Wandering mind

The anti-christ....

2011-05-23T10:53:00.001-07:00

....is the University of Texas. (Poorly placed disclaimer, for the point of my illustration I will painting OU and UT as the root of all evil). If you follow sports at all, specifically big 12-2 football you might understand why I fee this way. Ok...maybe my original claim was a bit strong. But unless you're an OU or UT alumnus you didn't like the way the realignment discussion of this past summer went down. As a matter of fact, you likely feel flat out robbed (if you know the situation you know that the actual results are looking to shape up differently than the original talks, but the point can still be made).

Across the landscape of college football you actually see equality. The kind of equality I am referring to is financial. Now obviously schools have a lot of ways they make money, such as merchandise, fund raising and ticket sales. Conferences (like the big 10, sec, mountain west) all produce income from TV and bowls games. This money isn't chump change either. In some conferences teams make up to 20+ million a year just from their conference. One of the better conferences is the SEC.

When I say SEC football what do you think? Speed, large stadiums, and things like that. You also have certain teams that come to mind like Alabama, Auburn, LSU and several others. Likely Vanderbilt doesn't come to mind quickly. However at the end of the day Vanderbilt gets paid the same amount as the University of Florida from the conference pay out. Because of this you see great conference loyalty and passion. Every university wants to be there and wants to be there in the long haul. Equality is attractive and necessary to keep a community growing (in this case in wealth) and healthy. Their is no way the value of Vanderbilt is equal to the Alabama to TV contracts. It's just how it is. However because they are a part of the whole they are treated with equality in the pay out (which again in this situation is money). This is a common trend among major conferences. That is until you look at the suggested new big 12-2.

The now powerful big 12-2 is top heavy in power (as every conference is). And the "big dogs" like OU and UT have decided to attempt to rob the poor. Why? Because they have all the power. What will eventually happen? The landscape of college football will never be the same if it is allowed to happen. The greed of the few will destroy the whole. Now am I saying all of this to rant and attempt to bad mouth UT and OU? Yes. Yes I am.

However, there is another reason. If you are a part of any community whether it is a business, school, county, state, country or church you have a place. In some arenas you have a place of power and authority, in others not so much. If you are in a position of power and authority in any of those look at the model of the SEC and proposed big 12-2 and ask which model you are implementing? At the top are you robbing the poor (whether it's money, emotions, security or any other thing) or are you seeking equality to promote the whole. I'm not preaching some communistic idea of everyone gets equal shares of everything in every way. UT and OU will make their money outside of the conference that they should. But in regards to the community they have joined they are abusing the system. If they wan't they get what they want they will get much more in the short term to jeopardize the long term gains of the big 12-2.

I'll give another illustration of what I see as a failing model for any organization. I have no problem with an CEO of a major company making good money. As a matter of fact I think the average CEO makes 300+times the average income. Not sure how accurate that is. Now if true 300x might be excessive, but I don't mind the larger pay. What I think is a failing system is when you see a company "struggle" and lay off people, sometimes by the thousands. However all the while a CEO might get a raise, bonus, or at the very least keep his same pay. Not saying every company does this, but you read about it in the news every once in a while. Now I don't think any major corrupt Million dollar+ a year CEO is going to read this post. So I may not be able to speak make much movement on this. However I will say this, to lead well, your position can't exempt you, it actually puts you more in the line of fire.

The reality is that leadership often times requires stepping back from glory and praise in order to better the whole. The glory might be attention, pay or praise. There was the guy named Jesus who kind of did something along those lines. Philippians 2:6-6.

I pray I can keep my heart on shepherding the community of God, not my ego, wallet, or other selfish gains.

Semantics...

2011-05-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

......a topic I love to discuss. Even just wrote about a 1,500 words of a blog post about the subject in light of apologetics. But when you get to 1,500+ words and are still introducing your argument its gets deleted. Need to find a more concise topic :(. Maybe it can be a book later :).

Would You Rather?

2011-05-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

For me it's always a great day when I read a book start to finish. Those days are rare, but today was one of them.

The book I picked up today was Deliberate Simplicity by Dave Browning.

The book itself was thought provoking. But thats not really what I want to write about. The premise was simplifying the church. If you are in leadership of any organization, specifically a church, its worth a glance. The work itself challenged to the way I perceive the ideal form of the church. But as my brain usually works, one word took my mind on a rabbit trail that lead to slightly organized expedition and eventually lead to the x on the map which I refer to as Great thoughts of my powerful mind. Maybe I am overselling myself a little...but the point is one word "electricity," got my mind going.

It raised a question in a form that I often ask questions in when I first meet someone. "Would you Rather". Its classic, and usually can lead to some pretty odd conversation (which is always fun). A favorite of mine is "would you rather sweat cheese or throw up marbles" (shout out Crystal Bennett). Again not the point of this post, but still worth lingering over.

Now to the question. This question can be read in two ways. When it poped into my head it was posed towards someone who runs a weekly gathering of believers on sunday morning. If thats not you, read it as a person participating in that gathering.

