Lead like Alex P. Keaton

One of my favorite television shows growing up was Family Ties.  I mean who didn't love Alex P. Keaton.  He was one of my heroes.  

Family Ties, which aired on NBC for seven seasons from 1982-1989 reflected the move in the United States away from the cultural liberalism of the 1960's and 1970's to the conservatism of the 1980s.  This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young republican Alex P. Keaton played but Michael J. Fox and his hippie parents.

I was reminded of his character as I was reading through the book "Killing Reagan" by Bill O'Oreilly and Martin Dugard.  In fact, President Reagan once stated that Family Ties was his favorite television show.

Ronald Reagan had an interesting and fulfilling life.  An actor who at times was great but at other times was awful.  He served as the Governor of California and the 40th president of the United States.  The last few years of his life must have been very difficult for his family because or Alzheimer's.

Without making any political statements I believe there are a couple of principles that we can take from the life of Ronald Reagan.

1. We need to lead with courage.  
There are many times that President Reagan led with courage, but to me his "Tear Down this Wall" speech stands above the others.  On June 12, 1987 Ronald Reagan stands before the Berlin Wall giving the speech that will define his presidency and quite possibly his entire life.

"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate!  Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!  Mr, Gorbachev, tear down this wall." 

2. No Leader is perfect.  President Reagan had his share of mistakes and imperfections.  He was married twice.  His acting career wasn't always successful.  He failed at his first run at the presidency in 1976.  And then there was the Iran-Contra Affair or the arms for hostages proposal.

The character Alex P. Keaton in  Family Ties definitely had courage to lead.  But like President Reagan he also had challenges including a battle with amphetamines.

Today are churches, schools, and cities need those in authority to lead with courage.  Courage can tear down walls.  Leaders will make mistakes and even let you down, but its still important to support them when they lead with courage.

Oh yeah . . . take that!

A couple of weeks ago a NFL player, Odell Beckham of the New York Giants had an interesting and almost toxic game.  As a wide receiver he clearly lost control.  From spearing corner back Josh Norman to slapping him across his helmet.  Norman wasn't completely innocent either.  Beckham's action cost him a one game suspension; Norman was fined $26,000 for his part.

We've all experienced situations - young and old alike - moments when frustration gets the better of us and we suddenly feel like we're losing our minds.

Temper tantrums
Eating the entire jar of jellybeans.
Fighting on the playground
Throwing a video game controller across the room.
Yelling at the kids in frustration.

I wish I could say that I am always in complete control of my emotions and actions.  But none of us are.

Throughout the Bible, God talks about a lot about self-control.  As a fruit of the Spirit, self-control is a response to the change that God is making in our lives.  With our own willpower we are helpless to control anything, but with God's power we have strength.  We have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us and are able to do what we should do even when it's not what we want to do.

The book of Proverbs includes several verses where God gives us wisdom to practice for those moments when we'd rather do anything but show self-control.  Proverbs are not merely wise sayings.  Rather, they are part of God's story where He whispers to us: "here's how you should live."  Over the next few weeks in Inspire Kids, we'll look at self-control through God's lens and explore four truths that Solomon captured in the book of Proverbs.

Let’s all learn together this month to pause, select the right words and actions, and most importantly tap into God’s power to show some self-control.

It's Not for Me!

There are some things in life that are not for me.  Beans and Rice. Skydiving.  Being a Seahwaks Fan.  Playing any musical instrument. Dunking a basketball.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Prayer and Fasting, many of us say the same thing.

It's not for me.  

You might be thinking . . . the only thing good about fasting is it will help me to lose some weight.  You might be asking . . . isn't fasting only for emergencies or for the really holy people?  No, fasting is for every follower of Jesus.

You can pray.  You can fast.  But it's more than that.  It's about making God a priority.

Here's the truth. God must be first. He cannot not be first. When God is first in every area of your life, the rest of your life will be filled with order. If God isn't first in any area of your life, I would argue that your life will be full of disorder.

In the book, "Awakening," pastor and author Stovaal Weems says "This will be your best year ever, if it is your best year spiritually."  

Fasting can jump start your year towards being spiritually consumed.  It can set the tone for your entire year.

I'm looking forward to this Sunday as I'll be teaching on prayer and fasting as we prepare for our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting at Inspire Church starting on January 3rd.

If you have never fasted before, I want to challenge you to try it this January.  If you want what you've always had, do what you've always done.  But if you are tired of being spiritually apathetic or inconsistent, then do something you haven't done.

Be sure to check out the Inspire Church blog during those 21 days in January for daily devotionals from the gospel of John and for a daily prayer emphasis.

You may also want to prepare you heart early for this Sunday by reading Joel 1:14 and Matthew 6:16-18.

Ugh! So many choices!

Choices!  Life is full of choices.  I am always overwhelmed when my wife asks me to go to the drug store for some cold medicine.  It takes me forever to choose what I think is the right one.  I'm ra . . . 

Read more

Just do something!

