JOHNNYROBERTS.TV

Chocolate for my wife

Cadbury Eyebrows from Nils-Petter Lovgren on Vimeo.

Allison hasn't had brownies in almost a full month.  She loves chocolate... her eybrows started doing this the other day... I think it's time for a batch of her famous home-made brownies.

On this spot

As I think about a new home for TheBOD.tv my mind wanders to the future and to the past.  Walking the land reminded me of my childhood and the memories tied to the property.  The garden, the cellar, the barn, the pond... the list goes on... all things that have either disappeared or will soon only be a memory in a few aging minds and photos.  It has caused me to develop more appreciation for history.  For events.  For lives... passions... dreams... all experienced... somewhere.  Often we find ourself standing on a spot with well known history and more often we find ourself standing on a spot less famous but with the same richness of the human existence.  Then my mind drifts to the future... will I leave a mark?  Will TheBOD.tv leave a legacy for the glory of God?  We are writing history.  We are living the dream.  We are taking our first steps on the road to eternity.  Live well.  Invest wisely.  DON'T BLINK!

Living on the edges....

As usual Seth is brilliant.  Creativity isn't about grabbing and using the latest greatest... it's about blazing the trail.  To do that you've got to be willing to drop the dead weight and move on.  When it's broken... kill it.  Dream on the edges... BODers... let's see if you can raise a few eyebrows... DON'T BLINK!

Seth writes:

What does it mean to be creative?

You could watch the most non-creative, linear-thinking, do-it-by-the-book cop work to solve a crime and you'd be amazed at how creative her solutions seem to be. Creative for you, because you've never been in that territory before, it's all new, it's all at the edges. Boring for her, because it's the same thing she does every time. It's not creative at all.

For me, creativity is the stuff you do at the edges. But the edges are different for everyone, and the edges change over time. If you visualize the territory you work in as an old Boston Bruins sweatshirt, realize that over time, it stretches out, it gets looser, the edges move away. Stuff that would have been creative last year isn't creative at all today, because it's not near the edges any more.

This gives you two useful tactics for problem solving:
1. If you want to be creative, understand that you'll need to get to the edges, even if the edges have moved. Being creative means immediately going to the place the last person left off.

2. If you are "not creative," if you are the sort of person that gets uncomfortable being creative or has been persuaded you're not capable, don't worry about it. Just stretch the sweatshirt in your spare time, watch the creative things other people have done, keep up with the state of the art. Then, when you do your "not creative" thing, most people will think it's pretty creative indeed.

uhhhh what?????

You'll need speakers.... this cracks me up.... "little red piece of junk car".... what the.... It's no wonder the world thinks church people are so rediculous... THEY ARE!  God bless the gal in the little red car... this dude needs to get a life... hehehe

Voice Mail Message by lifechurchtv

Beauty in suffering

I find this commentary from BibleGateway on suffering (Blind Man - John 9) incredibly eloquent and beautiful... we find our way back through the suffering...  we have hope in the midst of the suffering... be thankful.

"Our rebellion has brought disorder to every aspect of our existence, and the way back to the beauty and peace and order of his Kingdom leads through suffering, as the cross makes clear."

"When we cling to self and our own comfort we are led to resentment.  When we trust in God's goodness and providence we are able to find comfort in God himself and not in our circumstances.  Consequently, we can genuinely 'give thanks in all circumstances' (1 Thes 5:18)"

 

Higher Standard

On my mind.  Seems that God is really working in me on this so... I feel the need to share it with those who lead.  Leading isn't just about the pastor... ifyou lead from the platform, work in the Kidzone, lead a Lifegroup, serve students..... whatever God has called (KALEO) you to....  please understand we are not playing church.  It's war.  God takes this very seriously and so should we.  As a teacher or leader in the church we are called to more...  some day we will give an account.  Don't miss the line in Vince's blog below "church leaders should have an authority that comes out of their character and their relationship with God".  As a follower of Christ you are an ambassador for The King.  Are you pursuing holiness?  Are you representing The Kingdom with integrity?  You're either helping people take the next step closer to Jesus or you're giving them a reason to move the other direction...  some are called to more, some are just beginning the journey... everything is covered in love and grace... free to live... free from the bondage of sin... free... now you know... DON"T BLINK!

