Bloggers Bookstudy (with Billy & Her)

Yesterday, Mo covered chap. 4.
Today, I'm covering chap. 5.
Tomorrow, MeeGee's covering chap. 6

In chap. 5, Billy talks about resources--a subject that isn't exactly my forte. So I'll write it in 2 voices--obviously, deferring to Billy's voice for wisdom; but adding a lil of "Her" spin too...

Billy said:
"The bottom line is this: leaders, don't shy away from the resource challenge. Plunge into it. Learn from it. Let God stretch your faith because of it. And then, dream with me of the day when a river of resources will be pouring into local churches all around the world so that the work of God can flourish."

Her said:
Good word, Billy! Being married to the "finance guy," I've learned that there's never gonna be enough moo-lah. But I've also learned that as our leaders lose sleep, occasionally agonize & utterly depend on God for resources--it's made them pillars of faith. I imagine that God NOT giving our church all the resources we need has been one of our biggest banners of faith to a faith-deficit world.

Billy said:
"In Psalm 50:12 God himself says that 'the world is mine, and all that is in it.' God's resources, in other words, are unlimited."
Her said:
Tru dat, Billy! God's got unlimited resources for His church AND for us! But if He gave us everything we needed, everywhere, all the time--He'd be very sad because we wouldn't need Him. He loves--we trust--He provides.

Convo Question:
Why is it so hard to trust God with our resources or our need of them?

The Gift of Today

...Each day is a new day--if we wake up breathing in it--it means God's given us another shot & He's got something for us to do.

What's Your Pit?

Today, I read & learned there are 3 ways we end up in a pit:
1) you slip, fall in & didn't mean to
2) you get thrown in by another
3) you jump in & knew better
Now aren't I lucky? Cuz for me, I've been in the pit for all 3 honkin' reasons. Sometimes my pits have lasted a day; other times, a year. But I wanna tell you something. God's came to my rescue EVERY TIME. People can aide, but GOD cures. People can lift you, but GOD carries you. You in a pit? It's not over. It's only over if you don't let God reach down & lift you out.

WILD SUNDAY

I love days of chaos! Because of my vocation--every time I have a slammed day, I go to bed on a HUGE FREAKIN' HIGH. Cause I know everything God let me do today & everyone God let me do it with....was all for someone's need for Him. It's pretty stinkin' awesome:
















PIC DESCRIP:
>Our Doral campus. U live near there? Visit! Sundays at 10:30am & 12pm (en espanol)
>GenieMo rockin' it out at the Flamingo (FREE) concert on Hollywood Beach.
>BIG clouds & rain at Beach Baptism. But it didn't keep 300+ the peeps away!
>Backstage at theRush, preppin' my friend here before he enters a Michael Jackson dance-off
>These girls got baptized -- and had the shirts to prove it! Too cool!

1st iPhone Video Post, "Olives"

Blogger's Therapy

I grabbed this cartoon from a post at Church Crunch, and I think it's how we can feel sometimes. The writer went on to empathize, "Sometimes I wake up and feel like I’m done...I’ve got nothing to blog about...some of the comments recently have been disappointing...or my traffic numbers have fallen." But the writer also pointed out, "Let’s remember that blogging is a journey, with ups and downs and all-arounds. And where are you putting your personal value anyway?" I think that question makes a GREAT point!

Pix of my Pensacola Adventure

1. Me w/ the Hat Boys of FRC-Pensacola. They are cool. I am a nerd. It's diversity.
2. A church that was established 300 yrs ago! Too cool to see it up close. I wish the walls could talk - oh, the stories they must hold.
3. Collaboration in a meeting room at our hotel. Round tables are nice - you can see and hear everyone in equal pieces.

Shout-Outs from Pensacola!

The 3 of us are in Pensacola collaborating with our Flamingo Road Church team for a week. Just wanted to send a few shout-outs to some folks back home.

Espy: To Allison, shout out to you because I'm here, you're not and I don't have to worry because of where you are.

Mel: To Bubby, Happy 92nd Birthday! I hope you get a front row seat at karaoke. Keep burnin' up that treadmill!

Heather: To all the LeadHers at FRC. You know who you are. Lead from wherever God has you today. Lead there FOR Him. You can do great things.

1 Billion What?

Today, 1,ooo,ooo,ooo people are...
attending church?
buying new cars?
in debt?
using cell phones?
overweight?
None of the above.
Today, 1,000,000,000 people are hungry in the world. According to U.N. food officials, the global financial meltdown has pushed the ranks of the world’s hungry to a record 1 billion people. Today, if you say a blessing before you eat, perhaps include a prayer for those who won't. With God, all things are possible.

Thanks, George!

Last weekend, I had the privilege of teaching at our church. On the weekends, at Flamingo Raod Church, we have photography-volunteers who take pix of things happening in and around our church. One of them is George. Here's some of his work. Thanks, George--for reaching your God potential, using the God-given talents He's given you and helping us capture the moments.

If You Were a Survivor...

