The David Alliance

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

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webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

https://www.zoidfitness.com

 

 

To be great you have to go all out… and it may cost you. But if you are not careful it may also cost others around you as well. 

 

We all want to be great at something. Many of us are willing to pay the price, but have you ever run across someone who is incredibly successful in life OR SO IT SEEMS… and later you find out what a miserable wretch they were in all the other areas of their lives?

 

Ted Williams arguably the greatest baseball player of all times. His life was baseball. His practice routine was epic and he was known to have every detail down to a science. He studied pitchers… he would know every detail, he would suck up to umpires and pick their brains and take detailed notes. He would go to great lengths to berate pitchers to get them to lose focus. One of his best known jabs was “what is dumber than a pitcher? 2 pitchers”. Williams demanded his bats be kept in a locker next to his, he would clean them with alcohol every night and weigh them to make sure condensation was not affecting their weight. He went off to war for 3 years and came back and became even more of perfectionist. He went through 3 marriages, his managers hated him, his teammates couldn’t stand him and in fact when he would meet a young woman he would tell her its baseball first, fishing second and then you if I have time.

 

But lets not forget Albert Einstein. The smartest man ever (next to Solomon) he was an absolute train wreck of a husband, father and co-worker. He in fact wrote up a contract for his wife to sign if they were going to get married… here is what it said.

 

And with that his son said “i am the only project my father ever gave up on”. 

 

1 Corinthians 6:20

you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

 

*This doesn’t t just mean your physical body… eat right, exercise etc… but rather all that makes us who we are in how God created us. Body, soul, spirit and all that this entails. We honor God in all we do.

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

[email protected] 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

https://www.zoidfitness.com

 

 

Things are not always what they may seem to be. Take for example the topic of child abuse… its obvious that it would be men who abuse children most, they typically abuse sons and they use their fists or hands. But the truth is surprising, yes while men are abusive and most children fatalities due to abuse are at the hands of men… it is women who abuse children more… they have more time with their kids. They may use their hand but most likely they will use whatever is at hand- a hairbrush, a spoon a shoe or belt or even purse.

But again things are not always as they seem. You would imagine that physical abuse at the hands of your parents would have to be the worst thing a child could grow up with… But actually it is mental and emotional abuse that is worse. There is a great chance that a child at school will show signs of physical abuse, bruising, burns, flinching etc… But emotional abuse may actually be the hardest to understand or even detect… 

But again things are not always as they seem. A child may in fact get out of their house by age 18… free from physical and emotional abuse, and never deal with it again. But here is the real issue… those abused typically marry abusers… and those who don’t are still stuck with an abuser the rest of their life unless dealt with. 

What do I mean? The fact is that a person who is abused emotionally has learned the traits of the abuser so well that they are engrained in their psyche and thought process. One of my favorite stories is from a Bernie Seigel book called faith hope and healing is about a young woman who gets a call from her mother. Her mother berates her for never calling and talking to her, says what kind of daughter are you, you should try harder, do better etc… The mother takes a deep breath and says “don’t you at least miss hearing my voice?”

The daughter explodes… “miss hearing your voice? I hear it a hundred times every day in my head”. You don’t work hard enough, you don’t smile enough, You should take better care of yourself, you need to eat better, don’t slouch, don’t pick your teeth, don’t scrunch your face, be nice to your brother he is the one in the family who is the smart one….

 

So if I ask who your number one abuser is… I would guess its you. Your own mind and or the voices still stuck up in your mind. 

Look lets be completely fair, some of you have voices in your head that tell you things are great, you are awesome and with just a little bit more life will be great. 

So for now lets assume that abuse is not just the negative but anything that is outside of Gods reality and his word. 

How does one gain the mind of Christ? And it is trickier than you might think… 

Listen to Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. – Proverbs 23:7(KJV)

 

What a unique insight into a mans heart. On the outside life is great, eat, drink and be merry… but his thoughts are what he weighs his life value on. Oh, I look happy but my heart tells me otherwise.

 

Who stole your heart? What I mean by that is who put those words in your heart that speak to your mind and alter your life?

 

To gain the mind of Christ one must first forgive the people who have spoken words over you that contradict scripture.

Secondly you must read Gods word so that you may know exactly what he does think of you (spoiler alert, he is crazy about you) and finally you will start to see your actions and your mind line up to the word of God. That is such a beautiful place to be. 

