This past week I have had the opportunity to walk through some very challenging situations with some great people. They were situations where each person had to make a choice if they would humble themselves, change their patterns, and get help or if they would stay the course.
Many times people will find themselves in difficult situations, want to change the outcome of the situations, but not want to change the patterns that got them there.

It all leads to a simple question, would you rather be humble or humilated?

I say go ahead get naked, and bare it all!

You're thinking, "What?" I'm serious, find a person who can help you through your situation, submit to them, bare it all, and know that God will honor it in a huge way!

Our pride holds us back from letting people into our lives at an intimate level, yet it is only intimacy that God begins to work! The other thing that happen ... Read More »

Today is Robin's birthday, so I thought I would take a moment to honor the most incredible woman on the planet!

It was 20 years ago this week that I met an innocent, shy, large permed, 18 year old girl from Deer Creek. We had gone to a Farrell & Farrell concert, at MetroChurch, and went to Braum's afterwards with 2 sixth grade girls who take credit for setting us up. As we sat in the classy pink booths of the 80's style Braum's, there was more staring than conversation. It was that night in January that my life would change forever!

If you know Robin today, but you didn't know her back then, you wouldn't even think she is the same person! More than any person that I know, Robin truly has stepped into her God-given potential! She has learned to embrace the discomfort of changing her patterns and began to take hold of God's gifting in her life!

Over the years she has:

• Mo ... Read More »
  Comments (1)

As the new reality continues to set in about our economy and our future, there seems to be more and more conversations about the "workplace". (By the way - I am excited about the new reality! I think there is more opportunity than ever before, just new rules.) Everywhere I seem to go, people continue to talk about their discontentment in their "jobs".

So here is my question: Do you want a job?

Or, do you want a place that will help you pursue your potential?

You have to decide! A person that wants a job simply wants the security of knowing all their bills are going to be paid. Paying the bills are important, little Johnny deserves his food. BUT, if your goal is simply to pay the bills, don't begin to whine when you don't like your workplace! Simply remember, it is what I wanted, a place that provides me the opportunity to make sure I have heat. (Nothing wrong with that!)

On the other ... Read More »

Several years ago I was talking to a pastor that I have great respect for in the city of Norman, Joe Grizzle. Joe's kids are grown and I asked him what he did to raise a healthy family in the midst of being surrounded by the pressures of ministry. His answer, "I bought a boat".

Reasoning: Every family needs something they rally around and do that breaks them out of their normal, everyday busyness. Every family needs a place & an activity that becomes a constant thread of the family.

We bought a boat! And, without a doubt it was one of the best decisions I ever made! Every year the kids begin to count down the weekends until the January boat show. We all go, dream, and begin to make plans for the coming summer of lake activity. It is the best family thing we have ever done.

So, you should go buy a boat! Okay, maybe not... but you should choose what you are going to do as a family, consistently, that will create ... Read More »

As I take a look into my kids' lives, I have been asking myself the question, "What do I need to help them take a leap in this year?"

Taking leaps can often seem uncomfortable, at minimum. It takes risk, it takes stretching,  it takes courage, and it takes a willingness to do things different. Many times we look at the gap between here and there with our eyes bulging out, not knowing how we can make it.

My recommendation: Take the leap!

I have noticed that it's easier to let my kids slip into "status quo mode" than it is to help them take a leap that will truly make a difference in their lives. With that in mind, I am consistently praying for God to show me ways to help my kids stretch beyond what is comfortable and to trust God for bigger things!

Tonight Robin and I will be sitting down with Christopher (our oldest) to hit the send button on his application to ORU! It is ... Read More »

Wow! What an incredible week, and weekend, it has been! It truly has been a huge blessing to see how the Journey family has responded to helping our friends in Haiti!

Some weekend highlights:

• Close to 1000 "Heart for Haiti" t-shirts were purchased yesterday, with proceeds going to Mission of Hope.
• The media team got HeartforHaiti.tv up and running really quick to help our continued efforts! Thank you!
• My small group came and sold the t-shirts! REALLY HELPED!!!
• People gave their lives to Christ yesterday! Never gets old!
• I met a man that came to Journey 5 weeks ago! He has come to Christ & is kicking a 18 year crack habit! Now that is God!
• Student Journey had a great winter camp.
• And Jack Bauer is back!!! That helps any weekend!

Influence #5: The Media

Every day the alarm goes off and so does the media blitz on our kids. Their ihomes sit in their bedrooms with their itouchs, iphones, or ipods, going off and the race is on. Throughout the day they are receiving hundreds of texts, emails, new games, etc. If they are younger, you throw them in the back of the minivan (I don't miss the minivan days), or the SUV, and throw on a DVD to keep them entertained so you can pay attention to driving (or talking on your phone). The minute school gets out, they are on the bus playing the lastest game they have downloaded. They come in the door for a break, to choose from 200 cable stations, and their free time has just begun.

Get the picture!

I love innovation and technology! I think it is a terrible idea to stick our heads in the sand and remember the way it "used to be". (That worked out so well.) BUT, I do think, as parents, you have to have a plan on how ... Read More »

Influence #4: Friends

It doesn't take long to hit rewind in our minds and think about all the things we went through as kids when it comes to friends. There were the days where you felt like the most loved person in the world, and then there were days where you were convinced that you were the reject of the world. Both emotions are very real and part of the life we all deal with on a daily basis.

So, the question is: what are you intentionally doing to shape your child's friendships?

If you children don't feel that affirmation from home, they will turn to their friends!

Over the years our kids have had great "christian" friends and friends that don't know Christ. Both are needed. It is important to always have people in our lives that don't know Christ and to be reaching out to them in a life-giving way. On the other hand, we do become who we hang out with.
My goal as a parent ha ... Read More »

Thank you for all the calls concerning Haiti. Obviously, as a church, God had already put the nation on our heart and this just magnifies that love.

We are currently working with our contacts on the ground to find out what needs to be done in the coming days and weeks to help. In the meantime, we are printing "Heart for Haiti" t-shirts that will be available for purchase this weekend. All proceeds will be given to the Mission of Hope. We will also be making available the short film we produced for you to have copies to share with your friends.

Please be in prayer for the people. We will keep you posted on our end!

Influence #3: School

Wow! I posted some thoughts about this a few months ago and I have to tell you, it is a hot topic every day in my mind! In the end run, the question is:

Does the school my kids go to reinforce our values as a familly?

What many people are finding is that if a child goes to a school that teaches a different stand on major worldview issues, that child often becomes confused on the issues. After the confusion sets in, it often can lead to complacency, simply not knowing what to believe or do. The other issue is that it can pit parents against the school - which one really is telling the truth?

As I have said many times, I'm all over the map on this issue, but here is what I do know - I am called to bring up my children in the training of the Lord. I have no desire to shelter my kids! I do however have a responsibility to train my kids in the way of the Lord. Does the school my kids go ... Read More »