Beauty Inside Out

 . . . the fruit of the Spirit is
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
and self-control.
There is no law (Jewish Law) against such things.

. . .

Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock.

  And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it did not fall, for it was founded a rock. 

And every one who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them will be likened to a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 

And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it fell. And its fall was great.

. . .

. . . .

Not that I have already attained or have already been perfected, but I follow after it so that I may lay hold of that for which I was seized by Christ Jesus. 

I do not count myself to have attained, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 

I press toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

living water

I am made in the image of God, not your image of God.

The Bible Doesn't Say That.

I am sure that you've had instances in your own life when someone has said something to you and clarified that by saying, "Well, the bible says it, so you must believe."

I am sure that often times those who use that phrase are justifying perhaps their own judgments or perhaps their own understanding of what God is saying.

And I am convinced that for many of us in this sacred space this morning, that many of us have seen the bibie as a weapon to be used to hit us over the head rather than a friend of liberation and hope.

So much so that today I beleive that many of us neglect to open our bibles for fear of what might find therein, and so many of us have neglected that understanding, that good exegisis of our bibles, in a way that we live in a culture today where it seems that there is so much bible illiteracy, that we've forgotten that the bible was written at a particular time for a particular generation, and yes that bible is still relevant and still has meaning for us today, but we must know the times in which it was written in order for us to find the completeness of what that sacred text is saying to us.

It is perhaps why we often say, hear what the scripture is saying to the church today. For it is that in our own day that we hear the Spirit of the Living God speaking to us that we might understand that truth that will always set us free.

Hear that: the truth will always set us free.

That is a cool thing our Senior Pastor shared.

PROGRAM LISTINGS & PROGRAM SCHEDULES

An Extraordinary Adventure

Mission Impossible

Having been renewed in mind, let us walk and not be weary. Run with endurance the race set before us. Fly like eagles. But let us never lose our wonder of footprints. Soar. Gracefully.

May we love as we would want to be loved, with joy say, in peace, with kindness and goodness, faithfully. May we be gentle with ourselves and act with compassion throughout our endeavors.

Build, whether on earth or in the sky, sturdier than storms rolling by. Hi. Be fiercely generous, whatever our wishes and dreams, whatever our wants and desires, whatever our reality. This gift called life each of us has been granted, for whatever reason, is a generous gift. Let us make with it this day a good day. That decision is ALWAYS ours, and so too its design. Embrace it. Triumphantly.

Build wisely, on a solid foundation, for this we know: there is no love where there is no sacrifice, no courage where there is no hefty price, no freedom where there is no peace of mind, and in the absence of these there reside craving, cruelty and cowardice awakened or asleep - a house built on shifting sands where wild ambitions are but phantoms and dreams die in opened eyes.

Hello. A pleasure to be in your company. How are you?

Welcome to phenomenal life-thriving strategies delivered from the lean side of the mountain and embraced by many on this wondrous journey of life and learning. This is the closing episode of our Extraordinary Adventure series.

"How do we cultivate young people who have the idealism, and the ambition, and the drive, and the passion to start their own journey to bring about meaningful and positive social change?"

You are altogether beautiful, my love;
    there is no flaw in you.

King Solomon

Embrace a myriad shining, as inspiration, revelation, caution, hope;
rather none as a copy burying the brilliance uniquely yours.

"I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, that one will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.   The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Jesus, Son of Man, Prince of Glory, Redeemer.

Who made the mountains? Who made the trees? Who made the rivers flow to the sea? Who sends the rain when the earth is dry? Who made the flowers to bloom in the spring? Who made the song for the robins to sing? Who hung the moon in the starry sky? Yes, all that and way much more! Our mind. Our body. Our spirit. Our soul.

Never let anyone put limits on what you can do! Don't allow it!

Phenomenal Life Strategies

Life Strategy # 16: "Be authentically you whatever you do."

Phenomenal life-affirming, life-thriving, life-uplifting strategies are being delivered by Our Lord Jesus on the lean side of the mountain. It's a new life.

Action Plan: Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. Jesus gets personal with me again, demonstrating how he lives out who he is - with passion, with intentionality, through the fearless beauty of his authentic humanity, knowing full well he is traveling steadfastly along created paths crossed by storms. (What about you?) How are you doing it? How is that working for you?

Rejoice! Be Glad!
We are accompanied.
Many have gone before us.

Welcome to my 'inter-personal' share!

"If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world it is the power of hope, the power of one person, a Washington, a Lincoln, King, Mandela, and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala. One person can change the world by giving people hope. If you want to change the world, start singing when you are up to your neck in mud." Navy Seal Admiral William H. McRaven

What is luck? I am still not sure. I am still working creatively on that one. Because I choose to. For sure I am grateful, for one, as this single press through life is affording each of us, I am 'lucky?' (let's say) to be on this runway being permitted several passes of sweet undress, wearing different hats (what? I don't wear hats) - okay, let's suffer this metaphor for just a little while, whilst I scratch my head about this thing called luck - as I turn every stumble and tumble into a new dance. Smile.

