All is vanity. TOIL

Hope is not a management strategy.  Hope springs eternal. Hope is what you rely on when all else is lost.  Hope is what sustains you after you have executed a good management strategy.

Every day is an opportunity. I did nothing yesterday to deserve to wake up today. I'll use my time wisely.

Spirituality is a component of religion, but Religion is much more then spirituality.

Talk is cheap. Bless at least three people every week.. and make sure one of them doesn't deserve it.

Just because you believe something is spiritual, doesn't make it true.  Truth is revealed, and validated in scripture, prayers, circumstances and the church.. all together..  Start with spending more time with Jesus in prayer and reading the Bible.. the rest will come through service as you act on what is revealed there.

Church is not the point. The kingdom is the point. Your mission in the kingdom is to discern for yourself and act on your beliefs.

It always comes down to a simple point of faith.  Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again for you? If you do... your life should be noticeably different.  You should be doing Amazing things as you join God in his mission for the world  If you aren't.. maybe you are asking God to join you in your mission for the world...

Think about what you think.

People become Christians because the see and know Christians.
People reject Christianity because they see and know Christians.

Ecclesiastes 2: 17-26

Toil Is Meaningless
    17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
    24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Sometimes God has a better idea Sunday October 03 2010 Posted by Rick Warren "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."  Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. (James 4:15 NIV) " Have you noticed that things don't always turn out the way you want them to?  That sometimes God has a better idea? The Bible says in Proverbs 27:1, "Don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what tomorrow's going to bring." (ESV) It's okay to make your plans, but remember that life is unpredictable and God says we shouldn't presume on it.  On the other hand, we shouldn't worry about it because God is in control. James 4 tells us the proper attitude to have:  "Now listen you who say 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.' Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. ...  Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" (vv. 13-15, NIV) James is saying it's OK to make plans, but just realize that ultimately God has the final word. The right attitude is to always keep your plans submitted to God.  Make your plans but say, "God, if this is what You want, this is the direction I'm going to go.  I'm doing this with flexible faith." Proverbs 16:9 says, "We should make our plans counting on God to direct us."  How do you do that?  By praying. When you get up in the morning and have your quiet time, say, "God, what do You want to do with this day?" Then when interruptions come, you'll remember God is in control.  It will dramatically lower the frustration level in your life as you remember it is not all up to you.