Would you rather have a the electricity go out 5 minutes before the service or lead the service (or participate in) without relying on the Holy Spirit to lead. No lights, hardly being able to be heard (or make out what the teacher is saying), the great promo video for the missions night not being shown, all the music transitions being thrown out. Just imagine the Chaos.

Now, I know what your answer will be when you think about it. After you pull out your "Answers for sunday school" book. But be honest with yourself, what was your gut reaction? Don't read to far into my words. In no way am I implying that electricity is bad. But what runs your church? what runs your gatherings? What is at the core of what makes gathering together worth while?

I dont ask this to imply you should gather with hundreds, or even thousands, in a way that the electricity going out doesn't cause a single hiccup. If you're reading this and lead any gathering of believers in any way, shape or form here is the question I hope you can ligner on. What is the conduit by which you long for God to move through? Would you be more afraid of the lights going out, or God moving out? One is always noticed in a moment, one may take much longer to be exposed in a leader.

To me its as simple as choosing a cut that can be covered by a band-aid over cancer brewing undetected under ones skin.

I'll ask it one more time. Would you be more afraid of the lights going out, or God moving out?

I pray we can be leaders that can focus on people not programs. Living Monday through Saturday, not just Sunday.

Destined to Fail

2011-04-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't written in this sucker for months...many months. Thats a shame too, writing is a great release for my soul.

I'll be honest it's mostly due to the reality that if something gets cut off my to-do list, writing (since its what I constantly do for school) gets the axe pretty quick. As of late things have been getting the axe left and right. It's been a French revolution of sorts in my life. Sadly it hasn't been a revolution that laid the foundation for enlightenment. Its only paved the way for bondage. I realized....I literally go to school...go to work....hang out with Catherine (and she only sees tired/worn out josh) then go to bed. 7 days a week.

Things I love: working out, guitar, reading for pleasure, friends, sports. Things I've had in my life the last 4 months: None of the above mentioned. Life has moved from enjoyment towards to-do list. On top of that, my to-do list gets completed at the last second, half hearted, and half....well you get the idea.

The irony is my motivation is perfection, success and definition. Definition of who I am and what I am going to be for the rest of my life (because most people have that down at 23). I convince myself that if I put my my best foot forward I can do it all. Up to this point in my life that has worked. Not to say I've never failed, I just typically don't put myself out there to fail.

For the first time in my life I have to much to physically get done. And thats ok.....I wont get it all done, and the things I get done wont be great.

I've realized putting up a facade that you're happy, awake, not frustrated, content and focused doesn't make it true. You pay for you sins eventually. This is my public apology to family and friends for the sin that has ruled my life the past 2 years.

My name is Joshua Gentry Horton. I'm 23. I play guitar, love working out, I am engaged to the most stunning woman I have ever known (what up cat attack), I love my family (even Anna) and love reading God's word.

My name is not _______________ (insert any # of people I try to be). I'm not grown up. I am no scholar. I'm an introvert, and am disorganized.

2 Cor 12:9-10. Read it. Are you allowing yourself to be weak? Or are you trying to hold it "all together." You will fail.

You can climb the mountain of life on your own and see how the fall goes without the proper equipment and support. Or you can climb through life the way you were intended to climb. With the a harness, clips and all the safety equipment available. Either way you will climb, and either way you will fall. The question is, do you wanna pretend like you don't need the support of Christ.

I'm destined to fail, and in my failure God will be glorified. There will be no confusion on who is at work. I'm done blocking his strength from shining in my failure.

I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany

2010-11-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

Any time I talk, write, or really anytime I think about a moment where God was at work Irony can easily fit as the description. Its funny how it works. If I am teaching on joy...I will be tested on joy, I am writing about Love my view and thoughts will be challenged. If I am teaching on how to give, God will put an opportunity to give in ways I never wanted to right before me. I once heard a sermon on suffering. She opened with a incident a year earlier where she taught on suffering. The next day...she was diagnosed with Cancer, she stood before us cancer free but wow...talk about practicing what you preach. She of course let us know that she had really wanted to talk about how to handle great wealth on that day :).

Recently I was working through a topic to teach on at our middle school ministry here at Chase Oaks, and prayer was one of the first things that came to my mind. Its a pretty easy choice as God has worked in my life so much over the last 3 years, through the ups and downs, as to what prayer is and how it is a part of my life as a Christ follower.

I was home this weekend, enjoying some time with family and friends and you know getting a fiance (more on that later). I went into my room, or at least the place I used to sleep....its been destroyed by my mom and here fancy decorations and bed spreads. The first thing I notice is a little leather book.

This isn't just any book, its a journal. Now I own about 45949 journals, all of which have about 3 entries before I gave up and realized I hate keeping them. But this one was different. It wasn't a log of my thoughts or my hearts out pour, it was a journal of my prayers. I don't remember where I picked this up from, but I do remember it happened months before I left college. Instantly I felt this sadness as I realized I had once again dropped my attempt at journaling. But this was different. This worked, it helped, it drastically changed my view of prayer. For the first time I understood what paul meant with his pray without ceasing command. For the first time I saw God's hand at work in the smallest of things. For the first time I LONGED to pray, I got excited about writing down every little detail.

