Since I've been feeling a bit sick this week, I haven't taken time to write anything specific on the blog, but this passed my desk earlier this week and I thought it was good.

The following are points from Bishop T.D. Jakes:

HOW TO WORK IN ANY ENVIRONMENT (By: T.D. Jakes)
Don't expect to be appreciated. Your only expectation should be to get a salary.

Don't come to work to have personal relationships.

Don't allow what you do to affect who you are.

Do your job well, but remember your mission. God put you there to be a Light.

Seek opportunities to change the atmosphere without commenting on the problems.

You have a God to talk to. You are on an assignment. Quietness and competence shall be your strength.

Don't let your environment get inside of you. You should influence it, not let it influence you.

Stop going to work to be fed. You didn't come to receive, you came to give.

Increase your capacity to work with different personalities God will often bless you through people you don't even like!

Remember, where you are does not define where you are going. This will deliver you from frustration. God has a plan for your life. Keep your eye on the prize. When Peter did this, he was able to walk in what other people sank in!

Get the optimum results with minimal confusion. Be effective without making the environment worse.

Don't be associated with one group or clique. Labels limit your usefulness. God wants you to work with everybody but be labeled by nobody. Use all your gifts.

Always keep your song near you. Keep a consecrated place in your soul. Hold on to your praise.

Understand that God anoints you for trouble. Put on the whole armor of God before going to work.

Stay tuned - more to come...

God is good - and provides not only for our needs, but also the desires of our heart.

Recently, I've been having more and more difficulties with my motorcycle.  I've put just under 50,000 miles on a 2001 Suzuki Intruder 1500 in the last two years.  in the last six months, I've begun to realize that the bike was not holding up as well as it should.  I've been having problems starting it and it just hasn't "felt" as reliable as I need it to be as it is my primary form of transportation for my commute (about 40 miles each way).

As it needed something reliable, I started praying about a new bike.  I've had my eye and heart on a new Harley Davidson for quite some time, and even though Rachel had encouraged me on several times to go buy it, I new the financial situation wasn't right for it.

To make a long story short, God opened the door for me to buy not only a brand new Harley Davidson, but a fantastic Ultra Classic (pictured here)!

This bike is wonderful!  Rachel will be able to ride with me more often (notice the back seat) and we will be better able to minister together!

The bike totally belongs to God.  He just let's me drive it!

If all goes according to the current plan, I plan on driving it cross-country this summer... Destination and timing to be announced at a later date!

Stay tuned - more to come... 

On Saturday, the eight members of our prayer team gathered in our house for a day of food, mission planning, food, games and food.  Did I mention that we ate, too?

We started at 8:00 AM and spent the day working out our mission statement for Faith Chapel.  We spend much time in prayer and discussion.  Oh - and we had a bit of food...

By the time lunch time rolled around we had a good first pass.  We had discussed some very practical items as well as working on what we felt was critical for Faith Chapel.  Each of us had been seeking the Lord for direction and we all felt that we had heard specific items that we needed included.  Oh - and we had some snacks, too!

As it turned out, God had been speaking the same things to all eight of us.  Is God cool, or what?  We were able to spend some more time discussing the way the church was to "feel" - and we ate a little more...

By the end of the afternoon, we had crafted the following:

Faith Chapel exists to provide a friendly, inviting, and welcoming environment; striving to bring honor and glory to God, based on His inspired word, providing for salvation and growth by developing unity through the fruit of the spirit and inter personal relationships, centered on Jesus Christ and selfless service to one another.

God IS cool...

After dinner, we played "Mexican Train" dominoes - and discovered that Rachel is one gifted conductor.  She won the game (although Cleave did give her a good run for her money)!  Oh - and we had some snacks, too...

Unfortunately, I didn't get to play as I had to shuttle Jennifer to/from church.

In the end, the day was probably one of the - if not the - most blessed day I've had since we moved out here.  It was awesome to see the prayer team that God had ordained draw together - not only to each other, but centered on Christ.  It was another confirmation that I am hearing from God on this process as I see each of the members of this prayer team come up with the same thoughts and ideas.

I realize that God is in control, and try to always remember that when things aren't going quite as well as we would like - but it's always great to see it first hand.  And the food was great, too!  :-P

Stay tuned - more to come.