I’ve been reading John Maxwell’s book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect. It’s been an incredible resource to me an a communicator who really wants to connect with his audience. I don’t want to be another talking head. I want to influence people positively.

Well, in this book, he explains that when people meet you for the first time they ask themselves three important questions. Keep reading to find out what they are…

Photo courtesy of marrio31 at GettyImages.com

In my context, we are welcoming people to our church experience. People who come for the first time ever are considered our guests. We want them to feel welcomed and wanted. To that end, we want to be ready to answer the three big questions when they arise. So, here they are…

Three Questions Our Guests Will be Asking Themselves Today:

1. Do you care about me?
2. Can you help me?
3. Can I trust you?

Let’s plan to answer these questions today! (And everyday)

Buy John Maxwell’s Book:
Everyone Communicates, Few Connect

Why not pick up a copy of John’s book for further insight? Click the affiliate link to buy it today!

My Amazon Review of Unleash!

Perry Noble has earned the “right” to write this book. From humble beginnings, God has uniquely gifted him with the capacity and desire to pastor one of America’s largest and fastest growing churches. In reality, Perry has experienced first-hand the kind of unleashed living that he explains in the book.

The book itself will challenge your current condition and compel you to embrace God’s unleashing grace. You don’t have to be stuck in duty-oriented religion or in the chains of your past experiences. You can move forward, see triumph in tragedy, and take your next step in your relationship with God.

This book is filled with practical principles as well as Perry’s personal experiences. The book flows well, and it’s an easy read. You will stay engaged, especially because of Perry’s storytelling abilities. Because of these things, it’s worth the read. You will get something out of it. In fact, here is one of my favorite excerpts:

One of the quickest ways to forget what God says about me is to focus on what the enemy says about me.

Buy the Book

This is just a small sampling of the message of the book. Get your copy today!

(Click here to buy the book right now, using my affiliate link.)

Go to the Unleash Conferences!

As an aside, I have also personally benefited from attending Perry’s Unleash Conference in the spring and the NewSpring Leadership Conference in the fall. These are great church leadership events. Google these event names to learn more. The NewSpring folks are hospitable, and I promise that you will learn something from your time in Anderson, SC. Invest in these experiences. You won’t regret it. I promise.

Stay Tuned for More

In the coming days, I’ll be posting a review that includes my personal insights and favorite quotes from the book. In the meantime, keep reading!

An Interesting Find

I stumbled upon this very interesting photo this past week in a Flipboard article. I had never thought about the lasting impact that a demolished building has upon it’s neighboring buildings. Take a look at the photos below.

Application

FRIDAY FINDS 05.04.12

Editor Real Talk, a Ryan Gosling–like meme featuring econospeak, a young design company out of New Zealand, and more in this installment of Friday Finds.

Kelsey:Found Architecture Photo Series

German photographer Marcus Bock’s Found Architecture documents the imprint of demolished buildings on their still-standing neighbors. The differing rooflines make a strong visual impact, almost more so than if the disappeared building were still standing. Such are the effects of nostalgia, I suppose.

Read more: http://www.dwell.com/articles/friday-finds-050412.html#ixzz1u3BBcRVv

On April 20 & 21, 2012, the men from my church attended the 2012 Man Up Men’s Conference in Orlando, FL. The conference featured powerful and insightful messages from Jerry Thorpe & Jim Groves. This is the fifth & final post in the series.

The notes may be hard to follow, but feel free to browse them for insights. Especially, check out the “Notes & Quotes” section at the bottom.

More valuable insights about manhood can be found in the writings of Robert Lewis. Check out his books: Raising Modern-Day Knights, Real Family Values, and Rocking the Roles. You’ll be glad you did.

