Men, show your wives that you love them more than the SUPER BOWL game. Stop watching the TV while the game is on. That will get your wife's attention!
Now, do something for and with her like helping prepare the food or cleaning
up the kitchen. Ask the Spirit to guide your actions on Super Bowl Sunday. Loving our wives is our highest earthly calling. Your children and SUPER
BOWL guests will see Jesus living in and through you tomorrow. May our Father receive praise, honor, and glory today and always! Have a GREAT time of fun, food, and fellowship tomorrow.
Many Blessings,
Ben Wardlaw
Chief FUN Officer
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
Psalm 150:6
1-843-341-5066
http://www.tokbox.com/benkwardlaw
Saturday, January 31, 2009
A message for ALL men ( husbands) regarding SUPER BOWL XLlll
Thursday, January 29, 2009
PREPARATION.....
Final exams? Weddings? Athletic events? Dating? Etc.
Can you imagine participating in any of these activities without adequate
PREPARATION.
Our Creator desires to fellowship with us. He longs to intimately embrace
each of us. He is our Dad who loves us dearly.
This time of fellowship with Dad also requires preparation. Preparation of
our hearts, souls, and minds.
Enjoy your time with Him this week!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
"Keeping Church Simple" by Traver Dougherty
This week, I'm keeping it simple to illustrate (and because I'm under the weather) an important organic or 'simple church' concept: if we don't keep what we do as gathered believers simple, it's not easily reproduced. And if things don't reproduce, they eventually cease to exist.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION/TOPIC: Keeping church simple is really important
 | Keeping Church Simple Excerpt from Organic Church by Neil Cole |
|
"We want to lower the bar of how church is done," says Cole, "and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple." If Church is simple enough that everyone can do it and is made up of people who take up their cross and follow Jesus at any cost, the result will be churches that empower the common Christian to do the uncommon works of God (2005:27).  Church Multiplication Associates's (Neil Cole, founder) annual conference is February 19-21, 2009 in Long Beach, CA. For more information, click here. | |
Complex things break down and do not get passed on, but simple things are strong and easily reproduced. My ReflectionsI like using my gifts and talents for the Lord, but I must remind myself continually that if I'm necessary for the continued life of the ministries I create, I've missed the mark.
Keeping it simple allows everyone the joy of sharing in ministry. My boys, for example, love helping me around the house. Although I know that'll change in time, for now raking leaves, putting the bleach tablet in the toilet, and mopping the floor still brings that 'big boy' feeling to their hearts.
As sad as it sounds, I still know of ministries that monitor who gets stage time on Sunday mornings. The pastors of these ministries reason, non-Christians assume church people are out of touch - we need to dispel those myths by putting our best foot forward. Translation: if you don't speak well and look good, then you might not make the cut. Sad, isn't it?As I consider the ministry of Jesus I am mindful of its utter simplicity. Even simple fishermen could be a part, and make a difference.
Busyness and Business
Many of us act as if our busyness and our business are more effective than prayer. Jesus warned His followers that apart from Him, they could do nothing. If we fail to seek God's will, our labors will be in vain.
Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Even though Jesus was the Son of God.....
Even though Jesus was the Son of God, yet He was required to learn obedience
from the things which He suffered.
And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all
who obey Him.
Dad will require you and I to face trials as we are being conformed to the
image of His Son.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Do not love the world or anything in the world
Do not love the world or anything in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his
eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does, comes not from the Father
but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God
lives forever.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Guard your heart above all else
Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.
Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
Don't get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Do you know how to make MONEY ONLINE?
I am looking for a legitimate business that I can operate Online. DM me if you have any suggestions. Most MLM opportunities DO NOT interest me. High product prices and High Monthly Volume requirements turn me off.
Many blessings,
Ben Wardlaw
Ben Wardlaw
Chief FUN Officer
HISway Business Services
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
(843) 341-5066
Psalm 150:6
http://HISway.ning.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
He Takes Away That He Might Establish
He Takes Away That He Might Establish
number of years ago. ----
The Psalmist said that the Lord made known His ways to Moses, but made known
His acts to the children of Israel. We have a God that does not do anything
arbitrarily. He is very deliberate in what He does. He has His own special
ways of doing things. He has specific ways of dealing with His creation. It
takes a lifetime to understand the ways of God. But the more we understand
the ways of God, the more we understand who He is. For His ways give us
insight into His nature and character.
I want to talk to you tonight about one particular way of the Lord. It is a
way by which He deals with His church. And I hope it encourages you. But I
am going to warn you. It is very easy to forget. So I am trusting that if I
can deliver this message clearly that it will stick inside of you. Because
it could mean life or death at some point in your life (spiritually). There
will come a time in your life as individuals and as a church where this will
mean survival. I think that this aspect of the Lord is little known among
the Lord's people today. It is the reason why most of God's people are
living in a charismatic fantasyland and why they get discouraged so easily.
I am going to speak from a verse in the NT. It is Hebrews 10:9:
He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
What I want to talk to you about tonight is summed up in this passage. He
takes away that He might establish.
THE FIRST AND SECOND COVENANT
Let me give you the context here. The writer of Hebrews is talking about the
Old Covenant. He is saying that God took away the Old Covenant to establish
the New Covenant. He removed one to bring in the other. He took away all the
ceremonies and all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant to establish the New
Covenant which is embodied in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the substance of
everything in the Old Covenant.
