Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Stil the leader


The post to my Blog, 'Facing Things Head On' that has the most page views is from February 29, 2008, (a leap year) and it is titled ‘Issues Men Face’. It draws from the book 'Man in the Mirror' by Patrick Morley.
This post has about 5 times as many page views as the second most viewed post.
Take a look.

Issues Men Face
http://ekarchner.blogspot.com/2008/02/issues-men-face.html

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Loving the Way Jesus Loved

Loving the Way Jesus Loved (Transformed Relationships)

On December 11, 2012, I added a post to my blog titled ‘New Testament Model of Discipleship’ from the book ‘Choose the Life’ by Bill Hull. That post referenced the five dimensions of Discipleship. The piece that appears below describes the third of the five dimensions.

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Some of us have settled for loving those who love us and forgiving those have asked us for forgiveness. We have set limits on how many times we will forgive someone for the same action. The church is marginalized because of estranged relationships and a lack of commitment to follow Jesus. To love as Christ loved is the way to break down the walls that separate us and bring healing to broken lives. Jesus didn’t hold anything back and loved until others experienced that love. A community develops character as it pursues the standard summarized by Jesus when he told us to ‘love each other as I have loved you’ (John 15:12).

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Change through Community


‘If you want to bring fundamental change to people’s lives and behavior, a change that will persist and influence others, you need to create a community around them where those new beliefs could be practiced, expressed and nurtured’.

 - Malcolm Gladwell from the book the ‘Tipping Point’
Summarizing the beliefs of John Wesley
As identified in the book ‘Choose the Life’ by Bill Hull

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Community can create the environment where change can happen. The community can be with one other person or a group. In this environment a trained leader or mentor is required to teach what has been learned to someone who wants to learn.

Trust and integrity are both necessary for this to occur and the student has to be willing to dedicate him or herself to learning and to becoming a disciple. As part of the process the new disciple must be willing to dedicate him or herself to finding and teaching another person who is willing to learn and then to teach someone else and on and on.

This process can be summarized by a statement I heard some time ago in an organization we were involved in: ‘Teachers teaching teachers to teach who teach teachers to teach’.

 

Friday, December 14, 2012

Living the Way Jesus Lived


Living the Way Jesus Lived (Transformed Character)

On December 11, 2012, I added a post to my blog titled ‘New Testament Model of Discipleship’ from the book ‘Choose the Life’ by Bill Hull. That post referenced the five dimensions of Discipleship. The piece that appears below describes the second of the five dimensions.

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Too often following Jesus has been limited to admiring the mystery of the God-man and resting in the finished work of the cross. While the basis of a relationship with God in Christ is both his person and his finished work, the ongoing nature of salvation, sometimes called sanctification, should not be ignored.

A pathology of the American church has been to disconnect belief from behavior. People think that if you say the right words and believe the right things, you will receive your get-out-of-hell-free card, and that’s it. In the meantime they manage their sin until heaven. Jesus calls us not to sin management but to transformation, where we experience one breakthrough after another and do away with sin in our lives. We are called to follow Jesus and be transformed into his image. We are called to take seriously the character description of Jesus in the Gospels and Philippians 2:5-8. We are expected to take on that same character and thus influence the people around us the same way Jesus influenced others. In short, the gospel connects belief and behavior.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Believing What Jesus Believed


On December 11, 2012, I added a post to my blog titled ‘New Testament Model of Discipleship’ from the book ‘Choose the Life’ by Bill Hull. That post referenced the five dimensions of Discipleship. The piece that appears below describes the first of the five dimensions.

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Believing What He Believed (Transformed Mind)

To believe what Jesus believed means we hold a conviction that the life he described in the Sermon on the Mount is possible right now. In fact, Jesus said we can equal and exceed the works that he did (Matt 5–7; John 14:12-14). This requires a commitment to set aside time to study, pray and meditate in order to hear the voice of God and to take on the mind of Christ. If that commitment is not present, we are practicing a Christ-less Christianity. After all, how can you follow and learn from someone whose voice you can’t recognize.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

New Testament Model of Being a Disciple


The excerpt below is about being a disciple. It is from the book ‘Choose the Life’ by Bill Hull.
 
