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What I'm giving up for Lent, why I'm doing it, and why you should consider it too (REPOST)

UPDATE: I posted this for Lent last year. This year, Lent begins on 2/22, and I have chosen to give up 1) all forms of desserts/sweets & 2 ) Rock/Heavy Metal this time.

Fat Tuesday will definitely include lots of Maiden and some Ben & Jerry's...

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Next Wednesday (3.9.11) is Ash Wednesday, and that triggers the season of Lent on the Christian Calendar. Lent is a 40-day period designed to prepare our hearts as we anticipate Easter, and the resurrection of Jesus that we celebrate on that day. In the tradition of Lent each believer gives up something important to them that involves some level of sacrifice. The idea is that every time we would normally do whatever we gave up or whenever we strongly desire to, we instead identify with Jesus’ far greater sacrifice for us and we focus on God in prayer and reflection.

In the church I came to faith in, Lent was never really mentioned or practiced. As a result, it wasn’t until last year that I observed this season. I talked about that and why I believe it is a good idea for all of us to observe Lent in a message called “Remember the Time…?” If you don't know much about Lent, I would highly encourage you to listen to this message (because it goes into more detail than I can get into in this context) and consider whether or not this is something you would like to be a part of. I strongly believe observance of Lent will greatly deepen your intimacy with Jesus and your appreciation for His sacrifice for us if you do.

If you do decide to observe Lent, the big question is always “WHAT do I give up?”.  As a bit of a media junkie I gave up Facebook and talk radio last year. This year I am giving up TV and movies; pray for me!!! You can give up anything you feel led to; the key is it has to be a bit of a sacrifice (which is why I couldn’t go with country music). If you decide to observe Lent this year, please post a comment letting me know what you’re giving up so I can pray for you too.

Forget resolutions, set some goals in 2012!

The 28 books I plan to read in 2012

I'm setting personal goals in several categories for myself in 2012. One of which is in the area of reading. As they say, "leaders are readers," so here are the books I plan to read (in no particular order) in 2012:

In Search of Timothy	Tony Cooke
Steve Jobs	Walter Isaacson
Doctrine	Mark Driscoll
Boundaries	Henry Cloud
Crazy Love	Francis Chan
The Meaning of Marriage	Tim Keller
The Life You've Always Wanted	John Ortberg
King's Cross	Tim Keller
Great By Choice	Jim Collins
Blink	Malcolm Gladwell
Telling the Truth	D.A. Carson
Knowing God	JJ Packer
Christians are Hate Filled Hypocrites…and Other Lies You've Been Told	Bradley Wright
Following Jesus	N.T. Wright
Fields of Gold	Andy Stanley
The Art & Craft of Biblical Preaching	Haddon Robinson
The Spirit of the Disciplines	Dallas Willard
She Calls Me Daddy	Robert Wolgemuth
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth	Gordon Fee
In My Place Condemned He Stood	J.I. Packer
Leading on Empty	Wayne Cordeiro
Leadership Gold	John Maxwell
Made to Stick	Chip & Dan Heath
Speak to Win	Brian Tracy
The Origin of the Bible	Philip Comfort
A History of Christianity	Paul Johnson
Warlord	Ted Bell
Spiritual Discipleship	Oswald Sanders

What are YOU reading???

What is holding you back? (to Calvary Fellowship)

Over the years, I have discovered a truth about spiritual growth: Most of us are educated beyond our level of obedience. That is, we all know more than we put into practice. That doesn’t mean we should stop learning, but I do think it means we should increase the implementation of our learning into our lives. A helpful question to ask ourselves is, “What is holding me back from obeying?”

This was exactly the question that a man in the New Testament asked Philip when it came to obeying the command of Jesus for all of His followers to be baptized:

Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36)

Baptism is one of the most basic commands of a Christian. And if we are struggling to obey in “deeper” areas then a good decision would be to obey in this area if we haven’t already done so. So let me direct the eunuch’s question at you, “What is holding you back from being baptized?” It certainly isn’t opportunity, because we have a baptism coming up on July 24^th. Maybe it is one of the following reasons:

1. I have already been baptized! –Congratulations! Let me encourage you to plan to attend our upcoming baptism to cheer on our brothers and sisters in Christ making this important decision.
2. I need more information –That is a good reason to pause, but a poor reason to stop. Click here to listen to a message I did called “Why Should I Be Baptized?” and click here  and here to hear why some others at Calvary have chosen to be baptized.
3. I am choosing to disobey. –I know none of us would phrase it that way, but if we know to do something God wants us to and don’t, how else should we say it? Let me encourage you, refuse to disobey any further, and choose to obey today! Click here to sign up right now.

