brandon bowers :::

What Are You Crawling Towards?

My little princess, Brinkley, started crawling this week.

After weeks of urging and encouragement (mostly from Ashley because she’s an amazing mom) Brinkley looked at the toy that Ashley had laid precisely 4 feet in front of her. She looked at the toy, back at us, back at the toy, us, toy…

And she just went for it. And she crawled. Awesome.

She had the ability to crawl. Now she had the motivation.

She wanted the toy. It took crawling to get it.

You know, we are wired the same way.

So many of us have the ability to do things far beyond what we ever seek to achieve. We have the ability to do certain things yet what is lacking is a motivator. A “toy” so to speak that we want to get our hands on.

You see, Brinkley wasn’t trying to crawl. She was only after the toy. Crawling happened along the way.

If we set our minds on things that we want to achieve, we will develop certain disciplines along the way. It will just happen in the pursuit. I’m reminded of Paul telling the early Christians to “set their minds on things above” (Col. 3:2). By setting your mind on a goal or motivator, other things will begin to develop in order for you to attain that whatever it is you’re after.

So, what is it that motivates you? What are you striving towards?

Pick something. Dream.

And then, get going. You never know what might happen.

Keeping Up with the Times…

The US Postal Service, as we know it, is on the way out.

Big statement for some of you to swallow.
But, it is a fact.

With the internet, email, facebook, and accessibility of moving information across ther US and the globe…

It is inevitable.

Why?

The old method cannot keep up pace with the new times.

Obviously, from time to time we all need to mail something and we may sent out letters for weddings, announcements, etc.

However, the days of sending letters and postcards are soon coming to a close.

Don’t believe me, just read this articel about the billions of dollars lost by the USPS last year alone.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110510/ap_on_re_us/us_postal_problems

This caused me to think…

Are the methiods of the church keeping pace with the times?

What needs to improve, adapt, or disappear?

What will it take to make the change?

A Response to Bin Laden’s Death…

In light of the recent death of Osama Bin Laden and the spin surrounding the story, I have been internally challenged about how to respond to such a situation. While I am a disciple of Jesus and I have experienced his radical and saving grace, I also still struggle as a sinner and battle my thoughts in these times.

While I applaud the CIA and Military in their efforts to keep our country safe, I also struggle to justify any murder of any human being because I never see Jesus endorsing such violence in His teaching.

I actually find the opposite.

So, the following article helped me sort through the emotions and will hopefully assist you in proper response as we strive to live, speak, and act like Christ…

In every situation.

http://theresurgence.com/2011/05/02/love-your-enemies

What is Easter About Anyway?

All week, there will be kids dying Easter eggs and parents buying candy. The holiday of Easter is full of commercialized items from Jelly Belly candies to stuffed animals and more. This holiday is celebrated by almost everyone yet only a small group of people truly understand what the hype is all about.

Easter is not about the candy.
It’s not about the easter egg hunts.
And it is definitely not about springtime matching outfits.

Easter is the time of the year we celebrate the turning point of history when God sent His Son Jesus to die upon the cross for sinners. When God punished Jesus for the sins of the world and had him buried in a tomb back in the first century. Easter is the celebration of the fact that Jesus was raised back to life three days later according to the Scriptures and because of this, we have the hope and promise of eternal life with him if only we believe in the cross and the death, burial, and resurrected life of Jesus.

In a nutshell…that is Easter.

Most people don’t know this.
Or at least they don’t care.

Does this mean that I, as a Christian, should oppose easter egg hunts, new outfits, or candy galore?

Absolutely not.

However, it should cause me to focus on what the true meaning of the holiday is and encourage me to share that message with those around me. I mean, that is why we are even celebrating at all.

So, enjoy your jellybeans and chocolate.
I truly think Jesus would too.

Just don’t let the true and purpose of the season pass you by.

Prayer is for Pansies

I’ve been working out for almost 17 years.
Almost everyday. And I love it.

I have seen many guys who have great strength and perform some pretty impressive feats in the weight room.

I’ve also seen my fair share of stupid things as well. I’ve seen a lot of guys who just do the same thing over and over and over again yet never see any results from their work. Most of them actually. I’ve often wondered why this is the case for so many people.

I’ve recently found out the answer.

Over the last several months, I’ve been lifting with a buddy of mine who is strong.
Real strong. Beast strong. As you can tell, I’m a little jealous.
He’s just a big dude.

People see him in the weight room and he gets their attention. I watch them watch him and it’s quite comical at times. They’ve asked me what he does or who he is…

Wrestler? Ball Player? Whats the deal?

I usually laugh and give the humble response I think he would want me to give on his behalf. They see what he does in the weight room and are in awe of his strength and size. They see a large body, big muscles, and heavy weights tossed around. They see the outward reflection of everything done when nobody is around.

They don’t see is the intensive therapy needed after each gym workout.
They don’t see the scars from surgery and constant rehab needed.
They don’t see the diet regimen and discipline of nutrition.
They don’t see the hours of running done alone.
They don’t see the rest needed to recuperate.

Nobody truly sees that stuff.

Yet, that is the stuff that matters.

Everybody wants to push weight in the gym.
Nobody wants to do the “other” stuff.

Rest an injury?
Ice down my knees?
Follow a disciplined diet?
Take a hot bath for muscle cramps?

“That crap is for pansies. I’m a man.”

The reason most guys don’t see any results is because they are unwilling to do the stuff that matters most.

Stay with me on this…

I have been in ministry for almost 11 years.
I’ve worked in 4 churches. I’ve seen a lot.

I have learned that prayer is for pansies.

Nobody would ever say this.
Trust me on this one.
Nobody.

But here’s the truth of the matter.

Most guys want to grow a big church. Enlarge their ministry. Speak from the pulpit. Lead and attend conferences. Write the next big worship song. Get a book published. See people walk down the aisles and get saved. Go on international mission trips. Do good deeds. And be involved in everything else that people see…

But nobody wants to pray.
You don’t get famous that way.

Yet, prayer is the very thing that matters most.

The apostle Paul saw this happening in the early church and told his younger ministry brother Timothy to see to it that “all men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without anger or quarreling” (1 Timothy 2:8). If only we had more men that actually did this. If only we had more pastors and convention leaders that did this. If only we had more husbands and dads that did this. 

Really did pray.

Not just on stage.
Or in meetings.
Over meals.

But true prayer that grips the heart of God and calls upon Him to work among people so that His name and His fame be spread and people come to know Christ for His good and His glory.

Prayer that moves His heart to act on our behalf but ultimately for His good.

Prayer that is real, raw, and persistent.

Prayer that nourishes, strengthens, and magnifies everything else in the kingdom and puts the glory of God on display.

Until we as Christians learn to depend on prayer to nourish, guide, and strengthen everything we do in our lives…

We will end up like those gym rats who do the same thing with the same results because they aren’t willing to do the things unnoticed that really matter most.