Just read this article in the Dallas Morning News:

Couple Used Cheetos in Fight, Authorities Say

Shelbyville, Tenn. - Authorities said a couple got into a fight using cheetos.  The Bedford County Sheriff's Deparment said a 40-year-old man and 44-year-old woman became involved in a "verbal altercation."  Somehow, the orange puffy snacke were used in the assault.  Deputies said they were charged with domestic assault.  No one was hurt.

This is an older book.  I had to buy a used copy on Amazon.  It takes all of about 30 minutes to read but for those of us in the ministry it is well worth it.

The author David High has spent a good portion of his adult life in the ministry before moving to the business world.  This has given him a unique view of how ministers and business people can relate in a way that maximizes their impact on the world.

He feels that often ministers (priests) put pressure on businessmen (kings) to go into full time ministry if they really want to make a difference.  Light shares that some business men have been strategically placed in the world to help ministers to make a difference and that this is the most important role they could play.

In short, he says that priests cast the vision and that kings made the provision to help fulfill the vision.  If priests are not doing their job of casting a God sized vision kings will get frustrated and either create their own vision or pour their resources into things that have not eternal value.  On the other hand, if kings do not make provision for the priest’s vision, he will end up spending more time concerned about these matters than the things of God and ministering to people.

It is always a little concerning that in writing such a short review that people will get many wrong ideas about a book.  Let me just say that this book is on target.  Much of what he shared I knew was true but had never been able to capture it in such a concise manner.  I think any business person interested in kingdom work should read this book and every minister can benefit greatly from it.

I have been waiting to read the next book that I could strongly recommend to all my Christian friends.  This is it.  I have not finished it but I can tell you that even the first few pages are worth the time to read. 

Like some of the best books I have ever read, this one came out of nowhere.  I met with a friend recently that I had not seen in several years.  He gave me the book and I started it that day.  It is one of the books that makes you want to put it down after every sentence just to have time to digest what has been communicated.

Here is the punch line – we were all created to be a part of something big. 

Transcendence – the state of being beyond and outside of the ordinary range of human experience.

“We simply weren’t constructed to live only for ourselves.  We were placed here on earth to be a part of something bigger than the narrow borders of own survival and our own little definition of happiness.  The desire resides in each of us, and it is called transcendence.  To transcend is to be a part of something bigger.”

Since we are hardwired to experience this transcendence we will try many ways to experience it if we do not live with the purpose of glorifying God..  Those other ways appear to be more but in reality they are always less.

I will share more over the next few days but this is a GREAT book!

I am a die-hard Rangers fan.  It is so fun watching them this year.  I have to admit I really did not think this was going to be a banner year but so far I have been wrong.  The pitching is the best I ever remember and on top of that the team is just made up of a lot players who play hard and love the game.  Ron Washington seems like a good guy.  He gets along with the media and there is just something about him that makes you want him to succeed.

Keeping in mind the time that Darrin Oliver's era went up on a day when he did not pitch (change by the official scorer changed an error into a hit the day after Olver pitched) and recalling the time they had a reliever ptich on opening day giving up several runs without getting anyone out resulting in an ERA of infinitey, and the fact that they have had three managers that only lasted one day (I thought there was only one but there have been 3) - I am thouroughly enjoying their success thus far this season.

I heard this book referred to in a pod cast.  Even though the book was written in 1987, it has been revised and still very relevant for those who enjoy marketing.

This book got my attention immediately with the letter used in the introduction from a nice customer who never complains.  In the end, the customer describes himself as the customer who never returns.  The point is made that the vast majority of unsatisfied customers may not vocalize their dissatisfaction; they simply take their business elsewhere.  As it turns out only 4% of dissatisfied customers make their displeasure known to the business.  Coupled with the fact that it costs 6 times more to get a new customer than to keep an existing customer, it is easy to see why you want to have customers for life.

I enjoy some of the psychological information I glean from a book like this one.  For instance, people really only buy two things – good feelings and solutions to problems.  Also, most people don’t like to sold anything but they do appreciate someone who helps them buy a product or service that makes them feel good or solves a problem.  In addition, I had never really considered the fact that we really only experience four emotions.  We are either glad, sad, mad, or afraid.

As with any book, only certain people will enjoy this type of reading.  I love marketing and it relates to so many aspects of my life, that reading this book was not only helpful but enjoyable.

Tonight our two church campuses had a great celebration time at the Hurst Waterpark.  We began the night with baptisms.  One of our couples from Grapevine was baptized and three of the kids who attend.   Counting the people who were baptized last night at the Keller campus, we had over 20 people baptized this weekend. 

It is such a joy to see people who have made Christ Lord of their lives, proclaiming to the world that they have been forgiven.   I am so blessed to get to be a part of somehting that special.

As I visited with one of the young men who was baptized tonight, he shared with me that he had not been to church in 16 years when he started to attend FOTP.  He and his wife are both going to a Lifegroup.  God is changing their lives.  Please pray with me that in time we reach thousands of others like them with the message of God's reckless grace.

This is a simple concept that was brought back to my attention in reading The Power of Small.  Change is scary to us.  In fact, the fear of change is very natural.  The structure of our brain that governs the fight or flight response sounds the alarm whenever we want to make a departure from our safe, usual routines.  If we take small steps to bring about change in our lives, we can fool this part of our brain (the amygdala) into believing no real change is taking place. 

So what is it you want to change in your life today?   Whatever it is, let me encouarge you to take a baby step in that direction today, tomorrow and the next day.

"The greatest things ever done on earth have been done little by litlle. - William Jennings Bryan