JOHNNYROBERTS.TV

Heart Broken

Heart broken... Nothing seems to desribe the feelings better.  This past week I lost a nephew, a friend and a "son".  Zane grew up only a 1/4 mile from our family.  We did life together and this past week we laid this dear young man to rest.  We will never be the same... our hope now rests in that we will live twice as hard.  Living with intention and purpose.  Living for the glory of God knowing that time is short.  

Attached are my thoughts expressed as his eulogy.  I'm told they brought healing to many.  I am confident they did to me.  Hundreds gathered and none of us knew that we were gathering for a worship experience.  God shined his favor upon us and His goodness and glory were known even in the midst of tragedy and pain.  

We have lived blessed lives.  I have known that our family loved and celebrated well.  I have often wondered if, in the face of crushing pain, we would grieve equally well.  This week I got my answer.  Though the road to healing will be long... it has begun and it has begun well... through pointing to a loving and good God whom we trust fully.  

May you never know such heartache except that it draws you closer to the Giver of Life.  Press on my friends.  

 

Download Zane's Eulogy Manuscript Final 12-26-11 (full page)

 

Rebuilding The Wall

Nehemiah seems to be on the radar lately.  We just finished a series CHANGE YOUR WORLD IN 52 DAYS from Lifechurch.tv.  Powerful stuff and I would say... go watch it if you haven't.  Right on the heels of that our Lifejournal.cc  reading plan is taking us through Nehemiah.  This week a principle jumps out of the Bible in chapter four.

Nehemiah is in the process of rebuilding the wall, opposition comes and forces them into defense.  in verse 16 Nehemiah says... "But from then on, only HALF of my men worked  (on the wall) while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail."  Did you catch that HALF of the men were now guarding the workers so that the work could go forward.  

This lesson is priceless to me.  I get really frustrated with opposers and disrupters always trying to stop the work, distracting us from our mission... but understanding that, just like Nehemiah and his team, it comes with the territory of making advances we press ahead.  Any time you are doing a good work we all know that opposition will come.  NOW, knowing that, we plan ahead, build teams, count the costs and do our homework on the front end.  Expecting that as many as HALF of our team will be defending the home fort allowing others to advance the MISSION.  

Leader... it's worth it.  Keep pushing, keep discipling, keep fighting... build well and disciple leaders capable of defending the fort.  The wall must go up... it may take longer to equip and defend the team properly.  It's more work teaching, training, creating discipline and strategy... but in the end it's the right thing to do and the wall goes up... hopefully with less casualties.  

Remember... we are on the verge of something incredible so... DON'T BLINK... 

Blog Post: HUMILTY

"Let us, at the very commencement of our meditations, admit that there is nothing so natural to man, nothing so insidious and hidden from our sight, nothing so difficult and dangerous as pride."  ANDREW MURRAY 

Reading HUMILITY by Andrew Murray written in the late 1800's.  It's a book I've had on my shelf for a while but most recently the subject has been pressing on my mind so I picked it up.  The insights are completely foreign to our society and are, hopefully, re-shaping me in a good way.  

When you begin to look, PRIDE's ugly head pops up everywhere and seems quite prevalent in my life.  The old saying, "Don't ask God for patience or He will give it to you!" comes to mind.  I'm praying for the humility of Christ and expect to get it... in all honesty... that makes me a little nervous.  DON'T BLINK...  

Intentional Priorities

Reviewing 2011 and thought I would post my ministry priorities.... Don't confuse them with life priorities of God, Family, Friends, People, Church and Work in that order... well at least I try to keep them in that order... OR a to-do-list... this list is more of a list on how I will invest my intentional energies toward CREATING ART.  The "ART" being what I believe God has called me to do.... for 2011 here is how things stack up.  

1. VISION & DIRECTION for TheBOD.tv
2. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (identify, equip & release)
3. MODELING THE LIFE OF A FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
   1. Love God -- Worship, Value The Local Church
   2. Love Others -- Groups & Growth (prayer, Word, disciplines, Lifegroup)
   3. Serve The World -- Ministry & Mission
   4. Healthy Lifestyle -- Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, Relational HEALTH  (this would include family, exercise, vacation, work, music, reading, art, play, etc...)

 The"ART " in a sentence = discover, create and lead others to new and fresh ways of living out faith in Christ...

So for you... what does creating art look like?

 

Making History...

seems to be the phrase of the week.  It sounds impressive, doesn't it?  Really big... like we are really doing something here... WE ARE MAKING HISTORY!  But oddly enough we are all making history every day.  Every word you say, every step you take, every act of "random kindness" or "random evil" you do is... history.  

Granted... some people leave a bigger mark on this world... recognized by men... but truth be told... men are easily impressed.  Their motives aren't always so pure as the driven snow...

