Excel Still More

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The world is a mess. Everyone knows it. People are getting hurt. Power struggles prevail. But where is the strength? Where is the strong man who can do what is needed? We often associate strength with power, wealth, influence, and ability. But the truth is, there are far too many weak people, in leadership roles, who just so happen to possess all of those things. They are extremely dangerous. 

But I want to talk about you and me. What does it mean for us to grow in strength? How can we move away from weakness? I don't need to change what I have, or even what I know. I need to grow in who I am and why I am here. I need to become more like Jesus. Today's episode explores definitions for weak and strong, false assumptions as to how strength is proven, and ultimately turns us to Jesus and the Spirit to be made mighty, in their image.

- How does the world typically define strength?

- How does that differ from Jesus and the might that He had and has?

- Do things like money, influence and knowledge make me stronger than others?

- What is the power of character, inner strength, in changing the world around you?

- How can the Spirit lead you to become a strong person, and a great influence to others?

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I apologize. I have used some epic cover art from Tombstone: Say When. I found this after the episode and wished I had mixed in Doc Holliday at some point! But as it is, I want to focus on the value of saying WHEN in conflict resolution and especially in authority relationships. 

Many parents use the IF / THEN construct with their kids. If you don't do this, then... And it builds in an extra layer of conflict to the situation, by focusing on negative behavior and punishment. There is room for those things, but it should not be the theme of how your family handles conflict. 

Instead, let's explore the value of saying WHEN. What if you enter into the conversation with a settled expectation, and inform them of the rewards that follow when they are ready to obey. And this positive, inevitable approach will trigger less fighting and more internal contemplating. In other words, they are battling themselves, not you! This can help with marriage and in many other interactions as well!

- How does a typical conflict go between you and your kids?

- How often do you go straight to IF/THEN consequences?

- Are we trying to build humans who are motivated by more than just punishment?

- What if we used "when" instead? And we connected a blessing to the obedience?

- Can I use this same strategy to handle every single conflict I face in life?

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Welcome to bonus episode number 2 for this year. As indicated, I want to let you know of places I hope to be preaching this year. If you are in the Tampa/Orlando area, I hope you will come and worship with us at the Brandon church of Christ on March 4-6. Friday and Saturday night at 7pm, as well as Sunday AM and PM. https://brandonmembers.com/

As to our story today, place yourself on the wall of Jerusalem. You have been told that your godly king can save you, that God is with him. But you are hearing something else from outside the gates of the city. The Rabshakeh is telling you that all hope is lost and the only hope for your family is to surrender. He is yelling it at you. He is terrifying. What will you do?

- How does the story of Sennacherib connect to Satan in our time?

- How is Hezekiah a shadow of Jesus, asking you to have faith in Him?

- Are there people in your life who tell you you've sinned too much and God is against you?

- Is the Rabshakeh in your life... you?

- What simple thing does God ask you to do in this fight? 

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In the financial world, all goods are divided into two categories: assets and liabilities. Both can be good and bad, have highs and lows, and bring value and sorrow. But time tends to cause a serious divergence. Over time, liabilities start taking value away, and costing more than they are worth. But assets actually grow in value, giving much more than they take! So it is wise to fill you life with as many assets as possible!

Today, I want to ask you some questions. Not about assets your have, but about what kind of an asset you are... in the lives of your family, Christ's church, and the world. If God gifts you more time with the people you care about, what will their prolonged exposure to you mean for them. Will you give more than you take? Will they be better for knowing you?

Today we look at three things every person must understand in order to be an asset for Christ in the lives of those you love. Please consider these important ideas. You might just feel a light growing within you today that will make a big difference for others!

- What is an asset and how does it differ from a liability?

- How is time the deciding factor on seeing the difference?

- What are you doing to replenish your faith and relationship with God?

- How important you are, really, to the people around you?

- What is your role in showing people that God's will is good and acceptable and perfect?

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Let's talk about that soundtrack playing in your head. You know what I'm talking about, that set of thoughts that are always there. These constant reminders about who you are. They can encourage you and tell you that great things are coming... or... they can sabotage growth by playing failures over and over again. When left unattended, unmanaged, they will usually do that second thing. We've gotta put a stop to that!

Today we look at the first half of a tremendous book, "Soundtracks" by Jon Acuff. I highly recommend it. He does a marvelous job getting us to see if our soundtracks are broken, and gives us some simple tools to get it working for us, not against us.

