Just Finished Reading…
by Scott on Jun.16, 2010, under Book of the Month...
“Steering T
hrough Chaos” by Scot Wilson. I was given this book by a good friend, this is a very practical and valuable resource for the leader/Pastor who is trying to cast vision while navigating transition, and the chaos that often accompanies it! I particularly like the real life stories that he shares, that really communicate the personal struggle and pain that comes to a leader who is trying to take their church places that they have not been, or do not even want to go. A relevant and hope filled resource to be sure…
“Training For Life”
by Scott on May.17, 2010, under Leadership Thoughts..
Leadershi
p thoughts, truths, moments and or even lessons come to me from many different sources. Sometimes a conference, maybe a conversation with a trusted friend, a good book, times of prayer or Bible study and often from a total stranger! While at the Lake with my family the other day, it was one of those “stranger moments” that just pierced my heart. We noticed about three middle age men putting on wet suits and preparing for a swim across the lake, my wife asked them if they were training for a Triathlon? they said, ” Nope, we are just training for life”.
I thought as a leader, how often I find my self just training for ‘an event’, you know the next teaching series, speaking engagements, big event, mission trip etc…. not that planning for these good things is not necessary, but they are not the end, only a means to a much bigger picture. That picture for me, is my life, the influence and impact that I have on people that I come in contact with. The ‘wake’ that my life leaves behind is not really determined by the “Big Splashes” that I may have the fortune to make, but rather the consistent and straight course of my life. That I might put the real work into the things that you can not always see, things like integrity, character, pure motives, this will provide the “training for life” that will make me the kind of leader that leads not just with the urgency of the moment, but with a vision for tomorrow as well!
Training with you!
Working it out…..
by Scott on May.17, 2010, under Working it out...
Thought I would just throw a little “6 month” update out there……as it relates to my 40 year old body transformation…
*Been hitting the gym about 4 day per week on avg
*Swim two days per week, Bike one day, Weights one day… approx 45 minutes each day.
*Been drinking a lot of water, but this is still a challenge for me
*Been using the “dry sauna” for about 15 minutes after work outs, really notice a change in my energy level from this. Perhaps “sweating out the toxins”…
*After 6 months I am finally starting to notice a real increase in my stamina and strenght! not ready for the Iron Man yet of course, but making real progress
*I am thinking about borrowing PX 90 from a friend and doing that through the Summer? I will post my struggles or gains at a later date..
Well, that’s about it for now….sadly this is the longest I have ever stuck with a exercise routine, but I am committed to making this work! 5-7 pounds to lose and a life time to live a healthy life
Working it out with you,
Scott
know Less, Do More?
by Scott on Apr.19, 2010, under The Daily Grind
Read a quot
e recently that just will not leave me alone….I am not sure if it is original with Mark Batterson, but he said this in his book Primal, “most of us are educated well beyond our level of obedience.” We are in the middle of a teaching series at The Rock Church on the Book of James which of course deals with the tension of our how our faith and deeds work together in our lives. It is easy, I believe in church culture to simply move from one good idea to another, one deep thought to another, or one ‘great service’ to another all in our quest to learn more, do more, say more……it seems as if we are often times just trying to reinvent the wheel! I know that I am guilty of this, in my passion to know more about God, it seems that I find myself doing less for God. Please don’t hear me say that we should not be students of God’s word, or that we should neglect good expository Bible teaching in our churches. How often as a preacher I have heard this statement from good Christian people,” I am just not being fed at my church”. My response is often at first defensive because I am human, but it also makes me think, how much ‘feeding’ do we need as Christians? I am not mad at Christ followers, I am one! But when I look at my own faith journey I am struck by the quote above, what if we were consumed as Christians with obedience and action as it relates to the teaching we have already received? The spiritual leaders of Christ’s day where apparently consumed with knowledge and the detail of the law, they constantly would push Jesus to quantify what loving God was all about. What the pharisees wanted was data, details, knowledge, rules, grand philosophies, simply more for them to take pride in! But Jesus only put things into powerful and applicable words, and with only the way Jesus could, said ‘ Love God and Love people”. You know that alone should keep us pretty busy as it relates to obedience…..what would our churches look like if we obeyed the great commandment? I am reminded of something we as parents say to our children all the time at the dinner table when they want seconds, “Eat what is on your plate first, then you can have more” just a thought, but what if we ate what was already on our plates, before we started asking to be “fed” more.? I am right there with you, as I wrestle with what I am asking God for, perhaps He is just waiting for me to finish whats on my plate!
