Happy Birthday! And Here Is Your Chance To Win A Free Gift
Today is my birthday! Congratulations to my mom – you had a boy!
In honor of my birthday, I would like to celebrate you. Thank you for joining this growing community and adding to the conversation. It is a blessing to share my thoughts with you and then for you to share your thoughts and responses. I am excited for the conversations to come.
So, today, I would like to give a gift. I will give away one of my favorite books as a free gift to one lucky person. What are my favorite books? Well, there are many; but, these are a few that have had an impact on my life:
- Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson (click here to see my review)
- i am not but i know I AM (Kindle edition only) by Louie Giglio
- Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley
- Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
- Radical by David Platt
- Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony
The lucky person will receive their choice of one book from the list above.
How to win:
You enter for a chance to win by leaving a comment in the comments section below. Choose one, or more, of the following question(s) to answer in your comment:
- What is the best gift that you have been given or that you have given to someone else?
- If you have read any of the books in the list above, which is your favorite?
- What is a topic (within the context of family, life and leadership) that you would like to see written about in this blog?
A winner will be randomly chosen, and then announced, from those that comment by midnight on July 1, 2011. The winner will be contacted by email for your mailing address and book preference.
Thanks again and good luck. The contest begins…now! You can click here to comment.
Why I Don’t Like 115 And 7 Ways To Deal With It
It was kind of fun to watch the numbers climb and to take pictures…as long as we stayed in the car!
My family just returned from a road trip to the homeland – Texas. I love going back home. I enjoy seeing friends and family, checking out everything that has changed – and everything that has not changed. And, I always look forward to taking in some of the local dining establishments that I loved while growing up and that you just can’t get anywhere else.
However, this trip brought something that I do not enjoy so much … intensive, never-ending, no-hiding-from, make-you-want-to-crawl-inside-of-an-air-conditioner heat!
Are You There Yet – Seven Ways To Know The Right Place And Right Time
I get anxious about things. I want something to happen. I get my mind set on something and I want it to happen now. And, I want it to happen in the way that I envision (or better – according to my perspective).
I get frustrated when things don’t happen in the way that I want them to happen.
And, I get stressed as I question how things are supposed to work out and when things are supposed to happen – especially when there appears to be a lack of progress.
I just want to know when it is the right place at the right time!
Can you relate?
7 Foundations For Creating The Best Event Of The Year
Vacation Bible School has been a part of children’s summers for, well, longer than you or I have been around. Our church is known for running one of the largest, and best, VBS’s around (I am not trying to brag here – this comes from year after year comments from children, parents and leaders of other churches).
[This is part of the Why We Cannot Wait For Summer Series. Have you seen the other posts yet?]
In fact, we often get asked how we do it. People want to know how we bring a thousand children and hundreds of adults and teens together to create an experience that no one forgets.
It all starts with two words…Let’s Pray! read more
How Two Words Can Develop Your Character And Help You Become A Leader
Today I have the honor of guest posting on Brandon Gilliland’s blog. Brandon has been writing a series on character. My post is part of that series and takes a look at two foundational words that are essential to developing character.
Here is an excerpt of my post titled “How Two Words Can Develop Your Character And Help You Become A Leader“:
What is it that makes you notice people? The way they act? The way they talk? Do you notice people more when they blend in with the crowd; or, when they do something that is a bit different? Obviously, we notice those that are a bit different. And, we definitely notice those that are a lot different.
Whether or not we like the way that these really different people are different, there are things that we can learn from them about developing our own character.
Brandon has been writing on the concept of Character…well, actually on the concept of developing Godly Character. But, there are two important components to developing our character that we can learn from observing people whether we consider them to be “good characters” or “bad characters”.
1. Conviction.
The definition of conviction is: a firmly held belief or opinion. Whether good characters or bad characters, those that stand out from the crowd have some sort of firmly held belief that guides their actions and reactions in life…
…However, a conviction by itself is not enough. By itself, a conviction is nothing more than a fleeting thought. For it to be anything more, you have to act upon that conviction. And, that action takes…
Want to know the rest of the story and get the second word? You can read the rest on Brandon’s site by clicking here.
