Five years ago, I was in the worst shape of my life. I was enrolled full-time as a student in a seminary. I was working both in a church and in another full-time job. My day began before five am and ended sometimes after twelve midnight. Because I was super stressed, I resorted to bad eating habits. All the usual suspects were present. Soda, junk food, carbs and foods, high in sugar. I reached a point in my life where this needed to change. So here is what I did:

One of my good friends suggested that I check out this crazy exercise program called p90x. Because it was video based, I did not have to pay a ridiculous $40+ every month to do what I can do with just a small open space and a dvd player.

I started eating super clean, cut out all the junk and lost a whole bunch of weight. To this day, I have kept the nutrition habits that were formed during those painful ninety days.

As great as it feels to eat clean, to lead a healthy lifestyle, and to fit into your favorite pair of jeans, there is something else that many people far too often neglect:

I am talking specifically about the shape of your life.

If you want to be a person who is really displaying the gospel of Jesus to the watching world, as God intended for you to do, there are few other things that are far more important than just eating clean or participating in hot yoga.

Here are five areas in your life that will form your life shape.

If these areas are neglected, your life will be extremely lop-sided, un-balanced and will lack the vigor and vibrancy that God initially created for you to display and experience.

1. Believe that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. The most difficult part for a follower of Jesus will be actually believing that Jesus loves you. Because every time we choose another pleasure to satisfy our desire, other than Jesus – we in effect are telling Jesus that He is not enough.

Your relationship with Jesus will determine every other relationship that you will have in your life.

2. Get married, to stay married. If you are reading this, there is a ninety percent chance that you will get married. The odds are ever in your favor. Your spouse will be the single most influential person in your life, who will form your shape. I believe that the health of your marriage will determine your success in every single other area of your life. Your family needs to be your top priority. If you want to learn how to find your soul mate and make the right decision, click here.

3. Commit to serving in a local church. There is no other organization or group where you will grow more into the person God created you to be, than in your local church. Plug in to a local church, uncover your spiritual gifts and start serving people. Statistically, people who take an active part in one local church experience the most joy, the most happiness and the most contentment in their life.

4. Find a few mentors who will speak in to your life. Find a few guys or gals that will be super honest with you and will speak into you. I thank God that I have had the same two to five guys continuously speak in to my life for the better part of the last decade. They point out my blind spots, coach me hard on the spot and provide just the right amount of encouragement. I don’t even want to think where I would be without their mentorship in my life. Mentors help leaders get further, faster. Mentors can help you shave off twenty or more years off of your learning curve.

Find a mentor today. I am serious. Text or call someone right now. Ask them: Can you be my mentor? You can do this and come back to this post later, I don’t mind!

5. Narrow your focus to a maximum of three to four areas. Most people can do only a handful of things really well. I would venture to say that most people can only be really good at only three to four things.

This is why very early on in my twenties, I realized exactly what God has gifted me with and exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to serve people in my life by speaking, writing, providing leadership and making a tremendous impact in every single person that I meet in life.

When I realized that, it became really easy to understand what opportunity I should take on and what opportunity I should decline. Here is the bottom line my friend:

You have to say no to some really good things, in order to say yes to the really great things.

You will be much more impactful when you hone and develop your craft or talent – and use that to serve the people in your life. You personally will experience the greatest level of joy and pleasure, and so will the people who will be impacted by how you serve them.

In each of these five shape areas, infuse the gospel of Jesus. Because if you please Jesus, it does not matter whom you displease. Display Jesus in every single sphere of your entire life. Forget about growing your kingdom and focus on growing Jesus’ Kingdom. There is no limit to what God can do in you and through you.

But very often, God is interested in doing a great work in you, before He will do a great work through you.

Question: Are you in shape? What area of your life do you need to get in shape? What else would you add to this list? 

How You Can Get In The Best Shape Of Your Life is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post How You Can Get In The Best Shape Of Your Life appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

History has never seen an age like ours. This is because social media has ushered in a new authority. It has radically changed the way we connect, communicate and spread ideas, forever. Social media has also changed the way authority and influence are allocated within our society. There are no longer gate-keepers that can prevent anyone from getting a message out. In the new authority order of social media, influence is fostered from connectivity, not control. It is no longer about how much you know but rather how generous you are with that knowledge.

There is now more resources at our disposal than every before. We are connected with everyone in the entire world. We have gone from being part of a local city to being a part of a global village – replete with tribe leaders. In the history of humanity, we have never been more connected than today. At the same time, we have never had a more desperate need for pure human contact, than today. We are ironically, alone together. 

Social media has enabled people to connect with other people – in ways that were not thought possible, before. I personally have met many people exclusively because of social media and blogging. I believe it is a blessing that has been given to us by God – thereby requiring of us to be wise stewards of how we manage it, to the glory of God.