  

I recently read a story about the late Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken.  He was on an airplane when an infant screamed and would not stop even though the women and flight attendant tried every trick they could think of.

Finally the Colonel asked if he could hold the baby. he gently rocked it to sleep.  

Later a passenger said, "We all appreciated what you did for us." Colonel Sanders replies, "I didn't do it for you, I did it for the baby."  He was demonstrating compassion towards the baby.

December is a great time of the year to talk about Compasssion. Compassion is that feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

For the month of December, we will be teaching about Compassion in Inspire Kids.  The main idea is that compassion is caring enough to do something about someone else's need.

God saw our greatest and did something about it.  He became one of us. Humbling Himself to be born as a tiny baby in a remote town in the dwelling place of animals. His birth announcement was sent first to a lowly group of shepherds and later to kings from a distant land. He lived as one of us, so that eventually He could die as atonement for our sin and be raised again on the third day so that we could one day live eternally with God in Heaven.

So as leaders and as parents let's take time as we approach Christmas to teach and live out compassion in our lives.  Seek out teachable moments where you can instill compassion in the lives of your kids.

As these teachable moments occur keep in mind that this is the time of the year when kids (and adults) suddenly NEED a lot of things.  

Most of these needs are just WANTS. Their greatest need is for a Savior - and God met that need on Christmas Day.  Jesus is the ultimate example of compassion.

Unknown Conditions Ahead

This month on Social Media there's this 30 Day of Thankfulness challenge.  I'm not very good at keeping up on that and posting each day, but there is something to be said for taking the time to reflect on what you're thankful for.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

In all circumstances.  Did you catch that?  It's easy to be thankful for good health, for a job promotion, for a Cowboy's victory, for the purchase of a new home, for the accomplishments that happened in the lives of our children. 

But what about those non Social Media moments?  Those things you don't neccesarily share publicly.  The death of a loved one, a cut in pay, when the Cowboys lose 7 games in a row, defaulting on your dream home.

In all circumstances.

Last weekend I was at a conference and we sang the song, "Your Promises" by Elevation Worship.  One of the lines in the song stood out to me.

When the weight of life begins to fall on the name of Jesus I will call.  For I know my God is in control and His purpose is unshakeable.

I'm thankful for my wife, Jalita, who makes me a better person.  I'm thankful for my son, Isaac.  There's is no doubt that Isaac is my son. He's so much like me.  Every year we hear from his teachers or coaches that Isaac is a really nice and polite young man with a great smile.  Love hearing that.  I'm thankful for my son, Austin.  I appreciate Austin's sense of humor, He is so stinking smart and talented musically.  I can't wait to see what Austin does with all his talents. I'm thankful for my daughter, Emma.  She brings a  lot of joy into our lives.  I appreciate Emma's love for life. 

I'm thankful for the little things in life like Netflix, sports, fantasy football, Social Media, Pepsi, Wood's Coffee, licorice, and even cereal.

But even more than all those things, I am thankful that no matter the circumstance, my God is in control and His purpose is unshakeable.

So I choose to give thanks in all circumstances.

SInk or Swim

When my kids were younger, we signed them up for swimming lessons with a lady who was known for being able to teach anyone to swim in just a couple of weeks.  In fact, most kids would be jumping off the diving board and swimming like a pro by the end of the swimming lessons.

So many things in life are a sink or swim situation.   Parenting can feel like that at times.  As a parent to three great kids I was never fully prepared to disciple, train,teach, and cultivate them spiritually.  I certainly didn’t take that class at Bible College!  

Parenting is the hardest job that I have ever had.  There’s that pressure to be proficient in so many areas:  math, sports, braiding hair. For many parents, myself included, it’s easier to go play catch with their son than to tell them a story from the Bible.  I enjoy both of those things but the latter is more challenging.  I don’t think I’m alone in this. 

Many parents struggle with being the spiritual leader in their home.  Most parents want to spend time with their kids.  They have good intentions about talking to their kids on a deeper level.  They want to share their faith.  The problem is – they don’t know how.  

While church is important, God designed the family to be the primary place where discipleship happens.  So the church’s job is to come alongside families and help them fulfill the instructions given in Deuteronomy.  

In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the Bible clearly teaches that parents are to spiritually train their children or to lead in the provision of spiritual development for their children:  “Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on door frames of your houses and on your gates.” 

I want to invite you to the Inspire Kids Parent Cue Event that’s happening on November 8, right after church in the Youth Center.  We believe that parents can leverage the moments that exist in the rhythm of their daily lives to raise a generation that has an everyday faith.  

Our Parent Cue Event is primarily about providing tools for you as parents that cue you to start a conversation, capture a moment, or instill truth in your kids.  We will also be giving you a calendar of events, sharing about ways that you can get involved, and also be opening up for a Q and A time.  Lunch is provided.  During the Parent Cue, your kids will be having lunch up in Howard Hall along with doing some fun activities.  Parents, I hope you can make it.