2 Free Online Conferences this Week!

Technology is so amazing and is changing the way we grow in so many ways!

The Nines

As of this writing I am at home with the flu while attending a free conference with some of the greatest leaders in our country. Right now at http://thenines.leadnet.org/ you can hear live from leaders such as Rick Warren, Craig Groeschel, Dino Rizzo, and so many more.

Each speaker has 9 minutes to say whatever they want to pass along to you. Best of all, it's completely free! So what are you waiting for, click http://thenines.leadnet.org/ and check it out!

Leadership Forum

The Leadership forum is taking place tomorrow, September 10th and Friday, September 11th. It is a free online conference with speakers such as TD Jakes, Patrick Lencioni, Erwin McManus, Dave Ramsey, and more. This is a two-day event with different content each day, and you can view it at one of two times: 10:00am-5:00pm EDT or 7:00am-2:00pm GMT.

Visit http://theforum.lifechurch.tv/ to register today!

I'll see you in the online lobby!

- Brandon

When Life & Ministry Collide!

Last night on Cultivate TV we discussed managing life and ministry. With currently 1,200 pastors a month leaving the ministry it's more important than ever to understand balance. Here are simply the highlights of our broadcast and hope these tips and pointers are helpful to you.

Manage Your Personal Life...

1. Take Care of Your Soul

Our soul is the core of who we are. When I neglect my physical needs, my soul suffers. When I neglect my family, my soul suffers. When my emotions are not held in check, my soul suffers. It is important to remember that your soul needs fed a much as those you are giving to.

Jesus said it this way, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you..." John 15:4. I encourage you read both verse 4 and 5 and check yourself today.

2. Remember to Whom You are Called

• A church can take away your job, but they can't take away your call.
• Don't confuse the calling with the job. Your call began when you accepted Christ. As you minister to others you only further that call.
• Viewing your calling only in the context of your church or "job" blurs the lines of who you are called to be and do.

3. Spend More Time Being Instead of Doing

How many of you have made these statements... "I can stop reading my Bible now, I've got enough material for my message." "I don't have to pray now, we'll pray in service, or at staff meeting." Point being we spend so much time doing it for others that we forget about doing it for us. Remember to not only spend your time on the work load, but embodying what it is to be a believer.

Manage Your Work Life...

1. Set Clear Boundaries

"Without clear boundaries we tend to over commit. Having too many commitments will always lead to broken promises" - Jonathan McKee

2. Set a number of hours you plan to work weekly

3. Take One Day Off Every Week

God said it, we should do it!

4. Set Uninterrupted Time with Family

I hope these tips and pointers will be helpful to you in balancing life and ministry. We understand the load you carry and want to help you on the journey. If you would like to view the broadcast for this teaching, please visit www.getcultivated.com/media/media.htm

Serve Healthy!

- Brandon

The Space Between

August 15 - 22 2009 means vacation! I am currently sitting in a condo in Coacoa Beach FL, enjoying the beautiful view of the beach and ocean. I've been looking forward to August 15th to roll around for months. It's finally here and I find myself already saddened by the thought of it being over on the 22nd. However, it's the space between that means the most.

The little dash in the middle is where it really counts. It's all the things that make the trip great. Beautiful weather, best friends, and time with my amazing wife. Those are the things that make it great. Life is the same way. The actual event of coming and going isn't the focul point, it's what we did in the middle.

I've spent time today thinking about my life and want to challenge you to do the same. Truly what am I doing? What is my goal? What do I want the dash to be? Am I doing what I was created to do? The life of Christ displays my thoughts so much better.

At age 12 Jesus said, "I must be about my Fathers business." Luke 2:49 At the Cross He said, "It is finished." John 19:30

I want the space between my life and death to be about my Fathers business. When the final curtain is pulled on my life I want to be able to feel like the work has been completed. What if Christ had gotten to the final moment and had to beg God for more time. I didn't do this, or I didn't do that! If only I had more time!

I say today we make the leap. Go ahead and step out and achieve the purpose and destiny God has placed on your life. We only have one shot. Let's make it count!

Fulfill the Space Between!

- Brandon

See it to Believe It!

Ever heard the old saying, "I'll have to see it to believe it" or "I'll believe it when I see it?" Sometimes life puts us in that mode of thinking. Sometimes the glass just can't help but look half-full. Life just seems to have a funny way of getting in the way of how we "planned" it all to go. Then we begin to question life, love, purpose, happiness, and even God.

I've been there before. Standing, awestruck of the tornado that is blasting through my life; saying "I'll have to see it to believe it!" Today has been one of those days however, that I've been able to stare back into time and "see it." Of all the wreckage that has happened in the midst of the journey of life, I can "look" at the faithfulness of God and "believe" it.

God's hand has been there all along. Every portion of my life has been redeemed and enhanced in every way. I know the best is yet to come. A man named Job once experienced the same feeling that has been overwhelmingly on me tonight. He blogged his thoughts this way...

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. - Job 42:5

If you know his journey you would quickly understand and grasp the weight of these words. After reaching the bottom of the "I'll have to see it to believe it," "glass half-empty" barrel, God pulled it all together and it made sense. Because of his experiences he was able to see the faithfulness of God, opening his eyes to believe!

I just want to encourage you today to look around at the faithfulness of God even in the midst of chaos. Be confident in knowing that He is there. Remember how many times God has brought you to the other side.

See and Believe!

- Brandon

What Makes a Legend?

What makes you a legend? Is it what people say about you when you are alive? Or, is it what people say about you when you are gone?

