if you can't say something nice...

I am sure you have all heard "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". After hearing that statement, if you have you ever wondered - "then what would I say?!" - then you have a problem.

I used to share that problem with you but I have decided to focus on the word "can't". I never want to admit that there is anything "I can't" do. I used to be the person that would tear other people down in an attempt to make myself look good (I am sure it was a subconscious insecurity issue). Then I realized how bad it was hurting people and decided to find something nice to say. I am sure there is SOMETHING positive about EVERYONE.

My point: It is easy to comment on the negative, anyone can do that, but it may take a little work (or a lot of work if the person is a numb skull - you like that word?) to find the good in others. If you can't say something nice - shut up because you are an insecure jerk who people hate being around - they are just humoring you.

Don't even try saying "it's not negative, it's true" - that is lame and you have some serious insecurity issues.

Have a happy day!

it's a God thing

We are at district council electing a new superintendent (among other positions also, but that is the biggie).

While I have my opinion (a very strong one) of who is the best candidate for the position, I am not the only one who decides. There are hundreds of other people who get to express their equally strong opinions.

Even though we all get a vote, I believe God really does have it under control. I am excited to see what happens with the Ohio District and I am sure there will be many people who would have written it differently but WHO CARES how they would have done it.

My point: it's ok to have an opinion - you should at least have a stance, but it is another thing to express it. Don't be one of those jerks who only listens to your own opinion, be open to others. Definitely don't be the close minded person who pouts when you don't get your own selfish way.

Let God be God and you be - well whoever you are.

I thought you were taller

Here is what you have all been waiting for (ok, I am the only one excited about it). It is a picture of me and ANDY STANLEY (I am the taller, buff one on the right).

I must admit, I thought Andy was taller than he is. I guess it's because I always see him on my computer and when I did see him live, he was up on a stage so I was looking up at him... whatever.

Andy is a giant in my eyes. He is one of the best communicators I have ever heard. I listen to his messages online and I have never heard a "clunker". Everything they do is done with excellence and it not a mystery why they are one of the most influential churches in the nation.

It was very cool getting to meet Andy. I believe someday - someone will be writing a similar blog of admiration about Konan. He is a gifted communicator with a passion to see lives changed.

Drive 08 was the best conference I have been to and it was topped off with meeting the man behind the dream. I am sure there is no chance he reads this blog but I just want to say "thank you Andy for the model of church, commitment to excellence and your passion to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus."

My point: Excellence is contagious but so is mediocrity. Excellence attracts excellence but so does mediocrity. We attract who we are. Everyone wants to invest in a winner but no one wants to bail out a loser. Don't beg for volunteers, do things with excellence and you won't even have to ask for help - you will attract it.

If you are surrounded by idiots - well, you figure it out.

bikini wax in church

Drive 08 is amazing. Today we had 3 sessions then went to one of North Point's site campuses. When we got there Konan and I beat everyone we played in cornhole (full disclosure:one team did win 1 game of a best of 3 series), then got to see Jeff Foxworthy live.

Jeff Foxworthy goes to North Point Church and is a friend of Andy Stanley. Jeff was absolutely HILARIOUS! I laughed so hard I think I peed a little. He did some new stuff and some Bible comedy along with his standard "redneck" stuff. He even talked about his wife getting a bikini wax. That's right, he talked about that IN CHURCH!!!

Jeff talked about his love for God and Jesus. It was a great experience. I am so pleased to see that there are Christian people that can have fun in church. They love Jesus and they love to have fun. I knew it was possible!!!

My point: *if you are not having fun being a Christian - you are doing it wrong. We should have more fun than anyone because we should have a passion for life and seeing lives changed. If we want to attract people to Jesus, we need to show them that it is a GREAT way of life. It isn't always easy, but it is always nice knowing that the God of the universe is in control.

If YOU are the only way someone could ever hear about or see Jesus, would others even want to follow Him?

*I stole this quote from Andy Warren (another really cool "Andy")

shut up and "drive"

We are in Atlanta GA at Andy Stanley's "Drive 08" conference. If you follow my twitter, you have all the updates. (see last post to see how to follow me on "twitter")

I can only say this is absolutely amazing. The commitment to excellence is noticeable and appreciated.

I think sometimes we get caught up in "good enough/ not that bad / they didn't notice / it was ok..." - the bottom line is that we settle for less than the best we can do. Good is the enemy of Great.

My point: if we are doing the best we can with what we have - great. If not we are not being trustworthy with what God has blessed us with. Striving for excellence is a moving target. We can do a few things with excellence or we can do a bunch of stuff ok. I believe God has gifted us with certain gifts that we are to combine with others (can you say "church" or body of Christ) to have a passion to see lives changed for Jesus Christ - why???? BECAUSE HE IS WORTH IT!!!

If you are not doing the best you can with what you have - why should God bless you with more?

This conference is amazing. Next year I hope you "shut up and drive"... 09

what did you call me

I have been called a lot of things by a lot of people but I have never been called a "twitter" (until now).

Since I am on the cutting edge of technology (hold your laughter), I decided to take the advice of the amazing Chris Winesette and check out twitter. It is very cool. It is kinda like a very mini blog that you can track on your phone or on the web.

I can choose to follow people and they can choose to follow me. "Following" someone simply means receiving their messages. It is intended to answer the question "what are you doing". I will use twitter to keep all my "followers" updated on my thoughts (totally random) and my actions (like going to the gym). Here is a disclaimer: beware. I will twitter early, late or whenever I feel like it.

If you have a text package on your phone you will enjoy it, if you don't have a text package, you can sign up to twitter and follow it on your home page. It is really neat (haven't heard that since the brady bunch) to be able to see who else "twitters" and who they follow and of course it is fun to have people follow you. It is like a status thing - the more people that follow you, the more significant you are. So here comes my shameless self promotion - FOLLOW ME!!!

Simply go to twitter and register. If you want to track it on your phone (again, please make sure you have a text package on your cell phone plan, otherwise you will pay for each text you receive), go to "settings" then click on "devices". You can follow the pretty simple instructions from there. If you have any questions, please let me know.

My point: We are all about community and communication. I look forward to many of you signing up to twitter so I can follow you and hopefully you will give me a huge ego boost and follow me.

Join the "twitter" community and become a "twitter-er"

bummer

Two of my favorite people in the world have decided to end their marriage after many years and a gaggle of kids.

I am incredibly sad for everyone involved. Life will never be the same for any of them. I pray they will all be able to get past the hurt and changes that are coming their way. I wish them the best and I will continue to be a friend to both of them.

There are many directions I could go with the topic of divorce (or dissolution) but I was impressed with the way they chose to handle questions - with integrity.

I was asked to give the "company line" when people ask what happened. The answer is "one of them did something they cannot get past". Wow! I know many relationships where one of them would be screaming "he/she did this and it's not my fault, I didn't want this, I am the victim, feel sorry for me!"

They have decided to take the high road and not trash each other. They both accept their contribution to the problem that led to this decision and are trying to handle it with integrity.

I am in no way saying I agree with the decision. I really wish it would turn out differently. What I am saying is that with all the hurt feelings and depth of pain, I agree with the decision not to trash each other.

My point(s): 1 -Integrity is something you can't fake. What do you do when other people are not watching? 2 -The only thing we cannot get past are the things we choose to hold on to. To say "there is just too much to get past" is a choice. We are going to have to forgive regardless if we stay in the relationship or not.

I have given my brutally honest opinion because I love them. I don't think divorce (dissolution) is the best option for these amazing people but I am their friend no matter what.