A day in the life of...Mark Williams

Living a HIGH DEFINITION LIFE!!

Over the past few months, we bought new furniture and a new tv.  We bought a Samsung LCD HDTV 40 in. to go with the new furniture.  I have watched HDTV at my in-laws (my father in-law installs Satellites).  I know how great of a picture it is.  However, when I got the new HD receiver, watching football games and other HD programming has revitalized and renewed the way one watches programming.  It really brings to life the content.

Prime example:  The other night, I'm watching a football game in HD.  The camera zooms in on a college co-ed for a face shot.  No lie, I could see every zit on her face, the pores on her skin, all in HD.  I'm betting she just loved that I noticed that.  The clarity is something we've never known before. 

Here's the down side.  The tv in our bedroom is not HD. When I go and watch a game or something back there, I have to adjust.  It's just not the same.  The excellence isn't there.  The clarity isn't there.  The "liveliness" isn't there.  It's just not the same.

Spiritual application:  God has so much planned for each of us in this life.  He can do immeasurably more than anything we can ask or imagine, even with our lives.  So many of us are living "STANDARD DEFINITION" lives.  We go through the routines of life, going to church, being involved in everything we can, doing what everyone else does.  Everything "seems" fine, but something isn't there.

Then, there is the life that God has called us to.  The HIGH DEFINITION life.  The life that risks everything.  The life that is lived on the edge.  The life that is not afraid to push the envelope when it involves reaching people for Christ.  The clarity of PURPOSE is there.  The LIVELINESS is present.  The ROUTINE is absent, and is replaced with a VIBRANT relationship that is ACTIVE and ENGAGING. 

Live with HIGH DEFINITION.  Not just in your living room.  Live it in your LIFE.

Commitments: Today and Tomorrow

(Read the whole post please..it actually got better towards the end of my typing)

It's going to be a big day for us at home today.  We're making some commitments.  Not a big deal to most people.  But for our everyday routines, they are big.

1.  Micah is signing up for soccer this morning. That means for the next 8-10 weeks, he will have practice once or twice a week, and then have a game for 8 consecutive Saturdays.  That also means that we will not travel (except maybe once or twice) during that time.  Big commitment to the weekends.

2.  We are picking up our new puppy this afternoon.  Believe me, I understand this is a big commitment.  If you go out of town, you've got to find someone to take care of it, feed it, etc.   As for when we are actually here, we have to have play time, train the dog to be obedient, feed her, bathe her, pick off the ticks, take care of flea prevention, and many other things.  Big commitment.  It'll be fun though. 

POINT:
We make commitments in our lives everyday.  Many people don't hesitate to make commitments like the ones above.  Yet, when it comes to doing what GOD wants us to do, it's like they have to wait, wait, wait, before they decide if they'll do it or not.  A TRUE COMMITMENT ALWAYS INVOLVES SACRIFICE.  When you commit to building a building, it WILL involve sacrifice.  It's not only a financial commitment, it is a commitment to doing what is RIGHT and doing what is NEEDED. 
   

    Committing to dual Sunday School wasn't easy.  But it was right.  We have to reach more people for the kingdom of God.  If we don't we are BEING DISOBEDIENT.  The train isn't full.  There's room for more. 
   
    When are we going to STOP worrying about all the little things and COMMIT to doing what is right and also do in the RIGHT TIMING? Is there ever a perfect time to "get a dog"?  Is there ever a perfect time to take your vacation?  Is there ever a perfect time to move forward with a project?  We always have some sort of conflict. 
   

    I SAY THE TIME IS NOW FOR US TO COMMIT TO FOLLOWING GOD'S LEADERSHIP WITH OUR BUILDING.  THE GAME IS STARTING.  THE LEADOFF BATTER IS IN THE BATTER'S BOX TOMORROW MORNING.  I'M PRAYING THAT THE FIRST PITCH THROWN TURNS INTO A HOME RUN!!  AND AS THE BATTER ROUNDS THE BASES, HE ONLY POINTS UP, GIVING GOD THE GLORY FOR WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN FOR THE REST OF THE GAME!!

Vision & Excellence

Here is an excerpt from an article that I thought you would enjoy.

First, you must have a vision. How can we do something if we don’t know what we want to do? Churches that are going to be world-class must have a clear vision of where they are going and what it is going to take to get there. Members of excellent churches don’t just show up on Sunday and say, “OK, here we are, let’s have church.” They have people in places that have responsibilities and those people show up and do their job without the pastor holding their hand, because they see the vision. If you fail to plan, then you can plan to fail.

 

Second, excellence requires something very few people have anymore — a burden. Churches that have a burden for something succeed in that area. If your church is burdened for unsaved people, then more than likely your church will have a great outreach ministry. Few people are burdened or broken anymore.

 

Last, excellence requires passion. A church of excellence is made up of people who are passionate about being in the presence of the King. They love their church, their pastor, their small group, everything about their church and they want to do God’s work more often than just on Sunday mornings.

 

If the only time you worship God is one hour on Sunday morning, then you are not passionate about God. He is just a convenience to you, not a priority.

Pretty good stuff!!