My wife and I sat down and watched the 2006 blockbuster, The Guardian. I had seen the film once before and loved it. Since Jen had never seen it I got her to view it. When the movie concluded I remember why it was that I enjoyed it so much.

In a very intense scene at the conclusion of the movie, a Coast Guard legend gives his life so that a new comer may live. Then the question mentioned above is asked; then you see the quote, "So others may live." When hearing the question asked and the quote given, I immediately thought of this verse:

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay his life down for his friends." - John 15:13

I understand the rarity of one actually laying their life down for another, but I would say we should be living "So others may live." Every day we are given the opportunity to save the lives of others. You may not be jumping from helicopters into the ocean, but that doesn't mean you aren't in service.

Each day you are surrounded by family, friends, and co-workers who are drowning away from Christ. We should all strive to live "So that others may live." I just want to bring it to your attention today that you have a responsibility to share the news with others that there is no greater love than this, that Christ laid His life down for you and for me. Ask yourself these questions from The Guardian soundtrack...

Can you lay your life down, so a stranger can live?

Can you take what you need, but take less than you give?

Could you close everyday, without the glory and fame?

Could you hold your head high, when no one knows your name?

That's how legends are made, at least that's what they say.

What makes a legend? It's what people will say when I'm gone... He lived "So that others may live."

Be a Legend!

- Brandon

Songs in the Jungles of Ecuador

What an amazing trip! God blessed our entire team with safe travels and many life changing moments.

17 people boarded a plane Friday, June 26th headed to Sucua Ecuador. Our task were to help complete projects at a home for girls, help conduct a Vacation Bible School, and finish construction of a pastors home. Returning home on Sunday, July 5th all tasks were complete.

There are many stories I could share from the trip. Seeing God work in the lives of our teammates, the hundreds of kids we encountered, and so much more. However, there is one experience in particular I would like to share.

Hundreds of kids attended the VBS each night. Kids were coming by truck and bus load. One night after VBS I had the chance to ride in the back of a truck surrounded by fifty kids. With barely breathing room I crammed into the truck for what was a normal day for the kids, but eye opening for me.

The truck would take us into the jungle down dirt roads and literally the middle of nowhere. At one point we came to a suspension bridge that hung high above the river. All the kids had to get out of the truck and walk across because the bridge could not support the weight of the bridge and the truck. After crossing, the kids climbed back into the truck to continue the journey.

After crossing the first bridge we came to another, and once again everyone got out. This time the driver got out as well and walked to the bridge made of bamboo, boards, and rocks. The driver proceeds to reposition the boards, place rocks under them, and anything else to enhance the support. The driver and kids slowly walked across the bridge to test it's stability, climbed back into the truck, and away we went.

At this point it is pitch black outside with only headlights frome the truck. We began to slow down and come to a stop. Two kids no older than the age of 7 climbed out of the truck and started walking into the woods. These two children had another two hour walk through the dark woods just to get home. We continued our trip a little farther reaching a village community where all the kids would get out of the truck and return to what were only shells of a home.

The feeling of unbelief and hurt for those children was overwhelming. The real punch in the gut is the fact that the entire truck full of kids were singing from the moment we left VBS to the moment they got home.

All I can say is no matter what your circumstances are today. No matter what your problems are. Remember that above it all we are truly blessed. We all have hurts and dissappointments, but God is still God no matter what is going on around us. Living in totaly poverty those kids could still smile, laugh, sing, and love. And even though life has handed them what it has, they still love God.

Today I encourage you to smile, laugh, sing, and love. And even though your circumstances may be what they are, love God. There is something to learn from the children, singing songs in the jungles of Ecuador.

Just Sing!

Brandon

Ecuador Update

Hello Everyone!

I'm writing from Baños, Ecuador! We are having a fantastic time. It has been an incredible experience for the students in our team.

We arrived in Quito, Ecuador on Friday night. After a nights rest we headed for Sucua, Ecuador by bus on Saturday morning. The ride to Sucua is beautiful but long. It takes about 8 hours to travel by bus due to distance and some road conditions. There are parts of the road that is nothing but river rock and mud. At one point our bus crossed through a shallow part of the river because the bridge had collapsed.

Arriving in Sucua Saturday night we unpacked at our hotel, then headed to the church to decorate for vacation Bible school. Early Sunday morning we dressed for church and prepared for our first day of vbs. During the first service the guys and I put together tents and prepared some of the outside for the vbs. Then we all attended the second service.

vbs started at 2:00 and kids were already flooding the place. Kids were everywhere and we had a great time trying to communicate southern Spanish :)

Monday and Tuesday the team spent the day working at the Hope House, a home for teenage girls that have been taken out of villages. At teenage years these girls are given the option to get married, be sold, or prostituted; but the Hope House gives them a future. We hauled graveld and shoveled, painted, planted, fixed roof leaks, tiled a bathroom, cut grass, etc. It rained all day on Tuesday so we were wet and muddy all day. Then on both Monday and Tuesday afternoon we were back it at again with vbs.

Wednesday was basically the same routine again, however after vbs Wed. night I had the privilege of preaching my first service with a Spanish translator. Let's just say it was an experience. It felt like it was my first time to preach. I haven..t felt that way in over 10 years.

Today we left from Sucua and are currently in Baños. The trip took about 3 hours and is only a stop until tomorrow when we head back to Quito for the night. Then on Saturday we will fly back to Birmingham.

There are so many details that I will discuss later. I will also post pictures as well. Keep our group in your prayers as we travel about 5 more hours tomorrow by bus, and then fly back Saturday. Sunday morning we will hit the ground running back in the states and in church!

Can'.t wait to see you all!

It's Going to be Worth It!

Brandon