The next day (of course) our life group's topic was prayer.....ya. I realized how prayer has quickly become a ritual, something I do when I am down, or something big comes up. I went from praying far in advance for time with Catherine, lunch with good friends, sunday morning (any sunday morning), days in the office....to praying at the last second before HUGE issues.

I wrote a lot only to say this. Are you being proactive with your prayer life? Is it something that you are taking an active mentality to achieve? Or has it become a last resort thing that you throw up at the last moment and forget within minutes (usually after God moves) what you were even so worried about. I know what it's become in my life. I will be the first to admit, my prayer life has been at best horrible.

Don't limit yourself just to to journals, do video log your prayers, a private blog, write them on a wall in your house (you can paint it back later), make a post-it note wall, white boards are cheap at home depot, you get the picture. There is no set way to do it, but I am convinced the process of recording, and then going back and praising God greatly enriches our prayer lives.

God move my heart to the power of prayer, to the power of confession and submission that becomes so visible when my life is characterized by 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

1 Thessalonians 5:17- constantly pray

Pursuit of a Prodigal People

2010-07-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

At Chase Oaks recently we have been talking about the passionate pursuit of God for his prodigal people. The promise made in Genesis 3:15, the promise given before the punishment even took place. That promise that took shape in his son, Jesus Christ.

Last night in our life group we really worked through what that really means for us, how does that pursuit, or how should it shape our reaction. The idea that Jesus Christ didn't come to get us out of hell, that he came to restore what was broken, to restore the relationship between God and man. The reality that God didn't see a weak, poor, broken thing and decide to throw it a bone. No, he came because he saw his children, his prodigal child if you will. He longed to relate, to love, to restore.

"In an age which has become increasingly suspicious of the idea of "power," it is perhaps refreshing to be reminded that talk about "God almighty" does not necessarily imply that God is a tyrant, but that God chooses to stand alongside people in their powerlessness" (Alister McGrath). An all powerful God didn't from a far off distance decide to show pity or mercy, he came in the flesh (Phil 2:6-8) and restored what was broken, what a wonderful God we serve!

If you get a chance to read this post and have some more free time (and lets face it, if you're reading this you have to much free time anyway) I would love for you to read Luke 11:11-24. How much more did we wrong our creator? How much more has he blessed us with? This story is so powerful, yet it doesn't even begin to fully demonstrate the grace, the love, the pursuit!

What would you do if....

2010-07-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

Graduation...some of you may be reading this and be longing for the day you graduate high school and go off to college, some of you may still have the taste of that glorious day on your lips. Us old timers can look back on that day and reflect a little.

There were two events that took place within my little window of graduation that I will never forget. One took place in a conversation, and perhaps will come out in this blog one day, while the other was in the form of a graduation present.

We all remember the random gifts we got, some more useful than others. I actually can only think of two presents that I still have around to this day. (1) A key chain given to me by the Reid family, (2) a paper weight given to me by someone....someone who has been lost in the sea of face that is my life (aka I forgot who). Which is really tragic because it really has been one of the most encouraging things that I own. Its a simple metal bar with 10 words engraved on it. “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail.”

I’ve spent a lot of time working through that idea, battling with the reality that my life=timidity. I put a cap on what can or cant happen. I to often decide before the fact what is a possibility and what is never going to work.

Then in reaction this lead to an ideology of cutting loose, becoming idealistic in every way. No matter what if I pray and do my best it will happen. Now im on the down swing and trying to battle through what it means, what does that simple ten word phrase convey? Is it an attempt to convince me that Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” is a stand alone verse to be taken at face value? Then why have I failed? I put fail in italics because its an interesting idea to me. One I have written on before and probably will many times in the future. What is failure?

I love this paper weight because its shown me that its not a matter of if and when I fail. Its not a matter of how and why. Its embracing the reality that I am redeemed by my creator through the love and grace bestowed on my life by Christ by way of his conquest of death. That I serve a God who has won the war. I can’t fail. Not in the big picture, not in the end.

Triad of Mentorship

2010-07-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

Every person should seek to have three individuals in their life: a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.

A Paul is an older person who is willing to mentor you, to build into your life. Not someone who’s smarter or more gifted than you, but somebody who’s been down the road. Somebody willing to share their strengths and weaknesses — everything they have learned in the laboratory of life. Somebody whose faith you’ll want to imitate.

A Barnabas is a soul friend, somebody who loves you but is not impressed by you. Somebody to whom you can be accountable. Somebody who’s willing to keep you honest, who’s willing to say, “Hey, you’re neglecting your spouse, and don’t give me any guff!”

A Timothy is a younger person into whose life you are building. For a model, read 1st and 2nd Timothy. Here was Paul, the quintessential mentor, building into the life of his protégé — affirming, encouraging, teaching, correcting, directing, praying.

Do you have these three people in your life?

