Our life is not about aimless wanderings. 

LaDonna’s love for Glenda translated into seven (7) long years of intercessory prayer.  She hoped that Glenda would one day give her life to Jesus.  As time went on, LaDonna finally grew weary in her weekly prayers for Glenda; so much so, that she actually stop praying for Glenda. 

Two weeks went by and then something happened.  Out of the blue, Glenda calls LaDonna on the phone with some exciting news.  She had just given her life to Christ and wanted to attend church where LaDonna went.  Unable to contain her excitement, LaDonna asked Glenda to please hold on the line for just a minute.  In the background Glenda heard LaDonna shouting for joy and praising God for Glenda’s salvation!  When LaDonna returned to the line, she told Glenda in a calm peaceful manner, "I’m looking forward to seeing you in church this next Sunday."

Little did LaDonna realize that her prayers for just one person set into motion "concentric rings of ministry" that still flow today, impacting the lives of thousands of people.  Since that time approximately 200 people have come to the Lord.  This included my wife’s entire family in just one year! 

Three people have entered into full-time Christian ministry.  Two non-profit Christian organizations have been formed.  Two churches have been planted.  A coalition of hundreds of churches involving thousands of Christians worked together in a city-reaching movement that still continues to impact an entire community for Christ. 

Remember, your life matters because God makes sure it does. 

Tomorrow morning when you get out of bed, pray this simple prayer: "O.K. God, what have you got planned for us to do today?"  Then go out there and watch what happens.  You might be very surprised.

You’ve probably seen in my previous writings that insanity is "doing the same things over and over again; expecting different results." 

Our environment resonates with three (3) principles:

• First, God orchestrates personal relationships for divine purposes!  Teamwork and ministry are maximized through the “avenues” of meaningful personal relationships.  God uses relational networks to accomplish His strategic plans in impacting a small group of people, a large fellowship, or an entire community.
   
• Second, unity may be defined as a targeted force of many…moving as one!  This is not accomplished through conformity, but through unity of purpose – where we celebrate our own unique designs, respect other’s differences, and then capitalize on personal strengths and pooled resources.

• Third, through “synergism” we cross the threshold into explosive biblical dynamics.  This is a process by which people learn the value of effectual communication, mutual cooperation, and transformational community.  In a practical sense, ministry aspirations are fully realized, visions are transformed into actions, and results are measured in biblical proportions.

As individuals, we can often see the "big" picture as this relates to finding simple solutions to complex challenges.  But this doesn’t satisfy us.  We purpose to reach new heights in helping ministries grow and move forward.  To do this, we must constantly tap into creative genius and innovative design.  This is found only in "relational synergism" - the "bigger" picture.

What God has done…and continues to do in our midst, He can do in yours.  We embody transformational principles which are transferal to others ready for the journey.

We see this as a "mission accomplished."  Our hopes in helping ministries build coalition forces for worldwide evangelism are now starting to take shape.

Defining who we really are, can be a challenge. 

We go through so many changes and seasons in our life that influence the way we think and act.  We also have a tendency to imitate others we admire and respect.  But does this truly define who we are, really?

As a company, we’ve finally come to some conclusions.  We are not like many others in the marketplace, especially in web design and software development.  I guess the best analogy of who we are, is the television commercial of the two guys: PC and Mac.  The PC guy is professionally dressed, all about efficiency, and little nerdy.  The Mac guy is casually dressed, all about aesthetics, and “cool.”

The Mac best describes our company, organic and approachable.  And even though we are the "new" kids on the block, we have many years of experience in ministry and technology.  People say our software is amazing with a "wow" factor that has great value and practical functionality.  We have a reputation for being visionaries, ahead-of-the-curve, and innovators.  We kinda like these labels, which resonate from the "paradigm shifts" that we’ve experienced in our personal lives.  At times we do feel like "a voice crying in the wilderness."

Rest assured, we don’t consider ourselves radicals or revolutionaries.  We are still ordinary people with extraordinary vision, especially as this relates to thinking and doing Church in the 21st Century.  And even though we think "outside the box," we still celebrate an organic, back-to-the-basics approach in life and ministry.  Jesus is at the center of our lives; guiding and directing our paths in purpose and mission.

For some of you, this kind of talk sounds a little "futuristic or out there!" But with all respect, this is the future of things to come.  In order for us to reach the next generations, we will have to shift into a higher gear in relevant language and practice.  New technology can help us.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV)."

Community is the reason God created mankind. 

Community is at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Community is the mission of the Church.  So, what makes community so appealing?

Community is where we belong, grow, and participate.  In community we discover a very important truth:  We are not alone.  We, each of us, belong to God and each other.  We grow in relationships and experience life together.

Community may be described as “common oneness” – a place where different people find common connection.  They learn to accept and welcome differences; and at the same time, they build friendships and bonds.

Perhaps the best example of community is found in Scripture.

"They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.  Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!  And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.  They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God.  People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved (Acts 2:42-47, The Message)."

My prayer is that somehow, someway, the Church could experience this kind of community, today.  What gives me hope is the above Scripture.  Ordinary people did “connect” with an extraordinary God.  They experienced "life together" in a community environment that stands as a witness to us all.

We all long to experience an environment that resonates with great passion for God and sincere compassion for people.  God created community with us in mind.  So, let’s enjoy it.

The 1st Century Church understood how cities can be transformed.

Since that time, over 10,000 "student-led" Bible studies and prayer groups have been planted on school campuses all across the U.S.  This all began with one commmited Christian "on fire" for the Lord.

America is now beginning to experience what can happen when Christians unite in prayer, purpose, and transformation.  City-reaching coalitions are being formed all across America.  They are tearing down the walls that divide and building bridges that foster "relational synergism" - people working together for greater purposes, realized only through concerted efforts. 

