Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Dear Friends and Family, 2020 has been a difficult year. Trials like this cause us to reevaluate what's most important in life. A few nights ago my daughter (Naomi The Writer) suggested we watch It's a Wonderful Life as a family.

 

George Bailey had high hopes for traveling the world and building huge buildings. He struggles to find contentment and ultimately feels like such a failure that he is ready to jump off a bridge and end it all... that's when he meets Clarence his guardian angel. This quote at the end of the movie really impacted me.

I often struggle to realize how empty success can be. Looking at success to find significance creates anxiety. At the end of my life, I won't wish for more success. I will yearn for connection with friends, family, and community. Reflecting on this gives me hope for resilience in 2021.

 

Below is my father's USMC Airborne picture from 1973. My dad embodied resilience. He was an unbeatable man. He taught me the value of friendship, duty, and responsibility. I've enjoyed getting to know some of his old friends and I look forward to spending more time with them in 2021.

Dad went home to be with the LORD on February 17, 2018. I miss him dearly, and I'll never forget the lessons he taught me.

- Be patient

- Be content and

- Live with integrity

 

My dad wasn't perfect, but he was a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ. I'm committed to doing my best to follow in his footsteps.

Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year! from the Johns Family

#ShareGrace

May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24-26

What mask are you wearing?

Lighthouse Family Fellowship - Sunday 09.13.20
Primary Scripture Reading: Acts 5:1-16, 2 Corinthians 10:12-14

Sound Doctrine is critical for making wise decisions and problem-solving...

All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God might be mature, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and the marrow, and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Terminal Learning Objectives: (Goal)

• Think about the relationship between identity and integrity
• Consider how our character impacts our beliefs and actions

Enabling Learning Objective: (You will be able to...)

• Use God’s Holy Word to identify masks
• Keep short accounts with sin 1 John 1:9 (volition, omission, commission)

Catechism:
Q. Who made you?
A. God Ref. Psalm 100:3; Genesis 1:27

Q. What else did God make?
A. God made all things. Ref. Acts 17:25; John 6:29; Psalm 33:6-7

Q. Why did God make you and all things?
A. For His own glory. Ref. Acts 17:26-27; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 43:7

Q. How can you glorify God?
A. By loving Him and doing what He commands. Ref. John 6:29; Matthew 5:16

Q. Why ought you to glorify God?
A. Because He made me and takes care of me. Ref. Psalm 23:1-6; Psalm 139:13-16

Q. Are there more gods than one?
A. There is only one God. Ref. Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:5-6

Q. In how many persons does this one God exist?
A. In three persons. Ref. 1 John 5:7

Q. What are they?
A. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Ref. Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7

Q. What is God?
A. God is a spirit, and has not a body like men. Ref. John 4:24

Q. Where is God?
A. God is everywhere. Ref. Psalm 139:7-12

Q. Can you see God?
A. No; I cannot see God, but He always sees me. Ref. Hebrews 4:13; John 2:25; Proverbs 15:3

Q. Does God know all things?
A. Yes; nothing can be hid from God. Ref. Psalm 139:1-10; Acts 15:18; Hebrews 4:1

Q. Can God do all things?
A. Yes; God can do all His holy will. Ref. Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:18; Philippians 2:13

Q. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?
A. In the Bible alone. Ref. Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Timothy 3:16; John 17:17

Beliefs: What you believe matters

Identity vs Integrity
Testimony: Straddling the fences

How do you write a good story?
Key phases of a good story
We are part of HIStory
Reading contest

Acts 5:1-16 NKJV

Lying to the Holy Spirit
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Continuing Power in the Church
12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Foundations:

Building your life on bedrock:

1. Conscience, Conviction, and Belief
Preference vs. Conviction
A belief is what you hold a conviction holds you
Faith vs. presumption
Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Your convictions are revealed through trials

2. Confidence
Boldness vs. fearfulness
Confidence that what I have to say or do is true and right and just in the sight of God.
“And now, Lord take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bondservant may speak Thy word with all confidence.” Acts 4:29

3. Consecration
Is your mind made up? Are you a living sacrifice? Romans 12:1-3, Galatians 2:20

Security vs. anxiety
Structuring my life around what is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away.
“Do not work for the food which perished, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which he Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set His seal.” John 6:27

4. Character vs. Charisma

Truthfulness vs. deception
Earning future trust by accurately reporting facts.
“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25
Responsibility vs. unreliability
Knowing and doing what God and others are expecting from me.
“So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12

Application:

Head

1. How God's World help me make wise choices and solve problems

2. How my beliefs accept my actions, the meaning of integrity

Heart
1. Does Jesus have all of me?

2. How does the fear of rejection affect your behavior?

Hands
1. Read and meditate on God’s Word to reduce confusion 

2. Base decisions on God’s Word

Helps

1. Help others read and memorize God’s Word

2. Bless others by doing what God’s Word says

Prayer:

Father, sometimes people and situations can be so frustrating. Help me to be more concerned about what You think of me, what I'm doing, saying, thinking, and feeling, instead of allowing myself to be influenced by the opinions of others...

