This is a video I shot in the master bedroom of our new home. Week 3 of renovation! Stillness:

Where do you go so that you can “be still?” What noise is in your life that you made to turn off for a while?

Turns out you don’t need a seminary degree for this!

Why is it so difficult for us to slow down and help people? What would happen in our culture if the church and its leaders would get outside the walls of the building and looked for opportunities to contribute to the community? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

This video just came out today, Tuesday, April 27th.  A group Chinese and Turkish evangelical explorers say they have found wooden remains on Mount Ararat in Eastern Turkey.  Here is a text article in The Sun. 

If the report turns out to be true and the carbon dating ends up accurately tracing back 4,800 years to the time of the flood, what is the significance?  Love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Do you find it difficult to conenct with God? I often do, why is it sometimes so difficult?

TheWayItCouldBe.com is all about transformation- personally, spiritually & culturally.  Transformation is messy!  You have to see the way things could be, believe they can change, then act to do your part to see things transform.  We are created to be a certain way, but because of a broken world, our lives don’t always end up the way they were designed to be.

Analogy: We are renovating an old home right now.  It was built nearly 100 years ago.  Due to a variety of factors, it was about to be bulldozed.  That’s when we bought it.  We could see the way could be.  We believe it can be brought back to life.  We are acting to do our part to see this home transformed to its original beauty!  Week 2 of renovation… Enjoy:

Are you having trouble seeing how things could be different?  Have you lost hope in believing that there could be a different life awaiting you?  Why is it so easy to lose sight of what we know could be a new kind of life?  We’d love to hear feedback in the comments…

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Wow, what do you think about Chan’s decision to resign from Cornerstone Church?  What types of thoughts come to mind when you hear about someone like Francis stepping out in faith like this?

Here are a couple of incredibly challenging books Chan has put out that have greatly influenced my life: Crazy Love-  “The answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts- it’s falling in love with God.”  Forgotten God- “Chan returns us to the Holy Spirit as the Bible describes Him and invites us to understand, embrace and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives.” 

Have you read either of these books?  If so, how has God impacted your life through Chan? 

This video was the last day we were able to spend with my wife’s grandmother, Ruth Pope. She lived 94 full years here on earth. Check out the legacy she left behind: 53 family members and 16 healthy marriages among her children and grandchildren. Not one marriage in her entire family has ended up in divorce!  I felt it when I first met my wife, Macy, and I’ve relied on the strength of her family over the last 7 years of our marriage.  I see Grandmother Pope’s heart in the eyes of Macy’s dad and the unconditional love he has for us. 

In addition to healthy families, all of her adult family members have become devoted followers of Christ.  Wow.  Rest in peace Grandmother, we love you and cherish every memory, joke and kind act of love.  Your legacy lives on and heaven sings with you today.

What about you?  What legacy will you leave behind?  What choices will you make today that could shape and change generations to come?  What are some things we focus on in life that may not really matter much in the end?  We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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Thoughts?

Does chaos manage you or do you manage chaos?  Big difference!  If you are not careful, you will look up and allow the chaos to lead you, guide you and ultimately paralyze your ability to have impact in the areas that are most important to you.  However, if you are intentional, you can develop disciplines and use tools to conquer chaos and live an more influencial life!  Here are 6 Tips & Online Tools for Managing Chaos:

1. Have a place to dump notes, thoughts and info. Every one needs a place where they can jot notes, info, reminders, etc.  Some people use a simple notepad. I use Microsoft One Note.  Regardless what you use, you need to have place to clear you mind of all the clutter.   Here is a demo for One Note.

2. Have a place to manage projects and tasks. This is where I take the random thoughts and prioritize and determine what needs action. I use Todoist.com to manage projects and even track people development.  It doesn’t matter what you use; I have just found that an online tool saves me a ton of time and energy.  Todoist allows unfinished tasks to be prioritized and moved to another day.   Here is a demo.

3. Have a place to manage a calendar. I use Microsoft Office Calendar and it works for me. After I prioritize tasks and projects, I use my calendar to set times and manage my day. I always leave space for unexpected things. I check email at certain times of day.  I spend the most alert and energetic times of day on the most important things.  Regardless what you use, watch your time, it is the most valuable resource you have!

4. Have a place to manage email.  I use Microsoft Office and have set up folders for action and no action.  No action items are deleted or go into storage folders, action items are spilt up into a Reply ASAP folder or Reply WTD (week to date). I’ve also installed a plug-in called Xobni, for helping to manage contacts and locate emails and attachments sent from individuals. It rocks!  Here is a demo.

5. Have a place to manage Social Media. I use Hootesuite for monitoring personal and organizational conversation via Twitter. I can make both personal and organizational Facebook page updates through Hootesuite as well. I monitor Facebook comments and activity through FB email updates as well as visiting Facebook itself.  Here is a demo.

6. A place to manage on the go. I use an iPhone, and can do all of the above things through my cell. I dig the thing, but have to watch my calendar to make sure I’m not on my phone during times that I determined for something else.  Here is a demo.

What about you? What tools or tips do you use to manage chaos? Help the rest of us by dropping a comment…

This post is a rewind from the summer.  I used to honestly think that church was for sissies, for the naive or weak. I did what I wanted in life, when I wanted and how I wanted.  Since that time, my experience with church has been much different.  Some friends of mine in my early twenties reached out and showed me unconditional love & acceptance. Instead of being judgemental & exclusive (what I had seen from a lot of religious people during my life), these guys were forgiving, filled with joy, loving, and generally a blast to hang out with.  They took an interest in my life and showed me these differences between just going to church and truly being a follower of Christ: 

1. Going to church is something you do once a week, easily grounded in a religious activity or good works.  Following Christ is something you live everyday, grounded solely in relationship with Jesus, rooted in grace.
2. Going to church is something you can actually do with little change in your life.  Just go and leave if you want!  Following Christ is an all or nothing thing, a life that looks much different- not always an easy choice.
3. Going to church is good & will help you connect with other believers, worship & hear the spoken word of God- but ultimately, the act of going to church can’t save you.  Following Christ  depends on Him alone to save you and lead you. 
4. Going to church is often predictable & safe- you know where to go & how long you’ll be there.  Following Christ is unpredictable- no idea where it may take you or how long you’ll be there.
5. Going to church is something you can do & still be in control if you choose.  Following Christ requires you completely giving up control of your life & your planned-out future. 
6. Going to church is like standing up from laying on the couch all day.  It’s a great start, but it’s not necessarily going to change your life.  Following Christ is like taking off out the front door on an adventure you’ll never regret!

I hope not to imply that going to church is bad or whatever, because it’s not.   It’s just often mistaken for the “end all” goal.  In reality, the church is here to support us, encourage us and equip us to go back out into the world and make an impact as a follower of Christ!  The Bible talks about the church as Christ’s living body here on earth.  It’s not a building, but a people dependent on the cross of Jesus. If you’re like I was and possibly “out” on Jesus, consider this question:  Could you be burnt instead by empty religion, or religious people?  I’d like to encourgae you to take a fresh look at the real Jesus.  Reach out and talk to Him.  He is listening.   

Consider the thought that Jesus is totally different and following him can be the single most freeing decision you’ll ever make!  He will totally change you and use your life and passions for His purposes, and your time on earth will impact generations upon generations.  Going to church is okay, and is an incredible way to engage with God and meet other believers.  Still, without an open, loving relationship with Jesus Christ, it’s just another thing on your pda…  Holler if you’d like to talk.  Or, if you used to think or still think church is for sissies, let’s share stories….