Primal

I was blessed to get an advanced copy of Mark Batterson's new book Primal! Batterson always inspires me and encourages me to be a better man and a better Pastor! Over the last couple of years he has mentored me more through his books and blog than he would ever know.

I think he can do the same for you.

One of the things that I love about Batterson is that he makes me think . . . and not just with the left, logical side of my brain, but to think as well with the right, creative piece of my 3-pound melon. And Primal is a great example of this.

He says this about the essence of his book: 'When all the superficialities are stripped away, what is the primal essence of Christianity?'

Mark then takes the command to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and digs down to the bone of what that means with creative though and insight.

Reading Primal would be an awesome way to start out the New Year with a renewed passion for Jesus! You can order it online here.

Oh yeah, I'm also supposed to tell you that this was book was provided to me for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. Thanks Multonomah!

Did God Make a Mistake?

On Sunday I talked about how we must first see God's glory before we see God's future.

I also know that many of us are going through times right now where we are asking that question: Did you mess up God? Did you lose control? What's going on?

Here's part of a post by Mark Batterson that does a great job speaking to these feelings and God's glory:


Have you ever felt like God made a mistake?

. . . . That is how the Israelites felt with the Egyptian army breathing down their necks and the Red Sea staring them in the face. And here's the thing: God led them there. From a military standpoint, they should not have been there. They have no escape route. They couldn't retreat or advance. It seems like God has made a mistake. And the Israelites let Moses know about it. But God had them right where he wanted them.

Sometimes God leads us to a place where we have nowhere to turn but to Him. It's often the last place we want to be. But it's the best place to be. Here is the great irony: all of us want to experience a miracle. We just don't want to be in a situation that necessitates it. But sometimes you need to be between an Egyptian Army and a Red Sea so God can reveal more of His glory!

And just when you think God has made a mistake, He parts the Red Sea.

God Likes You

I got this same message yesterday in two different places:

First in a Mark Batterson blog post he quoted from a new Brennan Manning book:

"The Father not only loves you, he likes you."

Mark went on to say this: "In my experience, most of us believe that God loves us. But we aren't so sure He likes us. Listen, He loves you and likes you enough to spend eternity with you."


Then another email I got expanded on 1 Peter 2:4 . . . "Chosen by God and precious to him."

It's so essential to regard yourself as one chosen by God and precious to him. Sometimes . . . you tend to underrate yourself becauseyou underestimate God's love for you . . . Please accept his thoughts that are higher than your thoughts by regarding yourself as clothed in Jesus.


What do you think? Do you believe that God really LIKES you? He does. As a matter of fact He likes you more than anyone on this planet. He's cheering you on today to live in light of how much He believes in you.

Criticize or Create?

I really think what Mark Batterson is saying in this quote is so true. Let it sink in. What do you think? Is he right, or not?

One reason Christianity has a perception problem is because we tend to criticize culture instead of creating culture. We are more known for what we're against than what we're for. We need to aspire to something Michelangelo said: criticize by creating. Let's not just complain about what's wrong. Let's celebrate what's right.

Chasing Wild Geese

"You'll never finish what you do not start. And that is where so many of us get stuck. We fail to take the first step, so the wild goose chase never begins. Instead of seeking our adventure, we settle for the routine. Instead of playing offense with our lives, we play defense. And instead of living by faith, we let our fears dictate our decisions." (p.164 Wild Goose Chase)

Does that sound like how you wanna be remembered? Me either.

Today a new book by Mark Batterson (one of my favorite bloggers) came out. It's appropriately named Wild Goose Chase . . . and the editor gave me the privilege of doing this blog review (and a FREE advance copy!)

The title comes from the Celtic Christian's name for the Holy Spirit - An Geadh-Glas - "the wild goose." And from there the chase is on!

The book is pedal to the metal - just like Mark's passion for followers of Jesus finding their adventure in Christ. Throughout I was continually reminded about how the life of chasing the Wild Goose is dangerous, scary, challenging, unpredictable and world changing!

Mark talks about the six 'cages' that keep us tame and how we break out.
I'm always amazed at his ability to condense life truth into bite size chunks, like: 'Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.' And, 'Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.'

I challenge you to get it and read it - the chase is on!

You can click here to order the book . . . and check out the chasethegoose.com website.


As an additional bonus to somebody who actually reads these blogs to the bottom I've got an extra book to give away - they gave me two copies!
You gotta agree to read it in the next 2 weeks and then review it on your blog or send the review to me to put on my blog.
First one who 'comment's' on my blog (emails don't count) wins!

Feeling Constrained?

There was so much great stuff last week at Unplugged that it was like drinking from a firehouse (this is an outside view of Ebenezer's Coffee House where we met --- and then inside, Jud Wilhite on the left and Mark Batterson on the right -- and the back of some dude's head!)

One of the nuggets we talked about was the Blessing of Living under Constraint.
Jud called it the Houdini principle . . .Houdini performed his greatest feats under the greatest pressure. He actually wanted the feats to threaten his life because under that kind of pressure he concentrated with every ounce of energy he had.

In the same way it's under great constraint that we are forced to be totally dependent on God! When we're in a situation be it with our finances, or a relationship, or job, or school, or a physical limitation, whatever - where we are at the end of our resources - the blessing is that we MUST trust God.

And constraint not only makes us dependent on God but it unleashes our God-given creativity.

So, if you're feeling constrained today, praise God for a new opportunity to trust Him!

Pray for Me and Unplugged

I'm pumped about an awesome opportunity I have next week to hang out and learn from some experienced and fearless leaders.

I'm going to Unplugged in Washington, D.C. which is hosted by Mark Batterson (one of the guys who mentors me through his blog and who I met last Summer).

It's a small gathering of 20-30 leaders where I'll get to hear their hearts and passions and experience -- and learn. . . Can't wait to get there . . . I'm asking God to open my mind and heart to how He would speak to me. I so want to learn more and more how to use the leadership gifts and opportunities that He's given me!

Is It Changing Our Life?

On Sunday I quoted Rick Warren in saying: "We only believe the parts of the Bible that we do." In other words God's Truth is not meant to just be understood but to be digested in our soul in such a way that it transforms our spiritual/emotional/physical DNA and results in a whole new life.

Mark Batterson said this in his blog a couple of days ago:
"The Bible wasn't meant to be read. The Bible was meant to be meditated. Reading without meditating is like eating without digesting." (see the entire post here)

I've been challenging you to meditate on Scripture with us as we go through the book of James (click here to sign up to get the daily texts). And I'm praying that you will chew on it and swallow it in such a way that it speeds up your heart rate for following Jesus.

Mark went on to say in his post: "If we read the Bible but we don't feel a greater sense of intimacy with the author, The Word Himself, has it really accomplished it's purpose?"

Has it?