- What are "soundtracks" and how do they affect each one of us?

- What makes up this reoccurring tune in your head? Can you control that?

- How is the brain sometimes unreliable? You may even call it a "jerk." ;-) 

- What are three questions we should be asking ourselves concerting our thoughts?

- What could you create, change and do if your mind was cheering you on?

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Two things have value in and of themselves: posture in communication, and prayer in your daily life. Posture makes us a good communicator. It makes lengthy, needful conversations possible. Aligning mind and body can change a marriage, and can mend a broken friendship. Prayer is the process of talking with God. It should be a time of great focus and emotion. But many of us struggle to stay focused. I am so, so easily distracted. Sometimes it is dumb things, like notifications on my phone. Other times I am trying really hard and just lose it. 

But what if we aligned the two things: posture and prayer? How can praying with our bodies affect our minds and bring us into oneness with God? Let's look at how godly men and women gave their all in prayer. Maybe the next great blessing from God is just waiting on you to give you full, body and mind, attention to Him.

Why is it so hard to stay focused when having a conversation?

What does our bodily orientation do to affect the value of a conversation?

Can a relationship be improved with better body language and "all-in" focus?

God is amazing. Why is it often hard to stay focused on Him in prayer?

What if we used posture as a tool for focus, to show God we give Him our all and all?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

BONUS THURSDAY EPISODE - The second one ever. Yeah, I dropped the ball on this. But thanks to the constant pestering of a certain friend named Jim Kirby, I'm committed to rolling a few of these out in the coming months. 

Let's take 10 minutes and learn how to make every day more rich. In particular, find things you really love, short little moments of joy in your day. Can you identify a few of those? Now what if you doubled the amount of time they were getting? What if you weren't rushed to wrap that up and get to the next thing? Well, you don't have to be. And you will feel incredibly accomplished if you give them more time to breath and live. And it starts with just one thing.

- Why do we sometimes rush and rush until life's no fun?

- What are the most awesome little moments you have in life every day?

- What can you do to double them?

- Would you like to feel like you have more control over your daily life?

- How does stretching the good help us lay aside some bad habits in our day?

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The devil is always at work. Most of us are aware of the tools he uses, though we will brush up on those today. And Jesus can help us see how to refute them. But the most important think Jesus shows us is the power of mission orientations. Jesus was living with purpose. He knew why He was here and what He was growing into and becoming. To let the devil in, would not just be sin, it would be sabotage, and Jesus wasn't interested in that at all.

For you and me, the greatest strength we have to keep from going the direction of the devil is an ongoing effort to go in a different direction. We need to be leaning in on progress, becoming someone, building something. In other words, standing still makes us easy targets for the devil. Let's figure out what that looks like today and get moving!

- What are the three tools of the devil he has used since the garden?

- What did Jesus understand that repelled the devil's attacks?

- More importantly today, what was Jesus doing with his life that couldn't be interrupted?

- What is the purpose of your life? Why are you alive? What are you working towards?

- How can intentionality in our churches and homes make things hard on the devil?

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Okay, I really put this one off. It feels off brand to talk about downers in our lives. However, they are a reality in our lives. There are people who just seem to be negative, who don't believe in us, and who render judgments against us that simply are not fair. The truth is, in such cases, there is something not well in them. I hope that it triggers missions of mercy on our part, instead of anger. But also, you can't take their word and let it change you.

- Who is "The Russian Judge"?

- Why are negative people the way that they are?

- How do you determine whose critique is valid and whose is to be dismissed?

- What are some things you can do to handle Russian Judges in your life?

- How can God use your spirit as a mission of mercy for those who are broken?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Hal Elrod has become an important influence in my life. I came across a presentation he gave several years ago. This led to reading his book, The Miracle Morning, and making important changes in my life by making important changes every morning. 

It is my pleasure to detail his system, S.A.V.E.R.S. to you today. As I have always said, great men in the world can show us great things, but they get even greater when we add God to the mix. So we will look at how to put God in the center of each and every miracle morning. Which, by the way, every morning is, if the great God of heaven choose to gift it to us.

- Have you every heard Hal Elrod's near death experience story?

- How can Hal's drive to live and make the most of every day be helpful to you?

- What is SAVERS and how much of that is important to the Christian?

- Are you taking Time Alone with God each and every day?

- What can daily intentionality do to alter the trajectory of your entire life?