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10 Things You Need To Know About Online Marketing

March 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I’m going to be straight with you.  I am Going to tell you the honest to God truth.

1. If your content sucks, nobody will read it.

2. If you redo some one else’s stuff, nobody will read it.

3. If you try to get everyone to buy your crap, nobody will read it.

4. If you lie, nobody will read it.

5. If your page is covered with affiliate links, nobody will read it.

6. If you are a tool, nobody will read it.

7. If you try to get rich quick, you will go broke.

8. If you think you can make a name for yourself, don’t.  You are going up against people who have made millions of dollars doing other things.  They already had a name for themselves before they started selling you their stuff.

9. If you can’t make friends, you will never ever make money blogging.  You need people to trust you before they buy your stuff.

10. It is not going to happen over night.  For some it will, for most it won’t.  Deal with it and write the next post.

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: , , , ,

Real Success

March 7, 2011 By 1 Comment

Much of what we see in the news today has to do with the rich getting over on the poor, or the poor getting freebies from the government, or the disappearing middle class.  Today in the Life Journal Reading Plan from YouVersion the reading is from Deuteronomy 5:28-29.  God, speaking to Moses say,

Moses, I heard what the people said to you, and I approve. 29 I wish they would always worship me with fear and trembling and be this willing to obey me! Then they and their children would always enjoy a successful life.

Some people will read that and think, “That is exactly what I needed to hear.” While others will read it and think, “I am not worshiping a God who I have to tremble in front of.”  Don’t Miss The Point! God wants to be first in your life because he loves you and wants what is best for you.  He doesn’t have to be, he wants to be.  When we put other things like money and worldly success in front of him we lose focus and our lives become unbalanced.  After we have put God first then everything else comes into perspective.  We see money as a tool not as a status symbol.  Our house becomes a home not an asset to be traded.

I think real success, the most important part of putting God first, is being able to be ourselves instead of trying to be someone we think the world wants us to be.

 

Are You Putting God First?  Are You Letting Him Lead You?

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Spend Your Time Wisely

February 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Jesus spent three years training twelve men to live, and breathe what he taught them.  He never wrote a book, he never tweeted what he was doing, and he did not spend one second on facebook.  Two thousand years later we use his birth to demarcate our western timeline.  We are changed by Christ and his teaching those few people, and them teaching a few people all of which took place for over three hundred years until the Roman Empire took over the church as we know it.

My point is this. We have all the books we need to read.  Let’s start building relationships and really pouring our lives into those we come into contact with.

Who are you really pouring your life into?

Are you focusing on the few, or the many?

Are you trying to teach success, or how to truly live?

Filed Under: Leadership Basics Tagged With: , , , ,

There Is Always A Price To Pay

February 8, 2011 By 4 Comments

No matter what we do in life someone has to pay for it.  Yes, even our free school system is not free.  Our taxes pay for schools and public services.  Our income is taxed to pay for the federal government.   What we bring home pays for our house and utilities.  Everything we do has a price.  When I was younger I did not think I needed an education.  I joined the military and believed that I was going to get by there without much hassle, but my military career only lasted four years.  Six years after I left the military I reentered college at 31 years old and finished my degree at 35.  John Maxwell said,

“Everything has a price.  You can either pay now or you can pay later, but you will pay.”

This fact became very real to me as I  read through the book of Leviticus in the bible.  God laid out a system to show the Israelites that every thing they did had to be paid for.  Every time they fell short of Gods standard, they had to offer a sacrifice to make up for that sin.  Much of my life has been spent not wanting to believe that what I do has consequences. I know now with looming Dr’s visits that I am going to pay some sort of price that remains to be seen, but I will pay for my stupidity.

Romans 6:23 summarizes Leviticus saying, “Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death.”  Everything we do has a price.  Whether it is hard-drinking, womanizing, premarital sex, porn, theft, or just arguing with your kids;  every thing has a price.  I thank God that everything also has been paid for in the death of Jesus.  Jesus paid for our sin on the cross.  The last part of Romans 6:23 says, “But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.” No matter how bad we have been, no matter how much we have fallen short of God’s ultimate standard, Jesus will stand between us and God and say I have paid for that in full.

Scripture taken from The Message

Image used under cc2.0 license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharpstick/

Filed Under: Discipleship, Leadership Basics Tagged With: , , , , ,

Celebrating Lent As An Evangelical

February 3, 2011 By 2 Comments

Celebrating Lent as an Evangelical can be awkward but also eye-opening.  It can be awkward because most of the people you know will think you are weird or trying to earn God’s favor.  It can be eye-opening because you can learn what really has a hold on your life, and how far you are from putting Christ first.

