Nov 9
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msilliman added a link contribution The Freedom In Not DefendingThe natural response when being attacked is to defend. We don’t have to learn how to defend, we automatically do it. It’s comes standard in all human makes and models. When we know we’re in the wrong, we feel the need to defend ourselves by trying to justify our actions. When we know we’re in the right, we feel the need to defend our reputation. We somehow have been taught that if we don’t defend ourselves we are admitting that we are in the wrong, that our silence is somehow an admission of ou… Read more »
Nov 5
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msilliman added a link contribution Seeing People Through The Lens Of Anticipated RedemptionJesus always sees people through the lens of anticipated redemption. Seeing them for who He intended them to be, rather than seeing them for who they really were. The Russian writer and philosopher Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “ To love someone means to see him as God intended him.“ It’s this idea of seeing every person and treating them as kingdom contributors before they even know what the kingdom is...[read more] Read more »
Nov 3
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msilliman added a link contribution Sanctifying ContentmentGod is sanctifying us daily. He’s at work, setting us apart for His special use and special service. Our level of contentment often stands in the way of our sanctification. For many years I was discontent with where God had me and content with where I had God. A major shift happened in my life about 7 years ago...[read more] Read more »
Oct 15
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msilliman added a link contribution It's not over until you hear the whistle blowThis video got me thinking…As followers of Christ, we need to play hard until the whistle blows. God holds the whistle and no one else. We play to please Him. When we stop playing before the whistle blows, we risk one of two things. 1) We risk celebrating a false win. Or… 2) We risk giving up just short of a win. [read more] Read more »
Oct 14
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msilliman added a link contribution Is our spiritual discipline connected with our physical discipline?Is there a connection between our spiritual fitness and our physical fitness? Why do many Christians(including myself) often devalue physical discipline? Every major Eastern Religion connects spiritual discipline with physical discipline. This is true in Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shintoism. But, when it comes to Christianity we don’t connect the two...[read more] Read more »
Oct 6
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msilliman added a link contribution U2 can leverage your influenceFor Bono, music is a means to accomplish his life mission, but is not the mission itself. He’s using his leverage as a musician to fulfill a greater mission. In other words, music is what Bono “does”, but a humanitarian is who he “is.” He uses what he does to fulfill who he is. As a follower of Jesus, you are called to leverage your influence to spread the gospel. That means whether you are a carpenter, electrician, salesman, stay at home mom, or a teacher. You are to use what you do to accompl… Read more »
Sep 11
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msilliman added a link contribution The echo of God's gloryThis is a recent picture captured by the Hubble telescope of what is known as the Butterfly Nebula. The wings of the butterfly are actually gases that are escaping this dying star. The wingspan of this planetary Nebula stretches for about 2 light years wide or a mind blowing 1,341,233,258.4 miles. The gases that have escaped from this star are ripping through space at a speed of about 600,000 miles per hour. Traveling at that speed, we could reach the moon in just 24 minutes. This amazing star i… Read more »
Sep 2
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msilliman added a link contribution The extra mileI don’t like that verse. I would much rather it say, “if someone forces you to go one mile, tell him to take a hike.” When someone makes an unreasonable request of me or tries to take advantage of me, my natural response normally isn’t “sure…no problem, in fact here’s double!” But yet, that’s exactly what Jesus expects us to do. Think about it…Jesus calls us to be fully available to be fully taken advantage of...[read more] Read more »
Aug 24
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msilliman added a link contribution A little dab will do you inI walked out to our pool yesterday only to find it turning green. I began to check the obvious stuff. I checked the chlorine dispenser. It was full. I attempted to turn on the pool filter. Nothing. Just a click and a hum. After some intense troubleshooting in the World’s largest library of Google, I found the problem. It was a small little $10 part called a “capacitor”. Basically, the capacitor provides a delay in the energy which allows the motor to start. The motor then runs the pump which cir… Read more »
Aug 5
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msilliman added a link contribution Always question the authority of the majorityMoses sent 12 spies into the promised land to do some reconnaissance. All 12 saw the same thing but only 2 came back ready for battle. 83% of the group voted to not move forward to claim the land that was promised to them by God Himself. 83% of the group cost the Israelites an additional 40 years of wandering in the desert. It was Mark Twain that said...[read more] Read more »
Jul 30
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msilliman added a link contribution Sitting on the spritual fenceThe prophet Elijah was chosen by God to confront the Nation of Israel about their idol worship. They viewed the different gods as a spiritual vending machine. They chose to worship whatever god best suited their situation. Elijah gathered all the people on Mount Carmel and said… [video] Read more »
Jun 11