 

I read once years ago that we lie not according to what we think about ourselves, and we don’t live according to what others think about us… but rather we live according to what we THINK others think about us. There is a lot of validity to that… but honestly, we can actually KNOW what God thinks of us if we simply take time to read his word and speak to him daily.

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

[email protected] 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

https://www.zoidfitness.com

 

PUNCHED IN THE FAITH

 

 

The balance in being a follower of Christ is knowing that without Jesus you are nothing. But with Jesus you are… no you are not everything. 

Simply put, you are confidently appropriate for anything life throws at you.

you must know as a follower of Christ that in who you are (you are in Christ) you are always capable of producing results that will glorify God.

 

See there are a lot of Christians out there who use the “God is in control” excuse to actually step out of a life dependent on their trust and faith (action in God) and it is actually a form of nihilism. Life has no meaning, it does not matter what happens to me …i.e. God is in control.

BUT HE HAS GIVEN US CONTROL, IN AND THROUGH OUR WALK AND FAITH IN HIM. In fact our first job in the garden was to subdue and rule over it… our job description has not changed even now while we live in a sinful earth. 

 

Some people think faith is when they no longer understand why things are happening, and they have a refusal to trust God and expect understanding in and through difficulties. They genuinely think that choosing helplessness is a type of faith.  

 

A life of faith is not a life that goes from win from win to win to win from win to win from win to win….

A life of faith is not an image of being perfect, or always seeing God run through a brick wall for us so life is easier.

Actually a life of faith is ok with not understanding, not always winning (at least in our eyes) 

A life of faith admits mistakes and even admits some disbelief… that is in fact our faith growing. 

 

A life of faith is genuinely excited for new challenges realizing that it will be a learning experience. A willingness out of the gate to say “hey, this may get messy and I may not understand… but I know God will walk with me through it”. Lets roll. 

 

There is nothing more frustrating than for one to think that faith is something one gets and then they have it. Now life can move forward… it is not something you achieve… it is not a package that is delivered and comes all assembled and in place. It is not a 100 proof mixture… it most of the times comes watered down… needing lots of care and lots of Gods word to water it. 

 

I see many people trying to achieve the faith of another person or the faith they know about from a preacher or a book… and not realizing that once you have a faith in Christ… your own faith will typically look different from others faith. It will not grow from A to B to C… but may actually grow from D to F to 43. And that is ok… you need a little faith to trust how your faith will mature. 

 

The ultimate hallmark of a vibrant faith (and notice I did not say a strong faith… because what is a strong faith… compared to who’s faith…anyway) is seeing and being excited about where your own faith can grow. And how you can use it in the future. 

 

Luke 10:17 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

 

…and again in Mark 612 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

 

The disciples came back and told Jesus what there faith had done… but we know because of that they were also wondering what it COULD DO… Where can they now apply it in their own lives, in their own circumstances, in their own neighborhoods and jobs and families…

THATS FAITH THAT IS VIBRANT.

 

So today on this crazy Monday morning, you may not feel like a man of faith. You may not have experienced any great breakthrough or answer to prayer… but remember faith is not based on feelings or your resume or results… its based on who you are in Christ.

Simply put, you are confidently appropriate for anything life throws at you.

you must know as a follower of Christ that in who you are (you are in Christ) you are always capable of producing results that will glorify God.

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

[email protected] 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

https://www.zoidfitness.com

 

 

This is pretty basic

 

Here is an easy way to help strengthen any relationship. It takes very little time and you will see how it will help deepen conversation which in turns builds trust, teams and talent.

Now you can use these with your spouse, your co-workers, your kids and please feel free to modify them as you think is most appropriate.

 

Bottom line I think a lot of times we have shallow relationships because we ask shallow questions, and we ask shall questions because we have been programmed by the media to think on a yes or no level. 

 

So do yourself a favor, write down these questions. Ask them in a caring and nonchalant manner and don’t make it like you are doing homework. You can simply state you are trying to get to know that person or get to know their day better.

But here is the real magic… let them answer-don’t interrupt, look them in the eye, and then retell them what they said… and if appropriate after they have answered - tell them how you think they must feel.

 

The outcome will simply be remarkable in just a few short days or weeks. 

 

Look you are guys.. you will doubt this, and you will maybe not even give it a try… do yourself a favor and be uncomfortable for a few days and do it. I promise you it will make a difference. 

