Radical Review of David Platt's Radical

I had listened to all the hype about this new book on the market called Radical by David Platt. I mean, this book is on the New York Times Bestseller list so there must be something to it...right? I picked this book up for a trade out...I said I would write a review on my blog and they would give me the book for free. Its a done deal! So, with that, here we go...

From the very outset of the book...Chapter 1...I kind of had a biased slant on the book. I know that I am not going to be a very popular review on this book because the way I felt after reading this first chapter was this. I felt guilty for being born in America. There, I said it. I mean, for some reason, I felt it was my fault that God put me here as a son to my parents. America, one of the wealthiest countries in the world and I felt it was my fault.

The author goes on to make his case for worldwide poverty and the church of excess in America goes on like nothing is more important than their need of a new lighting and smoke system for their Sunday "Worship Experiences". While there are parts of this book that I really and wholeheartedly agree with, the more I read, the more of the social justice agenda seemed to be pushed in the first half of the book. I thought that, what seemed to be this type of agenda, was okay to address but I was really beaten down by it. While my family supports organizations that help orphans, widows and different people groups all over the world...it was almost like this wasn't enough. I mean, it was almost to the point of selling my kids, my home and assets in order to give the money I get from their sale to some person in India that has nothing.

As the book progressed, for me, it got better. I really felt the author hit his stride at Chapter 5. I am a big believer in missions work. I also know the value of going to a setting that is not your normal comfort zone. It stretches you! It beckons you! It changes you! I will never forget my first missions trip to Honduras in 1995 with a Missionary named Randy Bardwell. It radically changed my worldview.

The last thing I want to address is the year long challenge. The author give us 5 areas in which he challenges us to make a long-term commitment...this is outstanding!

1. Pray for the entire world. Get an aid such as OperationWorld and literally begin praying for everywhere around the world in this one year. You’ll be amazed, he says, at the way prayer opens our hearts and minds. Jesus asked his disciples to pray not for the poor and the sick, but for the people who would go to them. He wants us to pray for people to go to the countries you will learn about. Great family project.

2. Read through the entire Bible in one year. “We have settled for far too long for “Bible lite,” both as individual Christians and in the community of faith. We have adopted a Christianity consumed with little devotional thoughts form God for the day…” Imagine the power of praying around the world and reading the Word for an entire year! Do you think you would be transformed at the end of that year?

3. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose. Pick a concrete project and devote every dollar you can to it for one year. Set a cap on your lifestyle for this one year and get involved with changing your world personally through your giving.

4. Spend your time in another context. This is the one we’re all afraid of, isn’t it. Go. We have to change our context and go. He suggests that if we could just give 2% of our time (roughly one week) to changing our context and bringing the Gospel to the world, it would revolutionize the other 98% of our time.

5. Commit your life to multiplying community. Find a place within your body of believers to make disciples and support each other. “If the radical, simple living we see Jesus talking about were more common in the church, it would be much easier for us to live simply as well…give liberally, go urgently and live dangerously together.”

Overall, this book was like a rollercoaster ride for me. There were points I agreed with, disagreed with, struggled through and breezed through. I am a proponent of reading things that are from different points of view than what I embrace. While they aren't always the easiest things to read and sometimes I struggle through them...they help me to grow spiritually. I would recommend this book as a read to others. I would also venture to say that this author, David Platt, might be faced with a call to missions versus pastoring a mega church in the States. Whatever his future may hold...keep challenging your faith and ours.

Costco, a stuck wheel and my Bag of Fruit Medley

I recently took a trip to Costco...okay, so I am a regular there...who is keeping track anyway? It was a windy and rainy Monday and I was kind of pressed for time as my 'to do' list looked like Santa's naughty/nice list. I was kind of in a hurry because of the cold water falling from the sky when I reached the friendliest greeter in the world. Her name was Anna and her smile was as wide and white as the crescent moon. She said cheerily, "Hi and welcome to Costco...do you have your membership card?" It was at that moment I reached for my card only to realize that I had left my wallet in the truck. I told her of my plight and she turned that white smile upside down into a frown and said, "Well, you'll just have to hustle back out there and get it." I shook my head and muttered something like, "Heaven is easier to get into than Costco..." Really, salvation is more easily attained than a Costco card...thank you, Lord, for your son Jesus and His work on the cross.