This concept is very difficult for a Jew to cope with. In the mind of an
unsaved Jew, there is no such thing as a covenant that is better than the
Old Covenant. But here the writer of Hebrews says, "He takes away the first
covenant to establish the second covenant, and the second covenant is better
than the first!" God takes away to establish, and what He establishes is
always better than what He takes away. In fact, the word better is a word
that is used over and over again throughout the book of Hebrews. We have a
better sacrifice, better promises, a better hope, a better tabernacle, a
better priesthood, and a better covenant.
Now I thank the Lord that I am not living in the Old Covenant. I do not have
to go to the outer court and sling the blood of a goat or bull to get my
sins forgiven. Praise the Lord for that! We have a spiritual sacrifice and
we offer spiritual offerings. Under the Old Covenant, you had to gut an
animal. You had to take the entrails (insides) out. You then had to add salt
and honey. Then you had to burn this, cook that, flay this, boil that. It
was a living nightmare! Praise the Lord we are not under that anymore!
Under the Old Covenant you were forbidden to mix fabrics. You could not mix
wool and linen. When you plowed you could not plow with two different kinds
of animals. The Old Covenant was filled with law after law, and it was
bondage! But now we have a better covenant. And God took away the first
covenant to establish this better covenant.
"He takes away that He might establish" is a principle that governs the way
that God works with His people.
EVENING AND MORNING
Let us trace this principle throughout history. Let us go back to the
creation of the earth and take a fresh look at how God created it. When God
created the earth, it was formless and void. Darkness covered the waters. So
the creation of the earth began with darkness. After the darkness, God said,
"Let there be light." Notice that the darkness preceded the light. The
darkness came first.
When God begins something new, He always starts with darkness, not light.
First the darkness, then the light. Darkness is the precursor of light. So
He takes away the darkness that He might establish the light.
God then begins to create life forms on the earth. The Scripture says, "And
the evening and the morning were the first day. And the evening and the
morning were the second day. And the evening and the morning were the third
day," and on and on until the seventh day. Now what came first, evening or
morning? Evening came first. God's day starts with darkness, not light. It
starts with the evening, and not the morning. And when the seventh day
arrives, God rests. The Scripture does not say "and the evening and the
morning were the seventh day." On the seventh day, there is no evening and
no morning. We are simply told that God ended His work and rested on the
seventh day.
What caused God to rest? He saw His image and likeness in the earth, and
then He rested. Behold, I show you a mystery. When God sees His image and
His likeness in the earth, He can rest. He does not rest until He sees His
image and likeness in the earth. But again, He starts with the evening and
then comes the morning. He starts with darkness and then comes the light.
God's beginnings start with evening. What we call the end of the day, God
calls the beginning. In fact, every life form begins in darkness. Nine
months of darkness for a human, and then it sees light. To put it another
way, God's beginnings are our nights. What we call the end, He calls the
beginning. What may appear to be the end in your eyes is the beginning in
God's. Are you with me on this? Our day starts out in the morning with birds
chirping, newspapers thrown on the lawn, and fresh coffee percolating. But
God begins in the evening. He begins with darkness. And then He brings the
morning . . . and the light.
So what does Genesis 1 teach us? It teaches us several things: First, God's
beginnings are always in darkness. The evening is where He starts, and then
He moves to the morning. Second, what God does first is always followed by
something better. If you look at the six days of creation and follow each
day, you will discover that with each day of creation, life on earth gets
higher and richer than the day before. Everyday there is more life. Everyday
there is more light. In the beginning of the creation, we are told "and God
saw that it was good." By the end of creation, we are told "and it was very
good." So each day had gotten better. Again, we see a principle. God takes
away to establish, and what He establishes is always better. He takes away
the darkness to establish the light. He takes away the evening to establish
the morning.
IN THE LIFE OF JOB
Let us move forward. We come now to Job-a man who really had a dark night.
Here is a man who had great wealth. Here is a man who had friends. Here is a
man who had many children. Here is a man who was blessed by God. He had
wealth, possessions, a large family and friends. He was a blessed man. And
what happened? God took it all away! I want you to be impressed by this.
This happened suddenly without warning. An angel did not send Job an email
saying, "Get ready, there is a big one coming!" God did not send him a fax
saying, "Look out, Job, you are going to lose everything in one day!"
Have you ever read the story? In the same day Job lost his cattle, his
crops, and his children. It appears that God was on vacation. This was Job's
dark night. God was silent, but He was not absent. The Lord was there
throughout the ordeal, from beginning to end. In fact, He was actually
behind it . . . allowing it. There was a shift between what was happening in
the heavenlies and what was happening on earth. Job's drama was being played
out on a double stage. There were things happening of which he was
completely unaware. Job was experiencing his evening . . . his darkness.
Brothers and sisters, let me remind you: The evening always has within it
the promise of the morning! The night always has within it the promise of
the day to come! When you go through the dark night, as a church or as an
individual, remember that within the evening is the promise of a morning.
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Ps. 30:5).
God takes away that He might establish, and what He establishes is always
better than what He takes away.
Job endured his evening. He was bombarded on every point to lose his faith
in God . . . by pressure from his friends and from his own wife. Yet Job
maintained his integrity. His words are so fitting. He said, "The Lord gave
and the Lord took away."