Question: What would you add to the list as an important part of a person’s character? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
God Is Wild About You – VBS Weekend Celebration
What better way to end an incredible week of Vacation Bible School than to celebrate with the whole church! Our church took the opportunity this weekend to remember, celebrate and share the experiences of what God has done through VBS.
[This is part of the Why We Cannot Wait For Summer Series. Have you seen the other posts yet?]
Experience The Event Through Video
Want to experience a little bit of the whole week in under four minutes? Check out the following video: read more
God Is Wild About You – VBS Day 5
A wild and exciting previous four days brings us to the fifth and final day of Vacation Bible School. It has been an amazing, incredible, life-changing week – for the kids and for the teens and for the adults!
[This is part of the Why We Cannot Wait For Summer Series. Have you seen the other posts yet? Click here to see the list of posts for other days of Vacation Bible School!]
Today is a bittersweet day. The day represents the culmination of months of effort and anticipation. It has been a great week and it has been a long week. It has been an adrenaline rush. Everyone is tired and yet energized. There is some relief that we are drawing to a close; but, I would do it all again next week, and the week after, in a heartbeat!
Wild Bible Adventure Clues
We like to have fun – even when introducing the Bible Story. Each day we had a clue that would give us a hint of what the Bible Story would be for the day. The only problem read more
God Is Wild About You – VBS Day 4
The biggest event of the year, Vacation Bible School, changes lives! Definitely, it is Day 4 of VBS!
The fourth day of VBS has been completely centered upon the message of Jesus and the relationship he wants to have with each one of us. Was the day impactful? Absolutely.
[This is part of the Why We Cannot Wait For Summer Series. Have you seen the other posts yet? Click here to see the list of posts for other days of Vacation Bible School!]
Talking To God Changes Things
We have definitely learned that prayer is a powerful tool that God has given us to use. In fact, we have a phrase that we use often with the kids: Talking To God Changes Things. This helps us to remember that prayer is simply a conversation with God and that it has the power to change what happens.
Impactful Worship
The worship all week has been incredible and today saw the impact become even greater…children worshipping, not because it is what everyone else is doing, but because they want to connect with the One True God! read more
God Is Wild About You – VBS Day 3
Hundreds of kids everywhere you look. People dressed up in costumes telling stories from the Bible. Leaders on stage doing silly things just to get the attention of kids. And special guests conquering amazing feats. It can only mean one thing… Day 3 of Vacation Bible School!!
[This is part of the Why We Cannot Wait For Summer Series. Have you seen the other posts yet? Click here to see the list of posts for other days of Vacation Bible School!]
Giant Panda Cookies
We had several friends bless us this morning with cookies of all types. A definite God Sighting for us. This picture shows a couple of those cookies – although, I think I would call them more of a work of art (not to be left as art…they sure were yummy)!
Smelly Dark Places
Not necessarily where I would choose to go for fun. However, it was the ultimate destination read more
God Is Wild About You – VBS Day 2
Steven Cribbs 
Life 
adventure, biggest event of the summer, Children, PandaMania, Vacation Bible SchoolDay 2 of our wild adventures in Vacation Bible School!!! I love being a part of a bigger story than my own small story. This week is definitely shaping up to be a God-sized story and I am excited and honored to be a part of it.
[This is part of the Why We Cannot Wait For Summer Series. Have you seen the other posts yet? Click here to see the list of posts for other days of Vacation Bible School!]
As I mentioned yesterday, we love to worship. We use simple, yet meaningful, intentional and fun motions in our worship. Here are some of our passionate worship leaders leading the way as we got started this morning.
Kung Fu Masters
One aspect of this big event, that we always find to be a lot of fun, is the opportunity to read more
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