Now that I am back to the door, Anna, greets me like it was my first time and she had the worst case of short term memory loss on God's green Earth. The same conversation takes place but this time...sopping wet...I show her my card that allows me through the pearly aluminum door of Costco. I am finally just getting over my faux pas and grab a buggy to do some Costcoing!

Televisions, Blu Ray players, Computers, Cameras, Clothes...all inundate my senses. I think to myself...I hope there are samples today...

As I am pushing my buggy, one of the wheels gets stuck and starts making that awful sound of a wheel not doing what God intended it to do...you know, TURN...

It was then I realized, I should probably head over to the bedding area and just take a nap. However, I felt the spirit of NASCAR Pit Crew member come over me and decided to flip the buggy and work on the wheel right there. I had to unstick the wheel. I couldn't just let it go. Even some 'Associates' admired my initiative in executing a shopping cart pit stop. Finally, after borrowing a box cutter from one of the paid admirers, I was able to free the wheel and let it going back to doing what it was created for...rolling! Which is what I needed to do in order to get the kids picked up from school on time. Sometimes, I have to admit, in my spiritual life I feel like that wheel sometimes. We were created to have fellowship with God yet so many times I feel stuck in my spiritual growth, prayer life, study life, personal life. Sometimes, I need God to do a little pit stop on me to get me unstuck. He does this through a book, a blog, a friend, an overheard conversation, a phone call...really, any number of ways...I just have to be willing to have my life flipped upside down in any place...even the aisle of Costco if need be.

Back to Costco.

I am steering down the aisle with all the agility in the world and some of the best defensive buggy driving known to mankind. I am grabbing samples left and right not even hesitating to hear the worker's spill about why I need to buy this product. I was hungry and in a hurry. That is when I saw it...a 2.5 pound bag of Fruit Medley. I love fruit. I love medley. What could be better than a huge back of both...and it all mixed up?

I grabbed one and considered two. I couldn't wait to pay and get back to the truck, rain or not. I unpacked and literally threw everything into my truck as quickly as I could. I ripped open the fruit medley and promptly ate some kiwi, strawberries, raisins, walnuts, mango, pineapple and of course, bananas. It was my little piece of heaven. Each piece of fruit different flavors, different sizes, difference thicknesses...it was AWESOME!

Recently, I took that bag of fruit medley to the deer blind with me. It was so great to sit there and watch deer and eat fruit medley. I began to think of all the people that I have crossed paths with in my life. Those friends are a lot like that bag of fruit medley. Different backgrounds, different personalities, different thicknesses...okay, sorry...

But I began to think...God created each of us for a purpose. For His purpose. He also created us to produce fruit...it just so happens that all of us that are followers of Christ are a part of His big bag of Fruit Medley. I must admit...I am glad I am in that bag. If you aren't, I want you to seriously consider Christ.

Romans 5:8 says that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

I love that! It is because of that verse that we don't have to have a Costco card to get into Heaven. Our wheels (lives) are freed to become whe He wants them to become and we are a part of the Heaven Fruit Medley (different flavors and sometimes mixed up). Nonetheless, God loves you and I am truly glad that He place each of you in my life at one time or another.

TOMS Shoes, Facebook & Christianity

My daughter recently asked if she could have a pair of TOMS shoes. I immediately went to my closet and started to grab her a pair of my shoes. That is when she told me what they were. She told me about this company and how they give one pair of shoes to a person in need with every pair purchased. I then asked her to let me see the shoes. We went to the website and looked at them. I thought...Meh...

She pleaded with me...its for a good cause. Sure they were more than I wanted to pay for THOSE shoes...but the purpose was a good one.

I then saw their advertisement on Facebook and quickly realized how big this project was. There are 175 million people that log in to Facebook everyday. That is incredible! TOMS shoes is now taking their purpose, their cause, their core value that everyone should have at least one pair of shoes to the world of Facebook.

I had to ask...what if the church...what if my church, my denomination...the Assemblies of God...what if I...took up the cause of Christ like TOMS Shoes has taken their cause?