But saints, after the evening . . . after the night . . . there was a
morning for Job. God gave back to Job everything he lost and more. Job
received double what he lost. He received more children, he received more
wealth, more cattle, and more crops. Not only that, but Job lived for one
hundred and forty more years . . . and God blessed him. Now, whenever I read
that account, I always think to myself what about the kids that are buried
in Job's backyard? What about them!? I have to believe that the Lord took
the pain away, and Job lived a peaceful satisfied man. For the Scripture
says God blessed him.
You have a God that takes away so that He may establish. And what He
establishes is always better than that which He took away. So if you have
something good in your life, be prepared for it to be taken away. But know
this. If He takes it away, He is going to establish something far better.
IN THE LIFE OF JOSEPH
Let us move forward again. We come to Joseph the dreamer. Joseph was a young
man who was part of a large family. He had a father who loved him very much.
One day, God gave Joseph a dream. In it, Joseph saw his destiny. He was so
excited about it that he began to brag to his brothers. A fatal mistake!
What happened? He entered into darkness. His brothers threw him into a
waterless pit . . . a place of darkness. And he was left there for dead.
From there, he was promoted to a prison . . . on death row!
The Psalmist says that "the word of the Lord tried him as his soul fell into
iron." In other words, when Joseph was in prison, the word of the Lord was
trying and testing him to see whether or not he was going to let go of the
vision or believe it despite his circumstances. Joseph held to the vision
until the end. Even though everything that was going on around him spoke the
opposite.
Joseph finally had his morning. God brought him out of the prison and
exalted him to be the ruler of Egypt. His family was restored. The hatred
that his brothers had toward him turned to love. He regained his father and
received more than what the Lord had taken away. The vision came to pass.
God takes away that He might establish, and what He establishes is always
better.
IN THE LIVES OF MOSES AND AARON
We now move on to Moses and Aaron. The two men are leading the children of
Israel in the wilderness. There arises a controversy about their leadership.
Moses and Aaron are being challenged. God gets a bright idea and says,
"Moses, I want you to take a rod from each of the leaders of the tribes of
Israel . . . twelve rods. And I want you to put them in the tabernacle." The
rods were put in the Holy of Holies where only the high priest had access
once a year. The Holy of Holies was the little room in the tabernacle where
the presence of God rested on the ark of the covenant. The twelve rods were
put behind the curtain in this room where there was no light. The only time
that this room was lit up was when God appeared on top of the ark of the
covenant and displayed His glory. Other than that, the room was utterly dark
. . . pitch black.
And so the Lord says, "Take the rods and put them in the Holy of Holies in
pure darkness for one whole night." There was an evening. There was
darkness. There was a night. Then the morning came and Moses took the rods
out. Strikingly, one of them-Aaron's rod-had budded! Life out of death. Life
out of a dead stick. In the dark night something had happened. In the
morning, there was resurrection. The dead rod had produced blossoms.
Brothers and sisters, evening is the time of death. It is the time of
hopelessness and helplessness. But the evening is always followed by the
morning, where there is resurrection. Every evening has a promise of the
morning. "And the evening and the morning were the first day, the second
day, the third day," etc. Every night has within it the promise of a day.
The Lord takes away that He might establish.
IN THE LIFE OF DAVID
We come now to David. David was a young boy in a seemingly functional
family. Samuel, the heavy-duty prophet of that day, selected him out of all
the young men. Samuel prophesied over David and anointed him to be king over
all Israel. What a vision . . . what a destiny! What happened after that?
Nothing! David was utterly ignored. Here he thought he was going to be a
featured celebrity on TBN, have interviews with Charisma and Christianity
Today, and become a household name. Instead, nothing happened! Absolutely
nothing.
Then, something happened. Goliath. After David triumphed over Goliath and
the Philistines, he attained instant popularity. People were singing the
praises of David on the streets. Until God chose to take it all away. The
next thing we learn, David is in the wilderness being hunted like an animal
by king Saul. He has no friends, but has more enemies than he can count.
This was a dark night for David. The evening had come to his life, and it
lasted a long time. You can read all about it in the Psalms. David is
despairing everywhere. But after the dark night, what happened? God took
away the first King, Saul, and He established the second king, David.
He took away the first that He might establish the second. And when He
establishes, it is always better. David was a better king than Saul. David's
night was over. His evening had passed. Then came the morning and the light.
And it was very good.
Brothers and sisters, do you not understand that when God begins a new thing
in your life as a church, or as an individual, He will first bring you into
an evening. We have a Lord who always begins with the evening. He always
begins in darkness. He takes away so that He can establish. And what He
establishes is always better than what He takes away.
Look at Hosea 6:1-3:
Come, let us return to the Lord for He has torn, but He will heal us. He has
smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days, He will revive us. And in
the third day, He will raise us up and we shall live in His sight. And we
shall know as we follow on to know the Lord His going forth is prepared as
the morning . . ."What a beautiful passage. God tears us to heal us. He
smites us to bind and revive us . . . on the third day . . . in the morning.
He takes away that He might establish.
IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST
We come now to Jesus Christ. Think about our Lord's birth. When Jesus was
born, darkness covered the earth. When Jesus made His appearance on this
planet, Israel was under the iron fist of the Romans. People were being
oppressed and suppressed. It was a sad, dark time for God's people. It was
an evening. It was a dark night. And then the Light appeared. Christ came.