From Week Seventh - Day 85 in

The Search for Significance Devotion by Robert S. McGee

Bonus 

How many followers do you have?

Today is Day 5 of the Johns Family discipleship journey through the book of Matthew. We started this quest to Know HIM better so we could be more like HIM. This passage caught my attention this evening. It appears to be Matthew's first encounter with Jesus. Take a look, what do you think he is thinking, what would you be thinking? can you put yourself into the story?

"As Jesus left Capernaum he came upon a tax-collecting station, where a traitorous Jew was busy at his work, collecting taxes for the Romans. His name was Matthew. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said to him. Immediately Matthew jumped up and began to follow Jesus. Later, Jesus went to Matthew’s house and made himself at home. Many other tax collectors and outcasts of society were invited to eat with Jesus and his disciples. When those known as the Pharisees saw what was happening, they were indignant, and they kept asking Jesus’ disciples, “Why would your Master dine with such lowlifes?” When Jesus overheard this, he spoke up and said, “Healthy people don’t need to see a doctor, but the sick will go for treatment.” Then he added, “Now you should go and study the meaning of the verse: I want you to show mercy, not just offer me a sacrifice. For I have come to invite the outcasts of society and sinners, not those who think they are already on the right path."

Matthew 9:9-13 TPT

3 Tips For An Effective Job Search

Whether this is your first job search or you are an experienced careerist odds are that you'll have several opportunities to get good at "The Hunt" over the course of your career. After all, "The Cheese Keeps Moving." We all need to be prepared for the unexpected.

I spent the first 15 years of my career working in a perceived secure environment. I never had to really sell myself to a prospective employer. I was in the military for 4 years, and then went to work for my dad for 11 year. One day my dad and I had a difference in opinions and he decided it was a good time for me to pursue new opportunities. In an instant, I found myself searching for "New Cheese." This was an unexpected surprise, and since that first transition I've experienced several other opportunities to "Move with the Cheese." I hope by sharing what I've learned through my experience can help others who might be facing the stress of job change. If you have never been "freed up to pursue new opportunities" that just means you have not been in the workforce very long. This post is about how to find work after the inevitable happens. You will need to search for work someday, I hope these 3 steps help.

Tip 1: Meet face-to-face with as many people as possible. You can't get a job without meeting face-to-face with real-live-people. Unfortunately, many people start by getting online and searching job boards. Technology has made it easy to look for jobs without meeting people face-to-face. However, it has been my experience that applying for positions online rarely lead to offer letters. It's like doing research instead of actually writing the paper, or shuffling sales leads instead of making the prospecting calls. If you are a door-to-door sales person you can't sell very much without going door-to-door and asking for the order. We must realize that a job search is very similar to being a door-to-door sales person. You must meet face-to-face with real-live-people.

Learn how to network. during my first job search I met a man named Bob Rule. He wrote a short simple book called "The Hunt For Green October.". I recommend this book to everyone I meet. In his book, he clearly describes the job search as a sales process. That's what it is, searching for a job is a full-time job. Sales people have to talk with lots of people, they have to communicate the value of their product, they have to ask for the order, and they have to stay positive and fight against discouragement. Some will buy, some won't, "so-what," next prospect. Set a goal for how many people you will call each day. Use a tool like Nimble to track your interactions with each person. Network, Network, Network. Offer letters only come from face-to-face meetings with real-live people. Remember you're not unemployed, you're underemployed. Your current job title is Sales Representative for You Inc. Find more great networking tips in Keith Ferrazi's book "Never Eat Alone."

Tip 2: Discover Your Strengths, Know Thyself, Communicate Your Value.
In his great book "Go Put Your Strengths To Work" Marcus Buckingham explains, you might not know exactly what your passionate about, but chances are good that you can identify what it's not.

In the back of the book, he gives you some simple 3x5 tear-out cards. The cards are labeled "like-it", "loathed-it". The ideas is to jot down experiences throughout your day. Identify experiences that really energizes you and experiences that leaves you feeling drained. This process helps you understand what you are good at. You are good at a lot of stuff. Don't let a layoff experience determine your value. You Matter.

Tip 3: "Crash The Chatterbox," "Stop Worrying And Start Living"
There are two common reason people have trouble communicating their value, and I've struggled with both.

1. They are not clear on what they are good at.
2. They need to "Crash The Chatterbox."

Establish a "Zero Tolerance On Negative Thinking" policy. We all hear voices, sometimes we hear positive voices and often we hear negative voices, black dog, white dog, which dog are you feeding. Jim Palmer calls it getting rid of head trash. Change your self-talk, People like to help people. Your best resource when searching for a job is the people you already know. Make a list of everyone you know. Start calling everyone on the list. Lastly, help yourself by helping others. Join a work-search team and start contributing.

Resources for Houston Job Seekers:
http://www.nwbc.org/betweenjobsministry/
https://sites.google.com/site/forestgreenjswt/
http://jobsupportministry.publishpath.com/