By Howard Hendricks, Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary in Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 1.

Beautiful picture painted by Dr. Hendricks as to what the essentials of discipleship in ones life should look like, both in mentoring and being mentored.

Wedding Dress

2010-07-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Ill keep it short and sweet. This song is powerful, and I'd love for you to listen to it and chew through the lyrics.

If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I'd ever need
or is there more I'm looking for

and should I read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want

I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle
and I run down the aisle
I?m a prodigal with no way home
but I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I run down the aisle to you

So could you love this bastard child
Though I don't trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side

I am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

Because money cannot buy
a husband's jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife

If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I'd ever need
or is there more I'm looking for

Playing the Market

2010-06-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

Matthew 13:44 is one of those things that I never remember sitting down and attempting to memorize, or even wanted to forever know the reference to, but thanks to Joey Turner I will. Joey was my Highschool pastor back in the good ole days, and he came up with a catchy little slogan for our ministry. 44 ministries, completed with hats, cool little car bumper stickers, and a fly logo.

This morning I was reading through Matthew and got to 13:44 and 13:45-46:

Matt. 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.

Matt. 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he found a pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and bought it.

Both presenting a pretty similar story, someone...found something...saw its worth...and reacted accordingly. Someone who saw something of great cost, and reacted by doing whatever it took to acquire the treasure at hand.

It doesn't say he saw the field and then began to invest a portion of his savings to purchase the field in the future, or that he bought as much as the field as he could with the extra cash he had around in hopes of one day owning the treasure. Or even that he was a wealthy man who already had enough to purchase the field and so invested in it.

No, he had to be active and SELL things, give up all he had and bought that field at the high price.

Do you ever feel like you've seen that treasure or fine pearl, but instead of selling everything to own it your taking the passive approach. Putting extra cash here or there into the market of life, playing a game waiting to see if you can time it perfectly to get the most bang or your buck?

The treasure is there, are you willing to pay the price? Its a price that is high, and will cost you dearly, but its a treasure that will change your fortunes forever.

Luke 9:23-26

Fathers Day #2: TBMDBMTRAHIORTCBSG2B

2010-06-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

The book my dad bribed me to read and how I only remember the cover but still got 20 bucks
(I know its a really convenant acronym!)

About 8 or so years ago my dad tricked me. He did this several times, once to get me to go to pice cove, and the other to get me to read this book. The pine cove story is for another day, and im sure it will come out at some point during this blogs life.

My dad decided me and Anna weren't reading enough so he set out to bribe us to start reading certain books for 20 bucks. I was the sucker who fell for it, Anna was prideful enough to say no and thats how I became the favorite. Jk, but seriously, the book he bribed me to read was Anchor Man: How a Father Can Anchor His Family in Christ for the Next 100 Years, by Steve Farrar.

Let me be honest with you for a second, I don't remember reading this book. However I do vividly remember the pay day that I got. I don't remember lying about it, and I wont comment about the likely high percentage that I did. The point however did get to me. And I will argue that my dad should have paid me for just looking at the front cover (especially since he likely did).

You see this cover has been ingrained in my memory since my dad gave it to me, and has resurfaced to challenge me many times.

That's the cover that forever changed the way I looked at my role as a man. More specifically a man that carries the Horton name. You see before me came by dad, and before him his dad, and so on and so on. Some great, some im sure not so great. My view really only goes back two links. My grandfather Horton was a man of integrity and faithfulness, a man who worked his tail off and loved his family and loved the lord. He raised 4 children, an was a wonderful husband. My dad (though I suppose the verdict is still out) has up to this point at the very least been a man of integrity who has loved the Lord, his wife, and his children with all his heart. A man who has done things the right way. The two of them have created a link, an ongoing chain that is now passed on to me.

The scary thing is that I can ruin that chain. I can crush the work of those two men and put a huge stumbling block onto my kids as they look at me for the anchor in their life. I'll never forget telling my dad, about 6 years ago, that sometimes the thing I fear the most is getting to heaven and seeing Grandpa and him being ashamed of the man i've become. That may not be the BEST mentality to have, but it can show the kind of anchor he created and set into motion with the life he lived.

If you're reading this and thinking, "Great, I have no anchor in my life." The great news is you get the opportunity to create that legacy. You get the chance to buck the trend and be an anchor man to your family and for the generations to come. You may only be remembered two generations from now, but the issues you can create or the blessings you can set into motion can carry for generation upon generation.

When I look at that cover I see two out of focus (my dad and grandfather), Some of you may not have a great chain to look back on, some of you may. But the two things we all have is one in focus (that is our chain), and the two off in the future (the generations we get the opportunity to be an anchor for).

If you're reading this and you have the blessing to look back at a chain of anchor men praise God and let them know who thankful you are if you can. If you dont, praise God that you have the opportunity to buck that trend!

(I would also like to mention I plan to read this book before the summer is over, and would really challenge you to look into it as well!)

