NEW BOOK!!!

Just got Bob Franquiz's book Zero to sixty this past week. I was looking for a book that would give me straight to the point information. After reading several reviews of this book I had to get it.

So far I'm really impressed with the book. When I'm finished I'll share my thoughts a little more.

Lion Chaser's Manifesto

If you haven't read it by now you got to read "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson. This is one of the most influential books that I have ever read in my life. After reading this book it challeneged me to re-evaluate my prespective on life and ministrty. If you don't want to be inspired and challeneged DON'T read this book it will miss you up! Below is the manifesto of a Lion Chaser. If this doesn't turn your crank then your crank is broken.

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

Flesh People vs. Faith People

I just started reading this book Right People Right Place Right Plan-Discerning the Voice of God by Jentezen Franklin. Since i am in a state of transition i thought this would be a perfect book to read. As ministers we are constantly surrounded by people and being Pastors we want to think the best of people but I'm sure many of you had close encounters with "wolves in sheep clothing". In his book Pastor Jentezen writes about Character Discernment which is simply "the ability to find relationships that are good for you, and to avoid those that are not". Simple i know, but how many of us really pray that God gives us character discernment. We get so busy with "doing" the ministry and growing the church that we think more people equals success. Don't get me wrong we have to be concern with the numbers. If your church isn't growing you better figure it out and fix it because the longer your church is stagnant and fruitless the more people are going to hell.

What i am talking about is as Pastors and church leaders we need to be careful the kind of voices we let into our circle of influence. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:5 "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." We need to be able to discern "flesh people" from "faith people".

FLESH PEOPLE

• tear you down.
• feed your fears.
• waste your time.
• drain your energy.

FAITH PEOPLE

• build you up.
• feed your faith.
• fill your life.
• draw you closer to being the person God created you to be.
• the ones who will be lovingly honest with you.
• they are strong when you are weak.

I'll shut up now i don't want to ruin it for you. This book is really challenging me and helping me during this season of my life you've got to read this book.