Monday, October 11, 2010

Entitled vs. Engaged

Sometimes, we are a generation of people doing things we don't love. People have a "I'm, but" approach to life.

"I'm an accountant, but I want to be an artist."
"I'm a teacher, but I want to be a abolitionist."
"I'm a web developer, but I want to be a youth minister."

We're caught in the endless tension between doing what we have to do - pay the bills, be responsible, make good on college degrees, and what we want to do - feel alive, feel necessary, be part of something bigger than ourselves.

Do you ever feel as though you have a sense of entitlement? That you're entitled to do something bigger and better? Have you ever felt that God was too slow or too impersonal or too disengaged from your heart's desire for something bigger?

What does that look like?
How do you know if you're there?

Entitled people are always exhausted by their dream.
Engaged people are refreshed and energized. Sure, they might be tired from the hard work but they are not drained in a negative way.

Entitled people repel friends the more they talk about their dream because it is laced with disappointment.
Engaged people attract people because the joy of their dream is infectious.

Entitled people believe in the myth of "overnight success."
Engaged people know that working at what they dream about is part of the reward of the experience.

Entitled people wait for a major life change to get started. They make excuses.
Engaged people start right where they are and realize there's no "perfect time" to pursue a dream.

Entitled people see the success of others as a personal insult.
Engaged people celebrate when someone else wins.

Are you entitled, or are you engaged?

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Charity : Water

I got the privilege to see Scott Harrison speak about his foundation, Charity : Water at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta this past week. Check it out.


Thursday, September 23, 2010

Healing Story

Stan & Ruth Burgess share their powerful healing story. This video was shown over last weekend at Schweitzer UMC's services.

Monday, September 20, 2010

2010 Mantreat

The High School men of Schweitzer's Youth Group embarked on the 2nd Annual Mantreat. We took the guys down to Jasper, AR to camp over night on Saturday night, and then got up early, and drove to Compton, AR on Sunday morning. We then hiked down to Hemmed-In Hollow where the guys got to check out the 200+ foot waterfall (largest between the Rockies and Appalachians). We went from 2000 ft. at the trailhead down to 720 ft. above sea level at the bottom of the waterfall over a 2.5 mile hike. We also got to take a dip in the Buffalo River. This is a picture of all the guys and chaperones once we hiked back out of Hemmed-In Hollow.

2010 Mantreat

The High School men of Schweitzer's Youth Group embarked on the 2nd Annual Mantreat. We took the guys down to Jasper, AR to camp over night on Saturday night, and then got up early, and drove to Compton, AR on Sunday morning. We then hiked down to Hemmed-In Hollow where the guys got to check out the 200+ foot waterfall (largest between the Rockies and Appalachians) and also take a dip in the Buffalo River. This is a picture of all the guys and chaperones once we hiked back out of Hemmed-In Hollow.




Thursday, September 2, 2010

NT90: Day 2

Sept. 2, 2010
Day 2: Matthew 6-9

The Golden Rule. Jesus probably isn't just concerned that we know the "rule" as much as he is that we live the "golden life." This idea of doing for others what we would want done for ourselves summarizes Jesus' teaching to his disciples about how to live for others. It also captures the spirit of the law of the OT and the teaching of the prophets. In other words, living to bless others is God's will for us in all of our relationships. We are not here to live for ourselves, but to live for others. God can use it in ways we would never anticipate to touch the lives of others.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

NT90: Day 1

Sept. 1, 2010
Day 1: Matthew 1-5

What if the fullfillment of God's greatest promises depended on my faithfulness (or yours)? That's a tough question to answer. But Matt. 1:23-24 emphasize how this happened with Joseph and Mary. In very simple terms, Matthew tells us how God spoke his will through the prophets and angels as well as how Joseph and Mary obeyed what God told them to do. That's still the same way God's promises to people come true in today's world. God uses the simple obedience in little or big matters to make known his promised salvation. We will not always know why God calls us to some task, challenge, or opportunity, but we can be sure that he will use our faithfulness to him, to his glory and our greater good.