My family observed lent for the first time in 2008.  We gave up television and video games and spent much more time praying and studying the bible together. We fast for six days taking Saturday or Sunday off because there are actually 46 days in the seven weeks from Ash Wednesday to Easter.

Wikipedia says,

Lent in the Western Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Conventionally, it is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. The forty days represent the time that, according to the Bible, Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.

Why Celebrate Lent?

While it is not required that we celebrate Lent as Christians, and yes we can take forty days and fast any time we want.  For me doing it during this time helps prepare for Easter and the celebration of Christ rising again.  For many of us abstaining from anything could be a big breakthrough in our faith because we over indulge so much in American Christian society.

What Do You Need To Do?

The simplest answer is find something that has become a habit at least or a sin at worst in your life and give it up (fast from it) for the weeks between Ash Wednesday and Holy Week (February 22nd – April 7th 2012).  Use the time you would have spent eating, watching television, or playing video games to get closer to God through prayer and bible study.

Don’t make it a law.  We like the idea of taking one day off because it helps put what we are doing in perspective.  We are not doing it to earn God’s favor, but to use the time we would spend doing other things to get closer in our relationship with Jesus.

I hopes this helps, and If you do Celebrate Lent and an Evangelical leave a message in the comments below

Filed Under: Discipleship, Personal Growth Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Dealing With People Who Hurt Us

January 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I come from a long line of grudge holders.  I have had to deal with it my whole adult life.  If someone hurt me it’s over for them.  They go on the list and I treat them like they don’t exist. This has been the biggest work God has been doing in my life over the last couple of years.  Opening me up and laying out the bad attitude I thought was gone.

Here are a few things from 2 Corinthians 2:3-11  I’m working on.

1.  Deal With The Sin. That is not something I or most people want to hear, but that is what Paul did, and is doing in this letter.  He did it in the previous letter by challenging those who were challenging him. And in this letter he is telling those who are shutting out someone who has repented to let them back in to the church community.

If you really have been hurt, then go to that person and talk to them about what you believe they have done. Here is where I fall into a problem. I wait until I am so mad, all I can do is scream and yell when I try to deal with the person. That’s the wrong way to do it. I know now that it has to be done in love, and prayerfully. Not with a baseball bat and curse words.  There is a possibility that the person who hurt you does not even know.

2.  Forgive those who we believe have hurt us. Forgiveness is hard. Peter came up to the Lord and asked, “How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?” Jesus answered: Not just seven times, but seventy times seven!  When we forgive someone we are releasing that person from wronging us.

Jonathan Falwell Said this, “Chosing to forgive faces the sin and deals with it rather than avoiding it… You must choose to say, ‘No matter how many times I remember the pain you caused me, the emotions I felt surrounding the situation in the past, I have accepted your confession and I have promised that I will never hold that sin to your account again.

3.  Do Your Best To Live With Them.

Romans 12:19-19 says If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

My good friend Ken says that most people miss that first part, “If It Is Possible.”  There are people you will meet that it is not possible to live at peace with.  That’s okay.  You do your part to live at peace and if it is really sin, and you have truly been wronged God will handle it. You live in peace with that person even if living at peace means not having contact. That’s what you do.

4.  Show them your love.

John Piper says, in his book Desiring God that, “Love abounds when your joy is mine and my joy is yours…love is what exists between people when they find their joy in each other’s joy.”

When you get your pleasure out of the other person’s joy, that is love for that person.  Most of the wrong we face is not wrong at all.  The people at the local fast food place don’t get your order wrong just because it’s you, they do it to everyone.  The line at the grocery store is not slow because you are there, it’s slow because there are a lot of people in trying to check out.

Can you imagine spending your life trying to help others find joy in their life. Isn’t that what being a Christian is about? When someone really knows the joy that comes from a relationship with Christ we see their true joy.  This real love helps you to see things in a greater perspective not your personal perspective.

Take time this week to help others find their joy. Whether it is your spouse, your children, friends, coworkers, or someone who has wronged you, take time to this week to help someone else find joy. And you will see your grievances begin to disappear.

 

Image used under cc2.0 license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/monoglot/

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Using S.O.A.P. Method For Bible Study

January 18, 2011 By 6 Comments

We have started  2011 at New Journey Church Jacksonville by setting a goal for all member to read through the bible in a year.  I wanted to do more than read so I started searching for bible study methods I have not used before.  I came across the S.O.A.P. bible study method and thought I would share it a little here.