- On the Journey with you…
Just Finished Reading….
by Scott on Apr.19, 2010, under Book of the Month...
Mark Batterson
’s latest book Primal, A quest for the lost soul of Christianity, is simply a great book! to quote Batterson, “This book is an invitation to be a part of something that is bigger than you, more important than you, and longer lasting than you. It is an invitation to be a part of a primal movement that traces its origins all the way back to the ancient catacombs where our spiritual ancestors were martyred because they loved God more than they loved life.” Batterson takes you on a journey of exploring the great commandment, to really unpack what it means to love God with all your heart, soul , mind, and strength!….This is not about discovering some ‘new revelation’ about God, but about rediscovering our “primal’ or original purpose and potential to change the world with the good news of the Gospel of Christ! Enjoy reading it and let me know what you rediscover…..Amo Dei (Love God)
Just Finished Reading…
by Scott on Apr.13, 2010, under Book of the Month...
Just finished reading Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. I know the book has been in publication for a while now, but after a “three hour coffee chat” a good and trusted Pastor friend recommended that I read it and I am glad that I did. This is one of those books that you tend to speed read through the first time because you get the feeling that it is really speaking to the real issues in your spiritual journey and you can’t wait to get the end to see what a ‘heart fully alive’ really looks and acts like! But now I will read it again a second time to really slow down and pray through it. For those of you who may struggle with feeling unworthy, and who wrestle with condemnation or maybe you have just believed the lie that your heart is wicked. Please read this book! No simple techniques or tips here, just a real and life changing journey through the Word of God, and reclaiming what rightfully belongs to you! I pray you will find the renewed intimacy with Christ and the awakening of the Heart that I have found as you read this book….
The Journey Continues……
Hit a little Wall!
by Scott on Mar.25, 2010, under Working it out...
Approaching the 3 month mark on my journey towards healthy eating, consistent exercise and working towards a Summer mini triathlon and a Seattle to Portland bike ride. I definitely feel as if I have ‘hit a wall’ if you will. I have lost a total of 15 pounds since Jan 1, but have not lost any significant weight in over 3 weeks! To be honest I think my body is starting to get used to my routine? So, I am looking at some new exercise patterns to try and trick my body into working a little harder. Up to this point I swim 2 days a week, run 2 day a week, and bike 1 day a week. I also do a short 3o min free weights routine twice a week on my run days.
My eating patterns have certainly improved! less sugar and more fruits and vegetables. Been working hard on managing my portions sizes as well. I have not been as disciplined as I should with drinking more water, for some reason I really have a hard time with this.
My goal weight is 165, so I still have about 7 pounds to go! These last 7 pounds are very stubborn, I would love any suggestions, or ideas that I might consider?
Working it out!
Scott
New Teaching Series…
by Scott on Mar.17, 2010, under The Daily Grind
Starting a new teaching series at The Rock Church this week called “Follow Jesus”….man, when I think of what it was like for the disciples when they heard those words from Jesus Himself for the first time, I pause to consider what my response would have been. Who we ‘Follow’ is really critical to where we eventually end up! This Sunday we will take a look at following Jesus the Leader, Palm Sunday we will follow Jesus the King, and finish on Easter by following Jesus the Savior!….Jesus said,”Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”, think about it. Jesus wants to ‘make us’ something entirely different, He wants our lives to be about Him and others! Are you ready? are you willing? It won’t be safe, it will cost you everything, but you will end up with the most valuable thing, life that matters for eternity….
