- livingthedash.tv

We are in the middle of a series at church called, Tightrope – Living in the Tension. This weekend’s message focused on the tension between strength and weakness.

Pastor Kerry used 2 Corinthians 12:7 – 10 where Paul describes one of his own weaknesses or “thorn in his flesh”.

Thought I would share a few of my notes from the message…….

• Your greatest weakness might just be your greatest gift.

• If you want to impress people, impress them with your strengths. If you want to influence people, influence them by admitting your weaknesses.

• A weakness is a gift because it……

• builds my character

• removes my complacency

• increases my compassion

• gives God credit

• God’s power works best in weak people.

• It is not about your weakness, it is about God’s greatness.

• Sometimes it takes God being all you have for you to realize he is all you need.

• Instead of focusing on how ordinary you are, focus on how extraordinary He is.

• Focus not on the giant of your problem, but on the greatness of your God.

• Your weakness doesn’t determine your worth.

At Woodlands Church this weekend, Pastor Kerry (@kerryshook) kicked off a new message series titled Talking Donkeys:  Strong Principles from Strange Passages.

Pastor Kerry used the story of Balaam from Numbers to illustrate 4 wrong paths that we often take instead of the right path that God has for our lives.

4 Wrong Paths

1 // The Path of Peer Pressure

2 // The Path of Personal Gain

3 // The Path of Pride

4 // The Path of Least Resistance

In my younger years, I often found myself following others on the wrong path of peer pressure.  These days, I find myself drifting down the wrong path of least resistance.

Which wrong path do you sometimes find yourself on?

What would you do if you had one month to live?

My pastor, Kerry Shook, asked that question in his best-selling book, One Month To Live.

Recently, the small town of Clinton, OK challenged themselves to live one month as if it were their last.

The town’s One Month To Live challenge was featured on CBS The Early Show this morning…..

Watch CBS Videos Online

So what would you do if you had one month to live?

I love to read.  If I’m not reading, I feel as if I’m not learning.  If I’m not learning, I feel as if I’m not growing.

Here is a quick recap of some books I read in 2008.

The Best of ‘08

Tribes // Seth Godin

Axiom // Bill Hybels

Crazy Love // Francis Chan

Revolution of Character // Dallas Willard & Don Simpson

Wild Goose Chase // Mark Batterson

The Screwtape Letters // C.S. Lewis

Great Books of ‘08

One Month to Live // Kerry & Chris Shook

Walking With God // John Eldredge

ID: The True You // Mark Batterson

Mavericks at Work // William C. Taylor & Polly Labarre

Talent Is Never Enough // John Maxwell

Simplicity // Bill Jensen

Also Learned From in ‘08

200 Pomegranates & An Audience of One // Shawn Wood

The Truth About You // Marcus Buckingham

Integrity // Dr. Henry Cloud

Churched //  Matthew Paul Turner

The Faith of Barack Obama // Stephen Mansfield

Lead Like Jesus // Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges

Which books did you learn & grow from in 2008?

Last month I posted What Men Need To Know About Women.  The 4 primary needs of women.

Today it’s What Women Need To Know About Men.  4 primary needs of men as listed by Pastor Kerry Shook in a message titled Quantum of Silence: Understanding Men.

1 // Respect

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.  Ephesians 5:33 (NIV)

2 // Adventure

A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy.  I came so they can have real and enternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.  John 10:10 (MSG)

3 // Companionship

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper who is just right for him.  Genesis 2:18 (NLT)

4 // A Transcendent Cause

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  1 Corinthians 3:12-14 (NIV)