Audacious Prayers
I am reading a pre-release copy of Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick who is the pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. I have so much respect for Furtick because of his age and what God has been able to accomplish through him. His faith is incredible and if I’m honest I’m a bit envious of what God has done through him, but I also know that I have not put in the preparation to be used by God like Furtick has. In fact I don’t know of anybody personally who has put in the amount of preparation that Furtick has. They have compared him to a modern day Billy Graham and it is evident that God’s hand is on him. I also realize to whom much is given much is required and there are many of us who drop the ball from time to time. It is in those moments that we need to pray Sun Stand Still prayers.
In his book he talks about praying audacious prayers. Prayers that seem unbelievable and impossible. Prayers that when you look at how they were answered there is no question that it was a move of God on your behalf. The idea is what happens when you dare to ask God for the impossible? Obviously where I am in my life right now I am praying audacious prayers. I can’t even begin to share with you the prayers I am praying. The impossible and unbelievable prayers that I am praying. Furtick says, “If the size of your vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.” All I feel right now is that the impossible is set before me so I am praying that God would act mightily on my behalf and open doors that no one can explain. I so badly want God to get the glory in whatever situation I am in and whatever outcome happens because of it.
It got me thinking as I have had more time to study and pray, what are some of the great prayers in the Bible that I have read recently? Here are just a few.
- Nehemiah 1
- Isaiah 36:14-20
- 2 Kings 19
- 1 Samuel 38:1-8
- 1 Kings 18:41-46
- James 5:17-18
- Acts 12:5
- Acts 4:31
- 1 Samuel 1
- 2 Samuel 5:17-25
- 1 Kings 3:3-15
- Joshua 10:12-15
- Colossians 1:9-12
What are some of your audacious prayers? Are you praying any? Are you asking God to take your ordinary ingredients and mash it with God’s extraordinary expertise?
SUN STAND STILL QUOTE: “If the dream in your heart isn’t biblically based, focused on Jesus, affirmed by the key people in your life, and tethered to your passions, gifts, and life experiences, chances are, you’re way off prompt…Be careful that you don’t mistake a delusion for a true vision…Accomplishing the impossible is all about seeing the invisible.”
That’s A Great Question…
I recently started following a blog by Rachel Held Evans based on a Re-Tweet (that’s something that people do when… never mind you wouldn’t understand if I have to explain it to you.) anyways the tweet caught my attention because it was about the college I attended Liberty University . Last week she had a post called, That’s A Good Question. Here is what she wrote up front: “Perhaps the most significant life lesson I’ve learned in my young adulthood is that knowing all the answers isn’t as important as asking good questions.”
I enjoyed that thought because as a young leader we want people to think we have all the answers when the truth is we don’t, we only have our answers. I have heard many leaders talk about the importance of asking good questions and then shutting up to actually listen to their response instead of doing what many young leaders do and try to give their opinion of the answer. I love to ask questions and I love to have others ask me questions. I think one of the best way to encourage someone is to ask them what their thoughts are? You would be surprised at how that can brighten somebody’s day.
I think this is a great reminder. Who are you listening to? What questions are you asking? Are you really listening? Are you willing to learn from anybody?
You can check out Rachel’s site here and check out a new book she has coming out in July called Evolving In Monkey Town.
The Vertical Self- Book Review
Incredibly impressed with the book I read The Vertical Self written by Mark Sayers. It’s a book about discovering who God is and what is true biblical faith in the midst of a culture that says it is all about you.
If I could use one word to describe Mark it is relevant. That term gets thrown around so loosely and almost has a negative connotation that comes with it however Mark is able to tie culture into faith and sets a biblical model of what it should look like. The moment we realize that our faith is not about us but about a destination of connecting with Jesus is the moment that we grow closer to Him instead of closer to our own selves. I enjoyed how Mark showed us practical ways to find our true selves. This book appears to be written to a younger generation but I also think that by addressing this to the younger generation it may shrink the gap with young people not to be self consumed but to be consumed by God.
“By stepping into this journey of discovering what God truly desires for our lives, we won’t just discover a new way of living out our faith — we will discover liberating, revolutionary, life-embracing was of being truly human.”
The Gospel According To Lost Book Review
I just finished reading a book called, The Gospel According to Lost, by Chris Seay. This book was sent to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers by my choice.
To be fair, I am not a fan of the show Lost. To me the best part of the show will be at the end of the season when it ends without an ending and everybody will remain lost and sitting there with the feeling of having wasted years of their life. With that being said I was impressed with Chris and his ability to make something that I’m not a fan of engaging. I did find myself intrigued at his ability to draw out real world comparisons with each character.
I like how he said in the prologue that, “The narrative of the show asks more questions than it answers.” In reality that seems to be the story of life and I loved the parallel. What a great leadership principle as well to ask more questions than you answer. For me the most intriguing quote of the book was on page 47, “The island has a way of recognizing each castaway’s Achilles’ heel and bringing about a healing journey as each confronts his or her weaknesses.” A healing journey as they each confront their weaknesses. That statement stuck out to me in my own life.
Overall it was an okay book. I do think he wrote this book because of his love for the show, not so much because of the gospel. Each person will have a different view on this. I am passing this book on to my wife who is extremely excited about it. Great writer, engaging in his approach, the topic just did not resonate with me.
PRIMAL A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity_Book Review
Getting a chance to write a review for Mark Batterson’s new book Primal was exciting for me because his first two books, In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase have been two books that have helped reshape my philosophy on life and to some degree my trajectory of focus. Primal is no exception. Mark is a very talented and gifted writer who is able to articulate intense depth at a practical level.
He writes in the cover, “Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you? A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God? Maybe it was a sermon that became more than a sermon. Maybe it was a mission tip or retreat. Maybe it was a vow you made at an altar. In that moment, God birthed something supernatural in your spirit. You knew you’d never be the same again. My prayer is that this book would take you back to that burning bush-and reignite a primal faith.”