Here are five ways in which social media has created a new authority:

1. Denominational To Tribal. The focus has shifted from titles to tribes. This has been the case all along – social media was just able to harness this reality and make it a commodity – available to anyone. Which makes it both a phenomenal reality and a great responsibility. Before, people gathered around one particular charismatic personality. That person was able to keep a tight control on things that were going on within an organization. Social media has usurped from denominations the influence they once possessed. Because control is no longer delegated to one particular committee or organization.

2. Authority Is Influential, Not Positional. Before, people demanded to be heard because of a position they held. Today, people listen to those who have something to say, not just those who want to say something. If you want to influence this generation, you need to develop a relationship with them. Leaders who do not harness the power of social media are adhering to the old authority order. The problem is not that the youth of today have no respect for those who have gone before them. The problem is when those who have gone before them forget where they have been and that they too – at one point – were full of questions and doubt and anxiety about the future. Someone needs to take time and answer those pressing questions. If a live human being will not, young people will seek out a tribal leader in the social media sphere – which is actually a great thing – at least someone wants to take the time to answer their question and address their concern.

3. Gatekeepers Are Gone. Before, if you had an opinion – you were told to keep it to yourself until asked to share it. What if that idea was earth-tilting. Imagine having to hold it in for twenty plus years, just because someone did not sign a permission slip for you to speak. Today, more than ever before – people are not afraid to share their ideas in hopes of helping someone else. Sure, there can be a lot of noise out there. But when you tune to the right frequency, you get fresh content and consistency.

4. Podcast Pastors. If young people are not getting properly fed at their local church, there are plenty of podcasts that are immediately available to them. Ask the youth of today who their favorite pastor is, and they will most likely show you their iPhone replete with the best speakers in the entire Christendom. This is actually pretty awesome. Except if that is the only way that you are currently being pastored. Sitting under the you-tube pulpit is not a sustainable diet of gospel-centeredness. It cannot teach you virtually what only a real community can, physically. The new authority order of social media is displacing the influence of local pastors who are not willing to engage with the people in their congregation – in a relevant way – speaking to them in a language they understand. Here is what one prominent pastor and blogger said regarding the digital generation:

“If the leader is not leading in the digital world, his leadership is, by definition, limited to those who also ignore or neglect that world. That population is shrinking every minute. The clock is ticking.”

5. Excuses Are Not An Option. Before social media, you had to go through a long process before your idea was heard and you were able to share it in front of a small audience. Now, people equipped with a laptop and free wifi are building orphanages in third world countries, providing clean water for those in need and are launching exclusively online businesses from which they are able to support their entire family. I meet many people who say they want to say a lot to this generation but get no opportunity to do so. Well, this might have been true in the old world – but under the new authority order of social media – you can say anything you want to whomever you want – provided that what you are saying is bringing value to the conversation. Starting a blog or getting a social media account takes mere minutes. Your voice is needed because you are you and there is no one like you. God wired you to live in a community (physical and virtual) and help other people. If that means getting out of your comfort zone and using social media for God’s glory, then that is exactly what you should be doing.

The new authority ushered in by social media is exciting, progressive and perpetually changing. As a Christian, you are called to be a wise steward of the resources that have been given to you. This includes asking Jesus for wisdom while navigating through this new world of social media. Here are three suggestions for how to do this well:

1. Seek Out Real Life Relationships. No matter how great social media is – you need to cultivate and develop relationships with real life human beings. Yes it will be messier in real life than in the photo-shopped world of Facebook or Instagram. But Jesus does not want you to live in isolation. It does not matter how many online friends you have — a virtual community can complement what you have in real life – not supplement it. Jesus wants us to be plugged in to a local church, doing life with real people and dealing with real problems – to which Jesus is the exclusive answer. Every single week, I have lunch with the guys that I mentor, because I realize how the entire dynamic changes – when we see each other face to face instead of doing face-time.

2. Do A Digital Detox. Detach your iPhone from your palm and give your thumbs a rest. I personally did this for about a week. Will write about that experience in a future post. When you are speaking with someone, look at them. I know, this is a difficult concept to grasp for some of us – and I have been guilty of this. When you are around other people, give them your undivided attention. Social Media will still be there once you have had that quality conversation with another person. Choose an evening where you will entirely disconnect. Let me know what happened and if you survived.

3. Jesus Is The Ultimate Authority. Everything that happens in our generation and the next is entirely orchestrated by Jesus. It is our job to image Jesus in everything that we do. Are we being faithful, digital ambassadors to the masses? Are we gospel-centered in all that we post and tweet? Are we equipped to utilize wisely the common grace extended to us through the social media revolution?

As we cultivate tribes centered around a common purpose and as new tribal leaders emerge, we must always look to see if the message that is being tweeted or posted – coincides with a timeless message - presented to us in the Bible – which is the Word of God, relevant in every age.

