PastorBruceLive

The Noticer by Andy Andrews- Further Thoughts

2009-10-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

After reading through the book, writing the review, and twittering (@brucecox #thenoticer) a host of riveting thoughts from the book, I think it would be appropriate to post my compilation of notes from the journey.

Do I have a "Jones" in my life? Am I a "Jones" to someone else?
Whatever you focus upon increases in life. Are there areas that need refocused in my life?
You are exactly where you should be in order for your unimaginable future to occur.
4 love dialects- Spoken Affirmation, Contact, Deeds or Favors, Quality time.
How does a persons pet ownership reflect their love dialect?
Do I ever sabotage my success by my inability to be happy or find happiness?
STOP LETTING YOUR HISTORY CONTROL YOUR DESTINY!
Small changes are never really small at all...
Gaining Wisdom in life can depend on the friends you keep... they can also become your life filter.
It doesn't take long to change... Change is immediate. However, it may take long to decide to change.
Little things always make big differences.
Define Success... Now Define a Successful Life... Are we chasing after the wrong things?
If you are still alive, still breathing, still on this planet... You still have a purpose! Having a Purpose is proof that there is Hope in life... What's your purpose?
Everyone in life is either in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or heading for a crisis...
Did you make a MISTAKE? or a CHOICE? Realizing which one will help determine if you are ready for forgiveness...
Your kids will be just like you... what example are you living?
MOVE INTO THE LIGHT.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

I am truly inspired by the thoughts of the author... However, as he alludes to in the book, the inspiration may lead to good intentions, but those intentions need to have action linked to them in order to produce the immediate change our lives need.

Thanks for noticin...

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

2009-10-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

Just read the latest book, The Noticer, by Andy Andrews, bestselling author of The Traveler's Gift. Thomas Nelson Publishers.

It's a great read!

Orange Beach, Alabama is a simple town filled with simple people. But they all have their share of problems – marriages teetering on the brink of divorce, young adults giving up on life, business people on the verge of bankruptcy, and many of the other obstacles that life seems to dish out to the masses.

Fortunately, when things look the darkest – a mysterious old man named Jones has a miraculous way of showing up. Communicating what he calls “a little perspective,” Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss. In his simple interactions, Jones speaks to that part in everyone that is yearning to understand why things happen and what they can do about it.

I couldn't put the book down. However, I found myself pausing throughout each chapter thinking about the many conversations I have had with people dealing with the various subjects addressed by the author. Jones' optimism, the right perspective, is not only contagious - it's something we all could use a little more of.

I totally recommend this book. It's a great mix of fiction, allegory, and inspiration!

Seeing God in your situation!

2009-04-13T06:29:00.001-07:00

When we are facing a major crisis, we tend to get blurred vision... Perception is shot... Contemplations become one-sided... And we often shut out the very people who can deliver us.
When on the road with the savior we must recognize, through the difficulty, he is the one who has come to deliver us!

Buzz Agent Recommendations

2009-03-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

Unemployment

2009-03-06T09:08:00.001-08:00

So today we heard that the unemployment rate has jumped to a new high of 8.1%
This news is pressed and stressed and streched to appear overwhelming and impossible to handle.
Why not focus on the 91.9% Employment Rate! Perhaps by celebrating the victories we experience we can encourage hope for the ability of a better tomorrow!
Remember, it's not all that bad when half the world lives on $1 a day...

2009-03-06T06:50:00.000-08:00

Principle of the Path

People don't get lost on purpose
You seldom know the place on the journey you became lost
The road you are on determines where you end up

The road doesn't always determine where you INTEND to be...

But, rest assured, you will ALWAYS end up where the road you are on leads you...

What Road are You On?

Principle of the Path

2009-03-05T05:16:00.001-08:00

"Direction- Not Intention- Determines Our Destination."
Andy Stanley

Catalyst One Day

2009-02-26T07:51:00.001-08:00

Andy Stanley
3 Components of Sustained Momentum

New: Triggers Momentum
Improved
Improving:

Continual Improvement,

Systematic Evaluation,

Unfiltered Evaluation

5 Momentum Stoppers

Disengaged Leaders
Overactive Managers:

Goal of manager is to keep things the same
Goal of the leader is Change

Complacency:

Simply doing what has been done will not regain momentum.

Complexity:

Competing systems

A Breach of Trust

VFCC Class

2009-01-13T17:15:00.001-08:00

Taking Tom Rees' Developing Outreach and Discipleship Programs Class on Tuesdays. First class... Listening in on Jim Henderson's Off the Map DVD interviews with 3 Lost People. Talking to "lost" people is so weird... There seems to be so much Us vs Them going on... it makes being a believer painful.
Why do we claim to HAVE something like it was ours to begin with?

Mark of the Believer

2008-11-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

Reading today from the neue weekly news and came across this blurp about a campaign helping the agnostic and atheist not feel alone over the holiday season... "Why believe in God? Just be good for goodness sake." is the ad that will run on D.C. buses starting next week...

