By Waylon Bailey James Clear is a favorite writer. He has written about the power of habits and how you develop those powerful habits. Recently he wrote about adding value to other people. He said that before you ask for value you must give value to others. This fits many areas of life. My blog tomorrow will expound on this idea and how it applies to Scripture and to us. Today, I want to talk about productivity and time management with something James Clear said in the same article. “The fastest way to raise your level of performance: Cut your number of commitments in half.” Almost all of us are asking, “How can I do the things that really matter?” Obviously, we first have to ask, “What really matters?” This is a great life lesson and life exercise. Certainly, your family, livelihood, and faith would fit in these areas. What else should fit, and what shouldn’t fit? What should you not do, and what should you give to someone else? These are the kind of questions that help us be more productive and to add value to others. As we move to the weekend, I want to encourage you to look deeply at what you are doing and the contributions you are making. Look for ways to make a difference in the people around … [Read more...]
Build a lasting spiritual heritage
By Stewart Holloway What is your spiritual heritage? In the Old Testament, we encounter a number of lists of names. Genealogies as well as lists of people going, coming, or making some commitment dot the landscape of the Old Testament story. These lists of difficult to pronounce names are usually met with a quiet grown and a sigh followed by a quick scan to the end and a page turn. The only benefit of the lists seems to be that we get through with our Bible reading plan a little faster that day!... But there are benefits to these lists. Some genealogies are used to fast-forward through time while showing the connections between generations. Others are used to show God’s faithfulness through time or one person’s connection to earlier people. Some lists show people committing to spiritual renewal or doing something historically significant yet difficult (like journeying back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city after the Exile). While you do not have to stumble through every name, you should at least sit back for a moment and ask, “Why did God choose to have these people’s names recorded for all time?” Eugene Peterson writes, “Holy history is not constructed from impersonal forces or abstract ideas; it is woven from names … [Read more...]
Olive tree parenting
By Lane Corley Olive trees produce one of the most desired and sought after fruits around the world. The trees can live for thousands of years. The olive and the olive tree is spoke of in the Bible on numerous occasions. Including a few references to family life, like in Psalms 128:3 – “Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.” What can olive trees teach us about raising children? Four lessons from the Olive tree: Olive trees are symbols of peace, happiness and health. In Genesis 8:11, we see that after the flood, all was pronounced well when the dove brought an olive branch back to Noah. This was a welcomed and joyous sight. The birth and growth of our children bring similar joy to our hearts. New life, new milestones make us grateful for God’s gift to us. Olive trees may not bear fruit for 12-15 years and may not be fully mature for 20-50 years. Just like children, olive trees take some time to develop and mature. For the parent, this is a reminder to be patient. Don’t expect perfection and fruitfulness from a developing tree. They will make mistakes. They will mess up. God’s promise is that He can use even their mess ups and ours for their good in the end. … [Read more...]
A plan that works
By Waylon Bailey One of the most exciting stories in the life of Jesus occurred in his home town of Capernaum. As Jesus taught in what may have been the house of Simon Peter, four men carried their paralytic friend to the rooftop, tore the roof away, and lowered their friend right in front of Jesus. You probably know the rest of the story. Jesus forgave the man of his sins and told him to take up his bed and walk. And, he did! What made this exciting event happen? How did God use the four friends to provide the man’s healing and to demonstrate the power of Jesus? First, the four friends planned well. They got together with a plan to take their paralytic friend to see Jesus. They fully expected that the man would be healed. Second, they worked together. These men were a team. Notice that none of them is named. Good teams are made up of people who work together closely and who don’t have to get the credit. Third, they persevered. When the way into the house was blocked and too full for anyone to enter, they didn’t quit. They kept on until they found a way, even the unconventional way of going up to the rooftop and tearing off part of the roof. They adapted their plan. Instead of giving up and quitting, they … [Read more...]
Is doubt reasonable?
By David Jeremiah EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) - Something strange happens to the psyche of a nation in difficult times. The downtrodden begin to resent government and wealthy corporations and individuals, seeing them as out of touch with, if not the cause of, their plight. Desperation can lead to a reversal of values so that any who rise up and strike back are cheered and viewed as heroes. Sometimes the rebel-heroes seem justified as in the traditional tale of Robin Hood, but others are simply lawbreakers like Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, who terrorized middle America in the early 1930s. While stories of their kindnesses to their victims made the rounds, such tales only confused the issue: Were they bad or were they good? The ambivalence toward this couple serves as a warning for us: It's important to discern good from bad in the spiritual dimension of life. And nowhere is that more necessary than when we are confronted by spiritual doubt. Modus Operandi Modus operandi is one of those Latin phrases that made its way from the pages of criminal investigation textbooks into our cultural conversation. Literally, it means "way of operating." Criminal investigators study the way a criminal operates to find patterns of … [Read more...]
