2009-7
8

every time I feel the Spirit…

Category: Spirituality | 2 Comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu8dHoMpHg0

This old spiritual never gets old…because deep inside of us is a longing for a deeper, fresh, vibrant, and powerful experience with the God of our lives!  Every time I feel the feel the Spirit…moving in my heart…is the cry of my heart, as well as yours!  We desire to feel, to experience, and God to move in our hearts! 

We are moving away from the apologetic, cognitive side to go to the “other side” of experiential longing…a heart journey!  For most of us, we long for a balance, but for all too long, we have leaned on one side–the mental side!  This generation is longing to experience the old spiritual song once again!  Don’t you?

Have you ever thought or even ask, “Why can’t I feel God?”  Is your worship experience dominated by the preaching of the Word and not couched in the presence of the Lord?  Do you walk away from your worship experience never feeling God?  Why?  Why not? 

I have not heard much talk these days in the “moving of the Spirit.”  I wonder why? 

Let’s long for…expect…and desire to “feel the Spirit…moving in our hearts…”

2009-7
6

Kansas City Barbeque (part 3)

Category: General | No Comments

big-ts-pic2OK…if you haven’t figured it out yet!  Kansas City is definitely barbeque heaven!  Others might argue the point with me, but I’ve lived long enough in our community, that there are some incredible pit masters right here in town.  No matter what you are craving, surely somewhere in town, your craving can be satisfied.  So all of you who love barbeque, here it is:  if you love to get a bit messy, love to gnaw on some good bbq, and you are craving some rib tips, I have the place just for you.

When it comes to rib tips, you must come and check out Big T’s.  With two locations (9409 Blue Ridge Blvd, and the Old Niece’s Lounge on Blue Parkway), your barbeque stop is nearby.  As you know, it is easy to get barbeque in Kansas City, but you will love the rib tips at Big T’s.  Rib tips are sometimes referred to as the poor man’s cut.  Normally, when you order a slab of ribs, they have already cut away the “rib tips” because they are at the top part of the large ends of the slab.  Rib tips are what I call your “mini slab tips.” When cooked perfectly, these tiny bit size morsels are filled with barbeque delight!  Somewhat harder to eat than your ribs, simply because of some cartiledge you have to work around, and for some a bit more fat content!  Some of you don’t like fat, you trim them away from your steaks, and you order your barbeque lean as possible, but for us fat lovers, you can overdose on the rib tips at Big T’s…those of us who love fat, there is nothing better than the rib tips at Big T’s.  rib-tips3

The order at Big T’s fills your plate.  The price is right, and the sauce is perfect for these bit sized goodies.  Big T’s sauce comes in the vinegar variety, and for those who love sauces, they serve it hot at Big T’s.  It was unorthodox for me when I first ordered and asked for extra sauce.  But the combination works for me!  I’m hooked!  You just can’t beat the perfectly seasoned and smoked rib tips with their brand of sauce at Big T’s.  So if you’re wanting some adventure in your barbeque palate, I’m suggesting you can’t beat the rib tips at Big T’s.

So if you see me at Big T’s say hello and if you want, you can buy me lunch since I hooked you up with the best eats!

2009-7
4

what about the 4th?

Category: General | No Comments

Some of you have been planning all summer, even longer, for the weekend on the 4th of July.  There is the barbeque, picnic, going to the lake,  fireworks, and family get-to-gethers that you have been waiting to enjoy on this long weekend.  It is a national holiday representing this country’s freedom. 

As I was driving down I-70 towards M291, I was given a tremendous panaromic display of fireworks that lit the horizon of our wonderful city!  It seems that everyone loves to celebrate the 4th!  During tough, turbulent, economic times, Americans in every economic status has spent their expendable cash to light a few fireworks!  I’m sure we didn’t even give it a second thought…we wanted our children to experience the delight of lighting a sparkler or a firecracker!  Neighborhood after neighborhood, even as I drove into my own, we could see and hear the wonderful sounds of fireworks all around us!

I understand, as an naturalized citizen of this glorious country, the significance of today’s celebration.  As an immigrant, every opportunity for success and prosperity is represented in the land of the brave and the free.  So here we are, from every color and race, from countries far and away, in the land of milk and honey, to enjoy its blessings and opportunities.  We are successful!  We are blessed!  Why?  Because we are celebrating the 4th!

Driving down 291, in our minivan, filled with all the Bagunu’s,  I am most grateful for the 4th affords me to spend time with the most important people in my life–my family!  So with my wife Dianna, my sons Abram and Torrance, the 4th is a big deal!  It is a reminder about that which should be most precious to us all–each other! 

So let me take this opportunity to say “Thank You!” to each one of you who have made our lives fuller and enjoyable!  Happy 4th of July!

