Some days are  full of differing types of Joy…Thanksgiving and Fullness.

Earlier this year I attended and was a pallbearer at a friend’s funeral.

He is/was a great older friend. Very influential in my early business years, giving to me of his time, wisdom and experience.We shared many experiences….together.

We shared life.

A few days before the end of his life I sat with him, rehearsing our times together and had the opportunity to tell him how full he had enabled me to grow…and how he had planted into me so many things.

Last December, I attended the Christmas Program at a local church. I saw a young man sing, lead off the program and be a featured singer. God led this young man into my life years ago and I have had the great privilege to be involved with him, instruct him somewhat, encourage him….maybe plant some Light there.

I have not enhanced his singing ability…. but I have cheered him on led him and lifted him up over the years and it was a great experience that night to see him on the biggest stage at one of the fastest growing churches in America where he is now the lead worship singer.

Years ago we had talked about God having a stage for him, hoping for that. He is on a very large stage today.

Life juxtaposes these things.

I saw a great Man exit life and enter Heaven after influencing me for several years.
I see a young Man ascending in life and bringing a part of Heaven to earth through praise and worship….and he tells me I have been able to contribute to his encouragement, confidence and fulfillment of Gods Gift in him.

I will miss my friend and always remember those things he gave me.

I enjoy seeing my young friend grow and assert his ability…and am honored to hear him say…”you have blest me”.

In the arrangement of life, we receive blessings and give them.
We see people leave life who have given to us….
and we get to experience the success of those we have invested in.

Today I felt close to The Father on both sides of this juxtaposition.

A very full day.

Terry
July 2015

It’s what God calls us to be. It’s what The Word promotes in our daily lives. It’s the manner in which we can touch the world around us.

Salt influences flavor. Enhances it. It is a fundamental ingredient in food preparation and preservation. Every good cook uses it.

Light abolishes any darkness. When Light comes visibility and clarity are possible.
The color of life is seen when Light shines.

Catch my drift?

We are to influence the atmosphere and attitudes around us. We do whether we speak Gods Word….
SALT…LIGHT….
or not. We influence to the positive or to the negative. And choosing to remain neutral or silent….is having no influence.
A father would not remain silent or neutral if he saw an attack on his child.

But….there is a daily attack on your children…your wife…you.

Be SALT.
Be intentional.
Assert the influence God has placed within you.

Be Light.
Bring clarity and color to your world and to those in it.

GODS WORD is SALT and LIGHT.

Learn it. Speak it. Be intentional and purposed to use it in your speech. Even if you paraphrase it in your conversations….It’s Power is not depleted by using other words.

If you speak Gods Word it will bring SALT and LIGHT to any and all conversations and situations.

These are our instructions.

Terry
December 19, 2014

One night several years ago when we first moved into our house I woke up
to a tremendous storm.

Our great room is filled with floor to ceiling windows. As I walked out of the bedroom it was quite dark when…
lightning flashed seemingly right over the house. In the window- lined room, the light was immediate and overwhelming. I could see nothing. I was momentarily blinded.

Coming out of the dark, the light filled the enlarged pupils in my eyes and I had to stop walking and stand still.

My eyes adjusted after a moment….then the lightning flashed again,
just as bright. Without telling them my hands covered my eyes.

It was an electrical storm, low and right over our house. It continued for about 10 minutes.

When the lightning subsided I thought about that light. It was complete and absolute and overwhelmed all else in the house. And, it momentarily blinded me.

I thought of Saul on the road to Tarsus. I thought of the Light that might have come out of Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb on Easter morning.

JESUS comes into darkness and obliterates it the way the darkness was overwhelmed that night in my house.

Our pursuit of Christ is to have that same Light in our lives…to drive away darkness. To close the eyes of those to the darkness they are in and abide with them as their eyes and lives adjust to the Light which desires and draws them.

In John 14 the Word says if we keep His Word, He will manifest Himself to us….His Light will manifest His Life to us, In us and through us….
for those around us who He desires to draw out of darkness.

Allow It to illuminate all the rooms in your life.
It will blind, and then shine on all who need It.

Terry
December 14, 2014

Crown Ministry is all about knowing that your money is Gods, all you have and think you own is Gods…He has simply made you a custodian of it for a time.

It’s not just your money though. It’s your time, your affections, your thought life, your career.

With money we are given a guide to give, no real limits though. With our thoughts…there is no
statement from the Church or the charitable organization as to what we have given.

Because we are not being audited outwardly
Is no reason to skirt the issue.
In our thought life, in our behavior, in our conversations…
We ARE being audited by God and His Spirit.
No statement of value on your gift, but it is noticed.
And the Spirit or your conscience may tweak you when you are in deficiency.

Self govern.
You should not need an audit from an outside source on your thoughts, your conversations and your behavior. As a Christ-follower you have the ability to have the mind of Christ,
You can subject yourself to the inner governance of The Holy Spirit.

The “perfect” man does this…..the man-in-full
Is led by the unseen audit of The Spirit.

Pay attention.
Listen.
Do not skirt the issue.

Terry
December 2, 2014

Was eating at Il Gabbiano on Key Biscayne Thursday night. One of Miami’s best spots. There are waiters everywhere catering to every whim a patron might have. They all speak perfect Italian…they know every item on the menu with specifics, all the specials and they put more food on your table than can be eaten.

