outward

viewing life through an outward focused lens means:
others are more important than self
the mission is the vision...go
the vision is the mission...reach
reaching out to others with kindness, love and care is the bottom line
intentionally positioning yourself to care for those within your sphere of influence
joining others to serve your way into the heart of your community
knowing God and making Him known
love is expressed in tangible, practical ways



Dave Workman the lead of Cincy Vineyard has written over 260 outward focused thoughts at one time they were on a radio station...hopefully he will connect them to podcast

click workman link on sidebar for outward focused thought

outward focused life

looking at life through an outward focused lense is both interesting and a challenge...if you have an outward focus you:

notice the unnoticeable
several times i've gone to lunch or dinner with others and noticed people in need...to look through natural eyes they seem to have it together, maybe just a bit down, or look pretty normal...however, looking deeper there is somethng going on at a deeper level...recently i've been able to pray for a few people i've noticed...here is one story worth repeating...

ripped jeans

years ago I went to my favorite restaurant, the Screaming Coyote, to purchase a Forklift burrito, the biggest ever made, to bring home to share with my wife. While waiting I noticed a young mother with her child. The mother was dressed in typical alternative dress, appropriately ripped jeans, T-shirt and Doc Martin sandals. She was wearing more than one earring and looked like the typical post modern. While she was digging in to her purse to find the correct change to purchase her food, her baby sat in his stroller and stared into space. He did not look well. I then noticed a tube running to his nose. I thought, ‘I need to pray for the child.’ It was a crowded night so I waited for my order and observed that the mother had moved to the sidewalk tables. I paid for my burrito and nachos and strolled outside. I introduced myself and asked the mom about her child mentioning that I had noticed the tube. She explained that the baby had been born premature and had some major health problems since the birth and that the tube was a feeding tube. Interestingly she also informed me she had named the child a biblical name. At some point in the conversation I asked if I could pray for her and the baby. Unsurprisingly she affirmed by saying something like, ‘That would be nice. Thank you very much’. Before I prayed I asked permission to place my hand on the child’s head and then prayed a please give health to baby and grant wisdom and strength to mom type of prayer. I did notice the mother had tears rolling down her face. At the end of the prayer, I said, ‘Thanks for letting me pray.’ She responded tearfully by saying, ‘No, thank you for praying.’ Her next response ripped my heart she said, ‘I didn’t think anybody cared.’ Stunned, I affirmed God’s care and love for her and her child and told her about a great outward focused church where I knew she could find acceptance. The only problem, it was miles away.

As I walked away I pondered the situation. I was living in Pensacola, host of a ‘city wide revival’ that had been going on for over two years, and here was a person who never knew somebody cared for her life. I thought about Jesus and the many times compassion moved Him to action. He was graceful and caring toward the people who needed health and healing. I then thought, ‘When will the church ever be a go church instead of a come to church? When will the church ever become outward focused instead of inward focused?’ Something happened in my life that day I can never explain. I did know I wanted to be part of a church that cared and welcomed people where an alternative young mother and child could find refuge.

Antidote for unbelief

Antidote for Unbelief:

∑ Be careful and take heed.

Heb 3:12 Take heed, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

guarding our heart is important...Becoming jaded, cynical, and skeptical is common in the days we live...focusing on the positive, the glass is half full is much better than to focus on the negative the glass is half empty...many times small irritations creep in to attempt to shift our focus from what is good, and right and worthy of our though life.

∑ Hold firmly to your profession

Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

What did you first profess / confess when you first connected to Jesus Christ? Many confessed their sins asking for forgiveness and proclaimed him as their Lord...

here are a few related verses...that encourage the believer to continue to hold fast to the saving name of Jesus.

Ro 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ro 10:10
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Ro 14:11
It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"

Php 2:11
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

∑ Fix your sight / heart / affections on Jesus

Heb 12:1-2 let us run the race with endurance the race that is set before us fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith.

Heb 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Heb 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.

∑Encourage others daily

Heb 3:13 encourage one another day after day as long at it is still called today lest you become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin

to encourage someone means to pour courage into their heart. I've noticed an amazing thing, when i encourage another person, somehow i am encouraged.

noticing others, getting our eyes off ourselves is key to being a good encourager, realizing the universe doesn't revolve around our lives is the first step. He must increase, I must decrease...was John the Baptist's principle...self absorbed people invite rejection from others...no one wants to around self centered people who talk about their success, their inflated view of their talents and gifting

...how do you know you are in the place of self-absorption...listen to you conversation and how many times you say, me, my, i and how many times you promote yourself before others...if you are doing this you are setting yourself up for rejection.