Question: How has the new authority order of social media impacted you personally? What pitfalls do you see? What are some great attributes regarding this movement? 

Five Reasons Why Social Media Is The New Authority is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post Five Reasons Why Social Media Is The New Authority appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

When I was a kid, I used to be afraid of the dark. There was just something very eerie about a pitch black darkness, that I did not particularly enjoy. It’s not like I had to sleep with the lights on, or had terrible nightmares. Thankfully that never happened. As I grew older, that fear still haunted me a bit.This is why I love turning on the lights. When I wake up in the morning, I turn on the light. In my kitchen. In my living room. I use a porch light when it gets dark. Whenever I walk into any room, I turn on the lights. I actually installed dimmer switches for all the lights in my house, so that I could control the brightness of the rooms. There is just something about the light that draws me to it.

Light essentially casts out the darkness. And if we were created in the image of God, I do believe that we were wired not just to turn on the light, but to be the light to the watching world.

So even though I got over my fear of the dark since childhood, there are still other fears that plague me even into adulthood. If you are like me, I am sure that you have some things that you fear. There are some things that temporarily provide you anxiety or frustration. There are some things that when you think of them, you might cringe or experience that sinking feeling inside of your stomach. Similar to when you go down that big drop on a roller-coaster.

Here are three things that I fear in life and why Jesus removes my fear, every time:

1. The Future. I love planning most things well in advance. I love slaying my dragons. I love front-loading absolutely, everything. But no matter how much I plan or prepare, the future remains elusive. God created it, not me. God lives in the future, not me.

No matter how much clarity I try to create, uncertainty is the only thing I am certain of.

But here is the wonderful thing if you are a follower of Jesus:

Even though you don’t know what the future holds, you know the One who holds that future.

2. The Opinion Of People. As a pastor and a speaker, I talk. A lot. I also write a blog. This means that most things inside my mind, will either be written for all to read or spoken, for all to hear. This creates a fear where I tend to over-think what people will think of me.

Was I too tough?

Was I too tender?

Did I say enough?

Did I say too little?

Did I press this issue correctly?

Did I gloss over another issue?

What will people think, when they find out I am a Jesus freak?

Will this group of people not like me, because I said this?

Will I win over this group of people, because I said that?

The wisest man who ever lived after Jesus rightly said that the fear of human opinion disables a person. The only antidote to this is a trust in God.

So I don’t have to fear what people think of me, because I already know what the One who created me, already thought of me.

I do my best, and give the rest to Jesus. I remember one pastor said that he works like an Arminian, but sleeps like a Calvinist. Not a bad motto to live by.

3. The Lack Of Validation. We live in this crazy world where our existence is justified by our online activity.

If you don’t snap that picture, you actually never ate your lunch. If you don’t post a picture of your recent trip, you actually never went on it. If you don’t tell everyone about how you stubbed your toe, it actually never really occurred. If you do any type of activity, and never post or update anyone about it, did it actually happen? I don’t know, you tell me. Ironically we are alone, together.

There is nothing wrong with this, until we actually are living only for this.

If Jesus paid attention to you, it does not matter who did not give attention to you.

If Jesus calls you His masterpiece, it does not matter who else calls you something else. The point is that we don’t need to fear if we go unnoticed. Because the Creator of the Universe, noticed us perfectly, knows us personally and loves us unconditionally. And even though other people might not know about our good works, Jesus Himself says that He knows and sees our good works.

“Fear not,” is the most frequent command found in the Bible. The Bible talks specifically about fear over three hundred times. The Bible encourages us not to fear explicitly, over one hundred times. Jesus tells us to “fear not,” at least over thirteen times in the New Testament.

Perfect love casts out fear. We know Who that perfect love is. His name is Jesus.

We don’t have to fear anything, because we know the One who has already overcome, everything. 

Question: What fear are you currently experiencing? How does knowing Jesus eliminate the fear from your life? 

Three Things I Fear The Most In Life is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post Three Things I Fear The Most In Life appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

I think it is time for me to make this confession. I have waited too long and can’t keep it to myself anymore. I don’t think I will be alone in revealing this:

Quitting anything and everything has crossed my mind, more than a few times.

But here is the reason why even though I have contemplated it, I never went through with it:

The crazy thing about quitting is that it becomes a viable option to relieve you of fear. Whatever it is that you are facing, is causing you to experience anxiety or frustration. So, the natural inclination for us humans is to simply press the eject button. To shut it down. To throw in the towel. To stick a fork in it and consider it done. You get the picture.

Even though this might be the easiest option, it most certainly is not the best option, neither is it the wisest.

Here are the top four things that people usually quit for ridiculous reasons:

1. Jobs. A lot of people think that they can do a half-way job at their day job and miraculously score their dream job. But if you can’t do your day job faithfully, what makes you think you can do your dream job, excellently?

Some of us don’t need a better job, we just need to do the job we have, better.