We spend a lot of our lives trying to find happiness. Helen Keller said,

"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."

I can think of no more worthy of a purpose that the cause of Christ...what will you do?

The Holy Spirit and "Unisex" Clothing

I know you are probably wondering about the title...pretty catchy huh? I hate to admit this, but after finding that my predominate spiritual gift is the gift of putting my foot in my mouth...not sure on the Scripture reference. Anyway, the whole 'unisex' clothing, cologne, names and pretty much whatever else you can think of, really is not a good thing for people like me.

A few months back, I went back to my hometown to visit. We were out and about and I ran into a friend that I attended High School with. After making the courteous restaurant table visit and catch up that is so much expected in the Deep South, the conversation turned to what we are doing now and how many kids we have. I, being the excellent father that I am, had a picture of my 2 kids(that was BK...before Katie). Then my friend announced that she had just had a child and just so happened to have the baby in the car seat on the floor beside her. This is when business picked up. I could feel it...my spiritual gift welling up inside and about to be exposed to the world.

The proud mother grabbe the handle of the car carrier and showed me her most cherished newborn. Now, to be fair to me, all newborns look alike! All of the them are kind of crinkly, red and slobbery. What sets some apart is that some have more hair than others. I know what you are thinking..."You didn't tell her she had an ugly baby." No, that was a different lady. Anyway, one of the first things I noticed was the UNISEX color of the carseat, the UNISEX color of the baby's blanket and matching beanie. So, what do I do now? No clues yet as to if it is a boy or girl. So, I reach in and kind of pull the blanket down to get a peek of the baby's clothes...guess what...the color is ambiguous. I have no clue what I am looking at other than it is a baby and a proud momma.

So, here comes the moment my spiritual gift is getting closer to public demonstration. I ask, "What is the baby's name?" The mom said, "We name the baby Terri/Terry. I know both men and women named Terri/Terry. Come on God, I need some help here...throw me a bone! So, I said to my friend and proud mother, "It sure is cute!" That was the moment you have been waiting for.

My friend, was incredibly upset at my choice of pronoun I used to describe her baby. She said idignantly, "IT! I will have you know that you do not need to call my DAUGHTER...IT."

So, I did what any good person would do...I tried to explain myself. However, I soon realized that you can't explain your way out of this type of thing and what was intended to be a very cordial moment with an old friend that I had not seen in years was now victim to me in all my glory. So, I apologized and quietly walked to my table with those in my party just shaking their heads in disbelief as to what happened. I even think I heard a random "Bless his heart" by some onlookers like they were on the midway watching the maneating chicken.

Then I thought, what if God has the same reaction to us when we call the Holy Spirit it. I wonder if He just shakes His head and looks at Jesus and says, "These people, they just do understand who He is."

The Holy Spirit wants to have a relationship with us, counsel us, give us divine wisdom, protect us and give us supernatural love, joy and peace. We just don't know what we have in the third person in the Trinity.

So, with that, pursue a relationship with the Holy Spirit...He will change everything.

Start Fresh Every Morning

I have been reading a lot...abnormal amounts of time with my nose in the Bible or in a book have consumed my "free time". I am the world's worst at totally messing things up. I have that spiritual gift...you know, the one that has the gift of putting one's foot in one's mouth? I have it. And I am also one that can take something and do it, but sometimes it is totally backward of what God intended or how He has it set up. By nature, I am a problem-solver. I tend to treat everything like it is a situation that can be overcome or there is another way to get around it or the best and my favorite way of dealing with a problem...head on and knock it on its backside like an Adrian Peterson run.

However, rest is not always something that I can easily solve. Here is the reason...there will always be a tension between what I do and who I am because they run so closely together. I say it all the time...ministers, minister; doctors, doctor; coaches, coach; ushers, ush (not exactly sure about that one). A little over one month ago, a good friend challenged me with a devotion and has since felt like God's purpose for him in my life is to remind me to REST. I also have a mindset of...I don't have time to rest! Guess what? The world will still revolve, people will still have needs, my family will still be there...however, God told us to take a Sabbath...and REST. I am guilty...I haven't been observing a Sabbath. As a minister, my work is done during worship on most people's Sabbath. Sure, I can take a day off, but what good is a day off if I consume it with work anyway and neglect resting?