I have never forgotten the day I was baptized as a child and the day I chose to do so as an adult. They were special for me, and I pray July 24^th, 2011 will be a special and memorable day for you too!

Practical steps to avoid ministry burnout

Most pastors feel like they aren't getting enough rest. Many feel burned out and want to quit. Many finally do. This isn't necessary!

In this video I discuss several practical things pastors must do in order to get the rest they need to maintain a sustainable pace in ministry for the long haul.

What I'm giving up for Lent, why I'm doing it, and why you should consider it too

Next Wednesday (3.9.11) is Ash Wednesday, and that triggers the season of Lent on the Christian Calendar. Lent is a 40-day period designed to prepare our hearts as we anticipate Easter, and the resurrection of Jesus that we celebrate on that day. In the tradition of Lent each believer gives up something important to them that involves some level of sacrifice. The idea is that every time we would normally do whatever we gave up or whenever we strongly desire to, we instead identify with Jesus’ far greater sacrifice for us and we focus on God in prayer and reflection.

In the church I came to faith in, Lent was never really mentioned or practiced. As a result, it wasn’t until last year that I observed this season. I talked about that and why I believe it is a good idea for all of us to observe Lent in a message called “Remember the Time…?” If you don't know much about Lent, I would highly encourage you to listen to this message (because it goes into more detail than I can get into in this context) and consider whether or not this is something you would like to be a part of. I strongly believe observance of Lent will greatly deepen your intimacy with Jesus and your appreciation for His sacrifice for us if you do.

If you do decide to observe Lent, the big question is always “WHAT do I give up?”.  As a bit of a media junkie I gave up Facebook and talk radio last year. This year I am giving up TV and movies; pray for me!!! You can give up anything you feel led to; the key is it has to be a bit of a sacrifice (which is why I couldn’t go with country music). If you decide to observe Lent this year, please post a comment letting me know what you’re giving up so I can pray for you too.

The Bible Challenge 2010

Want to read through the entire Bible in 2010? Why not do it together with a group?

By joining the Bible Challenge 2010 FaceBook group you will receive a plan to read through the entire Bible in 1 year. You will also receive daily postings of the daily readings, a place to discuss what you are learning, and encouragement to stick it out!

Current posts for discussion include:

• Which Bible should you use?
• Which translation will you use?
• When will you do your daily readings
• MORE TO COME! 
  

By joining this group on FaceBook you will receive the most support in the Bible Challenge. However, if you are not on FaceBook, and still want to take the Bible Challenge,  e-mail me and I will send you a copy of the reading plan.

Off to the Purpose Driven Community Gathering

I'm heading off to CA today for this "stealth conference."

In the words of Nelson Searcy, "Growing churches are led by growing leaders." So I'm really looking forward to this time of being, stretched, challenged and encouraged. As a pastor, you don't get to sit and experience church like everyone else each Sunday...a lot flows out. So its nice to have occasional opportunities like this to be poured back into.

Plus, I'm looking forward to checking out California; I've never been. Technically, I was there on a flight layover, but  that doesn't really count! So I'm excited to check out "the Promised Land" as some of my friends have referred to it.

My StrengthsFinder results

In conjunction with beginning the "Living Your Strengths" book, I just took Gallup's StrengthsFinder test (each book in the series comes with a free code to take the online test). According to them my top 5 signature themes (in order) are:

• Strategic
• Input
• Intellection
• Futuristic
• Command

Download bills_signature_themes.pdf if you wish to check out the descriptions of these. Hmmm...I am now contemplating how accurate this is. Well, I guess I'll need to read the book and discover more of what I apparently am and am not! 

Bible Challenge Forum

For those taking the Bible Challenge with us, Sheldon has set up an online forum via Yahoo where we can discuss what we're learning, ask questions, post observations, encourage one another, etc.

You're welcome to join us; Click here if you wish to participate.