After living on the earth for thirty-three years, our Lord had a dark night
in Gethsemane. It was there that He faced the reality of the horrible,
devastating, catastrophic evening that awaited Him on Calvary. And He
submitted to it. The writer of Hebrews says that the Lord "endured the cross
for the joy that was set before Him." Jesus knew that a glorious morning
would follow His evening. He knew that the dawn would follow His dark night.
This gave Him the power to endure.
But look over at the disciples . . . that is another story all together. I
want to paint the scene for you. These are the associates on the Lord's
staff. These last three years have been cushy for them. They got their IRS
taxes paid by going fishing. Whenever they were hungry, the Lord created
food out of scraps. They were insulated from criticism and persecution.
Jesus handled it all. They simply followed and observed. What a team to be
on!
But Jesus forewarned the Twelve: "I will be taken away from you . . . but it
is better that I be taken away. For if I am not taken away, the Spirit
cannot come." Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist, "My disciples do
not fast when the Bridegroom is here. But when He is taken away, then they
will fast and they will mourn."
Well, the Lord was taken away. And what did the disciples do? They went back
to their old life. I am sure they were thinking, "It's over. We followed Him
for three years, and He let them kill Him! We had the promise of all that He
said would happen, and where are we now?"
The Lord forewarned them that they would experience sorrow. But their sorrow
would one day be turned to joy. When we are in the dark night, we are not
thinking about the morning. We are not thinking about the day.
A WOMAN IN LABOR
The Lord used a parable once about the woman who was in labor. Consider this
woman. She is pregnant. This is darkness for her. Sickness in the morning.
Violent vomiting. She has to get a new wardrobe. It matters not what she
wears, she still feels fat. The curves have vanished. Now there are stretch
marks! It does not matter how she sits, she still cannot get comfortable.
She cannot wear her "two piece" for the summer! It is a dark night for her.
And then the labor. I have no idea how cataclysmic the pain must be. But I
have heard the screams firsthand. Talk about darkness! Talk about pain! Talk
about suffering!
But what did the Lord say about this? When the woman finishes her travail
and the baby is born, she remembers her pain no more! She forgets everything
. . . even the nasty things that came out of her mouth while she was
screaming! The memory is erased because the child is born and the morning
has come. The night is forgotten. He takes away to establish, and what He
establishes is always better. This is our Lord.
The disciples forgot this when their Lord was taken from them. They
experienced a dark night. Those three days seemed like an eternity for them.
There was no hope on the horizon.
Remember the parable of the old wineskin and the new wineskin? God is going
to take away the old wineskin so that He can deposit His new wine. But He
needs a new wineskin. So the Lord tampers with our wineskins. He wrecks them
if He can. He destroys the old wineskin to give His new wineskin. That is
why there are changes in church life. Because the Lord wants to deposit new
wine. And the new wine is better than the old wine.
You cannot exhaust the wine of Christ. Consequently, He has to tamper with
our wineskin now and then. He has to tear it down. Because old wineskins
burst with the entrance of new wine. They do not give. They do not stretch.
Thus the Lord must take away the old to establish that which is new. And
what He establishes is always better than what He takes away.
This is the way in which our Lord works. First darkness, then light. First
evening, then morning. First death, then life. What you call the end of the
day, God calls the beginning. We have a seasonal God. He works in seasons in
our lives individually and in our life as a church. We have winter, spring,
summer, and fall. Winters are the hardest. Sometimes you do not just have a
winter, you have a blizzard! God goes on vacation. But just remember this.
It will come to an end. The Lord will bring a church through winter. But
spring is around the corner. Then summer. Then another winter awaits, only
to be followed by another spring.
THE FIRST AND SECOND BORN
I am going to close this message with an illustration. All throughout
Scripture, God's choice is always with the second born, not with the first
born. Adam had two sons: Cain and Abel. Cain was the first born, and Abel
was the second born. God took away Cain, and put His favor on Abel.
Abraham's first born was Ishmael. But God took away Ishmael, the first born,
and put His favor on Isaac, the second born. Isaac had two sons: Esau and
Jacob. "Jacob have I loved. Esau have I hated." Esau was the first born;
Jacob was the second born. God took Esau out of the race to establish Jacob,
who fulfilled His purpose. God's choice rested upon the second, not the
first.
Joseph had two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Manasseh was the first born;
Ephraim was the second born. God rejected Manasseh and put His favor on
Ephraim.
David had a first born son with Bathsheba, and God literally took that child
away. But the second born was Solomon who had the favor of the Lord and was
given the kingdom.
Our Lord is not a fan of the first born. When God judged Egypt, the last
plague that fell upon the nation was the death of all the first born sons.
But the second born sons were not in danger. Why does God reject the first
born and favor the second born?
We have a clue in 1 Corinthians 15:46-47:
That which is first is not spiritual, but natural. But that which comes
after the first is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthly; the
second man is the Lord from heaven.
God took away the first man, Adam, and put him out of his misery. He then
established the second man, Jesus Christ.
Our first birth was a birth into Adam. We inherited his nature and incurred
his judgment. Therefore, God rejects our first birth. It is our second birth
. . . our birth into Christ . . . our birth from above . . . that God
accepts. He takes away the first that He might establish the second, and the
second is always better.