I read this little excerpt in a book from Dr. Wayne Cordeiro called Leading on Empty. In this few paragraphs, he reminded me that God broke out lifetime down into bite-sized chunks that we call years, where every 365 days or so everything begins anew. And within that, he gave us four season, or quarters (sorry for the football reference here...I like it!) as opportunities to start all over again. Even within that, he factored in what we call months, repetitions of the lunar cycle. And, if that weren't enough, He broke it down to days or 24 hour segments of time, and those into minutes, unlimited opportunities to start again, to begin fresh!

Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us of this new beginning: "The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

A few weeks ago, I went and played golf. I used to be pretty good at the game...then I began working. Golf kind of took a backseat. Anyway, I was lined up to hit my drive and I crushed it! I was sitting there in my finishing pose watching a drive that Tiger Woods would have envied when it happened...my ball took a hard right into the homes that were lining the fairway. The ball made serious contact. However, I did not hear a scream, yelp or crash so I thought I was alright. Then I started thinking about the rules...that is a 2 stroke penalty. I was playing with a friend and said, "Take a mulligan!"

I immediately made this dude the first one I call to do anything. A mulligan is a free do-over. No penalty.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could imagine a conversation like this one at the end of the day?

"Oh God, I don't even know what to say. I messed up so much today."

And the Lord smiles and says, "Take a mulligan. Just do it over. Tomorrow is your second try, so get some rest."

In essence, that is exactly what He does. I'm not saying we should minimize our sins or deny our problems and mistakes. We need to deal with them correctly, in the way God would have us deal with them. Often we do, but then we still don't take the mulligan!

The Lord says, "I am giving you forgiveness. Let's start all over."

And we say, "Ah, no, no. I feel so badly. I've got to beat myself to death."

And God says, "Won't you just take it?"

How many of you would say, "Boy, I could really use a new chance at life." This is why God gives us 24 hour increments. A new beginning.

Psalm 30:5 says, "Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning."

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

Prayer: God, I pray for all who read this that they be inspired to rest. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in you. I pray that we accept the built in mulligans you have provided for us with each new day. May each person strive to do your will for their lives. Amen.

Passion is the Spark for Your Fuse...

Passion Is The Spark For Your Fuse
Ecclesiastes 9:10

God has put into every person the potential to be passionate. One person with a passion is greater than 100 people with an interest. What is the main reason that people don't know what they are going to do with their future? They have only an "interest" in their destiny.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Ecclesiastes 9:10.

Everyone loves something. We are shaped and motivated by the things that we love. Those things that we love is our passion. If you ignore that thing that you are passionate about, then you ignore one of the greatest potentials that God has placed inside of you!
"Nothing significant was ever achieved without passion." - John Mason

Sometimes, we forget that there are some things that we love to do…something that we are good at doing and not just good at, but when we do it, it is relaxing. Paul had to remind Timothy of this in his 2nd letter to him.

2Ti 1:6-7 ISV
(6) For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands.
(7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.

QUESTION: What would you do, right now, if you knew you could not fail?

Jesus Christ was a passionate man. He died for us because He loved us passionately!!
How else would someone come to the conclusion to die for you and me.

How can I become passionate about something if I know I will probably mess it up? This question shows that a person has a negative outlook on themselves. This is the "loser" mentality. Isn't it ashamed that God doesn't look on me as a loser like I do? Most winners are ex-losers who got passionate about something.


What is Passion? Passion is simply this... enthusiasm, excitement, joy, happiness, etc. The worst loss in the world is the person who has lost his enthusiasm, his passion.

Why is it then that you see so many Christians that are totally opposite? Some are excited, some aren't.

I believe that you see a difference in Christian’s excitement because of one of two things:
1. There is an abundance of passion in their life, or
2. There is a lack of passion in their life.

You see, when you add passion to belief, it becomes a conviction. And there is a big difference in belief and conviction.

What is the difference?
Belief agrees with facts, while conviction brings consistent action to your belief.

Why is this so important? Because a person that is driven by passionate conviction, can do anything they want to do with their life-except give up on the thing that they care about!