Conference “Take Away”…
by Scott on Mar.08, 2010, under Leadership Thoughts..
Often times I have wondered if the words Pastor and Conference are synonymous…to be sure I have been to my share of them over the past 2o years! As I was organizing my home office the other day I came across an old file filled with notes of great speakers, multiple ideas and strategies, fancy handouts, touch cards, scribbled ideas and a new vision to conquer the world on a napkin! Now to be sure much of what I ‘received’ at those many conferences has not translated into immediate or tangible success. But as I reflected on all of those conference I was flooded with the memories of two prominent events that were ultimately the real ‘take home’ for me….the first event was something that God did ‘in’ me and the secon
d event was always at least one ‘divine conversation’ with a old or new friend….not that the notes and information have not been helpful, but it is only these two events that have truly been memorable and that have brought true life change!
I just returned from a Leadership Conference over the weekend in Yakima, Wa. called Summit. There were the usual great line up of speakers and interactives, but once again God met me during a worship service, renewing my passion and vision for what He has called me to be and to do! and then there was also that divine conversation with a dear friend that lasted into the early hours of the morning, but it was a conversation that I believe will greatly impact and shape both of our lives and ministries!
So I will continue to make Leadership and Ministry conferences a priority, because there will always be that beautiful ‘take home’ event that will shape our character, strengthen our resolve, and steer our vision! these events may not always occur on the conference schedule, but if you really look for the true ‘take home’ you will find it!
Strategic Eating….
by Scott on Feb.25, 2010, under Working it out...
Well in my quest to drop 15 pounds, run a half marathon, bike from Seattle to Portland, and complete a Sprint triathlon all this summer mind you, I figured I might want to start eating a little bit healthier? My plan you ask? my plan is simply to have a plan! Now I have been employing my new plan for only two weeks now, so do not wait for any book to be written on it. My ‘plan’ if you will has three phases, #1 Portion Size, #2 Planned Snacking, #3 Plenty of Water..this simple plan combined with what I consider moderate exercise (3 days a week avg) has provided me with renewed energy, as well as shedding close to 7 pounds!
#1 Portion Size; I cannot see myself ever on a ‘diet’ that simply forbids certain foods, just too much tasty food out there! However I can manage the quantity of food I consume, passing on seconds, eating slower, this way I still enjoy the taste of say 1-2 cookies without suffering the consequences of eating 2 dozen cookies, my wife and I like to share a burger at Red Robin for example….often eating out is where we tend to order too much food, so be intentional about it and do be afraid to ‘box it up’ for later
#2 Planned Snacking; For me the temptation to skip breakfast and grab a donut a Starbucks is just too easy, or how about that 2:3-3:00 hunger bell that always goes off? for me I was constantly in this rut of being hungry at strange times during the day, which would often result in a junk food fix. For me the solution has been first to make sure I eat a good breakfast, but also packing snack every morning that are healthy and can ‘carry me over’ until lunch/dinner. Fruit, almonds, peanut butter on crackers, are a lot better than the usual snickers or donut! I have a special snack bag that I make sure is always in the car…
#3 Plenty of Water; For many people this is a no brainer, but for me it has taken some work. I love coffee! and while nothing beats that ‘first cup’ in the am, I make myself start each day with a very tall glass of cold water first. Not only does is help wake me up, but it seems to make that cup of coffee taste even better! Our bodies just operate so much better when hydrated, I still struggle with this one, but I certainly have seen the benefits.
*PS…I should mention here that getting a solid 7 hours of sleep for me has never been a reality, but I have found that by cutting out my late night TV and reading more at night that I give my body the ‘permission’ that it needs to fall asleep quicker..I have been told that adequate sleep is essential to weight loss.
