Seriously, what are you waiting for? How many signs, how much “confirmation” do you need, how will you prove Him & His Word if you never ever get in the boat.

A carpenter tells a professional fishermen how, when & where to fish. The professional has just come from the lake & caught NOTHING! I mean he could catch a cold in the waters that this “carpenter” tell him to go back into & “cast His net”! The PRO, decides to listen, he is OBEDIENT, he DOES & GOES just where he is told to go.
And low and behold his nets cannot handle the weight of the “catch”!!! He is overwhelmed with the ABUNDANCE of his “catch”….

Great story right!

Now take a moment & think about “where” this same Carpenter, Jesus, has told you to cast your net. Did you? Or did you say that it’s too hard? I don’t have the right equipment, I’m not ready, I’m a PROFESSIONAL & there are NO “fish” in that lake. I’ve fished here a thousand times & have not even gotten a nibble! This lake(city) is not like the lake(suburbs) you fish in, your bait won’t work here.

Whether the Carpenter has commanded you to “fish” at your job, on your block, at your church or to start a new church get in the freakin boat and fish!!!!

He said I WILL MAKE YOU fishers of MEN! PERIOD! It’s His responsibility to MAKE you & I fishers, but it’s OUR responsibility to OBEY! No excuse is worthy of even being breathed in the context of HIS COMMAND!

So, now what are you waiting for? Oh wait let me guess, you don’t have a boat? Right! If that EXCUSE works for you, then cool. But for me & my house… We will obey!!!

If I had a quarter for everytime I’ve had a doubt, second guessed my ability, or questioned God’s decision about my calling I’d be a millionaire!

I know, some of you might say I’m sharing “too” much, but who really determines that?

And what I’ve discovered is that whether it’s my feelings, insecurities, fear or someone pointing out my shortcomings… I truly am unfit to lead.

I am unfit to lead, without His, Christ’s, grace, favor, love, mercy, direction, forgiveness, strength, arms wrapped around me, blessing, the Holy Spirit, obedience, sacrifice, Blood and on and on and on…

You see, I CANNOT, lead anyone anywhere in and of myself or in my OWN strength. I am but a worthless filthy rag without Him.

Sometimes I forget that. Sometimes I lead, alone. And in that very moment there is non one to blame, lean on, comfort, or even hear me but me! And frankly, I am not enough!!

Lead, your family, your life, your career, your friends-real & virtual, your calling & passion with Him, not on your own.

To lead alone is failure.

Most of us are familiar with the 80/20 rule that applies to a number of generes. In the church world it’s often applied to the 20% of a particular churches membership that is actually the “church” & for a long time I’ve prayed and asked God for more. Asking Him to show us a way to rewrite this prescription for church.

I’m not saying I’ve got the answer for your church, but I believe God has shown me what makes sense for peculiarplace…

Imagine 80% of your core, launch &/or congregation performing a minimum of 10 hours/ month of volunteer services in the community your church is in. Imagine 80 people (80% of 100 people, a foundational goal for us) doing 10 hours… That’s 8000 hours in our schools, parks, nursing homes, tutoring, mentoring, cleaning & repairing. Imagine the IMPACT this could have on a community! Imagine the impact it would have on the persons “BEing” the church!!

Crazy? Maybe? But I believe this is one way to make outreach a daily thing versus a holiday, speacial weekend or time of year thing. This is a way to get those living outside of the community to invest effort, time & money into O4W!!

I am so pleased at how God is opening doors into this community. I mean seriously, i have met some amazing historians and neighbors that have welcomed us, even knowing why we moved there, to the community. I am sure there will be resistance, but I have to keep in mind that it is not resistance to me or my family, but to the Will of God. That simply means that it is for Him to fight this fight, not us!!

I look forward to keeping you updated, entertained, informed and sharing our story that God is so graciously writing for us.

Thank you for your prayers, love & most importantly patience!!

I will be updating our prayer list here very soon so please be on the look out for that!!

HE ROSE WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HAND! HE DEFEATED DEATH, HELL AND THE GRAVE IN ONE FAIL SWOOP! HE TOOK ON ALL SIN, ALL SIN IN CASE YOU DIDNT READ THAT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, SO THAT YOU AND I COULD PARTAKE IN THE GIFT OF EVERLASTING LIFE AND BE COUNTED AS COHEIRS TO THE THRONE WITH HIM. HE LOOKED SICKNESS DISEASE IN THE EYE AND HEALED THOSE WHO BELIEVED. HE GAVE US A COMMANDMENT TO LOVE HIS FATHER WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, SOUL AND MIND AND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AND THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS ARE THE ROD THAT THE CURTAIN OF “THE LAW” HANG ON!!!!

So why in the hell do we sing songs of “praise” and songs of “worship” like he is our boyfriend? Or He is this hippie who is hanging out on the campus of Berkeley smoking weed and throwing up the peace sign to any and everyone, where free love reigns? Why do “WE” the church allow this REVOLUTIONARY LORD to be seen as a FREAKING PANSIE?

What man do you know who wants their LORD, their MASTER, their COMMANDER IN CHIEF, their COACH, their MOST TRUSTED FRIEND, their DEFENDER, their SHIELD, their REFUGE, their VICTORIOUS PROVIDER and KING to be a frail, soft PUNK?

CHURCH, MAN UP!!! GRAB YOUR SACK and GROW A PAIR!!!

HE WAS NOT A PUNK, HE WAS A MAN! He is love, He is a great listener, He is compassionate, He is a friend, He is truth, He is victory, I could go on forever, but one thing He is not or ever was is a PUNK. And we wonder why MEN dont want anything to do with Him? COME ON!!!!