 Here are the questions… and please feel free to add your own once you get the hang of it. 

* What were your victories today? * What were your challenges today?* What kind of support do you need? 

* What was your High point today? * What was your Low point today? 

* What did you see that you liked today? * What did you feel that you liked today? * What did you hear that you liked today? 

* What were your strengths today? * What did you like about yourself today? * What were your weaknesses today? * What can you do so that weakness does not get in your way any more? 

* Name Three things that you – (choose one category) * Felt grateful for * Appreciated * Were happy about* That were fun

Ray Meyer, basketball coach for DePaul for 42 years, had 42 consecutive winning seasons before he retired a few years ago. One season his team had a 29-game winning streak at the home court; then they lost a game. Reporters were anxious to get in the locker room to interview Meyer to ask him about that loss and to see how it affected him. He was all smiles; he said, “This is great. For the last ten, Twelve days we’ve been thinking about the winning streak. We’ve been trying not to lose, every game. Now that we’ve lost a game, we can go back to concentrating on winning.” Those who concentrate on failure program themselves to fail.

 

 

Walking from the American Dream

Author: Donald W. McCullough

 

Thus we must learn to fail well. Strange as it may sound, you can fail at failing or you can succeed at failing. Thomas Watson was once asked the secret of his success in bringing IBM to its leadership in the computer industry. Watson replied, “I have learned how to fail forward!” that’s the secret of failing well.

 

 

I truly believe there is a small difference between failure and mistakes. So you pour your heart, soul and savings into a business. You know this business inside out, you have done your homework, you have worked your tail off, you have sacrificed and given everything and it goes belly up. You lose everything. Did you fail? My opinion… no you had a loss. 

Whereas if you go into a business and are lazy, make poor choices, hire bad people, have sloppy business practices etc… you are building a pile of small failures that will lead to one massive failure. 

 

Who is a bigger failure… they guy who can’t read or the guy who can but reads trash all day long. I would say that guy is far off worse than the guy who can’t read. Failure is a difficult subject to quantify… because even people who seemingly succeed are many times failures in other areas of their lives… and many times every other area of their life. There is a history of rock stars who were successful in music, but not money, relationships, health, family, business etc… 

 

Look when it comes to failure, be easy on yourself. Everyone fails… if not then they aren’t trying… and again they are truly the failure not you. 

 

Psalm 119:71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn Your statutes

 

Afflicted: humbly misled. I made mistakes but learned from it. 

 

The Psalmist says humbly - I made mistakes, I failed, but I learned more about your boundaries, conditions and rules. 

 

I love failure… because usually some of my favorite stories come from it. And a lot of humor as well.

But mostly I love failure because each one is a stepping stone to success.

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

[email protected] 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

TONY BOLSTORF 

 

Criticism is an expression of pain.

 

We criticize because we feel like we have been hurt, taken advantage of or even abused and had no power to stop it or better yet it was out of our control. Now in return we still feel the slight of that pain and when someone strikes that nerve (i.e. they disagree with us, cut us down, criticize us, even offer a differing opinion) we feel the immediate need to strike back. 

 

Now there are a lot of directions to take this… but I am going to focus on this one thing… yeah we could talk about getting rid of your anger, your triggers etc… 

 

But here is the simple truth. When people criticize you they expect it in return. It is like the pay off for them. They feel empowered that you were incited to criticize back… So kill them with Kindness. This does not mean that you don’t share your honest opinion etc… but you do it in love. 

 

I have had many attacks on social media and I just love them back. I say “hey thanks for sharing, love that you read my posts, and don’t forget Jesus is crazy about you.

I have people attack me in public places for shirts I wear or for trying to share Jesus with people… I smile and say “hey its all good, I hope you have an amazing day and remember Jesus is crazy about you”. 

 

I have decided to not let criticism bring out the worst in me, but rather the best. 

 

What is criticism? it is judging the value of someones merits, or failures or differences… So why not just throw i wrench in it and love them back. 

 

Luke 6:32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 

Notice earlier I said we could talk about getting rid of our anger etc… but this scripture doesn’t talk about that at all. It simply says love them back and we will be just like God the father. 

 

You know we try a lot of ways to get rid of anger and maybe the best way is to just let the love of God flow through us. My father in law was a plumber for years and he said no matter how dirty the pipes were…. the best way to clean them was to simply allow fresh water to flow through them. 