One of the comments posted sparked my interest... "If being NICE is no longer the exclusive mark of being a believer, perhaps we'll need to pony up by exploring the power of the gospel to change lives"

I so agree! Being "nice" should go without saying... being peculiar, being unusually altered, changed by the power of the spirit of God, not our own humanism should be the marks.

Oh God, forgive me for the times I've tried to convey your power alone...

2008-11-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

Over a year since my last post... guess I am not cut out for this blogging thing... (YET!)

Best place to start? Again? Ummm, Here's my two favorite people in the world...

My wife of 16 years and my not so little man! We had the opportunity to travel together to the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta... great times. One of my prayers is that Bruce will continue on in life with creative passion to make an impact in this world for the Kingdom of God...

Here we go...

Catalyst Conference 2007

2007-10-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

After encouragement from a friend- "hey, you're 'blogging' the conference right?" thought I ought to get with the decade and drop soe notes onto the net...

Thursday October 4th-
ANDY STANLEY opens the conference: John 13:1-17
"What do you do when it dawns on you that you are the most powerful person in the room?"
If God has entrusted you with leadership, you yield power. So what's your next move?

BE THE EXAMPLE
Shed the titles and position that gave the power.
Look for ways to leverage your power for everyone around you.

IF WE DON'T
We display our weakness.
We suggest that we are greater than our master.

TAKE
Can you be trusted with power?
Hold it loosely and always be ready to give it up...
Who am I to think that I have reason to think of elevating myself with the "power" given?
Get down on the ground and wash some feet preparing them to bring the Good News...

PATRICK LENCIONI
The Ministry of Management. Three Signs of Job Misery.

ANONYMITY
People need to be known and know that they are not just a commodity.
IRRELEVANCE
People need to KNOW they are making a difference and know why their position is important.
How do you play an important part in the story of life?
IMMEASUREMENT
People need to know how to measure their success in a job.
They need to know: "This is what I do, and this is how good I'm doing."

People need to be REMINDED more than they need to be INSTRUCTED.

Don't wait until you retire to make an impact on people around you.
Whatever position of authority you find yourself in, when you manage, you minister.

PANEL DISCUSSION: UNCHRISTIAN- What a new generation really thinks about Christianity and why it matters. Latest Book by Gabe Lyons and David Kinnaman

"We (Christians) are not hated for Righteousness but for Self-Righteousness."
"Preaching a message without giving an access or outlet for action is just not right" -Tri Robinson
"Too often the "Right" answers have produced the wrong character" - Chris Seay.

SHANE CLAIBORNE
Founder of the Simple Way in Philadelphia.

Sorry, didn't catch much here... but he did have a fun t-shirt "God Loves Women Preachers"
and he made the statement about church being like Noah's Ark

"It stinks from time to time but if you get out, you'll probably drown."

FRANCIS CHAN
Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Southern California

Ever catch yourself drifting from a deep personal love for God? Or a love for the people in your church? "Uh, hello! Be careful here, these two items pretty much sum up the entire Bible!"

FIGHT IT! You have not been sent into this ministry by man- you have been sent by God.
Jeremiah 1:4 Before I formed you I knew you! Before you were BORN- I set you apart!

We have to begin living differently with this in mind... with this powerful plan, we must live different, otherwise we are just running a church.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on Alert, Stand Firm in the Faith, Act Like Men, BE STRONG.

What am I worried about? Why do I let emotions outside of relationship with God dictate the work that HE has called me to do?
BE ALERT TO THIS.
STAND FIRM IN YOUR CALL.
BE STRONG! Live to please Him alone...
Call His people to a deeper commitment... a Real Commitment.

RICK WARREN
a guy who wrote a popular book on purpose... or something like that...

"The Kingdom of God is wherever He is King"

JOHN MAXWELL
after being presented a catalyst lifetime achievement award he brought a heartfelt message for future leaders.
Do I add or Subtract?
Am I a giver or a taker?

Intentionally Add value to people Every Day.
Find your Strength Zone and work there.
Never Put yourself first.

HOW DO YOU ADD VALUE TO PEOPLE
1) Value People-
Pretty simple, but if we don't value people we won't attempt to add value to them.
2) I must become more valuable-
Keep Learning, Keep Growing.
3) Find out and Relate to what other people value-
Care enough to listen.
4) Do what God values.
Again, pretty simple, but if we don't do what God values why would he want to bless what we do?

As simple as this message was I find it profoundly practical. Something that everyone can set out to do each day.

Making Me Ride

2007-09-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

So here goes again... this time I figured I needed to get this thought down someplace before I lost its depth.

We went to Hershey Park last week for Christian Music Day. Actually, we went because the $46 tickets were $28! What a deal... of course, it was Wilmington Trust employee appreciation day too, so the lines were HUGE! Maybe I've just outgrown the amusement park... I don't know.

What I do know is that I love the minute long thrill of some of these new roller coasters! In particular, the Storm Runner! WHOA!

