http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/your_vote_counts_button_3.jpg

So why did I take time out of my day today to vote – confession time:

It is:

1. NOT because I have a deep belief that my vote actually makes a difference in the grand scheme of things as suggested in the picture above

2. NOT because I  feel guilty because of those who have given up their lives for this privilege – though that is true, and I am grateful

3. NOT because I feel like I even have a civic duty to do so

4. NOT because I enjoy getting bothered on the way into the polling place this morning with my 20 month old son who celebrated by several of the candidates’ groups as a “potential voter” in a few short years, and the actually trying to give him promotional materials. . . really??  Along with this came many people telling me how cute  he was. . . . at least that part is true – he really takes after his mother!

So why then did I vote . . . . ?

1. Simply put – I want to be able to speek my opinion to others and engage in the debate all year long. It is my belief that in order to do so without serious loads of hypocrisy, I need to put some action to my belief – engage in some level of physcal responsibility to my philosophical exercises of thought (especially if those exercises EVER involve complaints). It really does remind me of James 2:20 “. . .faith without works is dead” – because there is no evidence of your faith acutally being alive if there are no corresponding actions. Similarly (but in the contrapositive form), putting forth my vote on this day allows me to engage in lively/respectful discourse at other times because my voting has demonstrated LIFE in my beliefs.

2. Funny, but also true – I always love meeting new people in the line, and hearing just a bit of their story. . . . usually these are people I would never otherwise meet, and maybe. . . just maybe, I can bring some encouragement, and that itself is worth it! 

If you have not voted today I encourage you to do it . . . . for whatever reason you choose!

So, how are we doing men??

When our brothers, sisters, bosses, friends, or wives do something that frustrates us – how do we handle that?

Do we seek first to understand and serve even more before blowing up and trying to “control” the situation?? You know the bible talks about how we are supposed to love our wives like Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). You know how much crap some people in the global “Church” has done in the name of God – I am talking about horrific things – I mean people have been hurt emotionally, spiritually, even killed in the name of God . . . and you think your person has been doing it to you for a long time – some people have been misusing God’s word for hundreds of years.  but when has Jesus ever said “alright that’s it – no more forgiving. . . you know what. . . . I’m not going to love you anymore, I’m no longer going to serve you, no longer going to listen to your prayers, or give you any my time – you don’t deserve it!”. . . . never!

We don’t deserve that type of grace, and maybe our wives, our bosses, our children, our fathers, our friends, or whomever in our life doesn’t deserve it either. . . . . . . . . . . BUT, how you handle those situations/relationships truly is the MEASURE OF A MAN.

Oh, I have seen it many times in adults too. . . . A man can hide behind childish things like throwing fits, walking out, kicking other people out, not talking anymore, locking people out of rooms, avoiding it, ignoring it, drinking, always blaming the other person, never taking responsibility, being filled with pride, belittling or insulting others. . . even our wives in public!, refusing to listen, etc. . . . . -

The bible says that in our anger we should not sin (Ephesians 4:26-27 ) because it gives the devil a foothold in our lives. . . . so where do you think the devil is going to try and attack you and your life? One place for sure will be through your anger. . . the moments when you are seeking control over the situation or the person, but in reality- by becoming angry and childish . . . you have already turned away from self-control (i.e., a fruit of the Spirit). I know this is difficult – especially when you throw in all the other stresses in our lives that are weighing down on us. This is precisely the reason why how we deal with it is such a great measure. . . .
 

And all of this. . . . will show to our children, our wives (present or future), our grandchildren, our sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, our parents, and our friends what we are really made of. . . . how we handle adversity/conflict/difficult times. . . is the meausre of a man. . . . . . it is difficult, but don’t be passive like Adam in the garden watching Eve eat the fruit without saying anything!!!! that attitude of passivity/just letting things be how they always have been – will forever be one of our greatest temptations men! BE DIFFERENT . . . FIGHT FOR THE STANDARD OF LOVE THAT JESUS CHALLENGED US WITH- Let’s step up. . . let’s stop being little boys. . . and start being the men that God created us to be!! . . . Yes, you CAN get there. . . . . and if you don’t know really where to start – try praying this prayer first:

Father, I know that I have messed up, again, – you know all of the childish things that I do when I don’t feel loved or valued – when the people that I want love from the most don’t give it to me. You know that I have tried to stop doing some of these things from time to time, and it just never seems to work. So, I am just asking with all that I am that you transform me in some way so that when tough stuff comes – I will be able to respond in a way that would make you smile and be proud of me. . . I have no idea how to actually make that happen – I need you to show me – to teach me – please help me find a way Father. . .In Jesus’ name. . . Amen.

1. If God asked me to give up _________, could I?

2. An “idol” is anything in which I find a source of security, identity, and comfort in outside of God’s will - where and what am I putting more trust in than God today. . . right now?

3. Really? . . . . . people who treat you and me like complete junk. . . . they’re just hurting – hurt people hurt people.

4. Why do I sometimes feel the need to exaggerate the truth – to make it sound like “it” was bigger, better, or brighter than what it actually was. . . in a way, . . . am I saying to God that the witness he gave to me is not good enough??

5. Why sometimes do I have to act like I saw “it” coming. . . when I didn’t. . . . or act as if I already know something . . . when I don’t. . . .   . . in a way, am I telling God that He can’t teach me anything?

6. In showing that you care – Initiating communication/time to be with that person is priceless

7. No matter how others treat me, or what the world is doing to me . . . .I refuse to take refuge in the snowballing comfort of being a “victim”, where complaining and excuses reign.

