Category: success

who’s the greatest?


We are besieged with advertising about who has the greatest products.

Everything and everybody wants to be the top dog.
People everywhere are scratching and striving to get the best positions.

“We’re number 1″
That’s what they all say.

When the mother of James and John came to Jesus for a favor, she wanted a place of prominence for her sons. Jesus explained that if they wanted to be great, they had to be servants.

When I think of great leaders I think of men and women who would gladly sacrifice themselves for others.
These people are not necessarily the pastors of mega-churches or CEO’s of multi-billion companies.
These individuals give, not looking for anything in return.
They don’t look for publicity moments.

They serve with their heart.

If you are looking to be the greatest, look to serve others.

That’s the way we can all be winners.

god in my city


My city is no different from many other cities in America.
We have our share of crime, homelessness, and poverty.
Our schools could be doing better and the housing market is pretty rough.
Plenty of people are unemployed.

Also, our city is known as the “City of Champions”.
We have plenty of trophies around here to prove that.

We are also known as the “Crossroads of America” because Joliet is located where Interstates 55 and 80 meet.

We have a diverse population and distinctive cultural communities.

Things aren’t all bad but they could be better.

God is looking for His people to take more responsibility for what happens in the communities that they live in.
He wants to be a part of our every day lives.

I look forward to sharing in the near future about all of the things that God is doing in my city.

weekend review


This past weekend was amazing!
Here are a few of my observations:

  • Our Prayer Initiative in Hartman Park was great.
  • It was good to be in the middle of a park that is in the middle of a neighborhood.
  • It’s interesting to see who is awake at 8am on a Saturday morning.
  • Our city has a long way to go in the area of race relations.
  • The presence of God was with us from the beginning.

I can’t wait to see what happens this coming Saturday at the high schools.
We will be praying at both schools, Joliet West at 9am and Joliet Central at 10am.

God is up to something in Joliet!

7 Acts to make an Impact (Unity)


The Act of Unity

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.” (Romans 15:5)

In spite of the differences we have in race, age, sex, income, and denomination, we all need to come together.

Everyone’s perspective is needed if we are going to advance the kingdom of God on the earth.

No one church or group of people have all the answers.

No one has a lock on what God is doing.

Unity is not being the same, but having the same goal.

There should never be any discrimination or prejudice in the body of Christ.

Unfortunately, people do a lot of spiritual profiling. They make judgements on someone else’s spirituality based on the way they dress or what church they attend.

The call of Christ should bring us together but traditions and religion keep us apart.

7 Acts to make an Impact


THE ACT OF COURAGE

Courage is defined as mental or moral strength.

I believe that the courage that a follower of Christ has comes from faith in God and it is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

It takes a certain strength and courage to make an impact.

Nehemiah felt the burden to rebuild the walls.
He had a determination and he had to endure much criticism to accomplish his task.

It is going to take some daring and guts to make an IMPACT in our community.

When you go against the flow, you have to have the nerve to believe that God can do anything.

In Ezekiel 2, Ezekiel got sent to preach to the Israelites in Babylon.
These people were stubborn and difficult, but he went anyway.

For too long we have been comfortable sitting on the fence.
It has been too easy for us to curl up in our easy chairs of tradition.

When anything or anybody demands loyalty that doesn’t honor God, you need to stand your ground.

Those who are courageous will take the lead in making an IMPACT for the Lord.

Daniel, Esther, Ruth, Joshua, David, Paul…..Jesus
these are great examples of courageous people.

Where is your name?

funky faith friday

Here are a few things that I am believing God for:

1. We are holding our next Prayer Initiative on Saturday, August 13th at Hartman Park on the eastside of Joliet. I am looking for a big turnout of people of different ethnic backgrounds, economic statuses, ages, etc. Our city has been hit with a rash of violence this summer and it will be awesome to see people lay aside differences and come together.

2. Looking to do an outdoor community event in the Parkwood area of Joliet sometime in either late August or September. Praying for resources, finances, and volunteers.

3. I am amp’d about what God is going to do in our city. Some people have given up on us but i am crazy enough to believe God.

funky faith friday

Here are a few things that I am CRAZY enough to believe God for:

1. Our next Prayer Initiative will be tomorrow in the Parkwood area of Joliet. This section of our city has been hit recently with a rash of burglaries and other crimes.

2. We are looking for some bold, multi-ethnic partners who are crazy enough to want to make a difference in our city.

3. With Gods vision comes Gods provision. We are expecting doors to be opened!

who are they?

I have been thinking about the young guys and the young ladies who don’t fit in the mold of the traditional church.
The ones with the tats and the braids.
The ones with the nose rings and the bad pasts.

They have been searching for hope, healing, and peace.
They also are looking for love, compassion, and acceptance.
They are tired of being judged and sometimes condemned for the way they look.

What is the answer from the church?
What will we say to those who cry out for help? Will we try to make them look like us instead of Christ?

In Psalm 72, Solomon is asking God to help him to lead the people.
Verse 12 says, “For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.”

Our response should be to reach out to everyone, regardless of race, sex, or lifestyle, with the love of God.
It shouldn’t matter to us who they are or what they have done.
What should matter is that each of them is a child of God and that He loves them dearly.

step out

Faith without works is dead.
(James 2:20)

I love to read, especially about things I plan on doing in the future.
I have countless books at home and I read blogs everyday.

Eventually I will have to put down the books and put some action behind what i believe.

See, what I believe sounds crazy. It sounds impossible.
It sounds like God.

update


I haven’t posted anything in about a week now.
I have been crazy busy with work and school and family and….

I am totally amp’d about this months Prayer Initiative.
We are going to be praying outside on the Hill section of Joliet/Lockport.

Instead of waiting until something bad happens to pray, we are flipping the script.

Last month we were on the East side of Joliet and it went great.
Ok God. Please do it again!