Fathers Day #1

2010-06-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

In honor of all the fathers out there I am gonna re-post an old Ode to my Father I wrote for my dad. I love fathers day and mothers day, it is one of the most humbling days for me where I get to let my parents now how aware I am of how blessed I am to have them in my life.

Ode to My Old Man

I hate sometimes how smart he is. He is never wrong actually. He is still stronger then me and will be till forever. He is the single most influential human on my life, hands down. Everything I do goes back to the old guy. I hate saying, and holding to a thought that he holds to in spite of always claiming I wouldn't. I can not call him for days on end, yet every morning I get a call "josh this is your dad I love you, I am praying for you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon". I love the fact he loves me no matter how much dumb crap I do. I know I can call him and no matter what I say, he still loves me the same as when I first called. I love the fact i can call him in the middle of a meeting to tell him about some stupid story I have and everything drops so we can talk, no matter what it is. I love that we actually get in fights and make up just like old friends not like a parent and child. I love that you've taught me lessons my whole life, and still always try to take a situation and turn it into a lesson to better me as a person. The fact you never give me the answer, only ask me questions to help me figure it out myself. And I love fact that no matter how great the guy is, he reminds me that as crazy at it seems there is a God who loves me more, and wants to bless me in ways I cant even imagine. The old guy rocks, but he never ceases to show me how much more God rocks.

Thanks Dad, thanks for loving me the last 22 years! We all know it was pretty hard at some points :)

Soon to come...Fathers Day #2: The book my dad bribed me to read, and how I only remember the cover but still got 20 bucks. Or the acronym...TBMDBMTRAHIORTCBSG2B

"Sin is the Fruit, Temptation the Root"

2010-06-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

There was a phrase I heard this past weekend at Chase Oaks Church that really stuck. "Sin is the fruit, temptation is the root," I know it's not something revolutionary. Its simple and pretty obvious if you actually sit down and think about it. That being said, I can testify that its more than not it's the opposite of how I view sin.

If you had a friend who claimed "that's it I hate ants (sin), im getting rid of all the ants (sin) in my back yard (life)," you would probably have a mental image of the easiest way to go about that. Jump in the car, drive out to home depot (or where ever you buy ant killer stuff), and just load the ant pile up with the stuff. Drench it (you know like when you were a kid and you would get a hose and drench the ant pile...or was that just me) till nothing is left, assuring the ants demise!

Wait...but what if you're friend did things a different way, he saw the ants (individual sins) themselves as the issue, he looked at each individual ant (sin) that he saw as the issue at hand. He stood about 5 feet from the ant pile (temptation), stepping on them one by one as they got within his reach. It would show some quick results. He could probably kill quite a few ants (sins) doing that, but the ants would likely never really be at bay. The root is the ant pile itself and under ground thousands of ants are coming up daily. Instead the easiest way to get rid of the ant problem is going to the root (temptation).

How much do we do the same thing? We wait till the moment is at hand to handle temptations, we wait till were sitting on the ant pile, hands and arms tied up getting stung into submission by sin.

Instead of focusing on the sin itself (being aware of it is important), realize that temptation is a smart little sucker and its the root, the starting point. Its dynamic, and it's a learner. If you're not proactive you will lose, its as simple as that. Maybe not at first, or even for a while, but it will get you, and it'll sting like hell (see what I did there haha).

But if I could advice you in one thing its start somewhere and take over that one hill, dont look at your whole back yard (life) and say...thats it...today im getting rid of all my ants (sins) and its going down this afternoon. Take some time to map out your attack strategy. Focus on regents of your back yard (life) and attack those first, create strong holds where you have had success, and from those points conquer other roots that are causing struggles in your life.

"Sin is the fruit, Temptation the root"

Principles of Life #1: You Are What You Eat

2010-06-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

You are what you eat: You ever see those funny commercials where the person is eating a cinnamon bun on the subway and as she walks off the train her back side is a cinnamon bun? You ever see that and wonder what life would be like if that was really the case? If what we ate would in some way or another impact our situation immediately. Well, eating a couple suger coated cinnamon buns for breakfast once wont do immediate damage. However, over time if this took place daily, slowly but surely, a change will take place of some sort (though I can assure you it wont become an actual cinnamon bun).

I think the same principle applies to what we surround ourselves with and spend our time around. If you watch a movie full of sex and derogatory things will you immediately become lax and subconsciously let your mind wonder on those things? Prob not....but over months or years...the answer is most likely going to be yes, and the habit that is built over a long time is so hard to break. Im sure anyone who has tried to lose some weight in the 30's or 40's can testify to that.

However I really wanna focus on the positive side of this rather then "dont's." If you wanna be healthy, one of the largest pieces to that taking places is what you put in your body, you can do all the running and lifting you want, but I can promise you it wont work if your taking down quarter pounders every day.

In the same way, if you really wan't to be serious about following and imitating Christ (1 Cor 11:1), a heavy dose of taking in His life and his teachings needs to take place. You can do all those other things, making your image come across as solid, or making sure people think of you a certain way but when push comes to shove are you doing the foundational things?