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To be a disciple as described by Jesus requires a person to submit himself or herself to a more mature follower of Jesus. Unless you have done so, you are not following Jesus in the way he desired.  Our definition of a disciple, then, must be adjusted to fit what Jesus truly meant. We know this is what he meant by the way he lived and by what he modeled in calling the Twelve to be with him. We also see this in the way he changed his relationship to them when he was ready to commission them to go make their own disciples (Mark 3:14-16) (see note below)

The purpose of discipleship is to go deeper with God, to be shaped into the image of Christ, because character is developed in community. If we are following the New Testament model discipleship should look like this today:

·         A disciple submits to a teacher who teaches him or her how to follow Jesus.

·         A disciple learns Jesus’ words

·         A disciple learns Jesus’ way of ministry

·         A disciple imitates Jesus’ life and character

·         A disciple finds and teaches other disciples for Jesus

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Note

Jesus called the Twelve to be with him so they could eventually go out to preach. He graduated them in the upper room when he said: ‘I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you’ (John 15:15). This demonstrates that they are now moving from being disciples to the responsibility of making their own disciples.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Disciples Make Disciples


The following piece by Francis Chan appears at the Catalystspace site. I have highlighted some sections that are important to consider. Chan has spoken a number of times at Catalyst and my wife and I heard him about 5 years ago. He had a significant impact on us. See the link for the Catalyst site below.

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Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples

By Francis Chan & Mark Beuving

Two thousand years ago, Jesus walked up to a handful of men and said, "Follow me."
Imagine being one of those original disciples. They were ordinary people like you and me. They had jobs, families, hobbies, and social lives. As they went about their business on the day Jesus called them, none of them would have expected their lives to change so quickly and completely. The disciples could not have fully understood what they were getting into when they responded to Jesus's call. Whatever expectations or doubts, whatever curiosity, excitement, or uncertainty they felt, nothing could have prepared them for what lay ahead. Everything about Jesus-His teaching, compassion, and wisdom; His life, death, and resurrection; His power, authority, and calling-would shape every aspect of the rest of their lives.

In only a few years, these simple men stood before some of the most powerful rulers on earth and being accused of "turn[ing] the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). What began as simple obedience to the call of Jesus ended up changing their lives, and ultimately, the world.
What Is a Disciple?

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? The answer is fairly simple, but it changes your life completely.
The word disciple refers to a student or apprentice. Disciples in Jesus' day would follow their rabbi (which means teacher) wherever he went, learning from the rabbi's teaching and training to do as the rabbi did. Basically, a disciple is a follower, but only if we take the term follower literally. Becoming a disciple of Jesus is as simple as obeying His call to follow.

When Jesus called His first disciples, they may not have understood where Jesus would take them or the impact it would have on their lives, but they knew what it meant to follow. They took Jesus's call literally and began going everywhere He went and doing everything He did.
Its impossible to be a disciple or a follower of someone and not end up like that person. Jesus said, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40). That’s the whole point of being a disciple of Jesus: we imitate Him, carry on His ministry, and become like Him in the process.

Yet somehow many have come to believe that a person can be a "Christian" without being like Christ. A "follower" who doesn’t follow. How does that make any sense?
Many people in the church have decided to take on the name of Christ and nothing else. This would be like Jesus walking up to those first disciples and saying, "Hey, would you guys mind identifying yourselves with me in some way? Dont worry, I dont actually care if you do anything I do or change your lifestyle at all. Im just looking for people who are willing to say they believe in me and call themselves Christians."

Seriously?
No one can really believe that this is all it means to be a Christian. But then why do so many people live this way? It appears that we’ve lost sight of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The concept of being a disciple isn’t difficult to understand, but once you understand what it means, it changes everything.

This article was excerpted from Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples, 2012 by Francis Chan & Mark Beuving. Published by David C. Cook, www.davidccook.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Check the Catalyst site for more articles, dates for upcoming Catalyst conferences and other resources.
http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/multiply_disciples_making_disciples/


Learn more about Francis and the organization Multiply he is helping to launch 
http://www.francischan.org/#/multiply

Monday, December 3, 2012

Thoughts lead to destiny


The quote below is good advice that will impact your life now and in the future.
To change your destiny, that is the long term result, change your thoughts now. Discipline is required.

 
Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

- Unknown


For those of us who are Christians or want to be Christians we can improve our relationship with God by changing our thoughts about believing in God, reading and understanding the Bible, meditating on Bible verses, praying and believing God, worshipping God, living for God, discipling others, evangelizing and serving others.


 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Repetition works


Zig Ziglar certainly understood the importance of repetition to learning. Zig was a door-to-door cookware salesman when he was younger and used the inspiration of Norman Vincent Peale and Dale Carnegie, two well-known motivational experts of the time, to help him.