Man Up Men’s Conference

Orlando, FL

Speaker: Jerry Thorpe
Topic: Wandering
Text: The Wilderness Wandering of Numbers 13-ff, Psalm 90:12, Joshua 1:1-9
Date: April 21, 2012

1. You must have courage (Joshua 1:1-2, 6-7, 9)

2. You must major on God’s Word (Joshua 1:8)

3. You must trust in the presence of God (Joshua 1:5, 9)

Notes & Quotes

• “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
• If we’re not careful in our marriages, things will just become routine. You’ll get into a rut.
• It’s easy to get distracted watching ESPN or enjoying your hobby, giving your kids the crumbs of your life.
• “Once we take the wrong road, we cannot get on the right road until we go back to the place where we made the wrong turn.” – Jim Bakker
• On friendships: friends should make you live better morally, and friends should stimulate your thinking.
• On health: “Nothing tastes as good as slim feels.”
• On life & success: I was climbing the ladder of success, but when I got to the top, I realized the ladder was leaning against the wrong building.
• On marriage: Communication is the first thing that breaks down.
• On relationship with God: Communication is the first thing that breaks down.

On April 20 & 21, 2012, the men from my church attended the 2012 Man Up Men’s Conference in Orlando, FL. The conference featured powerful and insightful messages from Jerry Thorpe & Jim Groves. This is the fourth post in the series.

The notes may be hard to follow, but feel free to browse them for insights. Especially, check out the “Notes & Quotes” section at the bottom.

Man Up Men’s Conference

Orlando, FL

Speaker: Jim Groves
Topic: Trusting God
Text: Genesis 3:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21
Date: April 21, 2012

Story: The Fork in the Road (Trusting God vs Pleasing God)

Reflections

Application

Notes & Quotes

On April 20 & 21, 2012, the men from my church attended the 2012 Man Up Men’s Conference in Orlando, FL. The conference featured powerful and insightful messages from Jerry Thorpe & Jim Groves. This is the third post in the series.

The notes may be hard to follow, but feel free to browse them for insights. Especially, check out the “Notes & Quotes” section at the bottom.

Man Up Men’s Conference

Orlando, FL

Speaker: Jerry Thorpe
Topic: Successful Living
Text: Philippians 3:13-14
Date: April 21, 2012

Synopsis: “This one thing I do, forgetting the things behind, I press on to the finish line.”

Outline:

1. This One Thing I Do (Goal or Mission for Life)

Characteristics of True Goals:

Reflection & Questions to Ask Yourself:

2. Forgetting Those Things Which Are Behind

Two Things You Have to Forget:

Three Tings You Have to do to Walk on Water:

3. I Press On (Don’t Quit)

Notes & Quotes

On April 20 & 21, 2012, the men from my church attended the 2012 Man Up Men’s Conference in Orlando, FL. The conference featured powerful and insightful messages from Jerry Thorpe & Jim Groves. This is the second post in the series.

The notes may be hard to follow, but feel free to browse them for insights. Especially, check out the “Notes & Quotes” section at the bottom.

If you’re interested in more resources regarding biblical manhood, check out the writings of Robert Lewis. His books Raising Modern-Day Knights, Real Family Values, and Rocking the Roles are especially helpful. Look them up!

Man Up Men’s Conference

Orlando, FL

Speaker: Jim Groves
Topic: Identity
Text: Romans 6:1-10
Date: April 20, 2012

Outline:

Word Picture: Man-Eating Grizzly Bear

Imagine you’re being chased by a man-eating grizzly bear. As you run away, you come upon a log cabin, and dart inside, locking the door behind you. Now, you’re safe, but you don’t necessarily feel that way.

• Step 1: Truth – You are safe
• Step 2: Faith – I believe I am safe.
• Step 3: Works – Live like a safe man. Act like a safe man.
• Step 4: Feelings – I finally begin to feel safe…sort of.

* Replace “safe” with any other truth from the Bible: forgiven, accepted, a saint, Christ’s friend, and the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

• Step 1: Truth – You are accepted
• Step 2: Faith – I believe I am accepted.
• Step 3: Works – Live like a safe man. Act like a accepted man.
• Step 4: Feelings – I finally begin to feel accepted…sort of.

* Work through this pattern.

* Focus on the right things you are supposed to do, and you will stop doing the wrong things.

* Focus on your true identity and act that way. Your feelings will catch up.

Notes & Quotes:

• You will live out what you really believe to be your true identity. Not what you say is your true identity.
• Emotions get in the way of our obedience.
• Most adultery starts with this feeling: I feel unloved.
• Hypocrisy is acting differently than you are, not acting differently than you feel. Only Satan defines it as acting differently than you feel. Jesus defines it as the former.