I have a friend who is 5-6 percent body fat, its really annoying. He seriously is freak of nature, he can get strong like no ones business, and the more annoying thing is he eats really poorly. Sometimes his post workout meal is cookie dough. The reality is though his body is in poor health, sure at times he physically doesn't show it, but in the long run it will break down and it wont be good when it does.

To many of us are like my friend, we can come across as healthy and spiritual mature even though the reality is we are crumbling on the inside. We can pick up the latest book that talks about what we are good at and be encouraged.

My prayer for you if you're reading this is that you're goal will be for ACTUAL spiritual health, and not PERCEIVED spiritual heath. If you're thinking, ya but what is the best book out there, has francis chan written anything lately to teach me how to achieve spiritual health, or growth, my response is the Gospels, just read through them. Read the story of a God who came to his creation to redeem, focus on just that for a while. I don't say that to belittle those authors and their works. I am sure they are excellent, but there is no substitute for a good healthy home cooked meal...I mean the Word of God.

Centered on Christ

2010-06-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Success....we all want it to one degree or another, some however may define it in varying ways. Today I had coffee a man who has done high school campus ministry for 30 years, full of wisdom and I would assume great advice (boy did he live up to that bill).

In my quest to impact college students here in the Plano area I am all about suggestions, any tips or advice is precious and valuable. So naturally, one of my questions was for advice, tips, suggestions, any thing he could throw my way that could help! What did I have in mind? Event suggestions, leadership development, promotion advice, anything of the sort. What did I get? The thing I was missing most.

His challenge was to simply be Christ centered, but not just your ministry model rather for your own life, focus on that first and make that happen. I get so busy wanting to do this event, or make this bible study perfect, but whats its value if my life isn’t centered?

Being in seminary its pretty easy to come across as having it all together, or that my life is centered. One of those recent gut checks came in the form of Brad Deal. If you don’t know the kid, sucks to be you. About a year ago brad was looking for some summer cash, and got the hook up at Cotton Patch. As a friend I was stoked for him, good hours, good tips, it was a nice summer gig. He called me about a week later and said he was quitting! I remember my first thought was dude!!! What are you doing, you need the cash and it fits your schedule. His response, “I realized I didn’t pray about it, I need to seek God, I gotta get out of this.” Brad wasn’t centered on Christ when he made that call to work there, and if we were honest with ourself we aren’t a lot of the time either. The powerful thing here is that Brad took the steps necessary to realign himself with God, even if it meant paying a price. And ill be the first to admit, my first thought wasn’t “man congrats brad, way to do the right thing,” it was more “brad...dude, can’t you just keep the job and say you’ve learned your lesson?”

If you’re reading this I pray you will take your eyes of “success,” and the momentary comfort. Instead spend some time thinking through areas of your life that aren’t centered on Christ. If all of us had the courage to put success on the back burner to our personal development, the long term benefits would be exponential.

Life isn’t a sprint it’s a marathon. Don’t take shortcuts to get success in the moment, center your life on Christ, no matter the price.

Elements of Leadership

2010-06-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to steal a quote off Chris Freelands Blog, If you find yourself bored enough to read my blog, follow that link and you'll find a better use of your time.

Colin Powell in "Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell" by Oren Harari:

"I want you to know you can count on me; I want to know that I can count on you. We may argue about which action to take, but I'll stick by you as we're arguing as long as you stick by me once a decision is made. No cover-your-butt moves are necessary from you; no knife-in-the-back will come from me."

Man, what a great relationship that would be between a leader and those he is leading. I know that's what I long for, and I pray as God moves me through life he can develop me into that kind of leader. Three elements stick out to me as I read that quote.

(1) Consistency: "I want you to know you can count on me; I want to know that I can count on you." Really not much to say here...do what you say. If you can't do it, dont commit. The fewer times you commit and back out last second the better your leadership will be.

(2) Acknowledgment of those your leading: "We may argue about which action to take, but I'll stick by you as we're arguing as long as you stick by me once a decision is made." If you have ever had any sort of authority you know at times it can be extremely tempting to flex those muscles and let people know you're in charge. You get the sense Colin is letting those under him have a voice "I'll stick by you as we're arguing." A great leader can let people be a part of the process but still make the decision they know to be right (wether that decision was altered from that conversation or not). If that happens the you'll be pleasantly surprised at how people will react when things start getting tough regardless of wether you went with your original plan or altered it more to their liking.

(3) Ownership: "No cover-your-butt moves are necessary from you; no knife-in-the-back will come from me." Ill never forget my first "....if this fails it's totally on me" moment, most of you who have had that moment do too. Its never fun, and as a leader you need to be the first to step up and take responsibility if that thing does fail. If someone your leading fails, I can't think of a situation where the persons who's being led is 100% at fault. Most likely poor leadership or direction played the biggest role.

I hope my life can have these three elements present as I lead!

