Learning Discipline

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In this second post in a blog series on productivity, I want to talk about the importance of learning discipline.  I mentioned in the previous post on “Disguising Laziness,” that I struggled greatly with procrastination.  I tried to blame it on my wiring, but ultimately, I was simply succumbing to laziness. My close call with an online Greek course in seminary …

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Praying for Your Spouse

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In this video, Lander University’s BCM Director, Scott Smith, talks about how to pray for your spouse.  Scott’s wife Judy was in an accident years ago that changed their lives, but strengthened their marriage.

The Sin of Idolatry

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Idolatry is putting something or someone in the place of God. Not too long after their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites are caught up in sinful idolatry.  The proper response to God’s activity is worship, but they responded in abandonment. Notes from Exodus 32 Their hearts turned to Egypt long before their hands made a god (Acts. 7:39-40).  Idolatry is a …

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Disguising Laziness

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I used to brag about being a procrastinator. I could wait till the last-minute and get anything done.  While I would drive people close to me crazy, I just accepted that’s “how I was” and barely made it through everything I did in life. That’s until my second semester of seminary came along. Prior to seminary, college had pushed me academically. …

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God’s Perfect Peace

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Powerful time in Isaiah 26 this morning.  So many people with so much that God is doing in their lives right now.  Incredible just to be a bystander to watch him at work. Today’s services: Risen – North Side Worship Christ Is Risen (He Is Risen Indeed) – Keith and Kristyn Getty Announcements (Chronic Pain Class, Ladies’ Night Out, Marriage …

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The Wilderness Test

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Exodus 17:1-7 is a wonderful portrayal of God’s wandering people and his unwavering commitment to them. After the exodus from Egypt, the people demand water from the LORD.  They don’t ask, they don’t pray, they demand.  God commands Moses to strike the rock and water flows out. Paul taught us (1 Corinthians 10:5-6) that we are to learn from Israel’s …

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The Ascent of a Leader

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At North Side, we have an influx of guys going into the ministry. It is an extreme blessing, but we want to do diligence to prepare them for where God is leading. We have started gathering these men together for training and development.  The first assignment was a book Jeff assigned called The Ascent of a Leader by Bill Thrall, Bruce …

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Where Is This Ruthless World Headed? [Isaiah 25]

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Where is this ruthless world headed?  As you look at the state of our world, it is easy to get overwhelmed with its course and direction.  How are believers to respond? We addressed this issue today through the teaching of Isaiah 25.  Our services were also built around this great chapter of Scripture.  It was such a special time of …

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John Piper’s 8 Reasons to Memorize Scripture

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I have had the privilege of hearing John Piper talk about his process of Scripture memory.  He works hard at it.  And it pays off. I found this video from a message years ago.  In the full sermon, he actually quotes Scripture for the first 15 minutes of his message.  This clip shows him giving reasons why Scripture memory is …

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The LORD Will Fight for You While You Keep Silent

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As the children of Israel left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, God reminded the people of his power.  When it seemed as if there was no way out, God showed up and delivered them yet again.  The incredible story is recounted in Exodus 13:17-14:31.  Exodus 15 is the first worship song recorded in the Bible and it is simply …

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12 Reasons Why Prayer Doesn’t Work

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It is important to make it a habit to thank God (1 Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20; Ps. 136:26). As he rescues us, our response is to honor him (Ps. 50:14-15).  We should aspire to be like the one leper who returned to thank Jesus out of the ten who were healed and went on their way.  After he has answered …

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No Double Teaming

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In marriage, it is easy to go to others to talk about your issues and double-team your spouse. A healthy marriage seeks to address the issue head on.

The Best Devotional Book I’ve Ever Read

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I am often asked about a devotional book for someone who wants to grow.  I have read many devotionals and, in fact, I have written many devotionals for people.  In the past, I had a couple of books that I would recommend. In recent years, I have had a complete turnaround in this department.  Without hesitation, there is one devotional …

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The Peaceable Kingdom [Isaiah 11]

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Today was such a great reminder of God’s faithfulness for this church.  He has been so good to this congregation and continues to show himself strong among us. Loved hearing the very loud singing worshipers today.  It really just seemed like everyone was dialed in.  It was a great moment to celebrate the vote and hiring of our Mission Pastor. …

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Do More Better

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I’m not gonna lie – I bought this book for myself and put it in my Christmas stocking. I was making some purchases for others folks at Christmastime, and I saw this book linked and it got me hooked.  I try to make it a practice to evaluate life and ministry at the end of every year and this book description …

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Top 15 Posts of 2015

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2015 was a busy year.  The world had some interesting developments.  Church and ministry were blowing and going.  And in the middle of all of it, for whatever reason, people checked out posts on this blog.  For all the posts written, these were the top 15 of 2015: 15. What to Do About Personality-Driven Churches The rise (and unfortunate falls) …

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Isaiah 9

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It was a fantastic day as we completed our last worship services at North Side in 2015.  So thankful for all that God is doing with these people! Services: Joy to the World – North Side Worship (with iPad intro) In Christ Alone w/The Solid Rock – Travis Cottrell Scripture Reading – Isaiah 9:6-7 Prayer Time What Child Is This? …

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Christmas Eve 2015

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Tonight was amazing.  Packed room of worshipers singing beautifully to the Lord.  Our Christmas Eve service always seems to be one of my favorite nights of the year! The order of service: Communion and Messianic Scriptures What Child Is This – Hanna Eppley A Christmas Alleluia – Chris Tomlin Let There Be Light – Point of Grace Scripture Reading – …

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Bloodlines

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I read John Piper’s Bloodlines last week and was deeply impacted by it.  While combatting racism has been a major point in my story, it seems as if it has picked up as even a deeper burden as of late. This book was great theologically and practically.  Here’s the synopsis: Genocide. Terrorism. Hate crimes. In a world where racism is far …

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Grandparents Who Still Love Jesus

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While every family has numerous traditions, I want to encourage all grandparents out there to make the best use of the time give with your family (Eph. 5:15-17).  Have you thought about the spiritual impact you are making on your children and grandchildren?