I have worked in super micro-managed environments, where my every move was monitored and tracked. I have worked in environments where I am my own boss, creating my own schedule. Here is the thing. At the end of the day, both require work and effort. If you quit your current job, the next job will still have the same thing you have to do. It is called work. That doesn’t change. You can change the external scenery, but that won’t make up for your lack of diligence in doing a job you were assigned to do.

2. Relationships. A lot of people quit relationships, consistently. They are like serial quitters. Why? Because someone did not fulfill my desire, my request or my need. So people often go from one relationship, to another and again to another. The problem with this serial quitter business is that eventually, you will have to learn to get along with people. No one is perfect, including me and you. So, you can run from your spouse, your significant other, your friend, your boss or your parents. But the one person you won’t be able to run away from, is yourself.

So, if you don’t learn how to be effective at building relationships, you will drift from one relationship to another, leaving collateral damage, that someone else will have to pick up.

Quitting a relationship won’t actually create a better you.

3. Churches. The church is a hospital for broken people. Jesus came to earth and said that the sick are in need of a physician.

Often people tell me that they don’t want to go to church because it is full of hypocrites. To which I say, “great, you will fit right in.”

Whether your church barely has 100 people on any given Sunday, or you has fifty campuses and over fifty thousand people attending, every week, issues will still exist.

Just recently I heard a pastor of a large mega church confess publicly that he has been having a super tough week. Tough week, I thought? You are the most downloaded pastor in the world and have a ministry that reaches millions of people.

But guess what, the pressures and problems and conflicts of ministry – exist everywhere, regardless of church size.

If you quit a church because your needs were not being met, most likely the problem was in you, not in the church.

4. Dreams.

Dreams cost time, not money.

The reason you are not achieving your dreams is not because you lack resources, or money or support. It is because you are too afraid to face the hard work that lies before you.

You let other people define your life for you, instead of trusting the One who created a life, in you.

Far too often, we are like those kids playing with mud pies, while our parents are offering us a vacation on the sea, aboard a luxury yacht.

Don’t quit your dream, just because your friends did not make it.

Don’t quit your dream, just because it scares you.

Don’t quit your dream, just because your peers ridiculed it and declared it impossible.

Don’t quit your dream, because it takes too much work.

Anything worth doing, is worth doing well. And before you will get super good at it, you will have to put in some serious effort.

Here is the bottom line:

When Jesus saved us, He did so when there was nothing in us, to save us. While we were vile and filthy sinners, Jesus came to earth to die on the cross. Jesus lost His life, so that we have a life.

Jesus did not quit half-way.

• He did not quit while He was 12 years old teaching people three times His age.

• He did not quit when He was constantly being pursued by people who wanted to kill Him.

• He did not quit when His closest disciples had no idea why He kept talking about His impending death.

• He did not quit even when He was abandoned by His closest friends. 

• He did not quit when He was murdered by His fiercest enemies.

• He continued on His mission until the very end.

• He loved us, to die for us.

So the next time you think about quitting any area of your life, think of Jesus and how He did not quit.

You will make it, because Jesus did.

Question: Have you ever thought about quitting something? How did you overcome that? What advice would you offer to people in your life who want to quit something right now? 

My Dreaded Confession is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post My Dreaded Confession appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

If you don’t want to get criticized, don’t do anything. But even for that, you will get criticized. There are really only two things that can happen because of criticism. It can either destroy you, or it can refine you. I believe that the best thing to do is to turn your critics into coaches. Here is an open letter to my critics:

Criticism for leaders is normal. It does not matter if what you do is visible. It does not matter if you mostly work in the background. Criticism is inevitable. It will sometimes come from the most surprising of sources. It can sting. It can be painful. It can also be constructive. It can also be productive.

The question is not whether you will experience criticism or not. The better question is this: How do you or how should you react when you receive some sort of criticism. How do you deal with it? What should be your approach? What should be your reaction? How can your attitude towards critics and criticism resemble a Christo-centric mentality?

It is extremely important to distinguish between the different types of critics. This will help you in your growth as a leader and as a person who wisely sifts through counsel directed towards you.

Here are the three types of critics:

1. Coaches. This people are genuinely interested in your growth as a leader. They have no personal agenda. They are not practicing partiality towards you. They sincerely see in you great potential and want to maximize your talents. They encourage without being back-slappers. They rebuke without breaking you down. They offer constructive feedback that is palatable and effective. If you are in the wrong, they will call you out on it. But, they will do it in such a way where you will sense the love and will want to change. They approach you with love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Tim. 1:5).

Your Reaction: Spend more time with coaches and encourage feedback as often as possible. They are happy to provide it and do so in a productive manner.