on the other hand...people who consistently encourage others
listen more than they speak
ask wondering questions out of genuine interest
seek opportunities to show care to others in practical ways
serve without seeking a reward or receiving kudos
have a humble attitude
promote others above themselves
are patient
bold enough to pray for others in a gentle way withour fanfare
are an inspiration
are accepting
attract others
are positive
have a healthy worldview

what's in a car wash

washed several cars yesterday...we do a reverse wash...go the coin operated car wash with rolls of quarters...big sign saying 'free car wash...no kidding!'...when people pull in feed the quarters into unit...offer card and mention 'hey, we're drying cars today'...with terry towels dry the car...
"
one lady with kids pulled in 'you're doing what?' 'we're doing good today, showing God's love in a practical way.' as she is getting her car dried, I asked, 'what's it feel like to have your car washed for free?' she replies, 'I feel like crying, no one in the USA ever does things like this.' I reply, 'when Jesus was on the earth he washed feet, so we wash cars.'

another guy pulls in, we note his trunk, you could put a house in his trunk...we pay for the car to be washed. and dry his car...he notices one of our team members and asks to speak to him...they have a private conversation...our stunned team member tells the story, the guy in question, apologized to the man for his involvement with his daughter a few years ago...our team member did great job of controlling himself and representing Jesus... what are the odds that this connection would happen at a car wash...pattie, my wife, commented, 'it's the kindness of God that leads to repentance.' somehow having his car washed prompted the change of heart in the young man.

a few years ago in naples fl, another car wash a guy pulls in with nelson county kentucky plates...i asked if he lived in bardstown, ky he said yep...i told him i lived in mt.washington ky, he asked if i knew doc bowen, i mention i'm his son...great conversation about what i was doing in naples fl washing cars in Jesus name...told my story and asked the man to tell friends in ky what doc bowen's son was doing one day in FL.

hey, what's in a car wash?

reading your guages... full? or empty?

The Fuel Gauge
I think this message is encouraging you might want to have a listen...



“The speed at which I was doing the work of God was destroying God’s work in me.” - Bill Hybels

If your output exceeds your input great will be your downfall.

Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.

I mention 3 things:


Warning light: Check your fuel gauge. signs that you may be running out of gas

Tip: a practical application

Refuel: Refuel your tank. a passage from the Bible

you can listen to the message by going to http://daytonvineyard.com/messageAudio/20060719.mp3

and get the notes from
http://www.daytonvineyard.com/media.php

faith continued

4. See with the eyes of faith.

Faith looks beyong our circumstances....faith says it is not final until God has the final say...Faith sees beyond the natural into the supernatural...

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen (God and his promises, His faithfulness…) We walk by faith not by sight.

A time will come when we will have to appropriate what God has promised to us...
by faith.

Peter sank, looking at his circumstances forgetting to hold on to His word...Come.


5. Confession of our faith is powerful.

Confession is faith’s way of expressing itself.
Confession is to say the same thing God says about a situation, circumstance, etc. It takes time to slow down, listen and to respond...when we are in trouble it is especially hard to calm the emotions to pause.

Worship, giving God honor by singing praise and worship to Him is our faith set to music.

Jonah looked from where he was...in the belly of a fish...and said...I will turn again to the temple and I will worship...we need to lift up our heads from the place where ever we are and worship, by faith.

Jonah 2:9 I will sacrifice with the voice of thanksgiving.

David said...
Ps 50:14-15
Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay your vows unto the Most High, and call upon Him in the day of trouble: I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.

When are we to praise God? In the good times and in the bad times especially when we are in the trama of trouble.

Paul and Silas worshipped while in chains...God delivered them...they looked beyond their trouble to acknowledge God as worthy to be praised.

The full exercise of faith means that we think faith,
speak faith, act faith.
FF Bosworth

fun

great weekend ...

pulled off a fun, uplifting single parent and grandparent raising children meal... 33 of the 36 who rsvp showed up... a three course meal, with a free oil change card, hollywood video bucket of popcorn, candy bars and a free video card... Doug shared the vision of helping and where we are headed with our care, and desire to meet practical needs.


FunFest was ok...disapointed in the community turn out but we also have a goal to strengthen 20 churches this year...the church we helped was very encouraged and the pastor had tears in his eyes at the end when he thanked us for coming...we had a bumper crop of vols...so we are moving forward...

380 backpacks have been picked up for filling...it took just 2 weekends to have people purchase the backpacks and begin to bring them back...we charge $5 just enough to cause people to remember they purchased the packs and they need to fill em up...

we use the funds to support making christmas dreams come true 2006...

I slept to 11 am today...think i'm needing a vacation...