I love to personalize things with my "colors", cute sayings, etc. Well if you’re like me, you can now get Nike sneakers personalized in every way. Check it out.

I just get my praize on. I mean, from the moment this day began…I’ve just been so blessed. I started listening to A Purpose Driven Life on tape (good way to use my time going to and from work). Then I get home and I put on worship music while I clean (another great way to make the mundane holy) and let me tell you i just felt the presence of God so over the top. What was I listening to? Israel and New Breed -Live from Another Level. Pick it up you won’t be sorry. The song, "So Easy to Love You" will have you reaching for snot cleaner in a big way. When you think about it…it is so easy to love God. I mean He loves us when we are unloveable. He cares for us when others throw us to the curb. He knows everything about us and still wants to use us to get HIS message out…I mean really…who do YOU know that would love you THAT much. And the biggest thing of all –He thought we were valuable enough to SAVE…to DIE for so He can enjoy US in Heaven one day. H-E-L-L-O…It is so easy to love HIM. The hard part is being obedient to what He tells us to do but that doesn’t mean we don’t love him. However that struggle we have to keep working with since the Word does say that "if you love me, you’ll obey what I command" (John 14:15 NIV) or "If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you" (John 14:15 Message). Of course, there are a whole lot where those came from. Bottom line, I know I could feel like I love Him…its so easy remember…BUT it ain’t really anything until I do what He tells me to do. Dag, that is so hard. But He honors our attempts, I really believe that because He sees our heart’s motivation and intent. That is why fakin’ it is sooooooooo lame. He KNOWS what you and I are all about.

My son walks in on me when I am singing like I am on the Hillsong Worship Team or something…crying ALOT and I tell Him "I am worshipping God, letting God know I love Him so much and you can do that ANYWHERE." He kisses me and then turns to ask…"Even in the bathroom" and I said "Well, thankfully, God won’t mind…even in the bathroom." At which point, he joined me in singing.

wondered what God was thinking when he made your husband/wife? Well Natalie Grant put those thoughts into one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. On my way to work last week, I heard this on the radio (89.7 Spirit FM) and I was crying from start to finish. The words are here and a brief clip of the music is here. Planning a romantic evening, an anniversary, or just I LOVE YOU time…play this for him/her…here is the chorus so you can get an idea:

Chorus: I wonder what God was thinking

When He created you

I wonder if He knew everything I would need

Because He made all my dreams come true

When God made you

He must have been thinking about me

Meet Blanco "soy chulo" Rios. The newest addition to the Rios boxer family legacy. He is 4 months old but already bigger than my last boxer Silas. Just so you know, what makes seeing white boxers somewhat unusual is that, for a long time, the white puppies were not allowed to live.
People now believe that whites have as much right to life as any other creature already born, and the occurence of whites is common enough that you will always be able to find one if you wish. They are not "rare" as many people say they are. Almost every boxer litter has whites in it. So being a "social justice" kind of family and being that we didn’t want a fawn color just yet so we don’t compare to Silas…we got Blanco. We hope for manywonderful years with this cutie.

Essence magazine has a great article in Dec’s issue. Renita J. Weems whom I’ve personally met opens the doors wide to an issue that not only happens in the black church community.  Many women think domestic violence is ok "because it is their cross to bear." The article is called…SANCTIFIED & SUFFERING— Does your interpretation of God’s word make you a victim? An article to copy and keep on hand.

It’s Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova …find out about other ways to say Merry Christmas in many languages here.

Ok, here is the finished product with sides of mofongo and apple/cranberry sauce. Not bad for a first timer!

View this photo Leonard Sweet says it best in this Magna Charta about what we all long to hear one day, well done my good and faithful servant…I guess I want to be out of control.

This is a great site for all of you that are looking for information fast. It has links to sites for demographics, church statistics, etc. Check it out.

The best leaders have and continue to go on a journey to…know themselves. "One’s self is at the base of everything. Every action is a manifestation of the self. A person who doesn’t know him/herself can do nothing for others." –Eiji Yoshikawa as cited in The Leader Within-Learning Enough About Yourself to Lead Others.

One of the saddest things I’ve found in ministry and even in the secular workplace is how "unaware" people in leadership positions were about how they make others feel, how others feel about them, the message they send to those around them, etc. It has been especially saddening in church because there you at least expect people to have come to grips with their issues and be real about them. The beauty of the gospel is that God still wants to use us knowing all of our issues yet so many leaders still act like they are the best thing since sliced bread and it would behoove all those that come into their presence to bow down.

Bottom line, if you are in leadership, you NEED to constantly take the journey within. Yes, it is ugly sometimes because you see how messed up you really are and how you REALLY need Jesus but it also makes you a better leader. One that is able to understand the regular Joe or Moe or Juana and Pepe around you. You understand what makes you unique and thus especially called for the task and purposes God dreamed of when He made you. Yes, God had a something in mind when he thought of you and I. When we take the time to know who we are (which usually comes through the crap storms of life–sorry) you find the real you under the mask. It is liberating. It is exciting. And, uh, it IS painful. But the best leaders are those who continuously work on themselves and are authentic about the good, bad and ugly of life. They make others around them believe that this Christian walk is a walk that is doable because they share their model "messy spirituality" Ala Mike Yaconelli.

So I ask again, do you know who you are? If not, I say you best get crackin’ and start chippin’ away at that mask of composure. You’ll be a better leader due to it.