Let’s play a word association game. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say the following words/phrases.
Hipster
Netflix
Full-time ministry
My answers would be: skinny jeans, binge watching and working at a church.
Since I work at a church, people often ask me what it’s like to be in full-time ministry.
I hate this question.
It implies I’m in full-time ministry and you are not. Here’s the truth. If you’re a Christian, you are in full-time ministry.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Full-time ministry is not what your job is. It’s the attitude you go into every day with.” quote=”Full-time ministry is not what your job is. It’s the attitude you go into every day with.”]
So how about you tell me, what’s it like being in full-time ministry? What are ways we can all have that mindset each day?
I’m fascinated by the lure of just two kettlebell exercises causing a “what the hell?” effect.
The What the Hell Effect is well known throughout the kettlebell community. Doing kettlebell work, specifically kettlebell swings and turkish get-ups, has a way of improving all sorts of other physical activities that seem to be unrelated.
Premeditated Fitness
Living in the world of kettlebell swings and turkish get-ups has brought surprising clarity to a question Christians often wrestle with: How do we grow in our faith and mature in our relationship with Christ?
Honestly, I never look forward to whenever my church does a 21-day fast to kick off the year.
I don’t look forward to it because what should be a deeply spiritual act nearly always deteriorates into nothing more than a shift in what I eat.
I keep trying year after year to raise the spiritual bar, but haven’t quite nailed it (yet). What I have nailed is a few practical pointers that I hope will help on your next fast.
Over the course of time, I’ve created a handful of worship playlists. Add some more time to that time and now I have five more worship playlists to share with you! ;)
As I was running by these cars, I realized this truth…
Often the small decisions and behaviors we think only affect us, unintentional influence others.
I heard a friend say they only brush their teeth once a day. Being the poster child of efficiency, I jumped on this idea. I’m the guy who only flosses two weeks leading to a teeth cleaning because the dentist has always said my teeth/gums look great. So why floss 365 days a year when you can floss 14 and get the same results? ;)
In high school, I attended a youth group as a non-Christian outsider. I was really just there to hang out with friends and play ping pong. #truestory
As an indirect result, I learned a little bit more about Jesus and Christianity. You know what I learned? Christians are hypocrites. The same people who preached repentance and “what would Jesus do?” in the school hallways were the same people doing drugs, having premarital sex and getting drunk on the weekends.
Not very Christ-like at all.
Unintentionally, their decisions influenced me away from Christ. They had no idea the deep impact and impression their actions left on me. For the next three years I thought Christianity was nothing more than a label.
It held no eternal significance to me.
The line of cars above started with just one decision.
A decision the person thought was no biggie and only affected them. But one decision ultimately led tens of others to follow their lead.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”We all influence people whether we like it or not. You determine if that’s a good or bad thing.” quote=”We all influence people whether we like it or not. You determine if that’s a good or bad thing.” theme=””]
No one is exempt from that truth.
Who are the main people you influence? Think of them by name. Your kids, your co-workers, your spouse, your fellow classmates, your friends? Heck, even all your social media followers.
Are you doing anything that could negatively impact them? Because we are all influential, it’s worth taking the time to answer that question.
How would your kids define the word “family” based on what you do when you’re together? Is there quality time happening or does everyone do their own thing? How do you treat and talk to your co-workers? Are they attracted to you because you’re kind-hearted or repelled by all your gossip? Are people unfriending you on Facebook because of your endless stream of negativity and complaining?
And, don’t forget, as Christians we influence people either toward or away from Christ.
Steward that influence wisely.
How has someone positively or negatively impacted you with their decisions or behavior?