S. Scripture – Read the scripture you have chosen for the day or that period what ever you are doing.  Take your time and really read not skim.  Pick out verses that speak to you or ones you would like to dig deeper into.

O. Observe – Think about what you have read.  Think about the people, what would they see, feel, smell, or whatever you want to add to their experience.  Write these observations down in your own words.  I like to write like I am writing to my second grade son.

A. How does it Apply - Three questions you can ask from what used to be http://thetwitterbiblestudy.com/ but is now at Greg Surratt are

What did you learn about God?

What did you learn about yourself?

What did you learn about life?

Any question that can help you apply what you learned to your life.

P. Pray - Pray that God can help you use what you learned, teach others, and direct your life.  Listen and just take time for Him, not just you.

image used under cc2.0 license from flickr.com user  http://www.flickr.com/photos/modernemily/

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Filed Under: Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do You See Yourself As A Servant?

January 17, 2011 By 1 Comment

Luke 17:10b says, “When you’ve done all you should, then say, ‘We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty.’”

I love to serve.  I also love to be served.  I think I would fit right in with Jesus’ disciples when they asked to sit at places of honor in his kingdom.  This is a hard scripture to swallow as an American.  We live in the, “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”  Where everyone’s a winner because we can’t make anyone feel bad.  But in the end, the more we give (or lose) of ourselves, the better off we are.

So the next time you decide to berate the girl taking orders at Wendy’s because your order is taking to long (Sorry I just watched this happen so it is fresh in my mind) think about what it means to serve  her while she is serving you.  We need to remember that in reality we deserve nothing, and will have nothing when we are gone.  Give back what you can while you are here, even if it is just a smile for a cashier.

 

image used under cc2.0 license from http://www.flickr.com/photos/epsos/

Filed Under: Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: , , , , ,

Great Customer Service

January 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I shop at Publix for a reason, but yesterday proved my loyalty.

I had to run in and pick up two cans of corn and a twelve pack of coke’s(In the south small “c” coke’s means any canned soda).  I saw a sign that said,  ”Get these chips free with purchase of 20pk or larger Coke products” so I picked up a 20pk and the chips and headed for the checkout.  When the cashier scanned the two items she told me I needed a coupon to get the chips free.  Upon hearing this a manager and the grocery bagger both rushed off to find the coupon so I could get the item free.

Having worked in the customer service industry for fifteen years I know it is the little bit extra that makes the difference in good and great customer service.  Publix has alway provided great customer service so they always get my business first.

Filed Under: Personal Tagged With: , , ,

Do You Hunger And Thirst After Real Righteousness

September 21, 2010 By 2 Comments

Wow! Steve that’s a great question, you may be thinking to yourself.  Of course, you could be thinking that’s a stupid question why is he asking it?  My reasoning is this, I have been asking it to myself more and more recently.  Lukewarm.  In Crazy Love, Francis Chan gives an overview of what a lukewarm Christian looks like. I think I fit into several of his descriptions, and that bothers me.  As I was reflecting over the last couple of weeks, this verse kept coming to my mind.

Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, because they will be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)  This is not some kind of false righteousness.  This is not the piety of a person that wants to look good to hold his or her job. This is not self righteousness that proves you are better than everyone else.  THIS IS NOT A SUNDAY MORNING RIGHTEOUSNESS.   This is righteousness that hurts.  This is righteousness that gives.  This is righteousness that shares in the lives of others, not because they are our friends, but because they need to see Jesus at work.

What is real righteousness?  Real righteousness is seeking the face of God and his will for your life. Trusting in Jesus and letting him guide and direct you.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

Long for God in all you do. Brother Lawrence in The Practice of The Presence of God says,

“I make it my priority to stay in His holy presence, wherein I keep up a simple attention and a fond regard for God, which I may call an actual presence of God.”

Brother Lawrence wanted to see the face of God in all he did.  Whether it was peeling potatoes or washing dishes, he sought God. If we diligently seek him we will be rewarded by him.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  (Hebrews 11:6)

Do You Hunger and Thirst After Real Righteousness?

It is not easy, but it is simple.  If you came to Christ late in life like I did you have spent many years thinking about things other than God.  You have put many things in His rightful place in your life so it will take time to learn to love him as we should.  If you don’t know Christ I urge you to ask him to show himself to you.  That is the best place to start.  If you have asked Jesus to come into your life then you can start by asking him to help you love him more.  Don’t force it, because when you fail you may give up.  Just relax and accept that you may stumble and possibly fall, but if you truly hunger and thirst after him you will be rewarded.

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