A good example of a “passionate conviction” can be found in 1 Samuel 14:

1Sa 14:6-15 MKJV
(6) And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised ones. It may be that Jehovah will work for us. For there is no restraint to Jehovah, to save by many or by few.
(7) And his armor-bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart. Turn, for behold, I am with you according to your heart.
(8) And Jonathan said, Behold, we will go over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them.
(9) If they say this to us, Stand still until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them.
(10) But if they say this, Come up to us, then we will go up, for Jehovah has delivered them up into our hand. And this shall be a sign to us.
(11) And both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.
(12) And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, Come up to us, and we will teach you a thing. And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, Come up after me, for Jehovah has delivered them into the hand of Israel.
(13) And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed after him.
(14) And this was the first blow, when Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck about twenty men in about half of a furrow of an acre of a field.
(15) And there was trembling in the army, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the spoilers also trembled, and the earth quaked, and it was a very great trembling.


"What generates passion and zeal in you is a clue to revealing your destiny. What you love is a clue to something you contain, which is your future." - Mike Murdock

What is destiny? It is your fate, your vocation, it is what you are on this planet for…

Fulfilling God's plan for your life is a passion or it is nothing. In Deuteronomy 10:12 says, " Serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul."

"Without passion man is a mere latent force and a possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark."- Henri Frederic Amiel

You see the attitude that looks negative all the time always quits before it is time for success to happen. Pessimism never won any battles.

"there are many things that will catch my eye, but there are only a very few that catch my heart... it is those I consider to pursue." -Tim Redmond

If you couple passion to what you were created for…you can change the world.

Let The Passion That Is Within You Rise To Meet Your Destiny.

Prayer: God help everyone who reads this to regain their passion for you. Help each of us to become passionate as Christ was passionate. Help us to let others realize that the passion we have on the outside is from a change on the inside. Amen.


My Prayer for you:

1. Have you lost your passion for God?
2. Do you want to regain that lost passion for God?
3. Are you afraid of what God wants you to do?
4. Do you want to become a passionate person like Christ was passionate?
5. Will you respond to the Holy Spirit this morning?

GC Squared...

I heard this phrase this weekend from Coach Rod Olson. This little equation has stuck in my head and I can't get it out. I wish I could get it out of my head and have it embedded in my heart. Oh...what is it? What does it mean? Something that I have heard in church a million times and, truthfully, said a million times. It means the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. GC squared.

I have a relatively easy time with the Great Commandment. You know, Matthew 22:37

I mean, it can sometimes be difficult for us to give God all of our heart, soul, and strength. Especially when we have made the schedules we try to keep...note it is the schedules we have made. Now, keeping the Great Commission is a whole different ballgame.

It can be hard to love our neighbors. One thing I remember from my fraternity days in college was this..."You have to be a brother to have a brother." Now, don't get me wrong with all this, I am just illustrating a point. If you want to have a neighbor, you must first be one. What does this mean? It means we need to care about people and share Christ with them just as someone cared about me and shared Christ with me. We need to learn to love people like Christ loved people.

Love covers a multitude of sins...GC squared...

Discussions on Salvation

Okay...so the last few days, I have had these discussions on "what it takes for someone to be saved..." You must first realize my spiritual background and that I grew up and am currently in a Pentecostal denomination. We constantly had altar calls, hands raised to signify we wanted to be saved, looked at our neighbor and asked the question, walked to the altar with our friends, had people lay hands on us and pray, the "repeat after me" prayer all in the name of becoming saved and experience the life changing salvation that knowing Christ brings.

With that said, I was asked, "What does the Bible say one must do to be saved?" Being highly trained, a graduate of a Christian College, an Ordained Minister and a student of the Bible...immediately my mind raced, in Sword Drill fashion, to Romans 10:9-10 where it says,

Romans 10:9 NIV - YouVersion.com: Online Bible: "9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

So, that posed the next question..."Do you have to go to an altar, repeat after me, raise your hand or really even pray a prayer of repentance?" Or is it more like saying the words, "I believe"? It has been an interesting few days to say the least. Now I am curious, what do you think?