2009-7
1

The joke is on you…

Category: General | 4 Comments

late-showThis past month, there has been a media blitz about Dave Letterman’s joke on his show, The Late Show with David Letterman, regarding his joke about Governor Palin’s daughter.  You can follow this link about his monologue:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMmKMX44g…

After a media storm, and a full pledge rebuke from Governor Palin, Letterman succumbs to the rising pressure about the remarks.  Here’s a script of his apology on June 16, 2009:

“I told a bad joke. I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception,” he said on Monday’s show. “And since it was a joke I told, I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke.”

“It’s not your fault that it was misunderstood, it’s my fault that it was misunderstood,” he said.

“So I would like to apologize, especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke. I’m sorry about it and I’ll try to do better in the future.”

Unfortunately, such off-colored remarks cannot be tolerated, even when you think it’s only comedic!

Paul writes in Ephesians 5 these words:

“3But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

The apostles warn us about the issue of filthiness, silly talk, or coarse jesting.  I know that we can be easily caught in a situation where we joke about each other and about ourselves.  Such moments Paul describes as “not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”  The phrase not fitting is found five times in the Bible (Ezra 4:14; Proverbs 17:7, 19:10, 26:1; Ephesians 5:4).  Paul instructs us to refrain from such comments or joking.  Instead, we should be about “giving thanks.”

So you see, the joke might be on you…

2009-6
29

The King of Pop…

Category: Surveys | 8 Comments

michael_jackson_-_king_of_pop_official_album_cover

List your top three songs by the King of Pop and tell me why?

1.

2.

3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All right everyone…here’s the brief summary of the responses I have received:

1.  Black and White, Rockin’ Robin, Billy Jean, Shake Your Body Down to the Ground,

2. I Can’t Stop Loving You, ABC, Who’s Lovin’ You, Break of Dawn,

3.  Man in the Mirror, Beat It, Thriller (2),

2009-6
25

The Big MO

Category: Books | 2 Comments

\mathbf{P}= \sum_{i = 1}^n m_i \mathbf{v}_i = m_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + m_2 \mathbf{v}_2 + m_3 \mathbf{v}_3 + \cdots + m_n \mathbf{v}_n \,\!

Do you know what this equation represents?

The answer is:  The linear momentum of a system of particles is the vector sum of the momenta of all the individual objects in the system.  Did you get that?

I played in a golf tournament the other day and our team kept parring hole after hole.  Par is good, except in a scramble format; you need birdies!  Someone on our team, said, “we need to change our momentum…”  So finally, on hole 14, after bogeying the previous hole, our momentum changed!  We birdied the hole and proceeded to birdie the last four holes!  It was all momentum!

John Maxwell calls momentum “the big mo”. In his book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John says that, “Momentum is really a leader’s best friend. Sometimes it’s the only difference between winning and losing.”  Whether you run an organization, or just a part of team, one key to the level of your success is momentum.  I’ve always wondered how to gain momentum and keep it moving!  You know you have momentum when there are bumps on the road and you keep moving!  Big Mo is present when mistakes are made, and leaders quickly move past them and any change is possible. People in your organization are highly motivated, the culture around you is enthusiastic, and performance is at a higher level.  And most of all, the leader looks good!  Now that’s Big Mo at work!

So how can I gain momentum?  Momentum can never be gained by staying at rest!  Momentum begins by forward progress.  Newton’s first law of motion says, ”A body at rest stays at rest, and a body in motion stays in motion, unless it is acted on by an external force.”  We often call this the law of inertia.  The simple truth is momentum begins when you get moving!  As a leader, you have to be motivated before you can motivate others!  The responsibility of momentum lies on your shoulders!  You are responsible for the momentum of your team!  As a team member, your responsibility is to keep momentum by staying in motion–being on the same page with your leader and organization, being highly motivated, and producing!

The truth of the matter is that there are some things we cannot control!  But in every organization and walk of life, the Big Mo is not that elusive!  There are many books around that can guide us to the right path.  In Jim Collins book, Good to Great, I have found that there are some principles to achieving and keeping momentum.  Here are some thoughts:

1.  Good is the Enemy of Great.  We face the horrifying idea that we could have had a great life, but we settled because it was so good!  Momentum can never be achieved if you settle for that which is good!

2.  Level 5 Leadership.  This level of leadership is defined by genuine humility couched in an atmosphere of passion for the cause, the work and the organization.  A selfless leader, driven by a stoic will, needs to replace the ego-centric leader.  Momentum always begins with leadership–level 5 leaders!

3.  A Culture of Discipline.  When you set your objectives, you must judge what you do at the end by objectives/goals that you set.  The measure is not what you did or did not produce, but rather the achievement of your objectives.  A culture of discipline is necessary if you want to keep momentum.

