We all know that today is being talked about as a historic day, not only for the US, but for the world.  As today mark’s the first day in the presidency of Obama, I pray for a few things.  Knowing that change ultimately comes from our Heavenly Father:

1. I pray for our new President.  For wisdom and for guidance.

2. I pray for the walls of racism to fall.

3. I pray that the Church would rise up and take her place as the beacon of hope it should be.

4. I pray that the chords of injustice would loosen

5. I pray that the hope of Jesus would go forth

6. I pray that God would use me and my family for his Kingdom

7. I pray that Truth will have a new place in this generation.

This is an amazing opportunity for the Church to be the Church; to love our neighbors, to serve our enemies, to defend the rights of widows and orphans, to help the least of these, to proclaim truth, to worship, to walk in humility, and to spread the Gospel.  Will you join me in praying?

a great leader’s birthday.  One of the most influential leaders of the 20th century was Martin Luther King, Jr.  He is obviously most remembered for his “I have a dream” speech and it contains so much beauty, justice, vision and depth that it is worth reviewing.  I know I don’t totally understand the culture that he lived in, but his commitment to justice through grace and truth was awesome. He was a fallen leader, but his vision will live on.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEMXaTktUfA&hl=en&fs=1]

Today was awesome.  There is a group of people in Atlanta that are changing the culture of business in America.  They are a multi-billion dollar company.  Their mission is not “to make the most money possible in any way possible.” It reads like this, “To be a good steward of all that God has entrusted us with.”  They are led by an amazing team of leaders and Christians. The company is Chick-fil-A and I got the opportunity to preach at their weekly devotion.   They have one of the most amazing cultures of any organization I’ve ever been around.  Never open on Sundays is just the tip of the iceberg.

I shared the vision of World Causes and the journey God has taken us on the past few years.  The question I posed was this: What would happen if Christians led the fight against poverty, injustice and epidemic diseases?  Historically when Christians did, the church grew in exponential ways.  Listen to what the pagan ruler of Rome Julian said about the Christians when a plague swept through the city leaving people literally dying on the streets.

“Atheism (Christian faith) has been specially advanced through the loving service rendered to strangers, and through their care for the burial of the dead. It is a scandal that there is not a single Jew who is a beggar, and that the godless Galileans care not only for their own poor but for ours as well; while those who belong to us look in vain for the help that we should render them.”

The pagan culture noticed the Christians living out the gospel and many were so intrigued that the joined the ranks themselves.  Today we have a huge opportunity before us.  And I apologize to president elect, the government is not the institution that will be able to bring sustainable change.  There is a huge mess in the world today.  But, the bigger the mess, the bigger the opportunity.

Will you be a part of the problem or the solution?

Have you ever been reading and the text just slaps you in the face?  It just jumps out at you and comes alive.  I heard a quote today and I’m not sure who said it, but it went something like this.  The point of education is not knowledge but action.  Wow!  That is so timely for me. You see, I am an education junky. I love books. I love learning, growing and changing. I love going to conferences and sitting down with any leader that will give me time. I’ve been blessed over the past year to learn so much from more experienced leaders that I look back with amazement.  I love it all. But I’ve been seeing that all the right information will not change anything. Knowing the answers. Memorizing the principles.  Being able to quote the content.  It is all great. But it wont change a flipping thing.  The only thing that changes things (English professors going crazy with that sentence) is action.  ACTION. Action, comes from some other root word that means to act on something. To move. To act. Its about change. Its about taking what you’ve learned and doing something with it.

Its a new year.  Its a clean slate.  With all that you learned last year, what will you apply this year?  What action will you take in 09 to make it the best year of your life?  A couple of actions for me are:

1. Focus- I will spend more time on the things that truly matter this year than ever before.  I plan my weeks and days in advance. I now block my time.  A principle from Andy Stanley goes like this, “The clearer the vision, the fewer the options, the easier the decisions.”  When you focus on what matters, its easier to decide where to spend your time.

2. Prayer works, so do it more.  I saw God do amazing things last year, so why didn’t I spend even more time begging him to move?  I don’t know, but that is changing this year.

3. Leading at home. I’ve learned the best leadership principle out there (by trial and error…mostly error). If you are not leading at home, you are not truly leading.  I’m committed to leading at home at the highest level possible.

Its going to be an awesome year.  Everyone is predicting a horrible year.  I think God has other plans. The bigger the mess, the bigger the opportunity.

A great friend of mine, who happens to be a very talented photographer, decided he wanted to help stop the injustice of sex slavery.  But what can a guy with a camera do?

I’m glad you asked.  He has a blog that each day sells a new Black and White photo. All proceeds go to the Free Chains Campaign to end child sex slavery.  Want to help.  Go buy a picture.  Forward the address to your friends.  Find something you’re good at and use that talent like Jeff to make the world a better place and to spread the Gospel.

Thanks Jeff!

Be sure to book Jeff for your wedding, family photo, birthday, BBQ, or anything else that you want some stylish shots to remember.