bob thoughts

willing to do whatever it takes

"Willing to do whatever it takes" is a pretty popular phrase and if you did a quick google search you would find over 4.5 million pages. This phrase is used in business, NASCAR, politics, drug and alcohol rehab, sports, and almost any other area you can imagine.

What about in the church? Are we willing to do whatever it takes to help people find their way back God? The churches natural tendencies are to move toward what the current people want or like and neglect what will reach the people outside of the church. That's why we must be willing to do whatever it takes because if we aren't intentional we think internally not externally.

We should stop asking the question - What's in it for me?

And start asking the question - Jesus how can I serve you?

"Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers: "What kind of example is this from your teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?" Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I'm after mercy, not religion. I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.'"

funny monday

Sorry for being an absent blogger last week. So here are a couple of funny pictures to start of your Monday.

Be careful where you sit.

Be careful where you park your car.

creativity equation

Mark Batterson just posted these creativity equations on his blog.

1) 1% Change = 99% Difference
2) 1 God Idea > 1000 good ideas
3) Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective
4) More Mistakes = More Innovation
5) 90% of Creativity = AM Hours

How can you use one of these to be raise your level of creativity today?

life is a journey

Anticipation can be a very powerful drug. So much of life is about the journey and not just the destination.

Think about it for a moment. The thrill and anticipation of Christmas morning and the opening of gifts is usually followed by a day or two of playing with what you got and then your done. And then it's not long before you start making your list for next Christmas.

In life don't forget to enjoy where you are at because you are always anticipating where you will be next.

best wife ever

Last week Martha joined me as we spoke about marriage at LIfePoint. She did a great job and one of the things we did was take questions from people. I made her answer all the hard questions.

I have been telling her for years that she should write a book about marriage and being a wife.

I just wanted to share this picture and let you know how proud I am of her. Most people have no idea how difficult it is to be a pastors wife and she makes it so easy.

marriage help - consistent and persistent

I just read about being consistent and persistent from Seth Godin's Blog.

That might be exactly the strategy you need to have an impact on the market.

Consistent as in not stopping to say, "my turn." Persistent as in long-lasting, not as in annoyingly over the top. And with permission, because interacting without delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages is a waste at best, annoying at worst.

Even though he's not talking about marriage I think those principles still apply. Being consistent in your marriage - always giving effort. Persistent as in never giving up regardless of the outcome. And then delivering personal and relevant messages in a way your spouse can clearly hear you.

Are you being cosistent and persistent with your spouse?

seven reasons why marriages get into trouble

Since we have been talking about marriage at LifePoint I wanted to share this post from Perry Noble where he talks about problems in marriage.

#1 – Unrealistic Expectations

When a person goes into a marriage thinking the following…there is trouble on the way…

“I know he/she isn’t exactly what I want right now–but marriage will change them.” (Hint–if you aren’t ready to commit to them as they are–DON’T COMMIT!)

• “This person will make me happy.”
• “I know he/she cheats on me now, but when we get married they will stop.”
• “I know he/she talks to me like I am garbage right now, but when we get married they will see the value in me.”
• “We’re going to have sex ALL OF THE TIME!” (Singles–marriage is about A LOT more than just sex!)

#2 – Ignoring The “Gut Check” Before The Marriage.

I have spoken to lots of people who have unfortunately experienced divorce–and nearly every single one of them, when I pressed down on the issue, has said that they knew before they got married that they should not have–but wanted to go ahead and go through with it to save themselves from the embarrassment.

If you KNOW it’s wrong–better a little embarrassment now than a lot of pain later.

#3 – Unwillingness To Work Through Issues

Married couples have their issues–that is just the way it is; however, the people you know that have strong marriages work through their issues. They talk honestly and openly with one another–they hold true to Ephesians 4:26-29.

Once again–they talk TO ONE ANOTHER, not ABOUT ONE ANOTHER. They don’t go to their Bible study, accountability partner to bash their spouse…they sit down like a real man and woman and work it out!

#4 – The Other Person Becomes Unimportant

When work, hobbies or the kids replace the importance of the spouse then bad times are sure to follow. It’s work…but the marriage MUST remain the most important relationship on the planet.

#5 – The Greener Grass Syndrome

When a man/woman begins looking at “other options” and fantasizing about them–THAT is always trouble. The line between fantasy and reality become blurred…and often lines are crossed because a person will think, “I’ve done it wrong in this marriage…but he/she is my chance to start over and it will be wonderful.”

Hey, guess what–the grass IS greener on the other side–but ONLY because it happens to be over the septic tank!

#6 – Money

I have seen more couples have the dumbest arguments over money. A couple will “fall in love” with each other and then “fall in love” with stuff, thus going out and accumulating debt in massive amounts so that they can have in three years what it took their parents 30 years to accumulate!

If a couple isn’t doing the budget thing and having honest discussions about financial priorities–it WILL wreak havoc on the marriage.

#7 – Church/Godly Influences Are Pushed Out Of Their Lives

I’ve seen it so many times…a couple will be doing wonderful…involved in church, establishing solid friendships–until, one of them (usually the man) gets “busy” with work…the lady tries to hang in there without him for a while–but eventually become discouraged and gives up. Next thing you know they have absolutely NOTHING in common & wind up being strangers sleeping in the same bed.

There is something absolutely amazing about connecting on a spiritual level–going to church and praying together, having godly friends that will encourage and support you. I know that this is HUGE for ‘Cretia and I! I just don’t think we were called to do life alone. (Hebrews 10:24-25.)

this sunday

This week at LifePoint we will be talking about marriage and Martha will be joining me during the message. We will be taking questions and some of them we will answer live on Sunday. If you would like to take a quick survey and ask your questions now you can click here.

The link on Sunday to ask live questions wil be http://www.youversion.com/events/760. See you Sunday!

creativity

If you are inspired by creativity like I am then you are going to love this video. Coming up with the ideas is one thing and then the time to put it together is another. Watch and enjoy - then go do something creative today.

traction and friction

By Seth Godin

A big car on a wet frozen lake goes nowhere. No traction, no motion.

A small bug working its way across a gravel driveway takes forever. Too much friction, too little motion.

If you're stuck, it's probably because one of these two challenges.

There's not enough traction online. Too many choices, too few boundaries. It's easy to get stuck because there's nothing to push off of, no box to think outside of.

There's too much friction in stuck industries. The walls have been expanded for so long, you just can't get over them.

The power of online platforms is that they create traction. No, you can't write more than 140 characters, no you can't design any layout you want, no you can't spam everyone with your inane sales pitch. You have something to leverage against, but it's that thing, the friction, that makes it work.

The best marketers I know make up rules for themselves and they don't break them. It's very easy to surrender to the moment and walk over to the next hill. It's more productive to climb this hill instead.

I think this has spiritual implications as well. Sometimes we sit and spin our wheels and sometimes we try to do too many things and actually get nowhere.