Look, He never wore a haltertop, a dress or frilly flowers in His hair… so can we PLEASE paint a true picture of VICTORY and the ALL POWERFUL MAN WHO SITS ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER!

CAN WE, PLEASE?

I am asking myself these questions right now! I want to be “the good investment, the best investment” that anyone would want to take part in. I don’t want to be the flash in the pan, latest hot “stock” that you have got to be a part of, only to fizzle after a quarter of remarkable results. I WANT TO BE THE LONG TERM STRATEGY, for those seeking to impart wisdom. I want to react, respond, fix, adjust, amend, change, quit, begin, implement, and create the desired results immediately. I want investors, both current and potential to see in me the desire to be ALL God has called me to be. I want the roots of their investment to run deep, deep enough to withstand the worst of storms and attack. I desire to be that investment!

With desire, there must be a plan, a call to action, a strategy… their must be work. I must be vulnerable, open, and transparent. I must be WILLING!

So today, I am letting you know that I am WILLING, and am giving you permission to speak into my life. To invest in me, with results promised.

you have permission to speak freely…

well i don’t know if i rocked the mic or not, but man i had LOTS of fun, made some new friends whom i hope to keep around for a very long time, i have not been on stage in a very long time and it felt good and most importantly God was glorified in song!!

I decided after watching this video with Esther that I would share it with you! Leave a comment, below and let me know what you think?

I truly do miss the stage and have been praying, writing and talking to Esther about what it would look like if I were to JUMP back into the spoken word scene. The sad thing and the reason that I jumped ship was that with most any typical performance you must do the pieces that the crowd wants, needs… and sadly they only really loved the sexually explicit pieces. Bunch of horny folks…LOL!!! Yeah, I was one of them, i said it. Thank God for forgiveness, grace and mercy! My past is no longer a hindrance to me, but it serves as a foot stool to reach the beyond my wildest imagination… the “THING” I was created for!!!

You know I could post something and not preach a lil bit! LOL!! Enjoy the video, leave a comment and let go of yesterday- it no longer belongs to you!!!

Lose My Soul – Oakleaf from lloydowens on Vimeo.

I pulled up to the stoplight as usual and there he was… that he that I’m referring to was the panhandler! There is a different panhandler at this intersection every morning; however it was something about this panhandler that took me to school. In other-words this panhandler began to dish out some really valuable leadership/life lessons.

Here are 10 Leadership Lessons From a Panhandler that I learned during a 2 minute stoplight: (He’s not the one pictured in this post)

1. You never get a second chance to make a first impression (Why should I give to you right now)
2. Your message needs to be clear and concise (Hungry, Broke, Homeless…)
3. Respect your clients (Don’t be over bearing)
4. Persistence Pays (Don’t be to proud to beg and ask… and beg and ask)
5. Make eye contact (When you look someone in the eyes, you might just see their heart)
6. Location and Timing (Location and timing are critical, good intersection and during a stoplight) 7. People follow those with a following (Once one person gives, so will others)
8. Be Genuine (People can read a phony from a mile away… or even a stoplight away)
9. Dress for Success (Look the part, dress the part… attire/look does matter)
10. Be Appreciative and Thank God (”Hungry anything will help, God Bless”)

Does that make any sense to you?

TIME

There is never enough. The people around you want more, than you seemingly have to give. Even when you plan the most perfect day (time management) something will come up and attempt to throw a monkey wrench in your plans. If your in a relationship, then time might be one of the most valuable commodities you have, how else will you ever come to know the person you are in a relationship with. When you make a physical, mental, emotional commitment you also have just committed a large (to be determined hopefully by both parties involved) amount of time to the new relationship. This is the same no matter your poison, whether it be business, family, church planting or marriage… TIME is a crucial asset that must be leveraged correctly or it will destroy you and more importantly the people around you. I speak from experience!

MONEY

Look, plain and simple is WE need it. You need it to start a business (if you don’t want to shut down or not be able to pay employees), you need it for the dates and eventually you will need it for a wedding and BOI!! do you need it to start a church (note: I’m not saying how much, but you need some). The reality is this one thing probably destroys more things than anything else, if you don’t believe me just look at our economy. We have been “thriving” (note: plenty sarcasm) for so long as a country off of credit for money we hope to have in the future or make in ROI and when the bottom falls out, there is no cold hard cash to stand on. Political rant over! But seriously, money or lack of and sometimes surplus of, can create issues in any of the above settings. Like time, you must get a real and honest grasp of your control over it. Over the desire to put it first in your relationship, over the temptation to splurge and not be wise, or the temptation to skim from the top of a business or church. The temptation and desire is real! Equally as important is flat out learning to MANAGE the money you have!!! I speak from experience.

These two things, time and money, are not ALL that matters. Nor or they the only things that make or break an endeavor, but they are two of the first things that will be challenged or attacked by the enemy in any one of these endeavors, especially if you have a fondness for either one before entering endeavor! I love the fact that God has provided Grace for these and so many other issues. You are going to need it. Not, just for yourself, but for those you are involved with. Perhaps you are the one who is a great manager of time but your partner isn’t. Perhaps you are a wise financial stud, but your partner needs to mature in this area, God’s Grace is more than sufficient! Your job is to not tear down, but to encourage, correct lovingly and pray- but you probably should pray first!!! LOL!

out of darkness into His marvelous night…

From Texas, South Dakota, Atlanta to Oklahoma people have answered the call of 50 giving $10 and so far we are only $200 from our goal! I just want to thank ALL of you who have given.

TODAY is the deadline, so don’t procrastinate any longer… GIVE BIG HERE!!

It means so much, I will be sure and let the kinds know who their big brothers and sisters truly are!

We will have pics of the field trip as well!