Anyway, I'm rambling... my son, who is nine, has recently gained some nerve and joined the ranks of us coaster enthusiasts. Slow as this was to come, he now picks and chooses which beast he is going to strap into and brave. There is probably no real logic behind which he approves and which he deems as "unsafe" nevertheless it happens, at the least opportune time (at least by my account), usually just after everyone else has made the decision to ride said "unsafe" coaster. Being that he's nine it's not like we can just say, "sorry dude, catch you in an hour or so at the exit". No, he has to wait in line with us. You know what happens when it's time to ride... right?

Picture this...

Dad: "Alright, get in... it's going to be fine, you'll love it."
Son: "No way! I'm not going on this."
Dad: "You have to, it's not like I'm going to leave you here alone... come on, you'll love it."
Son: "I don't want to, don't make me do this..."
Dad: "You're getting on. You'll love it. Stop your whining (great parenting!).
Then, the statement that keeps ringing in my ears...
Son: "I can't believe you're going to make me do something I don't want to do."

"I can't believe you're going to make me do something I don't want to do."

For the record, he got on the ride (because I'm the heartless dad) and lives to tell about how much fun it was to go forward and backward through the loops like that... how it was "no big deal." Who'd have thought?!

I don't want to do this, or that. I'm afraid. I'm a little nervous. I'm sure it's not a good thing... Here I stand at the Yellow Line (behind it, mind you) waiting for the next step, for the gate to open, for my turn to ride... but I'm really not too thrilled about it. I mean, "God, you're not going to make me do something I don't really want to do, right?!"

I don't think God forces us to do anything... Something about giving us a Free Will. So, often I think He lets us just keep riding the same ride, over and over, until we become so totally bored out of our minds we either give up riding all together or muster the nerve (or submit to Him in obedience) to get on the next one. Amazing as it is... every time... getting on, strapping in, and riding it for all it's worth proves to be the best decision.

"Lord, forgive me for the times I'm too afraid to ride, too afraid to trust your will. Move me, by your Spirit to do the things you desire for me, even when I'm the least bit hesitant." amen.

Labels

2007-08-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

In today's local paper I read an article from the front page titled FDA Calling for Stricter Labeling of Sunscreens. Apparently the government has decided that there should be some "truth in labeling" requirements. All this is around the fact that there are two types of harmful ultraviolet light, UVA and UVB, which affect the skin differently. UVA rays cause the skin to tan and actually penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays, which cause the skin to burn. Well currently, the SPF ratings only measure protection against UVB rays. Big Deal, right?!

What jumped off the page to me had nothing to do with growing up as a fair-skinned-burn-at-the-thought-of-the-sun-redhead... I'm a pastor, a Christian at that, and so- cliche or not- there, of course, had to be a deeper meaning in the newspaper than the FDA and Sunblock! :^p

Think about this... what if, as the church, we have had this problem all along too? You know, Truth in Labeling issues... what if, as the church, we have been giving away a mislabeled product claiming to protect people from the harmful effects of the unseen powers of sin.

Stick with me here...

Too often our message is understood to be the "cure-all" and yet it only contains enough to cover the surface issues. We've protected the surface burn and become content justifying the good looking tan we come out with. Unfortunately, much like the UVA rays that leave the tan on the outside, uncovered -excused away- sin is left to attack deep within.

What am I getting at?

What if our label read "Our gospel has been proven 99.9% effective in positively adjusting a person's outward appearance while allowing sin to eat away and destroy the heart." Ouch!
When we leave out the power of the Full-Gospel message, lead and inspired by the Holy Spirit, that is exactly what we end up with... that would be "truth in labeling!"

God help us, as your church, to be filled with your truth. Require us to rise to your standards of love and forgiveness through Jesus your son to bring protection and freedom from the effects of sin deep within to the world around us in need.

Something Creative

2007-08-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

My very first blog. (that's just the way to start so you'll all check back often!)
I have purposly titled this "Something Creative" so that even if it flops, at the very least, you'll have to say "It was something creative."

Ok, enough of that. I got a new book yesterday. Mavericks at Work. I'd like to say that I jumped right in and was blown away, but I cannot. Blasted ADD. Instead, when I sat down this morning to begin my productive day by reading something to stir personal growth I left the new book on the table and popped in a CD that was given to me by a friend that contained over 300 pages of a book he is writing on Christian Leadership.

So, ADD or divine providence? I'm going to go with the latter and finish this first entry with a few practical and thought provoking items I picked up...

Faith Transformation: What's Different? When we come to God, by Faith in Christ, we become NEW. Now I know that this is not a novel idea to life-long Christians, but I do know, that in most instances, we struggle with living this New Nature.
Heart Attitude: What am I feeling right at this moment? Interestingly enough, the message on Sunday, from Romans 13, was about developing an Attitude or Behavior of Love. It's living this Attitude of Love that accomplishes the goal of the Law of God.
Listening: Set a reminder Alarm for every hour. Am I listening for Him? Simple? Yes, but am I really living with the thought of every moment listening for His direction?