REALYOUTHOUGHTS

People Screw Up (Me Included)

2009-02-12T17:23:00.002-06:00

Found this a few days ago in "UnChristian", and have been wanting to share it.

"Attack me, I do this myself, but attack me rather than the path I follow and which I point out to anyone who asks me where I think it lies. If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way because I am staggering from side to side!"

Leo Tolstoy

Sure, we should be trying to live like Christ, but I think sometimes we put up a front, like we have it all figured out. Really, we know the way home, but as humans, we are going to screw up. When we act like we have it all together, and screw up, it causes others to look at our faith differently. We need to be honest about our faults, and not put up a front of perfection. We know the way home, but we are stumbling along that path drunkenly. Who are we causing to believe that it is what we know is any less the right way?

Free "Deadly Viper" audiobook

2009-02-05T21:14:00.001-06:00

Go here to get a free download of "Deadly Viper: Character Assassins". That is all, just thought some of you might like it.

How?

2009-02-01T16:12:00.002-06:00

How do we impact our world? Is it by just sitting in church every Sunday? No way, we need to go out and do life with people who don't know Christ. We need to be in the world. Obviously, building our own spiritual health is important. We should be in church, we should be reading our Bible, we should be worshiping Him. These things are immensely important, however we are called to go out into the world, and share Christ with those who don't know.

So, what's your plan? It could be as simple as befriending that coworker who needs a friend, or it could be some huge plan. They're all important, and being a friend to someone is probably the most effective that I know, but what are some of your other plans? I just wanted to get you thinking.

How could a Coffeehouse be a blessing to your community?

2009-01-25T16:58:00.002-06:00

I've been doing a little dreaming and thinking lately. When we get this coffeehouse up and running, we want it to be an asset to GI. We want to create community, and give people a reason to walk through the doors. Have any of you heard of any cool ways to do that? Here are my to thoughts, feel free to chime in with others. (IT'S OKAY TO MAKE COMMENTS HERE TOO).

-Maybe one day per week, coordinate with the public library and MOPS groups to bring their kids in at a certain time. We could read a book to the kids while parents relax together w/a cup of coffee.

-This is an easy one, but a summer concert series. We've got the connections to do something about every other week or so to start. This is the kind of thing that you don't really see around our area. I think it could be huge.

Coffeehouse logo ideas Part 1

2009-01-20T21:57:00.004-06:00

I am working on some designs for a logo for Oasis Coffeehouse. I didn't want to do the same old coffee cup thing, so I'm trying to go a little different route, and really playing off the name of the coffeehouse. Would these make sense to you guys (like the literal oasis inside the O)? I am making them all so that they can be used in black and white or color. I'm not sure of coloring on the one with the palm tree coming out of the i, I guess it could be anything. I could have the tree leaves green. Also on that one, does anyone else see an inappropriate word when you glance at it, or is it just me? I want to get this right, so I'm sure there will be more to come. They'll probably all be mostly along these lines, unless I have some great idea pop up, or you guys can feed me an idea. If you have an idea, let me know, and I'll try to come up with something.

Starting to dream again

2009-01-20T21:55:00.003-06:00

I'm starting to have some big dreams again, so I'm going to try to get back into the mode of sharing my thoughts here. Join me on the journey, and feel free to jump in. Oh yeah, for the time being, I'm blogging under the new title of Real You Thoughts, since you all already know how to find me here. I might be changing sometime in the future.

Another One Down

2008-01-16T21:39:00.000-06:00

As of tonight, I will have finished my second book of 2008. It was a book I hadn't heard of, prior to getting it in a box from relevant leader. Glory Revealed by David Nasser, had a greater effect on me than almost any book I've ever read. The book is broken down into small 3-5 page chapters that you read one per day, or in my case, on a couple chapters, read one over and over for a week or so, and really chew on it. It's not the way I'm used to reading a book, but it was really effective for impacting me. He shares all kinds of ways that God, as the title says, reveals His glory. Some of which are obvious, but shared in a fresh way, and others that I never thought of before. If you look back at my post Coincidence, I think not, you'll see the thoughts I took from one chapter. I highly suggest this book, and I suggest reading it w/a partner.

