Veteran’s Day is Tomorrow…

Veterans have served our country under unique and often times dangerous conditions. One thing they share in common regardless of how, where and when they served was preparation and commitment.

No soldier goes into military service without initial as well as ongoing conditioning and training. They stay prepared to be ready for whatever they are called on to handle. In addition, all our soldiers are committed to facing the enemies of freedom and defending our freedoms – with their lives if need be.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. If you know of someone who is serving or who has served, please take the time to encourage them and say thank you. There sacrifice has and continues to make a difference. I recently saw a t-shirt that had this imprint, “Home of the Free… Because of the Brave.” Many have paid the ultimate sacrifice, often unknown to most of us. God has blessed, been uniquely patient and loving to our country. Let’s never take our freedom or His blessings for granted.

In the Houston area the Veteran’s Cemetary is hosting no events. However, the city is going to have a parade downtown. I may go to that, however, my real anticipation is visiting a senior citizens facility. It seemed a little thing to do, but I want to spend some time just saying thank you to many who have served and seem to be forgotten.

What are your plans? How will you say thank you?

P.S.: For those who have served our country as Marines, my congratulations and happy anniversary to you, today November 10th is the anniversary of the US Marine Corps. Thank you!

Copyright 2011 © Charles Lyons

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I Will, Alone If I Have To, But Will You Join Me?

For far too long I have recognized a need in our land and in our churches. Over the past months it has continued to grow and extend itself from a sense of need to a strategic burden. There is a word that is rarely used anymore, and used correctly even less. The word is: “revival.”

I want to share with you two quotes regarding this word. The first by David Bryant:

In revival there is a fresh focus on Christ’s person (who He is to us, especially His character as God’s Son) and on His passion (who He is for us, especially in His death, resurrection, and ascension). As a result, we experience together in new ways the fullness of Christ’s life over us (as He rules over us as Lord and Head of the church) and in us (as He indwells us with His resurrection power). All of this presses us into new involvements in the fulfillment of Christ’s mission, where we live and among the nations, as He carries out His purposes (through us), and as He establishes His preeminence among many peoples (going out ahead of us to lead His global cause to victory and to bring about the consummation of history.)

The second quote is by Douglas Brown:

Revival is a church word; it has to do with God’s people. You cannot revive the world; the world is dead in trespasses and sins; you cannot revive a corpse. But you can revitalize where there is life…

It would be easy to look about us, as believers, and be frustrated at the way the world is functioning. We could be frustrated by the lack of law in the land and the void of righteousness in what was once known as a Christian nation. As a nation we do not need revival. As believers and local churches around our land, yes, we need revival.

Revival is not something for the lost. For the lost we spread the Gospel, the plan of salvation, the truth of life in Jesus Christ. Yet for us who are believers, we need revival. We have become as a group cold, un-impassioned, indifferent and worst of all compromisers.

We compromise when the world wants to drop Christ in exchange for x-mas. We begin eating when in public rather than bowing our heads in humble gratitude for the food provided. We sit quiet and cowardly compromise when we hear our Lord’s name taken in vain. And we continue to claim to be Christian when little about our steps seems Christ like.

Just as “revival” is for believers not the lost, the name “Christian” is a title the world gives to people who live, walk and talk like Jesus Christ. It is not a name that we can claim for ourselves… it is one that is placed on us by the lost who see something different in us that they expect to be of the same standard and character of Jesus Christ.

I say all of this to share with you my commitment and my desire that you would join me. I believe in God and I believe in His Word to be inspired, truth, and without error. I believe the churches in my land need to turn back to God. I commit to pray every day for God to bring the believers of our land to humble themselves, that is to say, ourselves in repentance to our holy God. My prayer is that we will from this day forward seek to be faithful, to stand up and be counted and not to sit in silence. We will live Christ like.

II Chronicles 7:14

I want to see America change for the better. I want to see believers begin to live in a way that others will call us Christians. Yes, I want to see those in power humble themselves and conform their will to God’s perfect will. However, for now and from this point forward, I for one will pray each day for revival for those who are saved and salvation for those who are not.

I ask only one thing of you who are saved and read this, commit with me. Pray daily, every day, for revival and live as you know you should to honor God. Let’s faithfully read the Word daily and be the men and women of God we know we should be. Let the revival begin with us and let the country benefit from the change from within.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Let’s remind each other in person, on Twitter, by Facebook and by letting our word mean something – let’s pray. For how long? Until we have the answer, until we have revival.

Will you join me?

Copyright 2011 © Charles Lyons

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Recruiting for Positions That Don’t Exist

Sounds a bit bazaar does it not? To spend your valuable time trying to recruit people to fill a position that doesn’t exist? If that seems odd, imagine the frustration as you wonder why you get such a low response to your recruitment efforts for that position!

I am blessed to have some of the most committed volunteers to work with that exist on the planet, or any planet for that matter. And that is my fair and impartial opinion. However, I recently made a shocking discovery when doing some one-on-one training. The majority of my volunteers intercede in prayer for others – hence the term “intercessor.” I regularly recruit for intercessors. Ask for intercessors. Send out notes to prospective intercessors. During a one-on-one training session with a new intercessor he asked a simple question: What’s an intercessor?

