YOLO

YOLO

Recently, the acronym YOLO has become popular by way of social media. It stands for You Only Live Once. It is usually used in reference to taking risks and living life wide open since we only have one life to live.

As with many other things, there is an element of truth to this concept, however, a wise and balanced approach is advisable. Certainly, we want to live life to the fullest and make the most of it. Yet at the same time, we don't want to become foolish or negligent about how we live life either.

Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that mankind is destined to die once and then face judgment. This supports the concept of YOLO, but serves as a reminder to consider things in the light of eternity. In other words, yes, we only live once, however, we will give an account to the Lord for how we lived.

So what's my point? Simply this, let's embrace the reality that we indeed only live once, so we should not settle for playing it safe. But let that perspective move us in the direction of seeking God's best, rather than seeking cheap thrills and momentary pursuits.

Knowing we only live once should be a motivation for serving God to best of our ability, rather than a justification for irresponsible behavior. Living a full life is more than packing as many experiences as possible into each day. Instead, a full life is measured by our cooperation with the will of God.

That's what Empower NBCA School of Ministry is all about. Helping to prepare you for a life of service and significance as a Christian leader. Do your best, after all, you only live once.

  

Check Engine

Check Engine

Recently, as I was driving to the store, the check engine light came on in my car. There was not a noticeable decrease in performance. There were no other indicators of a problem, everything else seemed just fine.

I was due for an oil change anyway, so I called my mechanic to make an appointment as soon as possible. The dreaded check engine light can mean many things, sometimes a major problem, but more often not. Either way, it's unwise to ignore it

It probably doesn't mean you must stop driving immediately, but it's a warning that something needs attention, the sooner the better. Just like our vehicles, we have also been created with an internal diagnostic system. When something isn't quite right, we may experience a variety of things such as pain, a funny feeling, or some other form of distress.

While these are not enjoyable things, they are helpful because they get our attention regarding an undetected problem. Maybe you're living life with the check engine light on? Not the one in your car but the one in your gut?

Maybe you don't know what to call it. You can't quite put your finger on it, but deep down you know your life isn't quite hitting the mark. There is a sense that you are falling short of your potential and you long to make a difference somehow.

That's what Empower NBCA School of Ministry is all about. Tuning up your spiritual engine with biblical understanding and fueling your ride with godly passion and purpose. Our program is designed to help you find yourself in the plan of God, and to prepare for a successful journey.

Search Party

Search Party

We're all in search of something. Maybe we don't even know what it is or exactly what to call it, but we just know there is something out there for us waiting to be found. There seems to be an inborn hunger within humanity that causes us to search for meaning and purpose. You could say that this world is one big search party.

The dictionary defines a search party as a group of people organized to look for someone or something that was lost. I think that is a good summary of life as we know it. We don't all go about it the same way but we're all looking for the same thing. We don't all call it by the same name, but each of us gets involved in some group that is somehow organized in search of something.

Some are in search of knowledge and some are in search of pleasure. Some are in search of riches and some are in search of fame. Some are in search of freedom and some are in search of power. And the list of search parties goes on and on.

As always, Jesus cuts through the fog and reveals the truth. In Matthew 10:39 Jesus said, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it". He tells us what is driving us to search for the elusive something that will satisfy our souls. He simply calls it life.

Whether we realize it or not, we're all searching for life. Not merely an existence, but a life worth living. Not just breath in our lungs but a fire in our bones. Not just marking days on a calendar but leaving a mark on the world around us.   

And as always, Jesus doesn't just point out the answer without pointing out the way to the answer. His instruction is clear. If we spend our years searching for life on our own terms, we end up missing out on what really matters. But if we surrender the search by following his leadership, we end up finding our true selves and enjoying life as it was meant to be.

That's what Empower NBCA School of Ministry is all about. Giving ourselves to Jesus and coming away with so much more. Join our search party. Your life is waiting to be found..

Free Range

Free Range

Free range is a term that has recently attracted some attention. It is typically used in reference to housing livestock in a natural environment that allows freedom of movement. This is not only more humane but it also produces a healthier animal for market.

Interestingly, the term free range has also become linked to parenting styles. Some parents have come under investigation for giving their children what is perceived by some as too much freedom or lack of proper supervision. However, research supports the assertion that a healthy degree of free range parenting helps to develop more responsible adults.

Why does this matter? What's the point? How does this relate to our walk with God?

Walking with God is a walk of faith. A life of faith requires some level of risk. Trusting in God causes us to confront fears and tackle uncertainties. We learn to take responsibility for our lives by learning to depend on God.