Seek God to become a champion
By Stewart Holloway What does it take to be a champion? It has been fun to watch LSU football this year. Since I work Sunday, I usually go to bed on Saturdays long before the game is over, but I couldn’t do it this year. It was too much fun to watch the team work as a unit to execute amazing plays, and I loved the sincere passion of Coach O. The man is living his dream. Not many of us get to do that, but he is - and he is making the most of it. I’ve also enjoyed watching our oldest son fall in love with LSU. After making a few games at Tiger Stadium with my mom, he’s hooked. He may even rival Rebecca’s passion in the years to come (but good luck with that). As a leader, I’ve watched this season asking, “What’s the difference?” I’m sure there were a lot of football technicalities at work, but it was the leadership of Coach O that I think made the difference. It is obvious Coach O genuinely loves this state, LSU, his team, his staff, and the fans. While love motivates, it was wisdom that brought the difference. Coach O was wise enough to realize that he didn’t have all the answers, so he recruited the right players, hired the right people, and even brought in others to speak into his team through the year on key points. The … [Read more...]
Skills of a church planter: responsiveness to the community
By John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry team leader ALEXANDRIA (LBM) - The Areopagus is just a bare marble outcropping near the Acropolis in modern-day Greece. It is an important tourist attraction because at one time it was the place where major decisions were discussed in the city of Athens – even court sessions were held there, especially murder trials. By the Apostle Paul’s day, it was a place where new ideas were heard by the philosophers of the city. More importantly for our purposes, it was the place where Paul made a speech to city leaders known as the sermon on Mars Hill. In that speech Paul skillfully adapted his message using cues from the culture to more effectively communicate the Gospel, piquing interest by putting the message in terms that made sense to the locals. He was responsive to the community. Serious church planters and leaders should always be responsive to the communities they are trying to reach. He must speak the language of the community -- not just the dialect, but the local narrative or context, especially the prevailing elements of the culture. In Athens the narrative was philosophical in nature, and it’s clearly visible in Paul’s approach recorded in Acts 17:22-23. … [Read more...]
A wonderful time to begin again
By Waylon Bailey I love the new year. I love that you get to start over, make resolutions to make you better and a better person, and look at things in a different way. At the beginning of this new year, I am beginning my blog again after a few weeks without the responsibility of daily writing. It was good for me to do that, but I am thankful to start again. I want you to know that I appreciate your reading and your encouragement for this daily exercise. As we begin this new year, I have three resolutions to make. First, to live more disciplined. Discipline and organization run hand in hand. Both are required to be truly effective. Both run through almost every decision in life. The person who controls his time and deals with the true priorities will accomplish more and will feel more fulfilled in doing so. Second, to live as healthy as possible. My mother you used to say, “You are what you eat and what you think.” Eating and thinking are paramount in living a healthy life. If you don’t think right, how can you live right. Health is much more that how much you weigh; it is who you are on the inside as much as on the outside. Third, to help other people be more disciplined, physically and spiritually fit, … [Read more...]
Believe, follow, disciple in 2020
By Lane Corley What does Jesus want for me this year? Jesus has actually already decided what He wants for us in the new year. We could answer that question with so many great promises from Christ – Abundant life, Joy, Fruitfulness, Eternal life and so much more. As I think about that question, three words stick out to me: BELIEVE – FOLLOW – DISCIPLE. Believe Jesus wants us to believe him for big things. When asked what the work he wanted us to do was, Jesus replied – Believe! (John 6:29) That’s it. Jesus wants us to believe. The promises he gives for belief range from joy to supernatural power. It’s believing in, trusting in, and staying connected to Jesus that fuels everything in the Christian life. The older I get the more I understand why Jesus talked so much about believing. It’s hard. To believe, we fight doubt, fear, negative thoughts, doubters, fearmongers, critics, and more. What do you need to believe Jesus for this year? Salvation, Provision, Power, Overcoming Doubt and Fear? Make this year a year of BELIEF. Follow What did Jesus call people to do? Simply to Follow Him (Matthew 4:19). To follow someone means to make them the leader on the highway of life. You’re following their lead, listening to their … [Read more...]
The word for 2020: pray bigger prayers
By Rebecca Holloway It started as the faintest whisper in my soul several months ago. Why can’t you pray for that big thing you want to happen in your ministry? Why can’t you pray to be totally delivered from that problem instead of using it as your crutch? Why can’t you pray more fervently for Evan to be healed? The whisper shocked me. Why indeed, Lord? I pray all the time. Why haven’t I prayed for these things and many more that are desires in my heart? And haven’t I actually prayed for these things? The answer that has come back to me in the waning days of 2019 is, “You pray too small.” I have journaled my prayers for years, but some days, they become rote and stale. “Give Stewart a word for Sunday.” “Forgive my sins.” “Heal Evan.” “Let Zach be a witness in his school.” “Give me opportunities to speak and lead worship.” And so on and so forth. But the Lord has shown me that mechanical, mindless prayers are not going to cut it anymore between Him and me. He wants me to pray big. He wants me to pray bold. And He wants me to pray with faith. You see, somewhere in the midst of this last decade, I stopped believing God could do what He said He could do. I have stopped trusting Him to do big things. … [Read more...]
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