So my word of encouragement is that when you are going through the dark
night-when you are in your evening-that is not the end. It is the beginning.
Get behind the eyes of your Lord and remember how He works. The night, the
evening, and the darkness are promises of a new day. If you can hold this in
your heart, it will change your life.
January 21, 2009
Categories: The Christian Life
Establish
, Jesus Christ
We're in a world of hurt people!
This article was written by my dear brother Michael Tummillo, a workplace
chaplain from Stephenville, Texas.
As I watched the inauguration the other night, though I was proud of our
nation's progress in finally voting for a black President and have always
been proud of the way we peacefully transfer leadership every four years, I
couldn't help but wonder how many millions of Americans honestly believe
everything is about to get better just because a certain man is on the
scene. It's reminding me of 1 Samuel Chapter 8 when the elders of Israel
insisted to God's prophet Samuel that they had to have a king like all the
other nations had. Imagine that! These guys had direct access to God - just
as we have today - yet they preferred a human being to be their king. God
told Samuel that He WOULD give them a king but warned that he would send
their sons to war, he'd tax them silly and take their daughters, too. The bottom line: We can't put our faith and trust in any human being or
human institution. Don't do it, friends. Sadly, far too many people - most
who would profess to be Christians - are being betrayed by their own tongues
as we hear them speak emotionally about how things are going to get better
with this new Administration. I hope they do. I understand positive thinking, but I know better. May I
remind us all that mankind's only hope is in Christ Jesus. If He isn't as
real as the closest human next to us, I question the reality of that
relationship. In such a case, I guess there would be good reason to trust in
government, despite its track record going back as far as 1 Samuel 8 and
beyond. We disciples - Christians of all colors and denominations - are the
vessel of choice for our King. Unfortunately, too few are making themselves
available in the marketplace, most bound by fear of lawsuits and
terminations as they bow to that "Church 'n State" deception.
Many of the workplace-related issues that people share with me, often
through their tears and sobs, frankly, amaze me. How do they manage to
function? How can their employers expect them to work at full effectiveness
while carrying so much pain? Truth is, many are putting on their game faces
and simply "toughing it out" at work and kicking the dog - or worse - when
they get home. Others are bullying their coworkers, having extramarital
affairs, stealing from their employers, calling in sick at every conceivable
opportunity, dealing with family matters on company time, walking around in
a state of confusion, weariness, helpless and hopeless, worried sick,
suffering with bad health, and understandably watching the clock so they can
get back home and deal with things.
We are truly surrounded by a world of hurt.
Who will help them if not those who claim to know Jesus? Who will come to
their aid if those with the Spirit of Christ within them settle for an
exchange of their time for a paycheck for up to 70% of their lives,
confining their spiritual lives to church services? In essence, most of us
are hiding our light under a bushel, while neglecting the hurting mass of
humanity with whom we rub shoulders on a daily basis.
Time and time again, people in the workplace shed tears in my presence
(three times just yesterday). To me, that means they would shed tears in
YOUR presence if only you took the time. People are fearful. They're
hurting. Galatians 6:2 tells us to "Share each other's burdens, and in this
way obey the law of Christ." How's that coming along?
I don't care what their job title is or how much they earn, they would trade
all their superficial, momentary happiness for the unspeakable joy and peace
that passes all understanding that a lower-class assembly line worker who
truly knows Jesus is experiencing. The nightly news is filled with stories
of rich men cheating others in order to get richer. Why are they so
dissatisfied? They need help, too. If not us, who? If not now, when?
Reach out to someone today. Pat a back. Squeeze a hand. Pray out loud with
somebody rather than merely SAYING you'll pray - and then forgetting. Ask
"how are things with you" rather than "how ya doin'? " and look them in the
eye while awaiting their response. Love one another. This nation tends to come together during emergencies. An
attack upon our own soil, the start of an invasion, natural disasters...the
sad fact is, someone you work with is suffering through an emergency right
now. Will you help? What Will Jesus Do? He's right there, living within YOU...just ask Him.
NEED HELP? CALL ME OR SEND AN E-MAIL. NOW, SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH YOUR COWORKERS!
"PastorMike"
Mike Tummillo
Workplace Chaplain
214.476.8792
team1min@our-town.com
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Two are better than one
http://3menandHim.wordpress.com
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
http://3menandHim.wordpress.com
If you have a desire to connect with one or two men who will care about you
like a brother please send me an email at: benkwardlaw@gmail.com
Many blessings in Jesus who is first. I am second. http://www.iamsecond.com
Ben Wardlaw
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Chapter 8: Empower Others
Chapter 8: Empower Others
From "The Simple/House Church Revolution" Book. The entire book can still
be downloaded here
http://SimpleChurchJournal.com
GATHER DISCIPLE REACH EMPOWER MULTIPLY
We have discovered how easy it can be for every believer to be involved in
the process of reaching, discipling, and gathering. These are not roles
given to certain special ministers, but every person in Christ's body gets
to be involved. The role of leadership, then, becomes about empowering
people in these processes.
The Kingdom of God is not a Top-Down Hierarchy
Our old paradigms of "leadership" will not do because they come from
top-down, hierarchical organizations. This type of structure is not new. It
has similarities to all man-made structures such as the military,
governments, and community organizations. The basic premise is that someone
is over some, who are over others, so that decisions can be made and passed
down in an efficient and productive manner. This is, in fact, a necessary
form of leadership for most organizations to have in order to survive. It
allows for order so that each person knows his or her part to play.