Zig grew into an author and a very successful motivational speaker.

When my wife and I were in a network marketing business we used one of his phrases, ‘Stinkin Thinkin’, many times. Stinkin’ Thinkin’ refers to a bad, negative or defeatist attitude.

Zig died this week at age 86 and there was an interesting quote in the Obit I read in the Wall Street Journal. The quote is applicable to many things and especially to reading the Bible. In the Bible it says to hide God’s Word in our hearts – ‘I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you’ (Psalms 119:11). The way to do this is through daily repetition and meditation.

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The quote I am referencing:

‘If his books and tapes seemed repetitive, it was no accident.

"People often say that motivation doesn't last," Mr. Ziglar liked to say. "Well, neither does bathing—that's why we recommend it daily."

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The Obituary:

Waging a Crusade Against Stinkin' Thinkin'


Zig Ziglar delivered his message of positive personal transformation for business success to millions of people and helped create the profession of "motivational speaker."

A traffic signal, to Mr. Ziglar, was a "go light," the morning alarm was an "opportunity clock" and every setback could be a steppingstone.

Mr. Ziglar, who died Wednesday at age 86, preached in the tradition of American self-help that stretched back through Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale.

Mr. Ziglar reinforced his speeches and corporate seminars with dozens of books and tapes filled with his positive thoughts. "See You At the Top," published in 1975 and which he claimed sold well over one million copies, exhorted readers to eliminate "stinkin' thinkin' " and move from "mediocrity to meteority." The sequel was titled "Over the Top."

If his hokey presentation sometimes inspired laughs, that was part of the "Zigmanship" package of keeping a positive outlook.

Seth Godin, a motivational speaker and new-media entrepreneur, credited Mr. Ziglar with professionalizing and expanding the motivational-speaking industry.

"All of us do this professionally standing on the shoulders of Zig Ziglar," Mr. Godin said.

Hilary Hinton Ziglar grew up during the Depression in Yazoo City, Miss. His father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, a devout Christian whose homey apothegms rubbed off on her son. "The person who won't stand for something will fall for anything," she told him.

As a struggling door-to-door cookware salesman, Mr. Ziglar absorbed the teachings of Mr. Peale. Mr. Ziglar's early struggles became a centerpiece of his presentations

As his powers of persuasion improved, he found his métier in sales training. Eventually he moved on to large companies, cultivated a hobby of motivational speaking before civic groups and worked as a Dale Carnegie instructor. By 1970, Mr. Ziglar was confident enough to pursue public speaking full-time. At his peak he commanded speaking fees of $50,000.

If his books and tapes seemed repetitive, it was no accident.

"People often say that motivation doesn't last," Mr. Ziglar liked to say. "Well, neither does bathing—that's why we recommend it daily."


A version of this article appeared November 28, 2012, on page B6 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: A Crusade to Stop Stinkin' Thinkin'.


 

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Letter to NCAA

A letter I sent to the NCAA after a play in the Alabama - Georgia SEC Championship Game
 
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RE: Major missed call in Georgia - Alabama SEC Championship.

My question is how can an official, or several officials, miss the vicious, illegal hit on the Georgia quarterback before the end of the half when he was totally defenseless after he threw an interception and was not pursuing the play?

There was an official right behind the quarterback and it appeared to me he wasn't watching the QB. After an interception the quarterback is totally vulnerable because he becomes a target and as such he should be the in the view of an official until the play is over.

These officials as well as all supervisory personnel need to be held more accountable and susceptible to reprimand, demotion to a lesser level of competition, firing and / or steep fines. In this case it’s possible the Georgia QB may be injured and not able to complete the game or play in the bowl game – possibly impacting the outcome of the game.

I think the best thing that can happen to change the attitude of the NCAA, its executives and officials is for players to begin to file law suits after these types of hits against the NCAA and the game officials for injuries, medical costs, lost income as a pro if warranted, etc. and then perhaps things may change.

There are improvements that I am sure can be made using technology, training and a better review system at the games. But I think the best thing to do is limit officials to a specific duration of perhaps three to five years with an intense review after each year and with improved income opportunities each year.  After the official is out of the game for three years he or she can reapply for another 3 – 5 year period at the basic starting income.

What motivation is there for an official who has been in the league for many years to do the best job possible?

I am a resident of Pennsylvania and have no ties to the University of Georgia.