2. Critics. Critics are people who have neither an affectionate love for you nor do they harbor bitter anger toward you. They know who you are and know what you are all about. They simply see things from a different perspective. Their feedback will not be as restrained as that of the coaches. Some of what they say is great counsel. Counsel which you will not agree with from the beginning. Occasionally, their criticism will be sprinkled with some sort of agenda or activism. They don’t really have anything against you. At the same time, they are not too crazy about you either.

Your Reaction: Be cordial and respectful when listening to their counsel. As my seminary professor always said: “Chew the meat and spit out the bones.” This should be your method of operation with critics.

3. Trolls. This type of critic is the most potent and painful of them all. They are out to either hurt you or use you. They are unreasonable in their demands. They remain unteachable when approached. If you engage in conversation with them, your energy will be depleted and you will leave from their presence degraded. They really do not like who you are or what you are all about. Your presence in their midst literally repels them. They can’t quite point out anything legitimately wrong with you. Except the fact that they do not like you. You will most likely never find out the true reason for their dislike of you. At times, they will resort to ungrounded character accusations.

Your Reaction: Avoid feeding the trolls at all costs. The Apostle Paul says that If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Rom. 12:18). Attempt to accept that which they say with sincerity and humility. Avoid getting into arguments or quarrels with this type of critic. If they continue in their vile ways, ignore them and do not let their accusation detract you from your mission.

Whatever type of critic you experience, your approach should be that of a distinctly gospel-infused mentality. Continue to show honor, respect and humility when listening to criticism.

Study what Jesus did when he responded to his critics and follow his example.

Make sure you take what He did in the right context. At the same time, use your gift of discernment. Avoid foolish arguments and useless controversies. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in handling critics in a Christ-centered manner.

Question: What other critics have you experienced? What is the best type of attitude to assume when receiving criticism?

An Open Letter To My Critics is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post An Open Letter To My Critics appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

Being a pastor is a dangerous calling because the things you preach about are the very same things that God often sends into your life, to refine your life. This is why I always approach a text I will preach on with trepidation, knowing that this is an area where God might want to test me. I know all of us get into a periodical funk where we want the season to change, but the season is only interested in changing us. Here are twenty ways you can get out of that funk, right now:

If you have had a bad day, a bad week or a bad month, what do you do? Here are twenty practical suggestions that worked for me, that I hope will work for you:

1. Have a worship session with Jesus and tell Him every thing that is frustrating you at the present moment

2. Write out a list of ten specific things that you are thankful for.

3. Turn off all of your electronic devices, and go for a walk or a run.

4. Call a good friend who will listen to you, instead of immediately giving advice to you.

5. Have a good cry. It is ok. Jesus wept also (Jn. 11:35). This will help cleanse your entire emotional system.

6. Quit worrying about things that are out of your control.

7. Turn off the T.V. and never turn it on again.

8. Read a Psalm.

9. Read Proverbs.

10. Clean and organize your work space.

11. Text someone something encouraging.

12. Smile.

13. Take a deep breath.

13. Take a day off.

14. Take a twenty-minute nap.

15. Change positions. If you are sitting, stand. If you are standing, sit.

16. Stop complaining, immediately.

17. Do that one thing right now, that you fear the most.

18. Turn on some upbeat music and blast it in your car.

19. Schedule a lunch date with a friend.

20. Avoid being a part of negative conversations.

You have one life to live, now go make it count!

Question: What did I miss? What else would you add to this list? 

Twenty Ways To Get Out Of Your Funk is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post Twenty Ways To Get Out Of Your Funk appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

I believe that we are far too easily amused, far too easily pleased and all too quickly submit to mediocrity in every single part of our life. We stop striving for more, stop praying for bigger and stop delivering excellence. It is far easier to just live a comfortable life and wait until retirement occurs. Someone else can chase the dream, someone else can change the world, someone else can influence people – I can just sleep in while the rest of the world is wide awake. After all, since I am once saved and always will be saved, what is the point of putting any effort in to doing things that don’t produce an immediate harvest.So what we end up doing is quitting relationships, quitting marriages, quitting churches, quitting on people and quitting jobs. Why? Because they did not satisfy our needs, our desires, our cravings, our passions. Our expectations were shattered – so we go ahead and shatter those who did that favor for us.

The biggest danger that most Christians will face won’t be:

Sinning too much, because first of all, you can’t out sin God. Ultimately, God knows you inside and out, knows what you are thinking, doing and feeling. Nothing you do will ever surprise Him.

Doing too many bad things. You don’t do bad things, you were born bad. You are born locked into a trespass zone. None of your phenomenal efforts will get you out of it. The phenomenal effort of Jesus is your only hope.

Ruining your life, because of bad decisions. The worst decision ever made has already been paid for and resolved. No matter how many bad decisions you make, Jesus’ sacrifice for you on the cross is sufficient to cover all of them.

Dear friend, I love you too much not to tell you this with complete honesty and transparency:

The biggest danger most Christians will face in their life won’t be ruining their lives but rather wasting their lives. 

