Why we vote on Tuesdays?

I was watching channel 5 news last night and they did a short on "Why we vote on Tuesdays" "Back in the day" a Tuesday voting day, would allow people to travel from far away places to vote, but the main reason was because voting on Tuesday would not allow the most important day of the week to get interrupted, Sunday. Sunday was a day for going to church and nothing else would replace it. Our country was founded on the word of God, it was founded on values from the Word. In fact at one time our judicial system required Judges to attend Bible based classes. Our value was the word but that has changed throughout the years in this great nation.

America has valued tolerance vs. the standards of the Word and as a result teen pregnancies, drug addiction, rape, violent crimes, suicides, etc. have all increased.

We have valued gain and wealth vs. giving and serving and as a result we see more and more homeless every year while America is stricken with a credit crisis.

Why are values important? Our values today will determine our future tomorrow. Jesus said in Matthew 6 "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." I want my values to match what God values. I want my heart to be where God's heart is. Voting on Tuesday is a reminder for me of what this country was founded on, it's a reminder of what we need to get back to and that's God and His word. I will uphold the word of God today with my vote.

Monday Morning blurb...

1. Had our first round table journaling session on Sunday...Wow better then a triple shot of Peet's
2. May have a new series out of the round table (Organic Living, or Going Green)
3. Pre-Service meeting is growing, the team is getting bigger.
4. The worship team tore it up yesterday. "I have a new favorite song" LOL
5. Troy continues to push the envelope in worship, No LIMITS!
   
6. Amanda keep taking us to that place in worship... where nothing is rehearsed.
   
7. I love making eye contact with my wife on stage, seeing her smile...priceless
8. Great Video Santz, "It's good to celebrate victories early"
9. 30 Day's to live, it's going to push us over the edge, I can tell already.
10. What does our church look like by January if we keep the same momentum?
    

Glimpses of Gold

S) But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
Job 23:10

O) Somehow in the middle of Job's trial. In the middle of both Job's discouragement and frustration and even his complaint, Job still finds glimpses of Gold, glimpses that he will be as gold.

A) In our lives we need glimpses of gold. Just one glimpse of who God is, just one glimpse of who you are in God. A glimpse of Gold will provide you with hope just at the right time. How do we find gold? Job 23:11 "I have stayed on God's path, Job 23:12 I have treasured His word" The hope we need, the heart we need, the courage, the peace, all of it is found at the feet of the master and treasuring his Word. Look for the daily glimpses of gold. Have you ever missed something on the ground like some money? I have it's easy when your not looking for it. If your looking for daily nuggets of God's word and strength you will be sure to find them.

P) Thank you God for this journaling session today. Thank you for the word that you used from others as well to speak encouragement into my life. Help me to find gold today!

"IT"

Just because I'm an I-T guy that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about "IT." Here's a little more detail. Soon our leadership team will begin reading a book by Craig Groeschel entitled "IT, how churches and leaders can get it and keep it"

Lately something has been happening with our team and our church. Before we have even ordered the book, I think we are beginning to see the signs of "it". What is "it" you might ask? If I could exactly detail it we might not be seeing it, but I'll try to explain the best that I can. When a football player has a break out game he knows he's got it. When someone who has dreamed or trained for something all of their lives they are not afraid to try it. When a business explodes not just because of their product but because they are it.

"It", is hard to describe, but you know when it's shown up because things start to go the right way, everyone is on the same page, people don't feel left out, people want to be a part of it. "It" changes the direction of the leadership, "it" sparks creativity, "it rises new leaders", "it" is when what should be starts to be. I'm beginning to see the signs of "it". I'm seeing it in my life, I'm seeing it in my home, I'm seeing it in our team, and now we are seeing "it" in our church. What's changed? How do we keep it? Here are a couple of things that I've seen and noticed?

1) Vision may be birthed out of a leader but it's accomplished through a team.
You'll never get "it" by yourself!

2) Give a chance for people to shine.
You never know what you might be missing if people don't get a chance to shine.

3) Give trophies more then tasks

• Trophies=appreciation, encouragement, quality time
• "It's not about giving somebody something to do, it's about making people feel valuable enough that they feel they can do anything."
• Value people and they will value the Vision

4) Notice progression in the small things.
It's easy to miss small progression when your living with a big vision.

Just a quick jot of my thoughts, I know i've been promising multiple blogs throughout the week but it's been so busy, sorry. Harvest Party is this Friday so we'll see how far blogging goes again this week.