Where does authority come from?

Just like with Foundations, authority comes from true knowledge.

You answer with shakiness if you are not certain. If you know the Earth is round, you do not hesitate to respond. You answer with confidence every time. “Of course it’s round.”

I believe that authority concerning God and his Word is the same way. Jesus displayed authority when he taught. He knows God intimately and ultimately. No one questioned Jesus’ answers after he spoke with authority. No one else was that confident in their question or answer.

If you have been in the Presence, you have seen God and have a measure of true knowledge of God. You don’t have to quote Scripture because you have something of more substance for you: experience.

Preachers who have not experienced the presence of God cannot have true authority in their teachings. They are quoting what someone else has seen or experienced. The Scriptures are to be a testimony as a reason to launch you into your own experience, not to rely on solely.

This is not to say that Scriptures are lacking in Truth or that they are somehow not for other purposes, like being useful for teaching and correcting. The point of Scripture is to get you to know the Author, not just memorize words or be familiar with the text to know where pieces of wisdom are.

It’s like the difference between reading Seth Godin’s blog and hanging out with him. You have much more authority on the subject of who he is and what he is like after you have spent time with him. It is the same way with God. You have much more authority to say what God is like and what he desires if you have spent time with him instead of only having read the book he inspired. That knowledge is secondhand.

This authority is necessary because you won’t always have the Bible handy to point to someone with authority’s retelling. Instead you can simply testify to what you truely know. That is the kind of authority that is lacking in my life, and I believe it is lacking in churches across the country.

Sturdy foundations

The Holy Scriptures, the Word, are a foundation made of Christ, or the Gospel, and are at least partially for that purpose. If you try to filter all of your building experience by the true foundation, you will have a sound house. A foundation is a hybrid of physical structure and territory. If you build within/upon a foundation, you will build correctly. If you build outside the foundation, you will build in vain for it will never last.

If you live on the foundation only, you will not wash away, but you will not have a house either. We are to live from the foundation toward our destiny. Which is heavenward. If you limit yourself to just knowing scripture and that is as far as your experience goes, you have no house. The Bible is meant as a starting point for knowing God and a reference for filtering your experiences outside of it.

Mature believers know God through leaving the foundation by building toward Heaven experiences in His presence and by seeing God. We are to build upon the Scriptures what God has revealed to His bride over the centuries, not throw out manifold wisdom because “it is now our turn.”

The fire of the Spirit continually tests the material which we all build with. When it lasts, we should take it from predecessors and use it to add to our building. That is generational blessings. Build for the advantage of those that follow.

Anyone who preaches just from Scripture and not from what they have seen are scribes and not prophets. Scribes are useful for reminding of what and where the foundation is for building. Prophets are useful for letting you know what to build with next. What you are capable of building in the future. They offer insight into projects and additions that no one has seen before, more beauty and usefulness than has previously existed.

**Special note: Even though prophets have authority by hearing from the Lord, it does not mean that you should assimilate to your life everything that they say without filtering it throught the Scriptures.

How do you craft a marketing plan for a small business?

I am currently studying resources that I can easily and freely come across to find what is critical in crafting a marketing plan. I recently stepped into the role of Marketing Manager and am finally getting to where I can get out of the trenches for a little while and get a bird’s eye view of what the company is really about. With this opportunity, I hope to take enough time to build a plan that will not only be a reference for the rest of the year, but a launch pad for years to come. I have spent time reading blogs and investigating marketing, but I haven’t seen a good step by step or list of necessary components for a plan. Any help with links or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

What shoud I do with my time?

I am beginning to realize that I must get a hold of my time and make the most of what little I have. Between my job and volunteering at NewSpring, I don’t have a ton of time to spend pursuing other things, like a beautiful woman. Or spending time with people I haven’t seen in a very long time. Or just about anything that doesn’t involve my bed or the two previously mentioned activities.