8. If there are 2 or more gathered in God’s name and I do not feel His presence. . . it’s on me, because He’s there.

9. There is a fine line between believing the lie that “I don’t have what it takes” and the lie that “On my own, I do have what it takes” – that line is where God and I can really do some damage to darkness.

10. I can’t wait to hear Jesus laugh

1. You can’t do it on your own. . . or you can. . . and it will just not be as good as it could be.

2. Don’t bring on people exactly like you. . . A car made of one type of part doesn’t run, much less have the ability to move anybody – if you want a vehicle capable of changing/moving hearts and minds - build it with the diversity of people that God has placed in front of you.

3. When thinking of people to bring onboard in a leadership capacity – integrity over skill every time. . . .now – you need both. . ., but don’t settle for the second without the first.

4. Faith and Stupidity are about 0.5mm apart from each other – That keeps me focused – because I want to leave room for God, but not make idiotic business decisions

5. In marketing and networking – it’s not just who you know, but. . . the people that you know . . . who do they know??!

6. A hand-written thank you card, hand delivered to someone who sacrificed for you and your organization – - that’s pricelss. . . it’s worth the extra effort!

7. Pray – not only as an offering to God and a plee for some sort of provision – but, it’s amazing what happens to the stress, weight, and “What if’s” in your own heart when you submit everything (daily in my case!) to Abba – knowing, trusting – that He is in control

8. There is never a small decision of integrity – any such “oversight” could sabatoge an entire operation in the long run.

9. Keep Dreaming. . . . . deal with decisions in reality, but. . . . never stop thinking of what could/can be

10. It doesn’t matter if it comes naturally or not. . . I MUST communicate clearly. . . if they aren’t getting it. . . I am responsible.

11.  Organization with flexibility is CRITICAL in order to reach your maximum capacity for impact. . . it is a delicate balance between being organized/having a plan and being flexible – it’s a fine line. . . . find a way to walk it! 

12. Through everything – ups and downs. . . . . . . love your family well (wife and kids in my case) – never let them doubt your love/priority for them.

 It was inspiring though to wait in line this morning (Ang went first at 6am and waited for 45 minutes) – I followed with about a 30 minute wait at 6:45ish. . . . . but to see all walks of life there . . . unified. . . . each with his/her own team that they are playing for  . . . . committed. . . . passionate. . . .willing to do whatever it takes to do their part. . . . to reach their goal. . . . . . when else do we see this in this country???. . . . there was no threshold of affluency, race, religion, sexual orientation, athletic ability, intelligence, physical capability, gender, language, etc….. – WOW, you know what I thought of . . . . . . . isn’t this supposed to be kind of what the church looks like? - there was no checklist of rights and wrongs at the door to let you in – just your government issued ID. . . . . there were no further questions, judgements, or even looks – to try and categorize how “good” you were or what you believed – in fact. . . it seemed everyone was well accepted. . . . . . . . . . . wow, what a refreshing and INSPIRING experience to see unity – oh sure, . . . there were different opinions, but there was . . . one goal – to make this country better. . .  - and everyone was “ALL IN”.

Then it hit me. . . . Christians are all supposed to be on the same team right???. . . . sure, there are differences in our opinions, but the goal should be the same right?? – reaching the lost, suffering, broken, and poor. . . . . . but we aren’t even coming close. . . . in fact, one of the biggest reasons, from people that I have spoken to, that people don’t want to become Christians is because of all of the bickering/fighting/badmouthing that the see within the Church. . . . . . . . . and we are supposed to be the EXAMPLE of love, peace, grace, and mercy in the this world?

I pray for unity within the Church – NOT REPLICATION – but a committed effort, across our differences,  to do whatever it takes to reach our goal – together. . . . how amazing would that be?!. . . . . . . . . Maybe some day there will be lines outside of churches – people just waiting to get in,. . . . so committed and passionate to make a real difference in the world – without feeling judgement or threshold barriers of some sort. . . . . . . . . . . . maybe this will never happen, . . . but, I am going to give everything that I have as a part of the Church to do that (i.e., everyone I meet, everyday, everywhere) – I don’t want to shoot for anything less than that - – - – every vote counts right?. . . so does every smile, every hug, every encouraging word, and every listening ear. . . .

I really got a lot out of Chapel Friday. A man by the name of Tim Elmore came to talk to all of us about leadership. . . . now I love leadership issues, so I was all in. . . here are some of the highlights:

1. There are Habitual leaders – those that are naturally gifted to lead at almost anytime, and there are Situational leaders - that’s the rest of us – who can lead when a situation matches our gifts, abilities, and passion

2. Leadership is NOT a position. . . . . it is a disposition – seeing things differently and then going first in that direction

3. We all need to create a LIFE SENTENCE – that is, . . . . 20 years after you and I are dead, there is going to be some people sitting around a table talking, and one will ask who was that Ted Bryant guy?  And someone else at the table will say oh, he was the one that ___________________ . And there you have it. . . . . . . we all will be summed up in one sentence some day. . . what will my life sentence be?. . . . don’t wait. . .  figure out what you want that sentence to be. . . and then fulfill that work in your life!

4. Esther was amazing! – young (14), in a foreign land (captured by the persians), and female, . . . . . . . oh, and with God’s help, she single handedly saved all of the Jews in the world. . . . ummm. . . I guess that’ll do!

5. There are four things we can learn about taking risks from Esther ch. 4:

      a. If I don’t step out and take a risk – my fate will not differ from the rest of the crowd

      b. If I don’t step out and take a risk – God will bless someone else who will

      c. If I don’t step out and take a risk - I may lose more than an opportunity

      d. If I don’t step out and take a risk – I could miss my God-given mission and work in my life

 6. Attendance is NOT faithfulness

 Go and watch this 2 minute video and be inspired – VIDEO HERE