My rating: A++++++++

Disconnected

2008-01-13T12:13:00.000-06:00

We canceled our internet last week, and I'm already feeling disconnected. We figured that not having internet would cause us to be more focused on getting finished with a couple projects at home, plus we're saving a few bucks, so it sounded like a good idea. When we finish our basement, we're switching from cable to dish and DSL, I'm already working faster, so I can get that internet back. Until then, I probably won't be posting much, as blogger appears to be blocked almost everywhere I spend my time. I look forward to picking up the conversation again in a month or so.

Change to my sidebar

2008-01-01T16:21:00.000-06:00

I've updated my sidebar to books I've read in '08. I just so happened to finish Holy Discontent this morning, so I'm taking credit for it this year. I've gotten a bunch of books for my birthday and Christmas, so hopefully that list will be growing fast.

I'm still here

2007-12-28T11:39:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the long absence. Things have been really busy around here lately, with remodeling projects, birthdays, Christmas, and a host of other things, so I haven't had much time to even read what anybody else has going on. I'll probably be posting very sporadically over the next few weeks, because it doesn't look like things will be slowing down any time soon. Hope you didn't miss me too much.

Time to pick up the pace

2007-12-06T23:03:00.000-06:00

I haven't been much of a reader during football season. Now, I have some new reasons to start getting back into the flow.

Some birthday presents:
Jim & Casper Go to Church: Based on the real story of a pastor who rented an atheist's soul on eBay, to take him around, to critique churches. Sounds interesting to me.

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret of More

Mavericks at Work: This is one that really interests me. It's about doing things differently. While I love the idea of change, and trying new things, I'm not great at actually stepping out and doing them. I think looking at some success stories will really encourage me.

Deadly Viper - Character Assassins: I've read so many great things about this book over the last month or so, that this is another one I can't wait to dig into. Plus, it is by far the coolest looking book I own.

And my freebie, that all I had to do was ask for.

Unchristian: This goes into the way Christians are perceived in the world. And in case you didn't know, the outlook isn't that great. As a group, we're not really a great representative for Christ in the world.

Looks like I better go get to reading.

My Little Gamer

2007-12-06T18:24:00.001-06:00

I got an XBox 360 for Christmas last year, and haven't really had a lot of time to enjoy it, with the busyness of our life over the last year. I'm home with Hannah and Olivia tonight, while Kim is at a Bible study. We just discovered a game called Hexic, where you have to match colored hexagons. I think Hannah is hooked. It's a pretty fun little game for her.

Could you help a guy out?

2007-12-04T21:19:00.000-06:00

I learned about this from a youth pastor/blogger friend, and it really works. He just got his xbox 360 in the mail a few days ago. It's really simple, and would cost you very little. You just need to follow this link, and sign up for one of the advertisers' offers. If you follow my referral, I get a credit. I signed up for Gamefly, but I saw Netflix, Blockbuster online, and bunch of other stuff there. You just need to try it. You can cancel w/in a month if you don't like the offer. I'd really appreciate your help in getting an iPod Touch for free. Just go here, and try one of the offers out.

Lost Holiday

2007-12-04T19:21:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine, Ben Shafer, just released his new Christmas album "Lost Holiday". You can hear the title track on his MySpace page, and you can order it here, and have it delivered to your door for only $7. If you like what you hear, you can purchase most of the rest of his music right there.

Ben is a worship pastor in Omaha, and helped us out, as our worship leader at Real Youth for a few months back when he lived in GI. For those few months, we had the best worship team in the state of Nebraska. He is an unbelievable musician, and even better worship leader. Go check out his music, I'm sure you'll love it. If you do, you could even try to book him for a concert in your area.

This took some skills

2007-12-04T19:14:00.000-06:00

It makes me want to learn some flash.

John 13

2007-12-01T18:33:00.001-06:00

Read: John 13
My Verse: John 13:8 - "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
My Reflections: Sometimes it's difficult to accept that we can't do it on our own. I know, I'm not very good at it. I often feel like it's my responsibility to take care of things, even if it's not something I should have any control over. This is one place I better learn to accept that I don't have control, I need God to wash me clean. Think about that. It's a pretty humbling thought.
My Prayer: Make me humble enough, to always know that I need you.