I haven't been a Survivor-groupie for quite awhile. But in its 2nd season, Raul and I were SO honkin' hooked. Not sure if this is still a stipulation, but back then, each contestant was allowed to bring ONE luxury item to the stranded location. OK, indulge me--if you were a Survivor contestant, what would be your one luxury item? More importantly, why? I think this is a great leadHership question. Think carefully; feel free to opine. I'll leave a comment w/ my answer.

"You Follow Me"

Jesus said it over and over: "Follow Me."
No bribing, coercing, bargaining, demanding, manipulating or intimidating.
Just a simple, honest, definitive request: "Follow me."

I've always learned the hard way that following Him is a lot easier than following them.

I believe that if you follow Jesus, you don't need to keep tabs on all the people you're suppose to follow on Earth. You just follow Him. He will take you where He wants you to go: where you will soar, shine & succeed.

Feliz Papi Dia (Did I Say That Right?)

Happy Father's Day to my Dad, Rob Funk. Here is a pic of him. Of course, he doesn't even know how to turn a computer on! But I'd like to thank my Dad for pointing me to God. I'd also like to thank him (& my mom) for modeling "love never fails" in their 36-yr marriage.
This will be my Dad's first Father's Day without his dad.
I'm praying for him, and you, if this holiday will be difficult.
Is there something you'd thank your Dad for? What would it be?

Lemonade, Red Bull & Coffee

This summer, who you drinking life with?
You drinking some lemonade w/ your fam?
some Red Bull w/ your buds?
some coffee w/ your co-workers?

It's important to drink life with folks INSIDE the church; but it's just as important to be drinking life with folks OUTSIDE the church.

Last week, God really spoke this to my heart. And God proved it in Acts 2.

I'm on a mission. To take the gift of community God's given me AT Flamingo Road Church and give it away as a gift to a lonely world outside of Flamingo Road Church. I hope you'll join me!

Simple Quotes (love this one)

"Behold the turtle.
He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out."
-James Bryant

I Heart Cereal!!!

I LOVE CEREAL! And these days, I use cereal to fulfill my bewitching 8pm sweet-tooth attack. Though we DO have Blue Bell ice-cream in our freezer, I embrace my bowl of cereal and reject a bowl of ice cream. I don't think I've ever met a person who doesn't like a bowl of cereal. So I'd love to know if you are one of those people. But if you DO love bowls of cereal, what kind do you like? Me like Grape Nuts & Frosted Mini Shredded Wheat!

Doing Life Together!!

In my iPhone, I had these 2 recent pix. Both are completely different in the who, when, where and why. But the WHAT is the same--what are they doing? They're both doing life together. One as friends; the other as brothers.




















Don't do life alone! Come tonight to Gears at Flamingo Road Church & be a part of something.

A Non-Techy's Point of View on the new iPhone

Ok, so let me get this straight. The new iPhone 3GS has:

• video recording
• voice control
• up to 32 GB of storage
• Video shooting AND editing
• built-in autofocus on a 3 megapixel camera
• built-in digital compass
• cut, copy & paste
• voice memo
• built-in Nike + iPod support
• folds your laundry
• does your dishes
• makes dinner
• puts the kids to bed
• pays your mortgage

I mean, GHEESH! Seriously! Is there ANY cooler phone out there? Somebody, please, let me know. Cause in my naivete assessment, this phone MONOPOLIZES the market. No other cell-phone company is even on the field w/ Apple, meanwhile Apple is on the field & totally hittin' it out of the park. And yes....I hope I get one.

A Weekend Blend of Learning

If I learn something, I add to my brain. And after my grandpa's recent death due to Alzheimer's, I am compelled to take care of my brain. That being said, this weekend--among others--are 5 things I learned:

1. The Obama's elite staff use blackberries, ironically, not iPhones. Blackberries have better security features.
   
2. In Iran, homosexuality is illegal, however surgical sex changes are not & the govt even subsidizes some of the cost.
   
3. "Failure is not an option." My pastor spoke with great passion that we will not quit helping people find their way to God. (BTW - these 5 words would make a great tat!)
4. From reading my bible, I learned Revelation 6:2b, "He went out to win and he won."
   
5. From John Maxwell's book, "My Dream Map," I learned that I have a lot of work to do on my dreams.

What have you recently learned? I hope you're adding to your brain!

Funky Sandals

From the Fashion Grail: whether with shorts, skirts or dresses, these sandals add funk to any outfit and they're all under $50!!!
1. Bali Sandal - $29.50 at Alloy.com
2. Geyla Ankle Wrap Sandal - $23.80 at Forever21.com
3. Pink Studio Iris - $49.99 at Piperlime.com
4. Report Alandra - $49.99 at Piperlime.com
5. Stud Gladiator Sandal - $19.50 at Wetseal.com
6. Missy Ankle Cuff Sandal - $15.80 at Forever21.com
7. Studded Gladiator Flat - $24.99 at Charlotterusse.com
8. Lisbon Sandal - $44.50 at Delias.com