Dr. John Trent has written a fascinating book "The 2 Degree Difference." He is primarily known for his books on marriage (along with Gary Smalley) and his book "The Blessing." I had the opportunity to hear Trent speak this past year at a marriage conference in Austin.
The premise of the book is "how small things can change everything." The 2 degree idea comes about from driving a car. A driver makes 2 degree changes with the steering wheel. It is the 2 degree changes that keep your car between the white lines.
He relates a story about Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City. He served as mayor from 1994-2001. One of the things that faced Giuliani before he became mayor was the murder rate in the city. In 1990 the homicide rate was 2,245. In 1993, the year before Guiliani started as mayor, the murder rate was 1,946. His first year as mayor it went down to 1,561. During his last year as mayor the murder rate was 642. What brought about this change in the murder rate? Repairing broken windows.
Giuliani started making the minor changes of repairing broken windows around the city. He determined that "someone who wouldn't normally throw a rock at an intact building is less reluctant to break a second window in a building that already has one broken."
Trent's idea is we can begin to make positive changes in our lives and in our relationships by 2 degrees - in small changes. What would happen in 2009 if we made these small changes?
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Reflections
This Christmas I was overwhelmed by how important family is to me. A couple of days before Christmas day, my immediate family exchanged our gifts. I have said it before, but let me say it again: I am a blessed man.
God has given me much more than I deserve. He has blessed me with a extraordinary life-partner and three great children (a daughter and son-in-law, and a son).
I am grateful for the gifts that I received, but I was overwhelmed with how God has blessed me with my family. Maybe it is a sign of old age or maybe it is the first Christmas without our parents. But family is important.
At creation God established the home and the church. God knew that we needed to be surrounded by family. On the sixth day of Creation God created male and female. Then in Genesis 2, God says: "It is not good for man to be alone." God knew our need for family.
On Christmas Eve, our immediate family traveled to the Metroplex where we were able to spend time with my brother and his immediate family and my wife's sister. I am grateful that God provided me with family. We (and I include myself) take family for granted. Thank God for your family and enjoy spending quality time with them.
God has given me much more than I deserve. He has blessed me with a extraordinary life-partner and three great children (a daughter and son-in-law, and a son).
I am grateful for the gifts that I received, but I was overwhelmed with how God has blessed me with my family. Maybe it is a sign of old age or maybe it is the first Christmas without our parents. But family is important.
At creation God established the home and the church. God knew that we needed to be surrounded by family. On the sixth day of Creation God created male and female. Then in Genesis 2, God says: "It is not good for man to be alone." God knew our need for family.
On Christmas Eve, our immediate family traveled to the Metroplex where we were able to spend time with my brother and his immediate family and my wife's sister. I am grateful that God provided me with family. We (and I include myself) take family for granted. Thank God for your family and enjoy spending quality time with them.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Merry Christmas
Christmas is a special time of year. I love Christmas music. I have several Christmas CD's, though I haven't had much time to listen to them this year. It is exciting to listen to new arrangements of familiar carols.
Even though Christmas is a special time of year, we get too involved in the hustle and busyness of the season. We rush from store to store trying to find the perfect gift. Added to the shopping we are busy with parties, musicals, church, work, etc. We get so busy with these good things that we often overlook the best thing.
We must not allow these things to keep us from worshiping THE GIFT. There is a lesson we came learn from the shepherds who can to the manger. In Luke 2:16-20 the Word of God says: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
The Shepherds "spread the word" about what they had seen and experienced. Have we become so calloused that we forget what it was like to have experienced the Savior? Return to the Manger and worship the Savior.
Even though Christmas is a special time of year, we get too involved in the hustle and busyness of the season. We rush from store to store trying to find the perfect gift. Added to the shopping we are busy with parties, musicals, church, work, etc. We get so busy with these good things that we often overlook the best thing.