“A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God?” Sometimes you get so busy in the craziness of life that you don’t stop to think about that statement, and if we’re honest with ourselves, we would rather not be hassled with those things, those things can be taken care of by somebody else.
Mark breaks down Christianity to four things: compassion, wonder, curiosity and power. Mark says, “Faith is not faith until it is acted upon” and this book is challenging me to look at those four areas in my life and ask myself am I acting upon them. Does my heart break for the things that break the heart of God? Do I remember what it was like in the beginning before I learned about religion, back when it was about a relationship?
Whether you’ve been a Christ follower for years or just starting out in your journey this book is a book that will challenge you to think outside the box, feel outside the box and act outside the box. I highly recommend it to anybody out there and would strongly recommend that Primal be the first book you read in the New Year.
Thank you to waterbrookmultnomah.com for providing me with a free copy of this book and a chance to review a life changing book for so many.
To purchase the book yourself you may go to RandomHouse.com
The Naked Gospel
Anybody who knows me knows that I love to read. I love to read for personal growth not for personal entertainment, although I find entertainment in personal growth. I started reading a book called The Naked Gospel that was recommended to me by Shari Kelly our Life Group Director here at Fellowship Church. I want to share a snippet of one chapter that really challenged my thinking. I think it made me angry, I think it made me question, I think the book did exactly what it was supposed to do, and it was only chapter two. Check this out, it’s a quiz. Try and take it as well. Questions are true or false.
- Christians should ask God to forgive and cleanse them when they sin.
- Christians struggle with sin because of their old self within.
- We should wait on God even before making everyday decisions.
- When we sin against God, we’re out of fellowship until we repent.
- Old Testament law is written on Christians’ hearts so we want to obey it.
- The Bible tells us that Christians can obtain many rewards in heaven.
- Christians will give an account for their sins at the great white throne.
- Christians should tithe at least 10 percent of their income to the church.
- God gets angry with us when we repeatedly sin against him.
- God looks at us as though we’re righteous, even though we’re really not.
“The Biblical answers to each of the Naked Gospel quiz statements is false. Yes, false. So how’d you do? Are you ready to peel away layers of religiosity in order to discover an exhilarating reality-always keeping in mind that truth is supposed to set you free?”
Interesting book so far but I will say that I disagree with him from a Biblical point of view on his interpretation and application of the scripture in this book and that’s okay that we agree to disagree. I know where I stand theologically and that won’t waiver. I am however open philosophically to a shift or change if I am wrong. I do like to be challenged in my thought process and how I come to conclusions. The quiz may leave you feeling the same way that I did with questions and even some anger that things I grew up learning were wrong according to him, but with thought prayer and a step-back approach I realize that this is one person’s point of view but I think for some who are not progressive at all it is one point of view to consider in that it may stretch your thinking.
Wish List
Had a buddy ask me the other day, “What do you need?” Not sure there is anything pressing right now that I need. I do have a wish list. I love to read and I love to rip apart books and be challenged. So I went to Amazon.com and put together a wish list of books that are marked with “highest-medium” priority. So if you get bored and your online and you suddenly feel an urge to buy a book but remember that you don’t like to read, feel free to click over to my wishlist and shop away. You have not because you ask not, so here it is.
A New Friend
I want to introduce you to a new Facebook friend of mine Jay Tucker. Jay Tucker is a full-time youth minister in South Florida. Before getting paid, Jay worked as a volunteer in virtually every capacity a church could invent for 8 years. I can tell Jay has a heart for the local church and for teenagers. Based on an interview that I heard, checking out his blog and our brief interaction online this dude is a difference maker.
He just wrote his first book, The Whole Youth Worker, it is an insiders look at the Monday through Friday of youth ministry. In his book Jay talks about his own experiences being a professional youth minister as well as the important role that physical health plays in being the success you were called to be.
Jay is sending me a copy of his book to read and from what I can tell just from the chapter headings, anybody who is in ministry will benefit from this book.
Check out Jay’s website at www.betteryouthministry.com
Books #3
I was told by somebody recently that they don’t read because they don’t have time. I found that interesting because to me that is saying, I don’t have time to learn. I’d rather figure it out the hard way. To be honest I am good reader but I never really enjoyed it until I realized that I could learn a lot more from others than I could trying to figure it out on my own and I realized very quickly that the pain was less harsh. I hope you take the chance to read and allow others to instill wisdom into your life…once again these are a few more books that are shaping me and the ministry I lead.
Help, I’m A Student Leader, What Matters Most, Refuel by Doug Fields, Saddleback Church and Simply Youth Ministry
Starving Jesus by Craig Gross and JR Mahon founders of XXX Church
In a Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of National Community Church
Max Q by Andy Stanley, Lead Pastor of North Point Community Church
Youth Ministry 3.0 by Mark Oestreicher, President of Youth Specialties This is the book that is currently challenging me and affirming me. I have believed for a very long time that the way student ministry was being done was losing it’s effectiveness. I so badly want churches to see how important before the age of eighteen is. I thought the ideas that Mark shared in this book come from his extensive history working in middle school and his heart to see our impact to be a movement not an emotional gust.
Books #2
Today I am sharing four more books that have made an impact on me and the ministries that I lead.
Pop Goes The Church by Tim Stevens who is an Executive Pastor at Granger Community Church
UnChristian by David Kinnaman who is president of The Barna Group and Gabe Lyons who is the founder of the Fermi Project
Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger
Simply Strategic Volunteers by Tim Stevens and Tony Morgan, Tony is Chief Strategic Officer at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC
I’ll have more book later this week. Check out the links associated with each author. They are leaders in their area of influence.
