Refreshing

I am a long time Phoenix Suns fan. That will probably never change but of late it is hard to really find stars in the NBA to root for. As a kid you could'nt help rooting for Bird, Magic, and even MJ (heartbreaker in '93). Today something has changed. The success of these men has inspired so much attention, focus, and money that the players of today seem more absorbed in all of those things then basketball. We are living in times of "The Decision"...? Are you kidding me...so self absorbed and ego driven. It is hard to cheer for anybody if your team is not in it. But the Nba of late has been seeing a change in its superstars and it is refreshing. Emerging from the Lebrons, Kobes, Dwades, even Dhowards is a new kind of superstar. Humble, devoted, self-less, even Godly(?). Just some words to describe KD. He is a beloved Superstar here in OKC and I find myself (lifelong suns fan) rooting for him to succeed. Kudos to KD as a man and star. His appearance on the NBA scene is refreshing to an old NBA fan like myself. Go 'head KD...do your thing bro! We are rootin you on!

Youth Pastor Culture

I have learned alot from this video! Figured I would pass it along to all the other Youth Pastors out there....:)
Building leaders today! hahaha

FLOW

QUOTE:
"ATTITUDE IS A LITTLE THING THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE."
-WINSTON CHURCHILL

SCRIPTURE:
"YOU WERE TAUGHT, WITH REGARD TO YOUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY IT'S EVIL DESIRES; TO BE MADE NEW IN THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR MINDS; AND TO PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS."
-EPHESIANS 4:22-24

"AT CAESEREA THERE WAS A MAN NAMED CORNELIUS, A CENTURION IN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE ITALIAN REGIMENT. HE AND ALL HIS FAMILY WERE DEVOUT AND GOD -FEARING; HE GAVE GENEROUSLY TO THOSE IN NEED AND PRAYED TO GOD REGULARLY."
-ACTS 10:1,2


IT HAS OFTEN BEEN SAID ATTITUDE DETERMINES ALTITUDE. THIS WAS MY LEAST FAVORITE POSTER HANGING ON THE LIBRARY WALL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. A BIG AIR BALLOON FLOATING HIGH IN THE SKY WITH THE WORDS PLASTERED ON IT: "ATTITUDE DETERMINES ALTITUDE." BECAUSE THE POSTER LOOKED SO BORING AND CORNY I NEVER ACTUALLY TOOK IT TO HEART BUT OF LATE I HAVE BEGUN TO REALIZE HOW MUCH ATTITUDE REALLY DOES AFFECT YOUR ALTITUDE. THIS PRINCIPLE IS PLASTERED ALL THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES. YOU CAN FIND MANY REFERENCES AND STORIES IN THE BIBLE IN WHICH MEN AND WOMEN TOOK A CERTAIN DISPOSITION OR MINDSET THAT AFFECTED RESULTS. OBEDIENCE, FAITH, FORGIVENESS, WORSHIP.....DISOBEDIENCE, DOUBT, UNFORGIVENESS, SELFISHNESS...JUST TO NAME A FEW, ALL AFFECTED THE RESULTS THEY WERE TO RECEIVE. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT GOD IS THE ULTIMATE HERO OF THE SCRIPTURES BUT MANY OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN OPENED THEMSELVES UP FOR TREMENDOUS BLESSING JUST BECAUSE THEY DECIDED TO DISPLAY THE RIGHT ATTITUDE. KORAH AND HIS FRIENDS (NUMBERS 16) HAD A DISAGREEMENT WITH MOSES (GOD'S CHOSEN LEADER OF ISRAEL) AND DECIDED TO CHALLENGE MOSES' LEADERSHIP PUBLICLY...OUCH! DID NOT GO SO WELL FOR KORAH AND HIS PALS (THE EARTH OPENED UP AND SWALLOWED THEM AND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FAMILIES ALONG WITH ALL THEIR BELONGINGS). ATTITUDE DETERMINED ALTITUDE....UNFORTUNATELY FOR KORAH AND FRIENDS THE DISPOSITION THEY CHOSE CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE DESCENT ...LITERALLY. THEM, EVERYTHING THEY HAD WORKED FOR, AND THOSE FOLLOWING THEM WERE DESTROYED. ATTITUDE MATTERS IN EVERY MATTER OF LIFE. THE SCRIPTURE MENTIONED ABOVE REFERENCES A MAN NAMED CORNELIUS. GOD USED CORNELIUS AND HIS FAMILY TO BEGIN THE SPREADING OF THE GOSPEL AROUND THE WORLD TO NON JEWS (GENTILES). PRETTY AWESOME PRIVILEGE IF YOU ASK ME. THEIR ATTITUDE WAS:
1. DEVOTION (DEVOUT)
2. REVERENCE (FEARED GOD)
3. COMPASSION (GENEROUS TO THE NEEDY)
4. DEPENDENCE (PRAYED REGULARLY)
THESE 4 ATTITUDES COMBINED WITH YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WILL BEGIN YOUR ASCENSION INTO ALTITUDES NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. I LOVE TO SAY IT LIKE THIS: "THE ATTITUDE YOU CHOSE WILL BECOME A CHANNEL THAT GOD'S BLESSINGS CAN FLOW THROUGH OR IT CAN BLOCK THE FLOW OF GOD'S BLESSINGS." WE WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE DAILY TO LET IT FLOW!
-CAM