Center Site Updated

If you have not been to the website for the Center for Urban Teaching I encourage a visit soon. The CfUT office is working like crazy to improve the site and we would like to hear your suggestions for making it useful.

Blessings to all as we take on the urban opportunities in 2012!

What's Next?

That seems like a logical question as we move into a new year. What is ahead? What will happen his year? Maybe a related question is " Active or Passive"?? In a recent sermon the pastor referenced an old anecdote about the poor person who repeatedly prayed "Lord let me win the lottery." After praying this repeatedly the pauper protested that God was not answering this prayer. God did reply with the answer - "You need to buy a ticket."

Get involved this year. Be active. Remember, live your life with urgency and optimism!

Happy New Year

Having a happy and prosperous new year is more than a wish. Make it an integral part of your purpose. Live with integrity, urgency, and optimism. Frame that with a healthy dose of respect and your new year will be one to remember. Blessings to all in 2011.

Living Your Life Backward

It is officially summer and finally it feels like it! Enjoy - it goes quickly. But enough about the weather report.

I recently talked with a friend about a book that he was reading on the topic of living your life backward. A simple idea - if we focus on where we want to be then the decisions that we make along the way can all be aligned with that goal in mind. Why do we make life so much more difficult than it needs to be?

Learned Helplessness

Some years ago there was a commercial that used the phrase "I've fallen and I can't get up." As I get older I am more and more aware of the physical pain behind those words. There is a deep understanding of what it means to be dependent upon someone else. It seems that our country is wrestling with the issue of dependency these days. It appears that we need to take care of everyone and watch over them to make sure that they make good decisions. There is always a grain of truth in that, but we may also be creating a boatload of helplessness. I am wondering if the new health care plan will make us more creative and responsible. Or are we just learning more about dependency and being helpless?

BHAG's for 2010

New year resolutions may come and go, but your BHAG is ever with you! Join me in the delightful and powerful decision to set and follow outrageous goals for 2010. Changing education is not a generic wish. Failing schools are not acceptable because they fail children. May the good Lord give us the resolve to be united in making a difference.

Satan's Great Lie

It shouldn't be this difficult!

Satan wants you to question God's love. After all, we do have a mighty God and we want to serve Him. Why then are there so many problems in our lives?

God did not tell us that this journey would be easy. In fact we are told that we can expect to suffer. But that is where faith enters the picture. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can find contentment. We can rejoice as we enter the Advent season once more that the Child born in Bethlehem fulfilled the promise of God. Satan may try to distract us with lies and promises of an easy life, but we need to stay focused on Christ and His assurance that He indeed has a plan for each and every one of us - a plan this is good for us and a plan that will not hurt us. Life may be difficult but our joy is eternal! Praise the Lord.