However, this understanding of leadership does not serve the true nature of
God's kingdom. We know this because Jesus stated clearly that this type of
leadership, associated with normal organizations, is simply not acceptable.
He said it would not do.
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over
them. Not so with you (emphasis added). Instead, whoever wants to become
great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be
your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-27 NIV
Jesus is doing more than challenging those who would use their authority
abusively; he is describing the typical type of leadership that is used in
human organizations where one person, by necessity, exercises authority over
another. He says without reservation: "Not so with you." This is not the
type of leadership that will serve the purposes that God has for his people.
Why?
Because God's kingdom is not a top-down, hierarchical organization. It is,
instead, a living system. It is an organic network. It is a movement that is
alive and led by God's own Spirit. Jesus was not just dismissing
authoritarian leadership; he was making it clear that typical, human-made
structures and organizations will not serve God's purposes. Our
understanding of structures and leadership must shift entirely.
The Kingdom of God is a Living, Decentralized Network
Perhaps the best way to describe the alternative to top-down hierarchical
organizations is the term "decentralized network." This is a system that
cannot be controlled because it takes on a life of its own. It describes
living, organic systems as well as networks that informally and naturally
grow and reproduce. Perhaps the best example of such a system is the
internet itself. Who is in charge of the internet? Who is the president? Who
are the board members? None of these questions fit because it is not a
top-down hierarchy. It lacks centralized leadership. It is beyond the
control of any one authority because it reproduces itself, grows, and
functions like a living system. Yet, it has become the largest communication
system in the world.
When Jesus said that we must not exercise authority the way that rulers and
governments do, he was saying that, likewise, his kingdom was not to be put
under the control of any human-structured organization. It is to be a living
system, a decentralized network that could reproduce and grow at will. It is
to take on a life of its own with every part involved in growing and
reproducing. He was saying that this type of living system requires a
completely different type of leadership.
What Type of Leadership Supports a Living, Decentralized System?
Jesus goes on to describe the type of leadership that would support his
kingdom: servants who give up themselves to empower others. He is
acknowledging that his kingdom, a growing, full-of-life organism, can only
be supported by leadership that does not exercise top-down control in any
way-by people who willingly give their lives to lift up others, to give
authority to others, and to encourage others to grow and reproduce. This
type of leadership is in the very DNA of successful, decentralized networks.
It allows for the continual lifting up of the next, who lifts up the next,
who lifts up the next. It facilitates unlimited, dynamic reproduction.
Shifting from hierarchical leadership to a serving and empowering type of
leadership involves real change:
* From my control to trusting the Spirit's control
* From displaying one's own gifts to revering the gifts of others
* From guiding to making room for the Spirit to guide
* From vision-leading to awakening the visions of others
* From priest to a company of priests
* From trying to be God's mouthpiece to helping others hear from God
* From titles and positions to servants of no repute
* From promoting my own ministry to promoting the ministries of others
Mike Steele describes the heart of leadership this way: "A weeping father
crying out for his sons to overtake him." Letting Go of Control is the Heart of the Matter
Hierarchical organizations, by their nature, require control mechanisms.
This is the primary hindrance to God's church in the world today. By letting
go of our human control, and letting go of organizational systems that
require this type of control, the body of Christ is released to move into
its full potential as a living, reproducing movement.
As Henri Nouwen says:
The way of a Christian leader is not the way of upward mobility in which the
world has invested so much, but the way of downward mobility ending on the
cross... It is not a leadership of power and control, but a leadership of
powerlessness and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus
Christ, is made manifest. As we let go of control-type leadership and top-down organizations, we
become ready to use leadership gifts in a way that serves and empowers the
body of Christ to reach her full potential. Positions are not needed for
this. Titles that lift one above another are not necessary. Leaders simply
function, in servant-fashion, using their gifts to help others grow into
fruitfulness.
A leader is one because he or she reaches, disciples, and gathers others. In
this sense, all become leaders to some extent. Some may have a special
ability (i.e. apostolic, pastoral, or evangelistic) to reach and gather many
disciples. This leader is still in a serving capacity, lifting others. He or
she does not need to be in charge of or "over" a ministry. Rather, this
person simply functions by building up the body of Christ and reproducing
his or her own ministry in others. Everything is given away: spiritual
authority, recognition, encouragement, opportunities to minister and serve.
This leader empowers others so well that his or her own ministry goes
virtually unrecognized.
When properly understood, we can see that God's purpose is to release a
multitude of no-name, gifted leadership that will never be recognized yet
who function in concert with God's purposes to serve and empower others.
Does Letting Go of Control Mean Out of Control?
Somehow, we have lost confidence in God's ability to lead and guide his
church. There is an important role for empowering- servants (leaders) to
play: reach out, disciple, gather, and then turn around and empower others
to do the same. This is the lifestyle that God has called each of us to. We
need empowering servants who flow in every level of giftedness described in
Scripture. But we do not need organizational-style leadership, along with
titles, status, or human control, for this to take place. The greatest
church movements in history have been, seemingly, the most out-of-control.
That is exactly where God is able to be the one in control.