Lawn Care Service

2010-06-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

Finding greener pastures seems to be a large part of the American dream. Its drilled into our heads growing up and through out school. Work hard, be diligent and have success. Each part of life is a stepping stone. When your in college take internships, get connections, they are all stepping stones to the next big thing. When you first graduate and get a job, it may not be the best job, or even your dream job, but work hard at it and realize its a stepping stone for better things. Through out this process of birth to mid twenties we develop this sense that life is all about the next step. I always remember the frustration around 5th grade of teachers making us do certain menial tasks telling us “well in middle school you will need this” and thinking, this is what every teacher has told me from kindergarden to this point “well next year you’ll need this.” we are groomed to be concerned with the next step while balancing our current circumstances. Often this leads to a total focus on the future, a focus that can be dangerous.

Not just focus on the future, even more specific focus on better times, on greener pastures. We look at people where we want to be and pass into a day dream. I often find myself in a grass induced comma, where I get so wrapped up in someone else’s field they have planted and groomed. In the midst of this I lose focus of my own field, my own pasture falls into a sad state. The sprinklers haven’t been changed, the timer is still on day light savings, I haven’t fertilized in months, and heaven knows I haven’t mowed the sucker in years. I’ve been to enamored with John Doe’s field over there. Scripture if full of jewels regarding this topic, Luke 3:14; 2 Cor 12:10; Phil 4:11; 1 Tim 6:8; Heb 13:5.

If your reading this and find you’re often in a similar state, my challenge to you is to take some time to start your own lawn care service. A business of sorts, not some low grade endeavor, instead a legitimate process. Instead of getting lost in the greener pastures, lets spend sometime taking care of our own fields.

Josh Horton’s Lawn Care Services (2010/2011)

(1) Readjust my scorecard.
(2) Provide five Monthly short Term Goals
(3) Provide one Long term Yearly Goal
(4) Give my list to three people that I know will regularly ask about it (accountability)
(5) Tattoo James 3:16 to my forehead......or memorize it.

Two more quick notes regarding #1 and the previous reference to Phil 4:11. Readjusting your score card was suggesting to me by my friend Jason Ganze. I came to him frustrated with several things that weren’t panning out the way I thought they should (of course my standard was that of other people’s success or accomplishments). Which is where he encouraged me to Readjust the way I’m keeping score. How are you keeping score? What is your standard for success for a “green” pasture. That needs to be step numero uno, and it needs to be done with a focus on God, not others (Prov 16:1-3).

Lastly, Phil 4:10-13 for some reason is often taken out of context. Especially verse 13, which shows the power of God to do great things in our life, but what is often taken to mean I can have a big house or a nice car and lots of success (Not naming any names) needs to be read in light of what is previously mentioned. Read over verses 10-13, and when you get to verse 13 think about what he is referring to God ability to strengthen him to do.

The Slow Fade

2010-06-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

The Church I work at has a simple model of ministry, “come as you are, be transformed, make a difference.” This model is so powerful, it’s done a lot to the direction of the church, and currently we’re focusing on the second two elements. The first “come as you are,” has clearly become a strong part of our church’s identity, and as a result the other two need even more focus. As people are coming through the door’s as they are focus is moving towards more effectively helping them transform and in turn make a difference where they live.

When I look at my life and retrace the steps as to where God has been transforming me the most, its not even a contest. It really is a land slide of epic proportions. The moments God has moved most in my life is when I have been discipling younger men. This correlation between discipling and transformation in my life is undeniable.

I recently read the Slow Fade, a book about impacting, or more why we should impact the twenty something generation. One of its major topics is the reality that if you have a heart for God, you need to be and, with little if any exception have the ability to invest in the twenty something crowd (or just investing in people in general). If you’re feeling a pull towards investing in my generation I would highly recommend picking up this book and digging into it, its a quick afternoon read that will really challenge the way you view us.

I say all this to quote Reggie Joiner in the book, who says, “And when I approach any relationship with a healthy fascination of what God is doing in someone’s life, and that person does the same with me, it has the potential to transform us both. I don’t really know how to explain it, but many of my transforming moments in the past twenty years have happened because of involvement with those who are teenagers and college-aged.”

Chuck Bomar goes on to say to discuss not just paying attention to the moment, or the short term, but rather that which is “sustainable and concentrating on that.” My heart is to see college kids move toward relational connection with older believers, beyond a program or service. If you read this and consider yourself a prayer warrior I beg you to pray for what the book describes as the slow fade of twenty somethings dropping out of a church that has decided to ignore them or throw fancy lights and sounds to keep them around. We don’t really long for lights, cool band members, and relevant messages (though they can keep us around for a while). If you wanna impact this slow fade show them you care with the most precious thing you can give, your time.

Idealizing Reality

2010-05-26T12:12:00.001-07:00

I recently got the chance to have lunch with a man who.....well has made an impact on the church. Someone who has probably written more books than I've read (that might be an exaggeration...but only because of this last year of seminary). Ill be honest about 75 percent of our conversation was him talking and 20 percent was me occasionally throwing in a "ya"..."I see." The final five percent consisted of two things. Four percent were the questions I asked that led to his 75 percent. Then there was one stupid comment, and this is the one percent Im most glad I blurted out. Not because It was a good statement...it wasn't, but his correcting comments did more then he could ever know.

