.tv
LifeChurch.tv Internet Campus Blog

They have live worship that is fresh, modern and inviting. Check it out for yourself. Let me know what you think!