Psalm 42:6

2007-12-01T17:33:00.000-06:00

The Message puts it this way: When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you. My soul isn't in the dumps right now, in fact I'm feeling pretty good. However, I do know that when I'm feeling like everything is going against me, it's pretty tough to do that. For those of you that don't know the context of this verse, David has fallen to about his lowest point. I just imagine him thinking back to all of the great things God had done in his past.

In your life, when things aren't going your way, instead of whining about it, try praising God, and declaring all that He is. I think I'm going to give it a shot. I know He's great, I know He's God, so why not remember Him for who He is.

Another look from the New Living Translation: my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you—

I'd love to play this at RYM

2007-11-29T22:07:00.001-06:00

Simply Hilarious

John 12

2007-11-29T21:16:00.000-06:00

Read: John 12
My Verse: John 12:6 - He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
My Reflections: People are always going to be judging what you do, but you have to look at their motives. Many times people will come after you, because of guilt that they feel. Why do we listen to them? Especially when we know our motives were pure? I've felt these things in the time I've spent as a leader in Real Youth, and seen it a lot, since I've gotten involved in blogging. It drives me nuts.
My Prayer: Lord, allow me to listen only to the people who have your and my best interests in mind. Help me to not be distracted by people with underhanded motives. Keep my motives pure, and my ears open to what you would have for me to do. AMEN.

Can we "have Christmas"?

2007-11-29T16:34:00.000-06:00

Christmastime. This year, it's taking on a whole new look around the Madison house. I've been somewhat of a scrooge the last several years. We didn't decorate the the outside of the house at all, because we weren't around enough to enjoy it, and we only have one outlet on the outside of our home. Having little kids changes my outlook a little though. The last several days, Hannah has been pointing out all of the houses recently who "have Christmas" (lights that is), and last night she asked Kim if we could "have Christmas". Needless to say, my plans have changed for this weekend. Instead of what I had planned, we are going to be putting up lights as a family. We are going to "have Christmas". I'm giving up something else I had planned for this, and you know what? It's going to be great. I get to spend time with my little girl. I get no greater joy than when I'm spending time with my kids, doing something they love.

I kind of have this feeling that God, as our dad, wants to be spending time with us, doing what we love. Are you spending time with Him while your enjoying life? He has given us the opportunity to do whatever that thing is that we look forward to (for my family it's camping). Since he gave us that opportunity, don't you think that we should spend that time with Him? It's a great way for us to build our relationship with our Father in Heaven. Take some time with Him this Christmas season, as you get to do the things you love.

John 11

2007-11-27T19:21:00.001-06:00

Time to get back in the swing of things.

Read: John 11
My Verse: John 11:40 - Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
My Reflections: I want to see the glory of God. I know that doesn't mean that things will just be the way that I want them, but I'm pretty sure that God's glory is greater than mine. That believing part is sometimes harder than we'd like to admit.
My Prayer: God, help me to have faith in You. Too often I just believe in myself. I want to see Your glory revealed.

basement remodel (from nothing)

2007-11-26T18:14:00.000-06:00

I spent a lot of time this weekend working on my basement, I can't wait to get it done. Should be done with the electrical work this week, and then we can start work on sheetrocking. Here are some pics.

Long Time No Blog

2007-11-26T16:33:00.000-06:00

I've had a pretty busy week, but I think things should be back to normal now. I didn't have adequate time to devote to my journey through John, so I'll continue tomorrow where I left off. I look forward to getting back into the swing of things.

Great Small Group Last Night

2007-11-19T18:25:00.000-06:00

There wasn't even an agenda really, last night. Yet, it was by far the greatest small group experience I've ever had. I'm off to Monday Night Men, and if I get home with enough energy, I look forward to sharing a little more about what effect it had on me.

John 10

2007-11-19T18:15:00.000-06:00

Read: John 10
My Verse: John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
My Reflections: Aren't we lucky to be loved this much? It actually had to come to that, and He did it for us, because He loves us that much.
My Prayer: How great. We're coming into a time to really look back at what we're thankful for. Thank you Jesus, that you are my shepherd. AMEN