We are  currently in a message series that we're calling "Unlocking Your Faith." During this series, COHers and any others interested are being challenged to enter into a daily quiet time for the next 30 days. For some it will be the first time they've ever attempted an intentional quiet time. Below is a quideline that may help you get it kicked started.

From time-to-time I receive something that’s too good not to pass on. The following is an excerpt from an online devotional that I receive. 

There's something to be said for basic, unadorned resiliency—the ability to get through, get over, and thrive after trauma, trials and tribulations. In this sense, sturdy beats stylish every time. USA Weekend did a cover story a few years ago on the subject of resiliency, asking the question, "Why do some people bounce and others break?"

Lyndon Johnson said, “There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few we can solve by ourselves.” I am continually amazed at the power and impact of community as it comes together to tackle a task. A case in point - - as of Sunday, 106 COH units…probably representing almost 300 plus COHers, have come together to commit a total of $365,000 of their resources toward the Growing Hope campaign. Wow!!! This is one powerful statement!

I recently read that the average person talks to himself or herself thousands of times a day. The article also noted that much of that self-talk is negative. “You’re so stupid!”  “Why can’t you do anything right? You’ll never get a break. You’ll never succeed. You don’t have a chance. You’ll never change.” These words reinforce what we believe about ourselves, and they influence the actions we take.

When I was in my early twenties, I sat down one day and made a list of all the things I wanted to accomplish in life. There must have been at least 100 items on the list (whatever happened to that list?) Some of them big, some of them small; some were personal goals; some were the goals of a young preacher. I honestly can’t even remember what all the listed items were. Maybe that’s because some of the items on the list weren't really heart-felt goals. They were just a temporary whim.

Three years ago the signs of deep neglect came to the surface in my life. In working to get Community of Hope birthed, I had invested 7 years of energy and time that had left me depleted. I had neglected my own health. Drained, passionless, and angry, my emotional, physical and spiritual health was anemic. I came close to walking away, not only from COH, but from the ministry that I had so deeply loved. In sharing my plight with COH leaders, they quickly required that I take a sabbatical (time away to reflect, reconnect, and refuel.) There was no guarantee that I would return. But in God's grace, I did. I am deeply grateful.

This past Sunday I spoke about the American Idol of "materialism." More specifically I referred to it in terms of "greed." American author Iving Kristol said, "Being frustrated is disagreeable, but the real disasters of life begin when you get what you want."

Allow me to share some of the article's excerpts. "How much sin should we expect in the church? We have gauges for other elements of church life. We generally monitor attendance. We know how many people are in small groups. Somebody counts the offerings. And often we don't just measure what we're interested in-we set goals. Has any of us heard of a church that set a goal for a 5-percent sin reduction next year?

Anatole France once said, "Nine tenths of education is encouragement." The same can be said for preaching, with a slightly different percentage; according to Paul, 33% of preaching is encouragement. He said, "But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." (1 Corinthians 14:3)

I think this applies to our conversations, as well. Here's my point. I need to always check the content of my sermons (and my conversations) to see how much time I spend encouraging others, as opposed to how much time I spend pointing out errors, or complaining about how bad things are, or warning about how bad things will get, and so on. People need encouragement.