If I am to get life accomplished in a way that is not only meaningful, but also enjoyably worth while, I need to plan better and execute even better than that. I need to use the tools in front of me (calendar, phone and online alerts) and the people that I interact with to better use my time. If I spent at least three more hours a week reading, and three more hours a week pouring into students and leaders, I would be living a very different life. If I spent less time browsing the internet after work, reading unnecessary blogs, and going to stores to look at stuff that I know I won’t buy right now, I would have more time for things that will actually benefit me. Of course I don’t want to be a scrooge and give myself no time for fun and goofing off (I need it), I just need to make sure that when I do, it is done with at least one other benefit. Like I could hang with one or some of my friends to goof off, even better if they are friends I haven’t seen in a while. Or, I could do mundane stuff with people that I want to catch up with. Who says you can’t throw a car washing party with some of your boys.

All that to say, if I don’t do better with time (and money) I won’t get to do two thing that I really want to do in the next year or two.
1. Go to Africa (Kenya, Congo, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Mozambique or Ethiopia).
2. Go to California (Redding, LA, San Diego/Chula Vista or Wine Country)

Shout Outs

I would like to publicly acknowledge the following people in no particular order.

David Fisher, who for some reason has chosen to value me and the things that I say.  I don’t deserve to have someone like him consider me a friend.

Joel Reid, I never laugh so hard in my life as when I am with my brother Joel (his mother officially adopted me in October).  His challenges and love have been the stuff of dreams.  You will soon realize the visions that Lord has burned into you.

My guys from football at McCants from this past Spring.  I miss hanging out with you guys. If any of you ever read this, I want you to know that I love you fellas and I can’t wait to see/hear what kind of stud men of God you turn out to be. Michael, Tanner, Austin, Blake, Cameron, Davis, Evan, Ryan, Jared, Jordan, Quendall, Noah, Reno, Ross, Sean, Shane and anyone else who hit hard and played well.

My boy B_Long who is freshly engaged to a wonderful and amazing G. You guys are going to have a lot of fun fulfilling the great commission together.

My folks.  Not just my Mom and Dad, who loved me better than I ever deserved, but my brothers and sister who taught me when I wasn’t trying to learn and they weren’t trying to teach.  I am who I am because of Jesus loving me through each of them.  I cannot wait to spend more time loving and laughing with you guys at Christmas.

My fellow managers.  You guys believe in me and put confidence in a newbie like me.  I don’t have words for what that has meant to me.

Thanks for being a part of my life and for everything you have done for me.

Overwhelmed

There is something to say for being overwhelmed.

It puts you in a place where you have to accept that the world is bigger than you can possibly handle.  It makes you realize that there are more and greater ways that you could spend most of your time.  It also can be a great way to improve or destroy your life.

Being overwhelmed can be unhealthy if you look at your situation from the point of view that it should be easier and that you deserve somethign different.  Like the past was better.  Like I shouldn’t have to work this hard.  Like I am not supposed to feel like this until I have legit gray hair (right now it’s just creeping in).

Being overwhelmed can also be a very healthy thing.  It makes you take a step back and figure out where you are going.  It brings a new perspective that you wouldn’t have to face if everything were manageable.  The feeling of needing other people to complete a task is good for your friendships and for your friends.  Calling on people to help you puts value on them, and builds substance into your relationship.

I feel overwhelmed right now.  I hope that I make the most out of it.

Tastey.

I have to admit, when it comes to spending money, I don’t know if my choices make sense, in fact, they probably seem non-sequitor to many people.  I am currently trying to save money and build up my 401k, as well as learn how to actually live on a budget that I have set for myself many times.

The condundrum occurs when it comes to buying stuff that is not essential – blow money kind of stuff.  It seems that I have a far easier time justifying purchasing a nice bottle of wine than a nice pair of jeans.  I know that the wine will be very tastey, but it will only last as up to three days once opened.  The jeans, however, could last for years.  I found myself saying “there is no way I would pay $60 or more for a pair of jeans… they’re just jeans.”  Right after that I went and purchased a more expensive bottle of wine because “I know it will be amazing and it is also an investment if I ever decide to sell it.”  That is true, it could be an investment, but it isn’t if I end up drinking it.  Which will probably happen, seeing as how the last time I had some of that vinyard’s produce it was the best I had ever tasted.

It’s just a shame that jeans don’t taste as good as wine.