God is not finished with the Church in America.  Now is the time to embrace renewal…revival…and reformation!

Greg and I had a great conversation the other day.  We talked about city-reaching, a great passion that both of us share.  Many years ago we were both instrumental in helping cast vision for city-reaching with ministries leaders in our home town. We watched as the Lord did some great things in our midst.

For a season, the Lord opened up a window of opportunity for many people to come together on common ground, collaborate, and build coalition forces for advancing the Kingdom of God. 

We all had hoped that the “brush fires” of revival would soon catch our whole city ablaze.  And then, things changed.

Circumstances began scattering ministry leaders to the wind.  Some moved; others retired.  A lack of resources caused some to leave the ministry and return to secular employment.  The attendance at ecumenical gatherings slowly began to wane and so did city-reaching plans.

No one truly knows what happened.  Was God shutting it down?  Was the enemy destroying our efforts?  Or was it our lack of faith and commitment to working together as the Body of Christ?  Only God knows.

But even though the activities and events died, the hope for city-reaching lived on in our hearts.  There are still those of us who never gave up hope.  When Greg talks about his hope for city-reaching, I feel the fire begin to burn in my heart.

He recently met with a new group of youth ministers whose passion for city-reaching is beginning to take shape.  They have worked through their denominational difference and are now working together.  They are unhampered by competition and “sheep stealing.”  They are only interested in seeing lives transformed by the power of Christ.

As Greg shared this with me, his eyes glistened with hope.  He shared with these ministers how to stay “connected” using our software. They were excited.  Could it be that the Lord will once again rally us together and breathe life into our midst?

We stand ready to meet the challenge

Everything we do in life is about people and relationships. 

So, what about those time when people rub us the wrong way?  Consider the following tips about people and relationships: 

• People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered – love them anyway.
• If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives – do good anyway!
• If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies – succeed anyway!
• The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow – do good anyway!
• Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable – be honest and frank anyway!
• The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds – think big anyway!
• People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs – fight for some underdogs anyway!
• What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight – build anyway!
• Give the world the best you’ve got, and you’ll get kicked in the teeth – give the world the best you’ve got anyway!

 
An unwilling to negotiate change can hamper the growth and forward progress of ministries.

Change often flows like a mighty river.  The current can be swift and strong with no obvious place to cross.  But people soon come to realize that crossing the mighty river of change is not only inevitable, but necessary.

For change to happen, four (4) mighty rivers, characteristic of people’s culture, values, and perception of reality, must be bridged.  These bridges pave the way for a successful crossing.  Keep in mind these mighty rivers as you plan your safe crossing.

River of the Mind - people’s intellect (knowledge and perception of reality).  A "bridge" of good information must be built. This requires providing new information for people to digest. This must include facts, statistics, and testimonies that "raise people’s eyebrows," creating a sense of urgency for progress and growth.

River of the Heart - people’s emotions (beliefs, values, and attitudes).  A "bridge" of meaningful relationships must be built. This requires intentional processes in the building of good relationships.  The kind built on trust and a growth-oriented environment that values individual contributions, celebrates differences, and promotes unity of purpose.  We can impress people with facts and figures from afar, but we cannot impact their lives except through up-close and personal encounters, which foster understanding and empathy.

River of Group Behavior - the culture.  A "bridge" of life-giving community must be built.  Community provides the environment where change can be embraced, celebrated, and put into action.  It also creates awareness, addresses people’s needs, and transforms the culture.

Change is all about “bridge-building,” which takes time and much effort.  Once built, the path to growth and forward progress may now be available for many others to follow.

Relationships: the good, the bad, the ugly. 

Did you know that most problems we face in life have to do with difficulties in relationships?  These include marriage and family; employee and employer.  Problems that we have with others can impact our relationship with God and vice versa.

Good relationships begin with us.  God wired us for relationships.  The value and essence of good relationships lies deep within our hearts.  The choice is ours to breathe life or death into relationships.

There are times when we become our own worst enemy in sabotaging relationships.  This can result in a breakdown in our ability to accept and love ourselves.  To compensate for this we often wear masks to hide our true identity.  We can play games with our emotions to disguise our true feelings.  We can build walls around our lives that safely block-out the influences of others, whether good or bad.

Jill has problems accepting herself.  These problems make it difficult for her to accept and love others, including her family.  Holding relationships at arms-length is her way of dealing with her poor self-image.  Until she learns to accept and love herself, she will never be fully able to connect in meaningful relationships with others.

One of the ways people compensate for the problem of a poor self-image is through the wearing of “phony-bologna” masks that hide their authenticity.  According to Alan Loy McGinnis in his book, The Friendship Factor, “We vacillate between the impulse to reveal ourselves and the impulse to protect ourselves with a blanket of privacy.  We long both to be known and to remain hidden.” 

Many of us need what I call a “new view of you!”  According to Genesis 1:26, we are all created in the image of Almighty God.  We are all quite unique.  And to prove this, God offers physical proof.

As a former FBI trained fingerprint technician, I learned that no two people have the same fingerprints.  This is God’s way of saying, “I broke the mold when I created you!  No other person was, is, or will ever be like you, ever!”

God made each of us for a divine purpose.  He has plans and a mission for us; specifically designed according to our gifts, talents, and temperament.  All of this works in conjunction with the relationships we encounter in life.

We must keep in mind that learning to love and accept our self according to God’s design does not exempt us from personal change.  We simply cannot say, “Well, that’s the way God made me; like it or not.”  Accepting a “new view of you” gives us a passport to personal growth.  This may be the beginning of the transformation that God promises for all of us. 

Perhaps it’s time to let go and let God transform your life.