4. The Hedgehog Concept.  It is a deep understanding of three concentric circles:  1) what are you deeply passionate about?  2) what can you be or cannot be the best in the world at?  3) what drives your economic engine?  Either personal or corporate, momentum is maintained by understanding your hedgehog.

5.  Flywheel and the Doom Loop.  In building something great, there is no one great program, not one killer innovation, a lucky break, not some miracle moment, rather, it is pushing a giant flywheel, pushing it to complete one turn…pushing to turn it again…momentum builds…you keep pushing, gaining more momentum…the flywheel moves faster…you keep pushing, building upon each compounded effort..until the flywheel breaks through!  Momentum takes hard work!

6.  First Who, Then What.  Who do you spend your time and your most valuable relationships determine success.  It is first who, then what.  Value important relationships and get the right people on the bus with you, then what… Momentum is easy when you spend time with valuable relationships!

Go Big Mo!

2009-6
22

When it is sweltering hot…

Category: Spirituality | 6 Comments

This is the typical summer day in KC!  It is sweltering hot!  The humidity is thick and heavy!  And the AC can’t keep up with all the heat!  There are a lot of things that you can do to cool yourself!  For example, drinking a large slurpy from 7 Eleven, buy a bomb pop from the ice cream truck, stay inside in the air conditioning, or go to the pool!  All of which are excellent choices for keeping one cool in the summer heat!

When it is this hot, we are told to stay indoors, especially the seniors.  As we get older, the heat takes a harder toll on us than those who are young!  I find this interesting in light of a quote by Jonathan Edwards:  “The state of the present revival of religion has an awful aspect upon those that are advanced in years. The work has been chiefly amongst the young; and comparatively but few others have been made partakers of it. And indeed it has commonly been so, when God has begun any great work for the revival of his church; he has taken the young people, and has cast off the old and stiff-necked generation. There was a remarkable outpouring of the Spirit of God on the children of Israel in the wilderness, but chiefly on the younger generation, their little ones, that they said should be a prey, the generation that entered into Canaan with Joshua.” (volume one, part V, section 2)

In the sweltering heat of revival, I offer this observation in light of Edward’s comment. 

1)  Revival energizes young people.    

2) Revival mobilizes the young.

3) Revival is an outpouring of the Spirit of God.

4) Revival is difficult for those “advanced in years.”

5) Revival has a way of casting off those who are “stiff-necked.”

6.  Revival leads to Canaan.

7.  Revival always has a Joshua as a leader.

So what would happen to a church if a sweltering heat of revival would enter?  Would we continue to cool ourselves off with a large slurpy, a bomb pop, even go to the pool, or try to stay in the AC?  I just wonder how I would respond to a sweltering heat of revival, an outpouring of God’s Spirit!

2009-6
18

Prayer addendum…

Category: Spirituality | 4 Comments

in-the-garden3I am laughing in the inside because of a conversation earlier this week.  Have you ever prayed a prayer like this, “Lord, I want you to do this for me!”  “Now!” 

I really believe that God must be amused at His people; or like a parent, He understands that sometimes we are really silly (like a child, who doesn’t really know what they are saying…)!

Maybe we pray, “Lord, if it be your will, let me have such and such…”  “I want the real thing, not a knock off!”  We couch our hidden agenda with the “if it’s your will” card!  Of course, I want it to be His will, because it is mine!

We might try this approach, “God, do this because_______.”  “You said that you give us the desires of our heart!”  We can remind God of His obligation, duty to perform as He should for us!  Oh, did I forget He is God?

garden-of-gethsemane1Our prayers are often couched with an addendum.  You understand what an addendum is, don’t you?  Webster defines addendum as, “textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end.”  Usually, as I pray, I have an addendum to my prayer!  For some reason, I have the innate desire to add to my request–an addendum!  How about you?

Our prayer life and prayers usually gives us away!  They tell our story and our spiritual journey!  They are a reflection of our spirituality!  For example, let us look at Jesus at the crucible moment of his life, at the garden of Gethsemane.

In Matthew 26, Matthew writes, “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 42He went away a second time and prayed, “My Fathergarden-of-gethsemane-tb-n0331003, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.”

You will notice a few things about Jesus’ prayer:

1.  Jesus is real…he is fully aware of his emotions and feelings.  He understands what is surrounding him and doesn’t particularly like it!  “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death…”  We can be real in our prayers to God.

2.  Jesus leaves God an out…he understands that God is God.  We may want something from God, but God is still God!  “My Father, if it is possible…”  Can our prayers give God an option?  We can let God be God!

3.  Jesus is not self-absorbed…he understands that there is someone Greater than him.  Although he is God-incarnate, Jesus lives in selfless abandonment.  “Yet not as I will, but as you will…”  We can let go of ourselves in order to allow God reign in our lives.  We can be God-absorbed!