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Here Am I [Isaiah 6]

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Powerful services today at North Side.  I love worshipping with our church family.  I love all the new folks God is bringing our way.  I love watching people just get it. Here is how our services came together: Little Drummer Boy – We arranged this song on Wednesday using cups, trash cans, roto toms, and drums.  I used my boys …

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Fear Not [Storytellers]

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“Fear Not” was written for “The Word” project to cover the incarnation of Jesus. “The Word” is a project by North Side Worship telling the grand narrative of the Bible.  It is available at North Side (May 3, 2015) and iTunes (May 5, 2015). Song Info We had finished writing all the songs for “The Word” project and “Fear Not” was not on there.  We had …

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The Pharaohs of This World Are No Match for the Great I AM

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God is God alone.  He demonstrates his glory by comforting his people and confronting those who oppose him. When Moses confronts Pharaoh, this ruler believes he is more powerful than the great I AM.  He pridefully states he doesn’t know who this God is.  He is about to find out. Here are some notes: Pharaoh is about to get a front-row …

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Praying the Wrong Number

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We all know the awkward moment when you are on one end of a phone call with a wrong number.  Maybe you dialed it or received it, maybe you sent the right text message to the wrong person, or maybe you went to the wrong room to meet someone. Do you have a time in your life when your communication …

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The Parable of the Fields [Isaiah 5]

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To say my heart is full tonight is an understatement.  Words cannot describe all the wonders of what God is doing in the life of his church right now. I won’t apologize for the emotions, because God has just been so good to me and to his church. Today was absolutely full of God on the move.  Here is how …

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Moses, a Bush on Fire, and the Almighty’s Plan

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As we continue going through the Bible, we have now approached Exodus. God responded to Israel’s terrible plight by listening to the prayers of his oppressed people, revealing his character to Moses, and promising to deliver and redeem them. Here are some notes: Moses attempted to deliver God’s people but tried through his hands (Ex. 2:12). “I am the God …

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Anxious-Worthy?

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When circumstances confront us and tempt us to worry, we cannot ignore them or hope they will simply go away. God’s Word is clear – we must fight against anxiety and rely on prayer.

No “Sorry, But…”

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In marriage, it is very easy to justify your action based upon something your spouse did. A mature spouse desires to be reconciled more than desiring to be right.

Is My Lack of Prayer Sinful?

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  All of us have given care to someone in our lives.  Think of someone who you have truly watched over concerning their needs (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.). Maybe your list is very thorough and all-encompassing.  You have spent time, resources, and energy on caring for the person who came to mind. What if your care for them was graded …

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Isaiah 1 [Let Us Reason Together]

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Such a special day to start out celebrating Christmas! We started a new series studying through the Book of Isaiah.  We are calling it “The LORD Is Salvation” since that is what the name of Isaiah actually means. Our services went like this: Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24 – Trans-Siberian Orchestra Family Dedication Hark the Herald Angels Sing – North Side Worship O …

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Under Our Skin: A Conversation About Race

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The Gospel Coalition, Benjamin Watson, and Darrin Patrick joined together on the one-year anniversary of the Ferguson, Missouri court case decision for an honest conversation about racial tension and how the Rescuer, Jesus Christ, brings reconciliation to all. Watch the replay above.

Praying the Bible

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I took this book home Monday night and had it finished before I went to work on Tuesday.  Powerful book! Here is the book’s synopsis: All Christians know they should pray, but sometimes it’s hard to know how—especially if the minutes start to drag and our minds start to wander. Offering readers hope, encouragement, and the practical advice they’re looking for, this concise …

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God Makes Good Out of Evil

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God took the evil deeds of Joseph’s brothers and used them for his greater plan of providing salvation from the famine.  In the same way, God used the evil injustice of those who put his son, Jesus, on the cross to bring about his master plan of providing salvation from sin and death. Here are some of my notes from …

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Never Go to Bed Angry

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In marriage, you must learn how to deal with today’s problems today and not let them linger into tomorrow.  Here is a pivotal marriage tip for you – never go to bed angry.

When God Calls Us to Suffer

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Joseph suffered unjustly and was later exalted to a place of prominence.  In a similar manner, Jesus suffered unjustly and was later raised from the dead and exalted as Lord of the world. Here are some of my notes from last week’s lesson from the Gospel Project: God never promises that faith will spare us from suffering. Favoritism of one …

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Godly Discipline

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We wrapped up our “Until He Comes” series today.  Studying 1 & 2 Thessalonians has been so powerful and timely! Our services came together like this: To God Be the Glory – The Alone Instrument How Deep the Father’s Love for Us – Kings’ Kaleidoscope Prayer Time O the Deep Deep Love – Sovereign Grace Christ Is Risen (Because He …

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Saving While Spending

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As Christmas shopping begins, don’t go into debt trying to please people with temporal trinkets. Here are 5 steps to help you spend wisely this year. Main Points Come up with a budget. Make a list. Determine spending amount. Get creative. Give what lasts. Every spending decision is a spiritual decision.

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