One of my questions was simply "take yourself back to 22 year old you, you get a chance to give one piece of advice, what would it be?" He decided one response wouldn't cut it, but amidst the barrage of advice, he gave me a what I thought was a chance to sound intelligent. He said something along the lines of giving more time to his family, sharing a story about missing countless football games his son played in order to do friday night services in the church.

This was it, this was my chance to make him think I have some brains! This is time to flaunt my investment in seminary! So I quickly took a step to the plate..."Well its like Dr. Blah Blah always said, when your twenty be twenty, when your thirty be thirty, you should have your most fruitful ministry when your kids are out of your house." He quickly responded to the point of, that is an awfully easy point to make in the class room. I felt pretty deflated, he shot down my only real comment in during the whole conversation! Man, how much I needed the conversation that ensued.

Our conversation quickly became focused on how ideal things can sound in a book, how dangerous it is to create this mental image of how things work only to become disillusioned to the reality of how things really work. The point wasn't that my comment was irrelevant, or that it was stupid. Rather it was that you can't build up this expectation from reading books, or from hearing how it is "supposed" to be.

You see I live in a world of books right now. I read about languages, family, theology, education, about all sorts of things. I read books about how to REALLY impact college kids. Im told what the real issue is in the church, how I can actually change the world. How the gospel can truly be central to this persons life if I do this, that and the other. I have a system I have set up involving setting time aside after large accomplishments or feats, where I take time to myself and reflect. I count a semester of school as one of those large feats. Its hundreds of hours over endless nights, with countless books and sayings thrown my way over 4 months.

My challenge to myself is to step back from all the wisdom and words I've taken in and take some time to set up blockades to prevent myself from idealizing reality. Im not even sure what that looks like, but I am sure its something I'm prone to do.

I must of missed it

2010-05-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

I must have missed the moment it all changed. Up to this point in my life I have had some great ministry moments, and God has been faithful in the people and situations he had placed me around. On top of that God has been faithful to guide and push me for the work he had in store.

Somewhere along the last 3 years I must have missed the moment where I became awesome and amazing. Ill never forget the drives out to Aledo every day 3 years ago to work at Trinity Church, 30 minutes of prayer and crying out to God. Time of reflection and submission. I miss the days of "GOD I DONT KNOW WHAT IM DOING THIS IS ALL YOUR HAND!" and seeing him move in lubbock. Good thing James 4:16 doesn't apply to seminary students..... "As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." When did I become so convinced I was the one at work? When did I decide I am amazing and capable? I'm not real sure the moment that it happened, but I do remember the moment I realized how in need I am. Its a pretty fresh wound, and I sure pray it never really heals. This is one scar I would like to keep present.

Its funny how quick pride can sneak up on your heart, and boy how well it plants the seeds of deception. My dad always told me growing up "son, we pray in moments of desperation, keep in mind you're always in a desperate moment."

Philippians 4:6, look it up....I pray we can all have a better perception of the situation we are really in.

I think this picture gives a pretty humorous picture of the kind of perception we need to have into the reality of our situation.

The Big Picture

2010-05-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

I have often struggled with the big picture. I easily get caught up in the weeds, and before I know it hours have been wasted on small things instead of acting with a healthy perspective on the larger issues.

Joseph, who has recently won the prestigious Josh Horton's Favorite Person award, shook my world as I was reading over his story.

Im going to pull a little Dane Cook here and start at the end of the story. The scene is Jospeh's brothers sending a messenger to ask for forgiveness of their powerful brother in fear of his wrath on them for their previous deeds. Joseph's response? Gen 50:20-21 "As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day. So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindly to them." Ok...so Joseph's bros wronged him...but he forgave them, what did they do? He seems to be pretty chill so my first guess would be (going from me and my sisters history) he got locked out of the bathroom? had boiling water thrown at him? was chased around the kitchen with a knife (I swear Anna would have killed me that day)? What did they do with intention to harm him, but that he was so willing to forgive them for?

Joseph was the favorite child of Israel (Jacob), which lead his brothers to grow envious, and plotted to kill him. They resorted to throwing him in a pit and later, instead of killing him, sold him into slavery. As a result he became a slave of Potiphar, did his deed and worked hard and became a respected slave. Then he was was wrongly accused of attempting rape and next thing he knew, he was in jail until God brought him out of Jail and to the end of our story, to the position of Pharaohs right hand man.

What I love is Joseph never curses God, he keeps a steady head. Ya he could get caught in the weeds of being thrown into a pit, being sold into slavery, then being thrown into jail on false accusations, having promises broken to him by people he met along the journey, but instead he keeps the bigger picture in mind. That is God's deliverance of "many people", using Josephs position in Egypt to provide in a famine for Israel's descendants. Joseph had such a great kingdom mindset, not only could he see it, but he acted on it. He forgave his brothers for their transgressions. what was his motivation? He kept his sight on God's work through out his journey instead of getting caught up in the weeds.

But what does a kingdom mindset look like for us today?