Leaders who empower others, to empower others, who empower still others is
the essential component needed to see the kingdom of God flourish and
reproduce itself throughout the earth. Amazingly, God can lead all of his
people as we do nothing more than lay down our lives for him and each other.
As we let go of our human controls, Christ is able to be fully manifest
through his people.
Posted by roger thoman on January 07, 2009 at 03:13 PM | Permalink
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A pound of fragrant oil
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Father, glorify Your name.
Jesus is first. I am second.
http://www.iamsecond.com
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Sunset over Broadcreek on Hilton Head Island, SC - Jan. 2009
Enjoy the beauty of His creation.
Many blessings,
Ben and Bunny Wardlaw
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com
Psalm 150:6
http://www.tokbox.com/benkwardlaw
I'm jumping on a SPECIAL INTERVIEW Conference Call TONIGHT at 8:30pm Eastern (5:30pm Pacific)
If you are not registered for WebProsperity, don't waste another minute!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!
Prosperous regards,Ben Wardlaw
http://www.tokbox.com/benkwardlaw
100,000 Pre-launch signups In 20 Days?
January 11th, 2009Wave 3 has is happening as we speak…The WebProsperity launch is 48 hours away. Go all out for 48 hours as there will be NO MORE NEW FREE pre-launch positions after Tuesdays launch!!! They can hold them till the Jan 30th deadline.
As of this minute, 86,509 team members have joined because of one of the greatest team efforts in online history. The goal is 100,000 by the launch date in 48 hours. That's a total of 20 days since the December 25th pre-launch to the January 13th Founders Founders date.
Remember, this is just the beginning. We have not even scratched the surface. There are over 73 million people on the net in North America and hundreds of millions around the world.
Special Interview call tonight at 5:30PM (PST USA) with one of our new and upcomming top producers sharing his best idea's
Time:
First call: 9 AM PST (12 Noon EST, 5 PM UK, 6 PM Europe) ~ 20 mins
Second Call: 5:30 PM PST (8:30 PM EST) ~ 20 mins
Call Access Information:
US Dial-In Number: (712) 432-1001
International: +1 712 432-1001
Conference ID: 460589621# (get on early!)
The calls are filling up FAST and with less than 2 days till launch you don't want to be left out!
Yours In Success….David D'Arcangelo, Founder- WebProsperity
Friday, January 9, 2009
Take Complete Control in 2009!
If you are looking to start a lucrative ONLINE Business that you can operate from ANYWHERE, then your prayers have been answered. CLICK on the LINK below for complete details.
http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Men's Wildlife Supper at Community Bible Church in Beaufort, South Carolina
Governor Mike Huckabee was the guest speaker at tonight's event. Wild
boar, alligator, and other South Carolina delicacies were on the menu.
My favorite was the banana pudding.
Governor Huckabee shared his faith in Jesus and encouraged all of the
men in attendance to consider the implications of what Jesus did for
us on the cross over 2000 years ago. Our sins are pardoned by the
sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
My brother Len Stubbs and I enjoyed our time together. We hope that we
honor our heavenly Father in everything we say and do.
Ben Wardlaw
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
Psalm 150:6
Men's Wildlife Supper at Community Bible Church in Beaufort, South Carolina
Governor Mike Huckabee was the guest speaker at tonight's event. Wild
boar, alligator, and other South Carolina delicacies were on the menu.
My favorite was the banana pudding.
Governor Huckabee shared his faith in Jesus and encouraged all of the
men in attendance to consider the implications of what Jesus did for
us on the cross over 2000 years ago. Our sins are pardoned by the
sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
My brother Len Stubbs and I enjoyed our time together. We hope that we
honor our heavenly Father in everything we say and do.
Ben Wardlaw
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
Psalm 150:6
Monday, January 5, 2009
I'm jumping on the WebProsperity Conference Call at NOON Eastern TODAY!
Register for your FREE Position TODAY during our Pre-Launch!
http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com
Official Launch Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at NOON Eastern!
WebProsperity Conference Call Information:
Date/Time: Monday, January 5, 2009
First call: 9 AM PST (12 Noon EST / 5 PM in the UK, 6 PM Europe) ~ 20 minutes
Second call: 5:30 PM PST (8:30 PM EST) ~ 20 minutes
Call Access Information:
US Dial-In Number: (712) 432-1001
International: +1 712 432-1001
Conference ID: 460589621#
Let's make 2009 our most PROSPEROUS year ever!
Ben Wardlaw
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com
Psalm 150:6
http://www.tokbox.com/benkwardlaw
SKYPE: benkwardlaw
Sunday, January 4, 2009
I will be joining the WebProsperity Conference Call at 8:30pm Eastern TONIGHT!
I hope you are enjoyed your Sunday afternoon with family and friends.
You need to be aware of an opportunity that will significantly benefit both
your current business and your bank account.
Register immediately at: http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com It's FREE!
Registering NOW will increase the probability that some of the people that I
am introducing will wind up on your marketing team.
Additional information is available on our Blog:
http://blog.webprosperity.com
WebProsperity Conference Call Information: Date: Sunday, January 4th, 2009 Time: First call: 9 AM PST (12 Noon EST, 5 PM UK, 6 PM Europe) ~ 20 minutes Second call: 5:30 PM PST (8:30 PM EST) ~ 20 minutes
Call Access Information: US Dial-In Number: (712) 432-1001 International: +1 712 432-1001 Conference ID: 460589621# Let's make 2009 our most PROSPEROUS year ever!