 

And on a side note, to be honest it’s great when people expect you to strike back and you simply love them back.

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

[email protected] 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

What is the greatest gift you can give someone? 

Money?

A longer life?

An organ such as a liver, heart, kidney?

Or maybe just maybe it is something we can all give to anyone and in fact is truly the greatest gift…. here’s a hint, I am not talking about salvation- thats only a gift Jesus can give. 

 

Hope

If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.— Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

it doesn’t take much to give hope. A kind word, give them a new outlook, give them a scripture, a prayer or even a hug or pat on the back. Help them see other possibilities that they are blind too… or give them your own story of how you made it through a difficult time.

 

When I was first married and attending CFNI… my marriage was a train wreck. Completely out of control and headed for either murder or divorce…

I went out to coffee with a friend Tim Grindstaff… Hey Tim if you are listening. He shared with me how he was the same way when he married his wife… he spoke hope into me. He didn’t give me answers… just simply hope. 

 

 

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.

So that is your job…Keep hope alive in other people. You say “I need hope” here is the little secret that is important to understand. As you plant seeds of hope in others they also germinate in your life. You find yourself feeling hopeful by speaking life and hope into others it spills into your life as well. 

 

 

HOPE

Exchanging Our Eschatological Heritage

Neill Hamilton, who taught at Drew University for many years, once 

observed how people in our time lose hope for the future. It happens 

whenever we let our culture call the shots on how the world is going to 

end. 

 

Is your hope meter based on circumstances? The media?

Words spoken over your situation?

Based on your past experiences?

 

 

At this stage of technological advancement, the only way the 

culture can make sense of the future is through the picture of 

everything blowing up in a nuclear holocaust. The world cannot know 

what we know, that everything has changed in the death and resurrection 

of Jesus, that the same Christ is coming to judge the world and give 

birth to a new creation. And so, people lose hope. As Hamilton puts it: 

This substitution of an image of nuclear holocaust for the coming of >Christ is a parable of what happens to Christians when they cease to >believe in their own eschatological heritage. The culture supplies its >own images for the end when we default by ceasing to believe in >biblical images of God’s triumph at the end.

The good news of the gospel is this: when all is said and done, God is >going >to win. No Box Seats In The Kingdom, William G. Carter, CSS Publishing, Lima, >Ohio, 1996.

 

 

Martin Luther once spent three days in a black depression over something

that had gone wrong. On the third day his wife came downstairs dressed in

mourning clothes. "Who's dead?" he asked her. "God," she replied. Luther

rebuked her, saying, "What do you mean, God is dead? God cannot die."

"Well," she replied, "the way you've been acting I was sure He had!"

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

[email protected] 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

 

People enlist in the service for many reasons… a family tradition, direction, warrior mindset, find yourself…

But nobody signs up for boot camp.

 

Life is just basic training for our real job…

 

 

 

We don’t get rewarded here on earth for a good life… sure we reap what we sow… but our reward is in heaven. 

 

Rev. 2:23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

 

GK: Kai Doso Hekasto hyman kata hyman erga

*Repay you according to your deeds: I will give you a place of employment according to how well you did your job here on earth. 

But what about after the reward? When we get to heaven??? Again, life is just bootcamp. Scripture is clear we will rule and reign with Christ in eternity.

 

 

“The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him” (vv. 11–12a).

2 Timothy 2:11–13

ENDURE: GK = Hoop-ah- men -o

When it looks like we have been left behind we bravely and calmly persevere! 

*And there is the rub… many Christians today serve God thinking it puts them at the head of the line. But when seemingly it looks like we have been left behind, God has forgotten about us, his promises don’t seem to be coming true and things don’t go as planned… MANY GIVE UP.

REIGN WITH HIM: GK = Future reign for ever (aorist tense) 

 

our reign with the Lord, a reign that will involve us judging even the angels, as Paul tells us elsewhere (1 Cor. 6:3). 

 

Rev. 2: 25Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come. 26And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations. 27He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.…

Rev. 19:11 We will judge with Christ

 

All 3, 'to reign', 'to rule' and, 'to judge' relate to Christians in the time Jesus is here on earth following his return:

There is no sense in mentioning a rule over nations if these nations do not exist anymore. 

There is no sense in saying there is an opportunity to judge the world if the world to be judged is not a factor after Jesus' 2nd coming.