You see... I think God wants you to write history for His glory.  He will help you write the story HE intends for you.  I doubt that The Apostle Paul could have ever imagined the impact of his story/life as he was writing it.  He just kept running the race expecting God to take care of the results.  Perhaps such humility is why God chose him to write such a grand story.  Doubtless there were days in the little dungy prison cell that Paul expected his earthly story would only be told in heaven.  I suspect he didn't really care... the surpassing glory of his Savior remained his focus to the end.  Oh I want that Spirit in me.  I want my story to be all about His story.  

So... get out there and make every moment worth recording.  It's HISTORY in the making.  Perhaps, if we are lucky, we'll make history together.  DON'T BLINK!

Blog Post: Your Creation

I like rules... when they have purpose.  Rules for the sake of tradition or expectations leave me empty.  Perhaps that's why I am so drawn to the next generation.  If you can show them value, meaning... purpose... they are in.  Otherwise... all you will get out of them is a "next".

Try this on for size…  "It doesn't matter how things are done everywhere else.  In your little world, you can make it like it should be." Derek Sivers

I like it... we are not bound to trivial rules and pretend boundaries.  No need to ask permission.  Your fate does not lie in the the hands of someone else.  It's up to you.  Create your life the way it "should be" and soar.

For me that means hearing the voice of God and chasing after the way it should be.  It's soaring above the swamp most call life, delighting in the glory of my Incredible God.  Join me... make it like it should be.  

Clean The Slate for Clarity

When things get a muddy, what do you do?  When you can't see with clarity, when it seems you've come to an deadlock... what do you do?

For me... it would be time to wipe the slate clean, take a deep breath... AND START FRESH...

Most of the time the ideas that matter are recalled and usually with new terminology that triggers fresh thinking.  

You've heard the phrase:  CHANGE OF PACE + CHANGE OF PLACE = CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE...

I find it true especially because for me change of pace means slowing down and dis-engaging from the blur we call life.  I just stop doing what everyone else thinks is normal and get alone.  I think, I pray, I read, I sometimes play but mostly I look for inspiration... I look for art.  Whether it is God's art in creation and humanity or the art of a free spirit not bound by the expectations of normal society.  I look for the things on the fringe.  

There are others more creative, more intelligent, more inspired, more disciplined, more... you can fill in the blank... but there is no one else who can be Johnny... So I look for what God is calling me to... I am reminded of His love for me... of his blessing on me... of his calling on my life... and then I take the next step.  Sometimes He doesn't even allow me to see where my foot will land but I take the step anyway because I trust Him and I want to CREATE ART with my life.  

Is it time for a fresh start?  Are you playing it safe?  Are you confused?  Are you shutting down?  Is the water muddy?  Go ahead... re-think everything... you have permission...  wipe the slate clean and jump back in fresh... I'll be here cheering you on... DON'T BLINK!

Johnny The Brave

This is the story of Johnny Teis.  A brave young man who's story has intersected with ours @thebod.tv.  I'll be posting more information and links as the story unfolds but for now... would you join us in prayer for "Johnny the Brave" tonight?  At 6:00pm CST hundreds will pause to pray for this young man and his family. 

Pray: 1. For HEALING.  Amanda, his mother, feels God has called her to this prayer and we will faithfully join her.  2. For the trip the Teis family is making with the ball team this week.  Our church is partnering with SANCTUARY to help make this an amazing time in Branson for this family.  3. Pray for those who are traveling to serve this family.  Jeff, Johnna, Jenna, Casie, Camryn, Cambry, Zenda, Rick, Jackie, Lynda, and a host of others.  

We believe in the power of prayer and we believe our God is able to do all things... DON'T BLINK.

 

 

Fear or Faith

Reading Mark 4 this morning... the boat is sinking, the disciples are scared and Jesus is sleeping... when he wakes up to the frantic followers... he says, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?".

Sound familiar?  Ever feel like he's asking you that question?  Maybe right now he's asking you that question.

If not right now, it has happened or is about to happen... LIFE that is... it will slap you in the face, kick you where it counts and stomp on your fear button.  You will hear yourself asking, "WHERE ARE YOU GOD?".    

He's there.  He's in control.  He loves you.  Always has been, always will be.  He's writing an amazing story and he's invited you to be in it.  

The question is... are you going to allow the circumstances to lead you to a life of fear or faith? 

I'm usually the guy with the bucket frantically dumping water over the side of the boat as it fills up wondering if I'm the only one who notices we are sinking.  My goal is to be the guy jumping up an down in the calf deep water saying, "Look at this, CRAZY! I can't wait to see how God straightens this mess out."  

He does.  He will.  One way or another... usually not the way I would do it but he does it his way... for which... I am thankful.  

Do you still have no faith?   DON'T BLINK...

Gaining A Day

One of my favorite guys on the subject of living with intention.  Wayne Cordeiro, Senior Pastor at New Hope in Hawaii, is one of my mentors from a far.  Love this guys heart.  Love the model of SOAP that has had such impact in my life and the life of our church.