Ben Wardlaw
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
Psalm 150:6
http://www.tokbox.com/benkwardlaw
SKYPE: benkwardlaw
http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com
Complete ONLINE Toolkit for all of your Internet Marketing Needs!
I hope you are enjoying your Sunday afternoon.
You need to be aware of an opportunity that will significantly benefit both
your current business and your bank account.
Register immediately at: http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com It's FREE!
Registering NOW will increase the probability that some of the people that I
am introducing will wind up on your marketing team.
Additional information is available on our Blog:
http://blog.webprosperity.com
WebProsperity Conference Call Information: Date: Sunday, January 4th, 2009 Time: First call: 9 AM PST (12 Noon EST, 5 PM UK, 6 PM Europe) ~ 20 minutes Second call: 5:30 PM PST (8:30 PM EST) ~ 20 minutes
Call Access Information: US Dial-In Number: (712) 432-1001 International: +1 712 432-1001 Conference ID: 460589621# Let's make 2009 our most PROSPEROUS year ever!
Ben Wardlaw
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
Psalm 150:6
http://www.tokbox.com/benkwardlaw
SKYPE: benkwardlaw
http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com
Join me on the WebProsperity Conference Call at NOON Eastern TODAY!
WebProsperity Conference Call Information:
Date: Sunday, January 4th, 2009
Time:
First call: 9 AM PST (12 Noon EST, 5 PM UK, 6 PM Europe) ~ 20 minutes
Second call: 5:30 PM PST (8:30 PM EST) ~ 20 minutes
Call Access Information:
US Dial-In Number: (712) 432-1001
International: +1 712 432-1001
Conference ID: 460589621# (get on early!)
Be sure to register for your FREE Position TODAY!
http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com
Official Launch Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at NOON Eastern!
37,000+ Sign Ups.
http://bit.ly/kyFk I'm jumping on the WebProsperity Conference Call at NOON Eastern TODAY!
Grab your FREE Position TODAY!
http://benkwardlaw.webprosperity.com
Official Launch Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at NOON Eastern!
37,000+ Sign Ups. New Conference Call Details.
Marketing value proposition ever introduced online and we will deliver on
that promise!
Today we've signed the 37,000 pre-launch member and we're adding new members
every few seconds (you can watch the dynamic "last joined" updates on your
WP prelaunch websites; warning: it's highly addictive and with only about 2
days to go we must go to work Conference bridge has maxed out for the Saturday call due to the sheer
volume of entrepreneurs trying to stay ahead of the curve as this amazing
Internet Marketing opportunity unfolds!
Starting tomorrow, we will be using a conference bridge that can support up
to 1,000 callers - until we need to upgrade again. We will also do two of
these calls per day instead of just one. I assure you, we will do whatever
it takes to get every one of you on these very important calls!
Date: Tomorrow (Sunday, January 4th, 2009)
Time:
First call: 9 AM PST (12 Noon EST, 5 PM UK, 6 PM Europe) ~ 20 mins
Second call: 5:30 PM PST (8:30 PM EST) ~ 20 mins
Call Access Information:
US Dial-In Number: (712) 432-1001
International: +1 712 432-1001
Conference ID: 460589621# (get on early!)
Make sure you put these dates and times in your calendars NOW! The calls are
filling up FAST and with less than 3 days till launch you don't want to be
left out!
Congratulations to the 37,000+ Team Members who have joined WebProsperity
since Christmas Day!
You're off to a great start, but NOW you need to keep the team strong and
success-driven - don't let anyone get left behind!
Yours In Success...
David D'Arcangelo
Founder/Chief Spokesperson
WebProsperity
PS: These next calls are VERY important and could determine the success of
your 2009 strategy! Please make sure that you attend them along with your
entire team.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
You're invited to the "One Vision" Call on Monday evening, January 5, 2009 at 8:00pm Eastern
I met Ron Williams on a business trip to Salt Lake City in 2008. I was very impressed with him as a business leader and a human being.
Ron will be conducting a conference call on Monday evening, January 5, 2009 beginning at 8:00pm Eastern Time.
I would like to personally extend an invitation to you and your family to listen in.
The call information is:
Monday, January 5th, 6:00pm Mountain Time (8:00pm Eastern).
Dial (800) 260-0719 Enter Access Code 978863#
Let’s make 2009 a very special year.
Many blessings to you and your family,
Ben and Bunny Wardlaw
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
(843) 341-5066
http://www.tokbox.com/benkwardlaw
SKYPE: benkwardlaw
Psalm 150:6
One Vision Call, 01.05.09
The turning of the New Year is always a time of reflection and vision. It certainly is a time to be ForeverGreen and begin a new season of abundance. Moving into 2009, we here at ForeverGreen cannot wait to unveil the miracles that will accompany the New Year and the road to convention.
Ron Williams is pleased to host a special beginning of the year call on Monday, January 5th at 6:00pm MT. Believe us when we say that you do not want to miss this call. Please make an effort to reach out to as many as you can, for we know that 2009 will be a year in which many peoples’ lives are changed for the better.
The call information is:
Monday, January 5th, 6:00pm Mountain Time (8:00pm Eastern).
Dial (800) 260-0719 Enter Access Code 978863#
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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