The great tragedy for many of us will not be doing a lot of bad things but rather not doing enough good things. Not living life, awake to the reality of the heavy price that was paid for our life. Not living a life, in reverential amazement of a holy God who saves hell-bound sinners.

We were not created just to say a prayer, just to get baptized, just to say the right phrases, just to get married and settle in, just to exist in a church for multiple decades and then fade out into eternity. Those are all great things, but they are not the main things.

God created us for far more. Abundantly more. Immeasurably more. Jesus is able to do through us, far more than imagined by us.

But unfortunately, we become comfortably comfortable.

Here are four ways we are wasting our life, the one shot we get at making an eternal impact, because of Jesus’ impact:

1. Mindless Entertainment. We are a culture that is getting entertained to death. We have nine devices that we use at any singular moment. Streaming, downloading, updating, uploading, clicking, buzzing, switching, fast-forwarding, queueing, deciding. The problem with our culture is not a lack of information but an abundance of it. It’s like we are constantly drinking from a fire hydrant.

Google has destroyed our capacity to think. Pinterest has destroyed our creativity. And now, some electronic glasses will gouge the last bit of imagination we could have produced on our own.

Instead of turning to real people, we turn on the television, so that it would keep us company. We watch the news and have been tricked by the news-casters to think that the words “and now,” “breaking,” and “this just in,” are actually proclamations of something we won’t be able to breathe without, if we don’t watch it. News has become entertainment in and of itself. It gives us something to talk about, but cannot lead to any meaningful action.

2. Doing the same thing every day and expecting a different result.

I was speaking with a friend recently who said that he tried to wake up early for a week and quit trying after that. When I asked how come, he said that it was way too early and way to difficult. If you are used to waking up at the crack of 12pm, you won’t wake up at 5am immediately. Incremental change is what is going to take, to make that happen. Start with waking up at least thirty minutes before your usual slumber sesh.

3. Not investing time into people. We think that we can go about our business, not invest in our relationships with our spouse, our friends or our community group – and then expect everyone to be supremely interested in who you are as a person. It just does not happen that way. Everything you do in life, has to have strategic intention about it. Jesus was intent on accomplishing the will of His Father, while here on earth. He had laser focus. Do you? Do I? Are you making a great investment with your life or are you wasting your life?

4. Settling down and checking out. A lot of people get married and immediately drop out of the church, drop out of a community group and start focusing on their own small tribe, all the while neglecting the Tribe of Christ. Why does this happen? Because somewhere along the way, they were fed a lie that this is all to life.

I remember how some adults used to come up to me and say that I reminded them of how they were when they were young, full of energy and charisma, ready to change the world. My question is – how is that particular approach to life locked in to a particular age group?

If you have breath in your lungs, God has a plan for your life. A plan that is far better, bigger and immeasurably more than anything you have ever imagined. It is yours for the taking.

I feel like we are often people who have a turbo jet-pack strapped on to our back, but yet we fail to engage the start button, because we are afraid of what will happen if we do. If you don’t believe me that you have this, what about the fact that the Bible says we have the same power living in us, that brought Christ back from the dead (Rom. 8:11).

Jesus paid a heavy price for our life, so that we could make a great investment with our life.

I truly believe that Jesus wants His followers to be the most influential, the most optimistic, the most enthusiastic.

He wants us to be movement makers, continent shakers and earth axis adjusters. Ok that last one was kind of a stretch. But you get my point.

Ill conclude with a quick story:

This past Sunday we had a few friends visit our church who have not been there for a long time. Since we rent our building, there is a church that gathers there before we do, about four times the size of ours. Since our friends came early, they saw a completely full parking lot. When they greeted me, they told me their first reaction when they parked. They said how overwhelmed they were with joy that our church quadrupled in size, since they last visited, based on the amount of cars in the parking lot.

So it was kind of cool to hear such encouragement that God will build His church and His Kingdom at an appropriate time. But what was encouraging to me was that people who had not seen me for a while, had such a faith that Jesus did exactly what He will do, at the right time. So even though our church did not quadruple in size, yet – and is still at the grass-roots stage – I was encouraged to see the faith people have in a big God.

Jesus is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

Take some risks, step out in faith, get out of your comfort zone and start living a life with faith that matches the size of the God who gave you that faith in the first place

Question: How do you see that people have a bigger chance of wasting their lives, instead of ruining their lives? What specifically would you say to people who are content with their zone of comfort? 

The Biggest Danger Most Christians Will Face is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post The Biggest Danger Most Christians Will Face appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

Over the years, I have grown to love mornings. There is just something amazing about quiet and solitude, that characterizes each morning. Before the world awakes. It is a time where you can be still and know that Jesus is God. Few things can compare to just simply waking up, making some fresh pour-over, french roast coffee, pouring it into your favorite mug, opening your Bible and starting a conversation with Jesus. I truly believe that Jesus wants to have breakfast with you and I. Here is why:

Shortly after Jesus died on the cross for the sins of humanity, He came back to life, because He authored life. He kept appearing to multiple groups of people.

