I know, I am a slacker. I totally didn’t have a desire today to not drink pepsi. Went to get fast food through a window and just couldn’t compel myself to ask for milk in the drive thru. Then hooked up with the family at chick-fil-a for a piece of cheese cake and yet again got a small soda. Why is it so addicting?
Author: dgould77
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National Youth Ministry Conference
Well, I wish I was there . . . but I am still in Texas! Many of my friends are and it would be so fun to hang out with them, so they better take good notes!!
Going to Student MInistry Conferences are so fun and refreshing. Its fun to get away and refreshing to learn that I am not alone when it comes to my ministry journey. REALLY, only other youth workers can relate to the stories, good and bad, passion to see God do something big in and thru the life of a teenager, as well as understand the hurt, lonelyness, excitement, joy and all the other emotions we experience from day to day, (more like minute to minute). I am sure it will be exciting and I am looking forward to hearing stories of what is going on!!
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1 Kings 3:1-15
“‘Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?’” v.7-9
What a great request from a humble and honest leader. When given the chance to have anything in the world, Solomon asked for wisdom – “an understanding heart” – in order to lead well and to make decisions. We can ask God for this same wisdom. Notice that Solomon asked for understanding to carry out his job; he didn’t ask God to do the job for him. We should not ask God to do for us what he wants to do through us. Instead, we should ask God to give us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to follow through on it.Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible
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Day 5 -No Pepsi
Well, It hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would. The good news is I haven’t had the pulsating headaches that I normally get when I haven’t had my morning soda. However, I must admit that I have had two glasses of SODA at lunch on Sunday and Tuesday. I think this thing will be kicked easier than I thought.
By the way, Sunday night we went to our new favorite Restaurant, Texas Roadhouse!! YUM, YUM!!!!! When the waitress took our drink order, she looked at me very weird when I said I wanted milk. When she brought it to the table she told me she had never had an adult order a glass of milk for a drink before. I thought that was strange! But honestly, it did make me feel like I was a health buff. FYI, a glass of milk and a steak go together very well!!!
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1 Kings 1:28-53
“‘Not at all!’ Jonathan replied. ‘Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king!’ Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed onto the horns of the altar.” v. 43;49-50
Sometimes it takes getting caught before someone is willing to give up his scheme. When Adonijah learned that his plans the be king were doomed to fail, he ran in panic to the altar, the place of Gods mercy and forgiveness. For us today it would be like saying a prayer, or running to a church. He went there after his plans for treason were exposed. If Adonijah had first considered what God wanted, he might have avoided trouble. Don’t wait until you have made a mess of your life, or got caught in a situation, before you fun to God. Seek God’s guidance everyday before you act.Taken for the NLT Life Application Study Bible
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The Book on Leadership – Taking Courage
Finished Chapter 3 Of John MacArthur book on leadership. There is some good stuff in here. The insight to Pauls journey was insightful but felt like the insight dragged on. Here are the things I underlined:
– A LEADER SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY
— All of this means that a leader must know the Scriptures. He must believe with an unshakable conviction that God’s Word is true. And he must be able to communicate the truth of God’s Word with confidence and conviction.
— The voice of authority must convey strength and power. Unless you really know what you’re talking about, you can’t speak clearly or with authority.
— People are looking for authority they can trust. And people who love the truth will follow someone who communicates God’s truth with authority. There’s no need to tiptoe around facts, evade hard issues, or equivocate on clear matters. If you know the truth, speak it with authority. That’s what true leadership does.
– A LEADER STRENGTHENS OTHERS
— A real leader’s aim is to make everyone around him better. He makes them stronger, more effective, and more motivated.
– A LEADER IS OPTIMISTIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC.
— Optimistic enthusiasm inspires followers. People will naturally follow a leader who arouses their hopes, and they will just as surely back away from someone who is perpetually pessimistic.
— You cannot be an effective leader and be pessimistic. People who are cynical and gloomy debilitate everyone they speak to. They’re like bloodsucking leeches. They make people pale, weak, and passive.
— On the other hand, optimistic enthusiasm creates energy, excitement, and hope. We who know the truth of God and have the promises of God should of all people be optimistic and enthusiastic. (Philippians 4:4)
— Paul saw these circumstances as an opportunity to introduce unbelievers to his God. -
1 Kings 1:1-27
“About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, ‘I will make myself king.’ So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, ‘Why are you doing that?’ Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.” v.5-6
God fearing people like David and Samuel were used by God to lead nations; nevertheless they had problems in family relationships. God-fearing leaders cannot take for granted the spiritual well being of their children. They are used to having others follow their orders, but they cannot expect their children to manufacture faith upon request. Moral and and spiritual character takes years to build, and it requires constant attention and patient discipline.Adonijah decided to seize the throne without David’s knowledge. He knew that Solomon, not he was Davids first choice to be the next king. This is why he didn’t invite Solomon or David’s royal advisers when he declared himself king. Thankfully his deceptive plans to gain the throne were interrupted by the prophet Nathan.
When Nathan learned of Adonijahs conspiracy, he immediately tried to stop it. He was a man of both faith and action. He knew that Solomon should rightly be king, and he moved quickly when he saw someone else trying to take the throne. We often know what is right but don’t act on it. Perhaps we don;t want to get involved, or maybe we are fearful or lazy. Don’t stop with prayer, good intentions, or angry feelings. Take the action needed to correct the situation. Be a Nathan!
David served God well as king, but as a parent he often failed both God and his children. Don’t let your service to God, even in leadership posstions, take up so much of your time and energy that you neglect your other God-given responsibilities.
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Day 1 – No Pepsi
Well I have almost made it 24 hours with out a glass . . . not even a sip of Pepsi today. It has been challenging, especially since my wife drank soda for dinner right in front of me. But today, milk has replaced my former drink of choice, SODA. I started the habit back in elementary school. Somethings just seem to taste better with soda. I am hoping to find that out to be a lie.
The good news, no headache today. I am sure it will come tomorrow when I am teaching. (That will be fun) I’ll let you know how tomorrow goes, pray for me!!!!!!
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Parents’ Drinking Influences Teenagers
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – When it comes to alcohol, many teenagers may take a cue from their parents, new research suggests.
In a study of more than 4,700 teenagers, researchers found that parents’ drinking habits appeared to influence their children in both direct and indirect ways.
In the first case, teenagers seemed to simply follow the example of a parent who drank excessively, the study found. In the second case, many teens seemed to view parents’ drinking as a sign of lax parenting, and this, in turn, affected their likelihood of drinking.
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2 Samuel 18:1-18
“During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, ‘I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.’” v.9-10
And you thought the Bible was boring!
