Is anyone else tired? I don’t know if it’s the heat or just the time of year or what. But lately I am working a lot of hours, sweating alog, and not really getting enough quality rest. I think it’s time to review my goals, priorities and margins. But until then, I am beat. I hope you are finding ways to stay refreshed and energized.

I am on a new and improved quest to lose weight. I failed miserably today. Yesterday I did pretty good. I must exercise though. I wish I could rent someone to exercise for me. I wish I had the metabolism of a cheetah. But alas, I do not.

So, here is my plan, again. I need to walk every day. I begin that tomorrow. One to two miles. Half size meal portions. Lots of water. No more sodas or sweet tea except as a treat. Lower salt. Lower red meat intake. Good bye for now Krispy Kreme. Good bye for now pizza. Good bye for now most bread. Hello rabbit food.

Who’s with me? I need to lose about a third grader.

It’s been interesting to watch this scene in the last few days. Some are celebrating him as a hero. Some could care less. And some have a lot of disdain for him based on his history. And then I started thinking a bit.

If Billy Graham died today, would the response be the same for him?

Soldier after solider died. There is no parade or memorial of any true magnitude.

How much money that is being made on his funerals and memorials and sales could be better used to feed homeless, irrigate the waterless, and feed the hungry?

What all did MJ do for humanitarian efforts in comparison to, say, Bill Gates or Bono?

What is the legacy, the real legacy, he leaves behind – the sum total?

Not trying to be cynical or critical here. But it seems to me that our world is so skewed in the balance of all things.

Jesus in two different places talked about separation. In place, he talked about the wheat and the tares growing up and at harvest time, a separation would take place. Later, He talked about the sheep being separated from the goats.

Seeing the church in action for so many years, I have too often seen the people of God trying to do the separating. Once that would be counted as sheep or wheat would often times get labeled as goats and weeds. Infighting. Arguing. Hidden agendas. Self preservation. Self righteousness.

I have heard a lot of people through the years just wanting to be in a place where no one judges them. Where no one looks down on them. Where people are accepted and are seen through the eyes of Christ. Me too. That’s what I want. I hate when I am not a part of building a church like that. But I am trying.

Honestly, no matter what position we take in the church, people are going to complain. Sometimes the same people complain no matter what position we take. We give too much grace or we are too hard on people. We write people off or we should write people off. For me, I am just going to ignore all that. It’s not like I have a lot to ignore right now. But I am setting my face to follow Christ in whatever way that looks like. I am not qualified to do the separating. I am qualified to help get both sets of people to the place of separating. Jesus can do that.

Turn the conversation around. If someone is speaking negatively, speak positively. If someone is full of doubt, offer hope. If someone is depressed, make it your personal mission to cheer them up. If someone is angry, help be a calming factor. Turn it around. Let’s all be turner-arounders.

Yesterday I ate at Freebirds. It’s a  burrito factory of sorts. Here is specifically why I love this place. Sure the food is good. But that’s not it. When you step up to take the order, the guy who takes your order is the guy who gets your burrito heated up, throws the meat and beans and cheese and lettuce and whatever else on there. It’s the same guy. He took me through the entire process. From one end of the order line to the cash register is probably about twenty steps.

So why do I love that? This guy is owning my customer experience. And he is talking to me the whole time. Granted we aren’t life long friends. But he owned my experience. And that is a secret ingredient for companies to make it today. Own the experience of the customer and you will own the customer.

We have come to the fork in the road. This blog has kind of served a dual purpose, one for updating the church and general communication, the other for my personal commentary. And it is now time for this thing to split so that the right comments and information can go to the right place.

So, this blog, going forward, will be for my personal observations, ministry and leadership posts, and whatever else I can think of. The new church blog will be for church communication, information and various other church related posts. You can catch this blog at www.legacylive.wordpress.com.

Hope it helps.

I had a couple people this week that were exasperated. After hearing their story I determined that I needed to help them. But, in that determination, I knew it would cut severely into my personal time. But I knew God wanted me to help them and I knew God was sending them relief and I was who He sent.

Are you up for the challenge to go above and beyond for someone else?

I don’t know about you, but right now, I am pressed financially on every side. I am working to stay afloat personally. And when I look at the church finances, and the drop in giving the last few months, I start asking God for crazy things like lottery numbers or finding something of great value that has a reward attached to it. And I am guessing you might be in the same situation. So I thought I would write about this really exciting subject from my perspective.

First, I refuse to stop giving. I will give. I will give to God. I will give to others. I will give as God directs. I probably can’t really afford to tithe right now. But I refuse to stop. I can’t really afford to buy others lunch or bring donuts to the office. But I refuse to stop. I just refuse to be a stingy person and shut off the blessing of God through me.

Second, I refuse to get frustrated. I just don’t want to let a lack hold me down. I want to be positive and optimistic and not let it ruin me or steal my joy. I just don’t have time for it. And when I feel that frustration cloud roll in, I have to remind myself not to entertain it.

Third, I refuse to stop living by faith. God is my ultimate source. God has to be the church source. We are scrambling to pay our personal bills and the church is scrambling to pay its bills. I refuse to stop living by faith.

Fourth, I will see God as my source. He really is the only One that can provide. I can’t do it without Him. So why try. I trust God. I don’t always look like I trust God. But I set my confession on it and expect my life to follow in the need to trust God. He is my source. No matter what.

Finally, I refuse to get frustrated with those who choose to do otherwise. I am not God. So ultimately I can’t manipulate or influence their giving. So why bother. God will speak to them about whatever He needs to speek to them about. I just need to hear God for me and do what He tells me, both personally and in relation to church.

Totally not church related. But the Penguins handled their business today, pushing the series to a final game. I love playoff hockey. CAN YOU FEEL IT!!!!???!!!