Link: 10 Words of Hope When the Dream is Dying

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Basil the Great

Basil the Great, a bishop of Caesarea, and one of the “Great Cappadocian Fathers,” responds to Modestus, Roman Emperor Valens’ representative:

“All that I have that you can confiscate are these rags and a few books. Nor can you exile me, for wherever you send me, I shall be God’s guest. As to tortures you should know that my body is already in Christ. And death would be a great boon to me, leading me sooner to God.”

Surprised at Basil’s response, he told Basil no one had ever spoken to him like that. Basil answered, “Perhaps that is because you never met a true bishop.”

(From The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1by Justo L. Gonzalez)

Pastors, how do you respond to adversity? Are you standing true to the One who called you?

(image from http://www.saintbasilacademy.org/about_us/saint_basil_the_great)

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Steven Furtick: Fishers of Men, Not Keeps of the Aquarium

Go check it out. Then come back here and let us know your thoughts.

This post Steven Furtick on Fishers of Men originated at robwestbrook.com. See more like this at robwestbrook.com - adventures of a mississippi church planter.

What do you think of what Mark said? Are you willing to “think long?”

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If you know where you want to be ten years from now, you need to find & take the path that will get you there. (via @Gospelgifs)

As a pastor, I want to know where God wants me in ten years. I want to walk that path. But the present is sometimes the enemy of the future. I’m guilty of getting so busy in the present that I don’t have time to look for the path to the future.

Time seeking God’s direction for the future is not wasted.

How do you make time for finding God’s direction for the future? How have you found your path?

This post A Path from Here to There originated at robwestbrook.com. See more like this at robwestbrook.com - adventures of a mississippi church planter.

http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1

When you’re done, come back here and let us know what you think and what the tool identified as your spiritual gifts.

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“So, how many are you running?”

A question most church leaders and pastors are very familiar with. Put two pastors in a room by themselves, and this question will be asked within the first 47 seconds, guaranteed.

And the question will be answered. Followed by one pastor breathing a sigh of relief, while the other searches for a ” but . . .”

If you’re one of those searching for a “but . . .” take a look at this video by Skye Jethani, from the “The Nines” conference, an innovate online conference from September 2009.

Trust me, you need to watch.

This post Does Size Matter? originated at robwestbrook.com. See more like this at robwestbrook.com - adventures of a mississippi church planter.

Among those speaking were Charles Hill, Rick Bezet, Tim Stevens, Dwight Mason, and Geoff Surratt. The host pastor, Shannon O’Dell also spoke. Check out these guys.

The Sticks Southeast Regional Conference is coming up May 12-13, at Revolution Church in Canton , Georgia. Among the speakers there: Perry Noble, Gary Lamb, and Ed Stetzer. I would love to find a way to get to that one, too.

Here’s a video that gives a quick recap of the events of the conference. And yes, the BNC Band played the song “Boondocks.”

This post Stick Conference Recap originated at robwestbrook.com. See more like this at robwestbrook.com - adventures of a mississippi church planter.

Photo: Michael McCormack & Baptist Press

Since those times both he and I have moved on to other areas to minister. I went north – he went south, to the Louisiana coast. He’s weathered hurricanes and culture change. Recently, there was a story written about him that ended up being picked up by Baptist Press, the reporting and news arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. You need to read this to see what Eddie’s up to now. The dude will do anything to get a chance to share Jesus with someone. Here’s the link to the story:

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29630

Go read it and see what ideas God gives you for your own community.

This post Doing What It Takes originated at robwestbrook.com. See more like this at robwestbrook.com - adventures of a mississippi church planter.

We spend so much time smoothing things out, we lose the opportunity for change, or for texture or creativity. Instead of working so hard to make everything okay, perhaps it is more helpful to work hard at living with a world that rarely is.

So, what do you think? Are you an “everything’s got to be OK” person and invest most of your energy trying to “make everything OK”? Do you ever finish?

[Thanks to Tony Morgan for the link]

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