We must not allow these things to keep us from worshiping THE GIFT. There is a lesson we came learn from the shepherds who can to the manger. In Luke 2:16-20 the Word of God says: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
The Shepherds "spread the word" about what they had seen and experienced. Have we become so calloused that we forget what it was like to have experienced the Savior? Return to the Manger and worship the Savior.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Congratulations
This weekend my son-in-law will be graduating from Texas A&M University. It has been four 1/2 long years for him. In those years he has had challenges, adversity, and hard times. In those years he has worked several hours a week, taken classes, studied, and married my daughter (you will have to ask Clay if his marriage is a challenge, adversity or a hard time).
Seriously, it has been a hard road for him, but he has persevered. It makes me proud to see how he has overcome all that he has faced. If you look in the dictionary for perseverance you should see Clay's picture.
Even though I am a Baylor Bear, I must say that I am proud to have two graduates who are Aggies. That leaves just one more (hint, hint) to graduate. Hopefully, we will be in this position in two more years.
Clay, congratulations for your accomplishments. I am proud of you.
Seriously, it has been a hard road for him, but he has persevered. It makes me proud to see how he has overcome all that he has faced. If you look in the dictionary for perseverance you should see Clay's picture.
Even though I am a Baylor Bear, I must say that I am proud to have two graduates who are Aggies. That leaves just one more (hint, hint) to graduate. Hopefully, we will be in this position in two more years.
Clay, congratulations for your accomplishments. I am proud of you.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Reflections on New England
I have just returned from a Mission Project with the Singing Men of South Texas. You may want to peruse the "photo gallery" on the SMOST website for pictures of the trip.
One of the things that God impressed on me last week was the "lostness" of New England. Only about 2 - 3% of New Englanders attend an Evangelical church. As I was trying to process that information I was reminded of the influence the area has had on Baptists and missions. Two New Englanders, Luther Rice and Adonirum Judson were early pioneer missionaries. Their influence on missions and the future of the Cooperative Program were critical for Southern Baptists. How far has New England moved away from their mission-minded past.
In the Boston area, there are some 80 universities they comprise over 300,000 college students. There are some of our nation's top universities included in that number (Boston University, Tufts, MIT, Harvard). Yet, with all of those students and universities, Baptists are struggling to make an impact. The colleges will not allow Baptists to be on campus, so one of our missionaries, is working to reach college students through house churches. She has been able to start 10 house churches in the area.
It was also in New England in the early 1700's that the First Great Awakening began. That awakening began primarily with college students. Could God be using the churches, pastors, and missionaries to bring another Great Awakening to New England?
One of the things that God impressed on me last week was the "lostness" of New England. Only about 2 - 3% of New Englanders attend an Evangelical church. As I was trying to process that information I was reminded of the influence the area has had on Baptists and missions. Two New Englanders, Luther Rice and Adonirum Judson were early pioneer missionaries. Their influence on missions and the future of the Cooperative Program were critical for Southern Baptists. How far has New England moved away from their mission-minded past.
In the Boston area, there are some 80 universities they comprise over 300,000 college students. There are some of our nation's top universities included in that number (Boston University, Tufts, MIT, Harvard). Yet, with all of those students and universities, Baptists are struggling to make an impact. The colleges will not allow Baptists to be on campus, so one of our missionaries, is working to reach college students through house churches. She has been able to start 10 house churches in the area.
It was also in New England in the early 1700's that the First Great Awakening began. That awakening began primarily with college students. Could God be using the churches, pastors, and missionaries to bring another Great Awakening to New England?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Beantown
I will be leaving Wednesday morning with twenty or so people representing the Singing Men of South Texas. We will be singing for the New England Baptist Convention in Marlborough, MA. It is outside of Boston (Beantown, The Walking City).
The New England Baptist Convention is celebrating their 25th anniversary as a convention and the 50th anniversary of Southern Baptist work in that area. We will be providing the music for all the sessions of the convention, singing in churches on Sunday morning, and leading in a Thanksgiving Praise Sing on Sunday afternoon.
Your prayers for our safety and for the Lord to use us while in Boston will be appreciated.
The New England Baptist Convention is celebrating their 25th anniversary as a convention and the 50th anniversary of Southern Baptist work in that area. We will be providing the music for all the sessions of the convention, singing in churches on Sunday morning, and leading in a Thanksgiving Praise Sing on Sunday afternoon.
Your prayers for our safety and for the Lord to use us while in Boston will be appreciated.
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