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msilliman added a link contribution One Word That No Human Should Ever SayThere is a word that is capable of destroying your life. This one word has destroyed marriages. It has has leveled ministries. It has bankrupted people literally as well as spiritually. This word creates one of the biggest temptations known to man. This word causes you to make irrational and foolish decisions. It’s the worst four letter word that has ever been spoken but it’s the world’s favorite word...(read more) Read more »
Jun 4
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msilliman added a link contribution Dance like nobody’s watchingDavid was so thankful and overcome with joy that God had enabled them to return the Ark of God back to it’s rightful place. He was overcome with joy at God’s goodness. His joy could not be contained and it overflowed in to a wild dance before the Lord. It was one of those dances that would embarrass everyone with you...[video] Read more »
May 21
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msilliman added a link contribution Get Out of the Muck of the MundaneNothing keeps you in the muck of the mundane than the rut of routine. Change brings a lot of things with it…uncertainty, fear, loss of comfort. But why do we always look at the negative side of change? Change also brings new perspectives...more Read more »
May 20
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msilliman added a link contribution The Danger Of ComparisonsWe’re taught at a very young age to make comparisons in everything we do. Our educational system is based upon how we measure up with someone else. Our jobs are based upon comparisons. If our production is higher than what the benchmark is set at, we feel good about ourselves and if our production falls short we feel bad. Think about it…comparisons determine our grades, our accolades, our raises, our positions, our influence, and our social status. It stands to reason that since everything is a… Read more »
May 19
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msilliman added a link contribution More To The StoryStories are powerful. There is something about a good story that we connect with and relate to…especially someone else’s story. Nothing brings more clarity than someone else’s story... Read more »
Apr 20
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msilliman added a link contribution What Does Susan Boyle teach us about how God works?Why did Susan Boyle take the world by storm? I love this story because it’s a picture of God’s surprise reverse economy. It’s exactly how God works. Read more »
Feb 11
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msilliman added a link contribution Convenience Store ChristianityWhy is it that every gas station in America advertises their gas with a 9/10 at the end? The answer is, to sell more gas. When you drive by a gas station and see $1.95.9/gallon, you probably don’t think $1.96…you think $1.95. The gas station wants to give the perception that the gas is cheaper than it really is, so you buy more and from them. It’s a marketing tactic, and it works! Read more »
Feb 8
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msilliman added a link contribution Please Tell Me What I Want To HearI think one of the struggles that leaders face is not wanting to hear what they need to hear. Sometimes leaders fall in love with an idea, they call it vision, and they circumvent a very necessary part of the vision process…hearing from God and hearing council from Godly men. Listen…A vision not submitted to the process is not a vision…it’s... Read more »
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msilliman added a link contribution Now Or LaterMost of the time our level of generosity is determined by our present circumstances. For example... We allow our schedule to determine our level of service. We say…”When I have time left over then I’ll serve.”We allow our own level of happiness to determine the level of joy that we will pass on to others. We say… Read more »
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msilliman added a link contribution We Want The Benefits Of God More Than God HimselfSometimes we try way too hard and try to force God to move in us and through us. I think many times we want the benefits of God more than God Himself. We’re desperate to experience the benefits and see results that come from God moving, and we end up manufacturing the move of God. We end up doing what is described in Isaiah 29:13. We say... Read more »
Feb 7
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msilliman added a link contribution Don’t say, “If I had to do it all over again”Have you ever said, “If I had to do it all over again, I would (fill in the blank)”? I know I’ve said it at least a thousand times. But not anymore. That phrase is banned from my vocabulary and thrown into the abyss never to be spoken again…that is until... Read more »
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msilliman added a link contribution 5 warning signs that you’ve taken your eyes off of JesusHow do we know when we’ve taken our eyes off of Jesus? How do we know when our we drift from our God-given vision? Here are some warning signs that I have felt at different times in my vocation and ministry… Read more »
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msilliman added a link contribution What Do You Want Your Twitter Epitaph To Be?I can’t think of a better 140 character epitaph that I want to be said of me than what was said of David when he died… Read more »
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msilliman added a link contribution You are the keeper of YOUR visionEverybody has an opinion. If you ask people their opinion, they will gladly give it to you. If you don’t ask people for their opinion, they will gladly give it to you unsolicited. Opinions and advice are often handed out like free candy at a parade. It’s easy to give advice when you don’t have to bear the risk, take the fall, or when your butt is not on the line. You are the keeper of your own vision, not anyone else. Read more »