There is no sense in saying we will reign with Jesus, if there is no one, and no place to reign over.

Garth Heckman

 

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

[email protected] 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

Johann Sebastian Bach

Bradley Nowell of Sublime

Emily Dickinson 

Vincent van Gogh… while he was alive only sold one painting for the equivalent in todays wages $109. After he died they found 2000 pieces of his work… worth hundreds of millions. 

 

Edgar Allan Poe 

Oscar wilde

Nick drake

Jeff Buckley 

 

Stieg Larsson wrote the “Millennium” series of novels, the first of which was the “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” The series has sold more than 100 million copies, putting it in an elite category among history’s best-sellers. The book series in 2011 became a movie that earned nearly $233 million at the worldwide box office and spawned a sequel. Larsson experienced none of this success. He died of a heart attack in 2004 at 50 after submitting the manuscripts and before the first book was ever published.

 

Born in 1840, Claude Monet is now regarded as the founding father of the impressionist movement and one of history’s most important artists. While he was alive, however, he—like so many other groundbreaking experimenters—received scorn that was at least equal to his success during his life and career. In the previous few decades, however, his works have sold for more than $20 million, $40 million, and even more than $80 million at auctions.

 

Frank Kafka author of the bizarre 

 

Psalm 37:7-9

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

 

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

 

The stages of a mans life…

He believes in Santa Clause

He does not believe in Santa Clause

He is Santa Clause 

 

John Maxwell talks about the levels of ministry but it ties directly into the thoughts behind the stages of a mans life…

He says it like this. 

 

I would agree with Maxwell and say that this is our stage in life as men regardless if we are in ministry or not. As I get older I realize more and more that I just want to make a difference in peoples lives. Are you there yet? 

I have never cared what people think of me… my parents raised me with such a healthy self esteem and I understood Gods love at a young age that that is not what stopped me. What stopped me was a lack in life experience and only that can prove to a man what is really important. 

 

But here is the point. If you have the chance to live life with the sum goal of becoming more intimate with Jesus… you may not actually realize the difference you made in this world until after you die.

Here is my main example… Jesus. The disciples didn’t even recognize the impact he had until after he died. So lets live a life worth dying for.

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

[email protected] 

 

webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net

 

Warren Buffet is almost 90 years old and he is worth 90 billion dollars. But how much do you think we was worth at the age of 47? Maybe half that? Or at least 20 Billion? Hey at least, I mean at least 1 Billion.

 

 

So how much is a billion dollars? it is 100 million in 100 stacks. Thats 100 stacks of 100 million… 

Thats a thousand million! Buffet has 90 stacks of a thousand millions.

 

So he must have had at least 1 billion at half his age… right? NOPE he had only 67 million… now that is nothing to sneeze at, but it’s not even one stack in his first billion.

 

he credits it to minimizing bad choices and making daily small good choices. 

 

So when you look hard at the research and dig in deep to those who consistently make a rich and rewarding life (and not just financially) they have 3 things in common.

 

Limit big bad decisions

Make lots of small good decisions daily

Be willing to take risks that are outside of the normal existing practice of that field or area of life. 

 

Let me break this down for you.

As a follower of Christ we can limit bad decisions by simply reading, praying and obeying daily. We know what big bad decisions are… looking at porn, fornication or sex outside of marriage, greed, dishonesty… 

ITS NOT TO HARD TO SEE THE BIG ONES.

 

The trick is in making the “lots of small good decisions.”

Taking your family to church every Sunday, taking notes on the sermon. Reading devotionals and attending a mens small group bible study. Praying with your spouse and your kids. Tithing, serving in your local church. Only speaking positively and never flirtatiously. 

 

But the secret sauce to life is #3. Taking risky decisions… now I don’t mean dumb decisions. But well thought out, calculated and faith filled decisions. Maybe its to start a side business, or pray for the women in your office. Share Christ with your boss, start your own bible study, give all that money you are saving up for your new boat to the missions trip or to an orphanage. Maybe its forgiving that one person who hates you and will never receive your forgiveness… but you still do it.

 

Now here is where it really gets interesting. If I break down the formula for the great life it kind of goes like this.

Rule #2 keeps us from breaking rule #1 and once that takes place over time we build momentum in our lives and it is easier to practice rule #3. And as you start to practice rule #3 you are even more hungry for rule #2. In time 2 and 3 work off of each other and tear the teeth and power out of rule #1.