Finally, He went to meet up with Peter, Thomas, Nathanael and the thunder brothers (James and John).

This was the first time after His death, that Jesus was appearing to His disciples.

There could have been so many different ways that Jesus could have spent this time with the friends that abandoned Him, not too long ago.

So what does Jesus choose to do?

He invites them to have breakfast with him.

After they have been fishing all night long without any success, Jesus shows up at the most opportune moment. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish,” Jesus says to the weary and weathered bunch.

Sure enough, the catch was so large that they were not able to haul it in (John 21:6).

This must be Jesus, they thought to themselves. John first verbalizes it. In true leadership fashion, Peter follows up with throwing himself into the sea. What other reaction do you expect upon seeing your Lord alive, after the crucifixion?

After everyone reached the shore, Jesus addresses the rogue radicals:

Come and have breakfast (John 21:12).

Here are four things that I learned from Jesus, from this early morning breakfast.

1. Jesus does not remind you of your past sin. He could have said to Peter: “How do you feel, now that I came back from the dead? Do you remember how I predicted you would deny me, and you did. What do you have to say for yourself? Jesus pulls none of this non-sense. He just feeds the guy.

Sometimes, people don’t need a solution to their problem. They are just looking for someone to listen to their problem.

And maybe feed them.

Food always gets everyone in a better mood.

2. Jesus authors grace creatively and extends grace, generously. Jesus knew that Peter was a changed man. He knew exactly the hardships he would go through for His names sake in the near future. So, He just fed him some breakfast. Are we quick to point out the faults of other people? Have we become expert archeologists, always ready to go at it with a shovel?

3. Jesus gives you what you need, not necessarily what you want. Jesus satisfies the felt needs of the tired disciples. They have been fishing all night. Because they did not catch anything, they were most likely not going to be able to sell anything at the market that morning. Since fishing was their livelihood, they basically would not be able to feed their families. Jesus does both. He feeds them, their family and everyone else who calls upon His name.

4. Jesus meets you as you are, but does not want you to stay where you are. He spoke the truth in love to Peter. He predicted how his life would end. He cultivates a culture of service, not performance. John had a different task to do. Peter was not too thrilled about it. He asks Jesus: “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus says to Peter: “what is that to you?”

Jesus loves us not based on our performance for him, but rather our position in him.

We need to quit comparing someones highlight reel, to our behind the scenes footage.

Jesus wants to have breakfast with you. The greatest religious leader who died and lived, wants to share a meal with you. I don’t know about you, but I will accept this invitation without thinking twice about it. Besides the fact that Jesus is the Creator God, He is also a personal God. What I love about Jesus’ personality is that He did not demand that we go and meet Him where He is at, but rather He came and met us where we were at.

God shows His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus saves us not because of anything in us, but because of everything in Him.

Question: Do you have a regular breakfast with Jesus? How has this changed your relationship with Him? 

Why Jesus Wants To Have Breakfast With You is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post Why Jesus Wants To Have Breakfast With You appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

I wish I did not have to write this post. But because you and I live in a broken world, we will meet broken people. People tend to manipulate other people in order to feel a sense of control. This in turn fortifies them in a city, where they are the kings or queens, and everyone else is out to take down their monarchy. So what characterizes a manipulative person and how can you personally make sure you do not become one?

I usually give people the benefit of the doubt. I generally think people mean well. This is why it is often a bit of a painful shock when you realize that manipulation was used with you.

Here is the single defining characteristic of a manipulative person:

They rarely if ever, admit or acknowledge that they are wrong. 

Basically, they become an impenetrable fortress to which access is denied.

Here are four things that are perpetuated by a person who falls into this category:

They want you to do things their way, without directly asking you to do so. You are then left in a tough predicament. Whatever you do, they will be the judge of whether it was right or not.

They see life as a game, and they are keeping score to win. Every time they get their way, it is a point in their direction. It is not about submitting to another or admitting that they are wrong. It is about dominating over others and admitting that the wrong doing is always displayed by someone else.

They are expert archeologists. Digging up past issues in order to use them for present conflicts, becomes the mode of operation for a manipulative person. They dip into an inventory of wrongs that have been categorized by date and time. Because you already forgot about many of the things, you are left at the mercy of the opposing party.

Their patience is actually a ticking time bomb in disguise. Just because they agree with you, it does not mean they don’t want to manipulate you. Often, they are waiting for the right timing, to present to you a bullet proof case of why you are the guilty party.

They shower you with compliments, consistently. If we are going to be really honest with ourselves, we are not as good as people say we are. Jesus said that we should be terribly concerned if everyone is speaking well of us. Whenever I get an overt amount of praise from another person, I am often suspicious of it. Not because I do not like it. My flesh enjoys it. But from past experience, I know that there is some motivation behind it all.