It seems counter-intuitive to equate taking responsibility with dependency. Yet, the more confident we become in God's care for us and the more assured we become in the integrity of his promises, the more freedom we experience. Becoming dependent on God doesn't confine or disable us, instead it expands our horizons and enlarges our willingness to step boldly into the unknown.

The life of faith is free range. It is here that we enjoy our intended environment and freedom of movement. Not freedom from God, but freedom to walk with God and become all that he purposes for us.

Good things happen when we spend time in the right environment. That's what Empower NBCA School of Ministry is all about. 

Measure What Matters

Measure What Matters

It doesn't take long to figure out that the world is full of different views and opinions. We don't always agree on what's important or on what matters the most. We don't all see the "good life" in quite the same way. 

This results in using different ways of measuring success. Some people look at the outward and tangible assets as measuring sticks; things like money, homes, cars, and such. Others look at the inward and intangible rewards; things like status, satisfaction, contentment, and so on.

What is your scorecard? What do you see as being of greatest value? How are you measuring the outcomes of your life?

I want to challenge you with these words from Peter the Apostle. In Second Peter 3:18 he ends his letter like this; But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.....

I think that sums things up pretty well. In all of our coming and going, in all of our plans and pursuits, let's prioritize growing in the knowledge and likeness of Jesus.

When the dust settles and we come to end of the road, how will we determine if we had a life well-lived? There are many ways to answer that question, but I suggest that we uphold pursuing Christ-likeness as our standard.

Let's live out our years by measuring what matters. Let's endeavor to become more like Jesus. That's what Empower NBCA School of Ministry is all about. Helping you walk a path of continuous growth and learning in pursuit of who and what matters most.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

The World Cup Finals are taking place this week, which means one of the four finalist countries will soon be crowned the world champion of soccer. This is of paramount importance to many sports fans all around the world. Winning the championship is the ultimate dream and ambition of each team.

There is something within each of us that longs for victory. We all want to be the winner. We all want to receive the prize.

The Apostle Paul wrote of this in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

He understood the importance of keeping your eyes on the prize. We enjoy sports for many reasons, but I think one of the biggest reasons is because it is a reflection of the human experience. Our lives can be compared to a race, a competition, a pursuit of a prize.

The Scripture encourages us to run in such a way as to get the prize, which includes strict training. Without training and discipline, our chances of getting the prize are greatly diminished.

That's what Empower NBCA School of Ministry is all about. Helping you train so you can run in such a way as to get the prize. 

Invest in your future

Invest in your future

Our nation recently celebrated another birthday. We call it the Fourth of July. The day has become a national holiday to commemorate the founding of our country.

Beyond the backyard picnics, flag waving, and fireworks displays, there is something else about this holiday that I want to bring to your attention. It's the level of investment from our founding fathers. They were fully committed because they had a vision for their future.

I'm not much of a historian, but it's not difficult to understand that these men were willing to face tremendous odds because they believed in the future of America. They were not perfect people, and our nation isn't without fault either. I'm simply making an observation that the freedoms we celebrate today were made possible by people who were willing to invest in their future.

It's been 242 years since July 4, 1776, but some things haven't changed. Dreams are still accomplished and possibilities are still fulfilled by people willing to invest in their future.

How are you investing in your future? How are you preparing for what you believe is God's plan for you? What steps are you taking to get there?

Empower NBCA School of Ministry is designed to help you discover your call, own your call, and live your call for the glory of God. It's not just taking classes. It's more than learning the Bible. It's an investment in your future. Because a wise investment is still the way to something worth celebrating.

 



  

What are you doing with now?

What are you doing with the now?

I'm a big proponent of forward thinking and marching through life with a clear vision for the future. That's how things get done and progress is made. However, we must remind ourselves that the building blocks of our future consist of what we are doing with the now. 

The now keeps changing, but our commitment to the now must stay the course. Moment by moment, and day by day, what we experience in the now is subject to change. Regardless of the circumstance, how we treat the now makes all the difference.

After all, the now is really all we have to work with. What's behind us is a memory, and what's before us is a dream. Our only meaningful option is to seize the now and do our best with it.

Wishing things were different or wondering what things will be like may be natural, but it will never prove to be enough. What wins the day and moves the ball is what you are doing with the now. That means translating the desires of your heart into purposeful action.

That takes risk. That takes sacrifice. That takes faith. That is the path of possibilities.

What do you hope to accomplish? Where do you want to go in life? How do you want to impact the world? Those questions are best summed up in this one question. What are you doing with the now?

Empower NBCA School of Ministry is something you can do right now to help you get to where you want to be. Nothing changes without a commitment to doing something with the now.