4.  Jesus is decisive…even in his prayer life; Jesus shows us that when we come to crucible moments, decisions are necessary!  Jesus’ foreknowledge does not preclude his choices in humanity.  Decide today, even as you offer prayers to the ultimate Decision-maker!

Lord, teach us how to pray as we should!

 

2009-6
17

On the eve of the US Open…

Category: General | No Comments

us-open

I have been frustrated lately with my golf game!  I don’t play enough (usually because of time), and I don’t practice!  That says it all, don’t you think!  I often laugh inside when I watch golfers and their expectations towards their game.  They’ll hit their customary bucket of balls, putt a few balls at the putting green, and go to the first tee expecting to shoot par!  They’ll curse and swear, bang their clubs, and even drink a few beverages to soothe their nerves.  I’ve played with them too often to understand that they have never received a paycheck from the PGA!

tiger-us-open-08So, on the eve of the US Open, you expect the best golfers in the world to be the best!  One by one, in each interview, they all declare that the possibility of winning the tourney is theirs for the taking.  But deep inside my spirit, there is only one golfer in the bunch that really believes that.  In his last tournament, playing in the final group, trailing by four strokes, he came from behind and birdied three of the last four holes to win the Memorial by two strokes over Jim Furyk.  OK, you know da man…he is Tiger Woods!

Everyone has a right to be frustrated, even the best golfers in the world will shank the ball (for non-golfers, that is a shot that is hit off the club that goes nowhere…), miss a three footer for a par, and hit the ball in the water!  The weekend golf fanatics understand the irony of the game!  We love it every time we see the best golfers do exactly what we do!  It makes the immortal mortal once again!  Hey, we’ve even seen them throw a club or two!  But at the cusp of America’s most important golf tournament, our own Open, I am rooting for one guy! Go Tiger!

Can he be the first American, since Curtis Strange, to win back to back US Opens!  Remember last year, Tiger’s epic victory at one of my favorite public links, Torrey Pines.  With a stress fracture and torn cartilage in his knee, he bested Rocco Mediate on the 19th hole playoff to amaze all of us watching the greatest US Open since we saw our own Tom Watson chip it in on the 17th at Pebble Beach.  It was great drama for golf enthusiast!  Some were cheering Rocco, but I was rooting for my man, Tiger!

So on the eve of the 109th US Open at Bethpage Black Course, just like he did it in 2002, Tiger Woods, in his Sunday red shirt, will win his second consecutive US Open title and his fifteen major championship!  Go Tiger!

tiger-us-open-21

2009-6
15

Kansas City Barbeque (part 2)

Category: General | 3 Comments

There are a few delights in life and one of them is eating Kansas City barbeque!  On my last post regarding barbeque, I told you about my experience at our very well known family owned Gates Barbeque.

lc-sign1Today, I’d like to take you to an off-beaten path in the KC barbeque cuisine.  Drive south on 47th Street from our well-known Plaza and you will find that 47th becomes Blue Parkway; and you will find LC’s Bar-B-Q.  As you drive closer to LC’s, you’ll notice that the restaurant sits on a corner lot and a noticeable flume of smoke from its chimney guides you like the shining star guided the wise men in days of Christ’s birth.  Unlike the wise men, you get a whaff of barbeque mastery!

lc-burnt-endsAs you enter LC’s, you normally see LC himself seated at the table against the wall, a behemoth of a man which guarantees that you are going to get good barbecue!  I specifically come to LC’s because I am in search for the best burnt ends in town!  Of course, like any good bbque joint, you can order your ribs, beef, turkey, and pork sandwiches, but I come to LC’s for their burnt ends.  It usually comes in a to go plastic container.  Upon getting your order, you will instantly notice that you are carrying a heavy load of barbeque pleasure!  LC’s burnt ends are generous chunks of beef burnt ends sandwiched by two pieces of white bread.  I order their fries (they usually cook their fries, which are the thick kind of fries, with each order) along with my burnt ends.  Every time I come, I expect to finish my entire order, but needless to say, I have not succeeded!  I always have enough to feed myself dinner!

LC’s burnt ends are cuts of beef, from the edges and the outside of the brisket, cooked and smoked perfectly! They are cut to order each time.   They are moist and perfect every time I have ordered it!  This sandwich, piled high, is impossible to pick up by hand.  I have never been disappointed and it draws me back to LC’s each time!  I have sampled some of LC’s other barbeque offerings, but I personally come back to the burnt ends!  I am normally an adventurous spirit and I don’t like ordering the same thing at a restaurant I have previously visited.  But in this case, LC’s is all about the burnt ends!

Hey, if you see me at LC’s, say a big hello and you can even buy me lunch since I hooked you up with the best eats!