Sweet.

I used to pinch myself. A lot. You know I DON'T do that any more. Nope! Life took care of that. Ha-ha-ha-hah! Ha-ha-ha-hah! Oh dear, that's my grandpapa laughing at my new dispostion. Belly full, squared-shoulder man. Never in a rush. I loved the timbre of his voice. Raspy smooth. Whiskey soft. Aged assurance. "Life answered your question, son." He would say. "Got yourself a decision now: move on or answer back."

Oh, that man! Grandpapa! That wise man! That funny strong man, he! Where such men get their wisdom from I don't know. Left me no excuse. I've asked life a few questions - oohwee - the answers never failed to come. Lordie-Lordie. And because I know that without a doubt, I sometimes say, no more questions. I get it. I get it. I get it. Profound. And then another question would slip out of my silly head. Oh dear! Truly, life is awesome.

Anyway, where was I before I was tempted to pinch myself again?

Oh, yes, my metaphorical hats. M-hm.

Which one?

Coach!

(Just imagine that to be a hat, its shadow hardly broad enough to cover my joyful nakedness.) It's no secret. I frequently tell my clients and students this: as much as it is a joy and a privilege you've selected me to be your coach, I am learning an awesome lot more from you, and I am not giving you your money back. And they still stick around. I love it. And they still stick around. You see, I do not use a one-size-fits-all approach. I have chosen the tougher road: one-on-one - we're in this together. These did not pay me to teach. They called me to coach. (You see, my teacher hat casts no shadows over my joyful shapeliness; it's a berret. They would be distracted. And the cost would be astronaumical.) You know what, I think it best I opt for a different metaphorical hat in order to better enliven this rounding-up segment. Let me see. Ah, this one!

Curator!

I've learned so much and grown so much and revealed too much curating this Extraordinary Adventure Series. Your enthusiasm and revelations, both from the few groups I was able to chance a visit and those of you who use this as a jumping off point for your various endeavours have enthused me. And each time you ask me where I find the time you make me ask myself far too many questions.

This series could not have been the caliber you've found it to be without the tremendous expertise and wide ranging perspectives of a cadre of successful influencers, entrepreneurs and coaches, including the works of Tom Bilieu, Evan Carmichael, College Info Geek Podcast, Alex Heyne, Fearless Soul, Thomas Frank, Goalcast, Jubilee, Lisa Nichols, Mel Robins, Jay Shetty, Will Smith, and many others. Visit our Playlists. Our gratitude go to each of them. If you haven't already, I encourage you to click and see what they offer. You'll find a wealth of good stuff. If something resonates with you, go for it. Subscribe. Share.

Next up (starting next week) is a new series - Mission Impossible. I am telling you it is going to be fantastic. It will blow your socks off. But let's not rush into the future yet. Let's recap the Phenomenal Life Strategies offered during these recent sixteen weeks of our Adventure Series. If you've missed any. Just click. Refresh yourself. Here they are in order of exploration.

• Make Your Own Bed
• Show Up & Be Seen
• Be PREPARED to DO what it TAKES
• Dare to Fly
• Repair, ReCharge, Refuel
• Get a coach, a mentor, a confidant
• Smile
• Build Your Dream Team
• Listen to Understand
• Mind Your Business
• Do As You Would Have Done To you
• Only You Can Get It Done Your Way
• Build Toward The Necessary Moment
• Pull Your Leg Up. Be Calm. Keep Moving
• Be authentically you whatever you do

We began this segment of our Extrarodinary Adventure with this speech. I'd like to wrap it up with a repeat.

If you want to change the world, don't ever, ever ring the bell. You may not have been called to or have any desire to change the world. Nevertheless, whatever your endeavour, I wish you the very best of yourself.

Most every one I meet have either the desire or the practice of being on The High Achiever's Journey - (Click to Check it out). Shout - How about you? Share. Meet you during our next series: Mission Impossible - How They Beat The Odds, Every Time!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. _ Robert Frost

Take time (if need be) to discover, hone, and use your gifts. You'll find useful steps (discovery process, action plans) in Riding Moby Dick. Just Click!

My child, why bury your story, why hide your story, any part of it?
Tell it as it is, yet unfinished, daily being written, in all of its

GLO-REY!

"I give them eternal life. They shall never perish, nor shall anyone snatch them from My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them from My Father’s hand. My Father and I are one." All things are possible. Start with what is just outside your comfort zone. Believe. Act upon it. Step outside and breathe.

WORD TO THE WISE: The total of it all can be synthasized as follows: "This is your life; only you can live it. No one else can live it for you. It is your gift." To steal another's gift robs that one and does you nothing that will better you.

"Knowledge that takes you not beyond yourself is far worse than ignorance." Elif Shafak.

Something To Consider

* * *

You are

What POWER!