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The Big Idea

Often the best ideas are shaped after the creative process has blown them out of proportion and then carved away the unnecessary portions to reveal a clear and sharp idea. ~ The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson

What have you been reading lately?

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My Manifesto

Actually, I did not come up with this manifesto on my own. This past Monday, we began a Small Group study with our staff going through Chase The Lion by Mark Batterson. I am excited about where this will lead us and I have been inspired this week to refocus on my life goals.

Today, I came across this post from Mark Batterson with the Lion Chaser’s Manifesto and I have decided to make it my own. I modified it slightly to make it personal. Now, I share it with you.

From now on, I will…
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 my horizons.
Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey.
Find every excuse I can to celebrate everything I can.
Live like today is the first day and last day of my life.
Don’t let what’s wrong with me keep me from worshiping 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 I am not. Be myself. Laugh at myself.
Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

I will chase the lion.

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Going all the way…

When Craig Groeschel writes or speaks, my internal voice sighs, “I wish I had said that!” Whether about leadership, personal discipline, relationships or prayer, his words are straight forward and right on. His new book, Going All The Way, comes out on Monday and I think you should go out and pre-order it right now.

Even though Jennifer and I have an amazing marriage, we will be getting this book soon.

Check out the publisher’s description of the book…

“Going all the way” used to mean getting what you want from the opposite sex now…and paying for it later.

It’s time to redefine.

Smart advice for a new generation about love, sex, and happily ever after.

You’ve seen marriages fail time and again. Even relationships you thought were bullet proof don’t last. Once promising couples dissolve in the acid of selfishness, conflict, or unfaithfulness… or fade away to a cold, gray lovelessness. No wonder that for our generation, “getting what you want” is often a substitute for love, and disillusionment about marriage is the new normal.

So what do you do if you want a marriage that doesn’t just survive, but thrives? That doesn’t just begin romantically but ends magnificently? Answer: You do something different.

Whether you’re thinking ahead to marriage, are about to be wed, or have been married for a while and want to make changes, this book can help. Going All the Way will guide you through the choices and commitments you need to make now in order to build a strong and vibrant relationship that will go the distance. In a world where going all the way means putting yourself first, author Craig Groeschel will show you how, by putting God first, you can build a soul-enriching, lifelong relationship.

With practical, candid discussions about sex, first dates, integrity, forgiveness, and communication, Craig will help you prepare for and experience a relationship that gives fresh, hope-filled meaning to “going all the way” with the one you love.

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