On April 20 & 21, 2012, the men from my church attended the 2012 Man Up Men’s Conference in Orlando, FL. The conference featured powerful and insightful messages from Jerry Thorpe & Jim Groves. This is the first post in the series.

The notes may be hard to follow, but feel free to browse them for insights. Especially, check out the “Notes & Quotes” section at the bottom.

Do you want to read more about manning up? Check out Robert Lewis’s books Raising Modern-Day Knights, Real Family Values, and Rocking the Roles. You’ll be better for it.

Man Up Men’s Conference

Orlando, Florida

Speaker: Jerry Thorpe
Topic: The Challenges of Life
Text: 2 Timothy 2:15
Date: April 20, 2012

Outline:

1. Is the Lord Well-Pleased? (2 Timothy 2:15a)

You must have a passion for pleasing God.

2. Is Your Work Well-Done? (2 Timothy 2:15b)

You must have a passion for excellence.

Three areas that need a commitment to excellence:

• You must be excellent in your marriage.
• You must be excellent in your relationship with your children.
• You must be excellent in your service to God.

3. Is the Word of God Well-Used in Your Life? (2 Timothy 2:15c)

You must have a passion for the Word of God.

• If you make the Bible part of your life, it will change your life.

Notes & Quotes:

• God is more concerned with what you are than what you look like.
• “Being obsessed about what other people think about me is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about me.” – Craig Groeschel
• “The three greatest days in a person’s life are the day they were born, the day they were born again, and the day they come to grips with why they were born and why they were born again.” – Howard Hendricks
• For your kids, love is spelled TIME.

Sun Stand Still

God has gifted each of us with the capacity to do great things for him. But, unfortunately, some of us never reach our fullest potential. Lack of faith can be a big factor in our falling short of our potential. In Sun Stand Still, Pastor Steven Furtick challenges us to step out in audacious faith in our Great God and do big things for Him.

(Buy Sun Stand Still right now using my affiliate link to Amazon)

Book Highlights

Here are a few key passages from the book that might be thought-provoking for you. As a mini disclaimer, some of my notes below are direct quotes and some of them aren’t. I have the audio version and was listening in the car. It’s the best I could do :).

• If the size of your vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.
• Our God isn’t intimidated by long-shot prayers.
• If the dream in your heart isn’t biblically-based, focused on Jesus, affirmed by the key people in your life, and tethered to your passions, gifts, and life experiences, chances are that you are way off prompt. The best way to avoid being duped by a counterfeit is to make sure you’re familiar with the real thing.
• Audacious faith begins with sanctified naïveté.
• If you want to see God do something impossible in your life, you must open your heart and mind to God’s vision for your life.
• My vision defines the parameters I live by.
• A sun stand still prayer applies audacious faith to a clearly defined need or goal that requires God’s supernatural involvement.
• The sun stand still prayers you pray will often be temporary and specific, but they will always flow from God’s vision for your life.
• Audacious faith isn’t some new extra-biblical faith. It’s a return to the core of Christianity, trusting Jesus completely in every aspect of your life.
• Extraordinary moves of God begin with ordinary acts of obedience.
• 55% certainty that you’ve heard from God is enough to take the next step (cf. The Perhaps Paradox of Jonathan and his armor-bearer)
• Divine vision creates divisions (cf. Joseph of Genesis)
• He who lives by the approval of others will die by the absence of the same.
• When you want what God wants for the reason He wants it, you are unstoppable.
• The scope and depth of your vision isn’t based on how big God is, but it is based in how big you believe God is.
• Audacious faith is all about the Living Word. Hearing the Word initiates faith. Speaking the Word activates faith. Doing the Word demonstrates faith. This is the process of faith formation.
• Sometimes God let’s the sun go down so that He can be our only light.
• There is a clear distinction between hope and faith. Hope is a desire. Faith is a demonstration. Hope is the blueprint. Faith is the contract. You can’t just stand in hope. You must walk in faith.
• Part of the answer to your sun stand still prayer, just might be you.

Final thought: Get the book. It’s worth the challenge.