OK, so I lost round one on effective communication. The title didn’t register with my new volunteer and so in their world the position really doesn’t exist. I had to wonder how many didn’t respond to my request for new “intercessors” who simply didn’t know what an intercessor was. For some reason they didn’t share the adventurous passion for volunteering for a position that didn’t exist in their vocabulary.

Those who are intercessors in prayer passionately intercede for other’s needs. They live a life of commitment. Not only living a “normal life” of: working, raising a family, and being involved in the community, but also in spending time in God’s Word, prayer and living a life consistent with their Christian values. Yet more than that they are passionate about other’s spiritual needs, their pains and sorrows and their eternal standing… heaven or hell.

So as in most things in life and communicating, it is time to adjust and tweak my terms to best communicate a task, a need, a lifestyle. For now I will use the phrase: someone who passionately cares for others and is willing to commit to taking others and their needs to God in prayer. However, to tell the truth that is mostly the definition not a title. So help me find the best term to communicate that kind of person or position.

What should the proper “title” for someone who does make “intercession” a life commitment become? Let me know by posting your suggestion. Be the first one who responds with the best title that I feel I can use, and I will send you a free copy of my book, “Losing Your Head, Without Losing Your Mind!”

Copyright 2011 © Charles Lyons

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

A Few Items That Make The KJV Unique

Interested in a few items that make the King James Version unique? Take a look: http://ht.ly/4H4xh

Please Join Me On May 11, 2011 at 11 AM CDT

On May 11, 2011 at 11 AM CDT, I and some others will be reading the KJV Bible in 400 seconds. Find out more and join me: http://ht.ly/4H4pr

The simple truth is that many people make great plans to read the Bible through and then don’t. This can be both frustrating and defeating. We need the strength that comes from daily being in the Word of God. Yet, there is an added benefit of reading through the Bible. When we read through the Bible we gain an overview that is lacking when we jump around reading a verse here a passage there.

For the record I receive nothing for this endorsement of a package that I find a personal help and a great blessing. The website http://www.youverse.com has numerous options for helping you to read through the Bible. It allows you to do this individually or to follow along with others. This site also makes provision for those of us that might miss a day to help us get back on schedule. My personal favorite is a schedule of daily reading (via PC or Smartphone) that accomplishes the goal in 90 days.

This morning I received an email to alert me to a special opportunity to read the King James Bible in 400 seconds. In case you did not know we are observing the 400^th anniversary of the King James Bible. Ergo, the idea behind the 400 second reading of the Bible. It is being described as a: “global Bible-reading flash mob.”

I encourage you to be a part of this. Why not join me and many others at: http://youversion.com/kjv400.

Copyright 2011 © Charles Lyons

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Whole Truth And Nothing But The…

Thanks to a decision by the 9^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a law barring people from lying about their military heroics was a violation of free speech. When I read this news I was and remain astounded. I find myself astounded that such a decision could be reached. I find myself appalled that the U.S. legal system could consider lying about heroic service to our country, claiming to have received the highest military honor given in our country, and having the unmitigated gall to compare yourself to those in our military who have risked their lives under unbelievable danger is protected by our right to free speech inconceivable.

Our ability to defy one of the most basic elements of civilization, to tell the truth is stunning to me. Yet to realize the court could not have acted on that question unless someone challenged the law takes it to a new level. The person who was found guilty of lying about their military service actually confessed.

Once again our courts have forgotten that they don’t just answer to the American people. All of us will answer to a holy God. God cannot lie. I’m glad for that otherwise how could I trust Him? God cannot lie, so when He said my sin has been forgiven thanks to the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary, it’s true. God cannot lie, and so when He said He so loved the world, He meant it.

Perhaps there are some who think that lying is a constitutional right. I believe if so, it is a constitutional wrong. We all answer to God and our testimony, our reputation if it has any value will hinge on our integrity. Our government may give you the right to lie, but everything about being a person of honor, integrity and character demands we speak the truth.

(For more information please reference the following article: http://bit.ly/ehpItS )

Copyright 2011 © Charles Lyons

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have You Heard About “Social Books?”

Michael Hyatt in his recent blog made comment to Trends to Watch in 2011. Among those trends he identified what is known as Social Books. This is a new technology / product by Jason Illian, founder and CEO of Rethink Books. What makes this application so exciting is the ability to link ebook readers in a most unusual way. Let’s say that your company has the managers reading a new book. The goal is to communicate ideas. Think how much better the communication would be if your books were linked. For example I am reading my copy in my reader and find a passage that excites me. I underline it and make some notes, when I do these notations are available to all the other linked copies. You see my notes and have additional ideas which you mark, which are then shared among the team!

Think of the applications in teaching between students and teachers of a class. Or imagine how strong you could build a small group or “community” if as your group is reading and working through a powerful book for change each are sharing thoughts and ideas almost instantaneously? By the way, just for the record, I’m not selling this tool or getting compensated for talking about it. I just like things that help us connect.

Sadly some people fear technology. I would be the first to want to understand the ramifications of technology changes. Yet, I would also be open to want to benefit from tools that enhance our ability to communicate better, stronger and clearer. Embrace change that strengthens your opportunity to share the Gospel, grow the body of Christ and take down barriers between people moving to a common vision.

What new tool or resource are you checking out for 2011?

Copyright 2011 © Charles Lyons

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”