This is on Vince's mind as well.  In a post this week he writes:

One thing you notice if you study church history is many issues swing back and forth like a pendulum. So, for instance, for awhile people focus on the holiness of God, then on the intimacy of God, then back to the holiness of God... The truth is usually somewhere inbetween, or both. But it's more uncomfortable to be inbetween or to hold two views that seem to be in tension.

So right now the big thing for church leaders is authenticity. "Let's not pretend we're perfect. In fact, let's share our flaws and let people know we're just as messed up as them." And I'm not saying that authenticity is wrong, but I am saying it's just one side.

The other side I see in today's reading, James 3, especially verse 1, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." We also see it when Paul tells people to follow him as He follows Christ. (Not, "Don't follow me, I'm just a screwed up person like everyone else.") The Bible shows us that church leaders should have an authority that comes out of their character and their relationship with God.

So is it authenticity, or authority? It's both.

 

My favorite thing.... the church marquee... NOT!

Just another example of why TheBOD.tv will not have a marquee under my guard!

Hope

I am HOPE-ful.  That all men being created equal can rise to live for the glory of God.  That these United States will shine as a beacon to the world proclaiming truth and love.  I would love to think that any person of any color has the same opportunity to live free.  Don't excuse your bias...  It is not so.  We are crossing a vast canyon in the history of our country and thus the world.  Political affiliations aside... equality took a huge step forward yesterday.  Thank God for that and pray that our new President will have wisdom, protection and integrity.  I am HOPE-ful.  

Psalm 9:18 But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

Rising above expectations

Personal Mission Statement.  I want to share some of the PMS's of the BODers as the opportunity comes up.  This is from Cassi Brower and is simply beautiful.  Cassi has an incredible heart and her story will give you a window right into the middle of it.  This gal is ON MISSION and I'm thankful that she calls TheBOD.tv home....  Cassi writes:

So… I’ve been thinking really hard over the last couple of weeks about my personal mission statement, and today it hit me.  Well, I say that, although I realize it’s been there for years, now I’m finally putting it into words.

As I pondered the question, “What is my burn?” I believe my own story fueled this burden.  My passion is to see people rise above unbelievable odds - above the statistics.  To gain self-value, worth and purpose.  I guess you could say I’m for the under-dog.

Those who know my past would never have dreamed I would be leading worship or planning a micro-mission.  Never in a million years would that image have crossed their mind.  I believe over the last decade, the “new me” has become obvious.  Some embrace the transformation with open arms, others are still skeptical at how God can truly change a heart.

I was raised a “mistake”.  I have been beaten black and blue.  I have known what it feels like to be hungry.  To be sexually abused.  I have experienced drugs, alcohol and attempted to end my life.  I was a teenage mother…. I was a statistic.

Over the last decade, my life has taken on a drastic transformation.  Through Christ, I have overcome devastation, addiction, loneliness, emotional agony, regret… the list goes on and on.  My knees are pretty skinned-up, but because of His grace and mercy on my life, he gave me the strength to fight the odds.

As a personal mission… I pray that same strength run through me like a pipeline to people in defeat.  My biggest asset in life is the story God gave me to tell.  It’s a story of hope for those who are suffering – “He saved me, He can save you too.”

I pray to be an encourager, a listener, and an educator.  My hope is to give people the tools to get them out of the “pit of probable expectations” as deemed by society.

Coldddddddd......

Howie is in North Dakota, Aaron is in Denver, and Lawrence is in Pennsylvania.... it's cold everywhere but I think Howie wins.... -21 are you stinking kidding me????
Dude... it's time to fly South!