Treat compliments and criticism the same. Don’t let it devastate you and don’t allow it to inflate your ego.

How should I deal with manipulative people in my life?

1. Pray for them. Your logical arguments won’t win them over. Only Jesus can change a hard heart, and make it teachable again.

2 Love them. Instead of trying to fix them, love them. People are not projects. Usually, unconditional love demonstrated towards the other party, stimulates reconciliation and peace.

3. Avoid getting angry with them. The person who angers you, ultimately will control you. Pour out your heart to Jesus, instead of pouring out your discontent upon the other person.

4. Display Jesus to them. The only hope for my brokenness and yours, is the restorative gospel of Jesus Christ. The more we display Jesus, the more people will see Jesus in us.

When we realize that Jesus is the King of our city, we will then treat others as fellow citizens of the city, instead of assailant rivals into the city.

The gospel is powerful enough to turn even the most un-teachable among us, to become the most fervent of followers and learners.

Question: Have you dealt with overtly manipulative people in your life? How can you make sure you don’t become a manipulative person? 

The Single Defining Characteristic Of A Manipulative Person is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post The Single Defining Characteristic Of A Manipulative Person appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.

The most frequently asked question during any time something bad happens, is “why,” or “why me, God.” After this, depending on your worldview, you will either become angry with God or begin to worship God. Is there a time in which God loses control, and bad things begin to happen in your life? Are we as humans supposed to be immune to circumstances we deem as less than pleasant? Is it ok to sometimes get angry with God?

Think of the time when something great happened in your life. What did you immediately attribute that success to?

Now, think of something bad, that happened in your life. What did you immediately attribute this calamity to?

How we approach and categorize a tough situation in our life, will determine what that situation will do to our life.

Tragedy Brings About Sobriety. When a catastrophe happens, we are awakened to the reality that we are not in charge. Everything that happens in this world is either caused by or allowed by God. Jesus said that not even a sparrow will fall to the ground, nor a hair from your head – without God knowing about it (Matt. 10:29-31). So we have the choice of either entrusting the situation to an all-knowing God, or entrusting the situation to a mistake-prone person. God promises that despite the severity of your situation, He will give you His peace and strength, that surpasses your chaos and your weakness (1 Cor. 10:13). Just because Jesus saved us, this is not a guarantee that we won’t experience difficulty in our life.

Your Anger Reveals Your God. The Bible is clear about inappropriate anger: It is a sin (Gal. 5:20; Eph. 4:26-27; 4:31; Col. 3:8). Ungodly anger gives way for the devil to have a stronghold in our life. It is self-defeating because it destroys us, by us. Holding on to and harboring anger, allows bitterness and resentment to creep in and take residence in our heart. Since God knows our hearts, it is best to go to Him in prayer and confession, about your anger.

One of the best ways to handle anger is to pour out your heart to God, because He will hear you and you will be heard by Him.

Anger Is Idolatry. Anytime you get angry at God for something, you are consciously declaring that you know best. You begin to worship what you think would be better for you. We can’t just think about what bad thing God allowed to happen in our life, without acknowledging all the good things He has allowed to happen in our life. Yes, in your life, you will experience trials and tribulations. But Jesus has overcome all of that. Despite the catastrophe in your life, Jesus is still sufficient, loving, merciful, kind, good, righteous and holy.

When we see our difficulty as an opportunity, not a calamity, we begin to worship God, instead of being angry with God.

The greatest book in the Bible on suffering, the book of Job – even tells us that “we are destined to experience trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job. 5:7), and that “life is short and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). The trouble we experience in our life should not define us, but rather it should refine us.

Anger at God is our inability to trust God that He knows what He is doing, even though you don’t specifically know what He is doing. Being angry at God is essentially telling Him that He did something wrong, which is impossible (Ps. 18:30).

• Does God know when we are angry or frustrated? Yes. 
• Does God know that many things that happen in our life, do not make sense? Yes. 
• Does this give us a right to be angry at God? No. 

Instead of being angry at God, we should pour out our hearts to God.

Jesus Took Upon Himself Our Grief. On the cross, the wrath of God was poured out onto Jesus, on our behalf. We do not have to get angry with God, because in the person and work of Jesus, all of our anger and frustration and uncertainty has already been resolved. Our anger at God is a by-product of our unwillingness to submit to a sovereign God. This is why God does not always give you what you want, but He does give you what you need – no matter how much it might not make sense (1 Pet. 5:7).

Question: What specifically can you say to someone who is angry at God? Have you been angry at God? How does looking at your situation through the lens of the gospel, change your perspective?   

Is It Wrong To Get Angry At God? is a post from: Bogdan Kipko

Write a quick comment

The post Is It Wrong To Get Angry At God? appeared first on Bogdan Kipko.