The food is fantastic.

The view from the restaurant shows Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach…great stuff.

When the waiter was talking about the choices, his Italian and his Italian accent was very difficult to understand. He was talking perfectly, I was listening intently….but it was quite difficult.

Had I not been there before…I would have had a very hard time understanding him and knowing what I wanted.

And…..I thought of how people who visit Church are like I was sitting in a great and beautiful place, where people know their stuff perfectly well….the product is better than can be imagined…..and the visitor sits there not be able to grasp the language and understand the message.

The presentation is fantastic….but if the food / product cannot be explained understandably…..the patron who willingly came to purchase the product cannot grasp what he needs or would want.

We cannot show off our talent so well …and not be understood.

We have to do what I saw one waiter do…..when he realized a young Oriental couple, who were listening intently but could not read the Italian menu, nor understand his Italian language or accent….
he bent over, spoke in perfect English and instructed the confused patrons to see perfectly what the menu said and what his presentation meant in words the visitors could understand.

That’s our responsibility with our faith.
That’s our responsibility with people unaccustomed to our church lingo.

Speak to the ears they have.
It means nothing if it’s beautiful…but not understood.

Terry
November 22, 2014

If we are living our lives “As unto Christ”….
Then we should be experiencing what is referred to in
1 Peter 4:2-4….especially verse 4.

You do not stay away from these people….who would draw you to those things in verse 3.
However….You “run” with them no more.

Righteousness draws one away from darkness.

You can be LIGHT to them….But you no longer “run” along with them in darkness.

Terry
November 21, 2014

Thanksgiving is the holiday that requires the most thinking, the most introspection.

It’s my favorite.

It calls us to ponder, think and meditate on the elements and particulars of our existence.
The season leads one to look inside and then out.
Inside at the things which bring quality, value and the lasting elements of life which are many times the unseen things.
These unseen things are those topics difficult to verbalize many times….
the elements of life which cause emotion to rise into the throat and make speaking a challenge.

These next two weeks…..spend committed, contemplative and meditative time looking at, reviewing those most meaningful parts of your life.
This will lead to one of two things. And it will reveal where your heart is. It should lead to thankfulness.

Thankfulness comes from humility.
Humility comes when you look at your life and realize how very much you have….and who brought it to you.
You will think of and be thankful to and for people from the present and the past.
You will come to see how God has arranged and blessed your life and existence. It has led me to realize how very intricately God has planned, blessed and filled my life…..with my parents, who gave me life, traits and traditions to follow. It has revealed to me how God has given me abilities and desires that have brought so many things into my life.
It allows me to see how my wife fills my life and shows me how my friends color my existence.

I Peter says we should give more earnest heed to things we have heard….lest we let them slip.

Think on these things.
Thank those responsible with words, thoughts and prayers.

If you will do this for the next two weeks….It might develop into a habit….a daily habit…thinking about and thanking those who have invested in your life.
You will daily begin to thank God for all those things you are thinking on.
Thankfulness will soften you toward other people.
Thankfulness will develop a more humble heart and walk of life.

Think.
Thank.

Terry
November 20, 2014

Guys….

You have seen the print or video advertisements for certain clothing or cologne retailers ….
where you cannot tell the difference between the male and female. Started several years ago.

Don’t be confused guys.

Don’t wear skinny jeans.
They are made for women.
Don’t wear jeans or slacks that show your crack when you bend down.
If the pants are cut so low that you have to continually tug them up….
You are wearing the wrong clothing.

For you guys under 35 – The fashion /fad industry is playing you. They are telling you what looks good.

These are the same people making the ads where you cannot tell the difference in the male and female. Stay away from uni-sex ads and clothing.
It looks silly. You WILL get beat up in your 40s when people look at pictures of you if you buy and wear what these people are pushing on you.

John Wayne never wore skinny jeans.
Clint Eastwood never wore skinny jeans.
Your Grandfather never did either.

Don’t buy the lie.

Terry
November 15, 2014

Just finished a study with Fixed Point Foundation.
It was titled – “Jesus was no sissy”.

It was about how The Lord was not effeminate, nor weak.
He was POWER and MIGHT under control.
He was confrontational.
He was our example.

I will be leading this same study each Wednesday beginning December 3 6:30 AM at EDGARS, Colonnade.

Join us.

Jesus WAS not metrosexual. He was not effeminate. He did not and does not look as most pictures have depicted Him.
Nor were His men.
Nor was Paul.

Start to act like a Man. Do not apologize.

Being a Man is not being Al Bundy or Charlie Sheen.

It’s being courageous.
It’s being a leader even when others disagree.
It’s having convictions and not being swayed by the latest fad.
It’s knowing and living by a law or within guidelines.

It’s being consistent.
It’s saying STOP to stupid things and showing young men how to act as a proper Man.

It’s what Fight Club is about.

If you are young, find an older guy and learn from him.

If you an older guy, find a younger guy and spend time with him. Don’t be afraid to let him to see a Man-in-full.

It’s up to Men to lead boys into Manhood.
Women cannot teach them….modern culture seems to emasculate them.
It’s up to Men…

It’s up to you.

Terry
November 14, 2014