You Have A Platform. What Are You Doing With It? - Part 2

No two people are the same. In the same way, no two "platforms" are exactly the same. Thus, we make a mistake when we try to copy someone else. You aren't them. They aren't you.

I love how Erwin McManus puts it...
“He is not calling you to the same life that everyone else will live.  He’s not even calling you to the same path that every follower of Christ will walk. Your life is unique before God, and your path is yours and yours alone.  Where God will choose to lead you and how God chooses to use your life cannot be predicted by how God has worked in the lives of others before you."

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (Psalm 139:13-16)

You Have A Platform. What Are You Doing With It?

One definition of the word “platform” is “a place, means, or opportunity for public expression of opinion.” As followers of Christ, we have each been given a platform on which to spread the Gospel, through our words and actions.

I love the words of Tony Dungy on this topic in his devotional book, "The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge." Listen to what he has to say… 

“God has given everyone a platform. Some of those are broad and highly visible, but others are small – or at least they seem that way. A “small” platform is huge when it impacts even one other person who goes on to impact many. God is the author of our platform, and he gives us the privilege of using it to influence others. Sometimes we don’t see the results of our investment in other people’s lives for years to come, if at all. But everyone’s platform is unique, and God has a plan for it.

You may not be a Heisman Trophy winner or a Super Bowl champion, but you have influence. A platform that may seem small to you can have lasting impact that you will only discover in eternity. That’s why it’s important to never sell your platform short.

God is a master of doing big things with small beginnings. And he has put you where you are – and surrounded you with the people you know – for a reason."

You have a platform. What are you doing with it?

Jason Romano, Senior Talent Producer for ESPN who also unashamedly tweets about this faith, recently put it this way: "Use your platform wisely. People are always watching."

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16)

How Big Is Your God?

Tomorrow, we start a new series at NMC called, "Let Us Pray." I'm anticipating God doing BIG things through this series. Here's a statement that I first heard while watching the Code Orange Revival recap video last week, that sparked a renewed sense of urgency in my own prayer life...

"God is still the God that parts the Red Sea. God is still the God that tears down the walls of Jericho. God is still the God that makes a way where there is no way. We will not rationalize God! We will not shrink God! Out God is SO big! There is NOTHING our God cannot do! That's true!" - Christine Caine, Code Orange Revival

A Dangerous Formula

I believe one of the biggest mistakes we can make as Christians is to expect someone who isn’t a Christian to act like one.

Without a supernatural transformation of the heart, nothing a person does should surprise us. While the world says that humans are basically good, the Bible says humans are inherently evil (See Romans 3:23 and Mark 10:18). 

When we expect non-Christians to act like Christians we only exacerbate their misconceptions of God being condemning, distant, a kill-joy, etc.  

Telling someone to follow God’s rules without first having a relationship with Him will lead them to either further rebellion against God (Rules - Relationship = Rebellion) or to an empty religious experience (Rules – Relationship = Religion).

Neither is acceptable to God. Neither should be acceptable to us.

Don’t start by giving someone rules to follow. Rather, start by offering them a relationship. 

The Power of Song

On Wednesday, July 22, 2009 our daughter, Aleigha Grace, was stillborn. The previous Sunday, we sang this this song from Hillsong United in church that would end up serving as our anthem of hope and healing during the difficult days that followed.

If you find yourself going through a difficult time, may you find hope and healing in the words of "Desert Song" as well...

Great Quote on Goals, Passion, Fear & Failure

“Excitement about goals is often diminished by our fear of failure or the drudgery of work. If you’re short on passion, it might be because your goals are too small or the fear is too big. Do a job for a long time and achieve what you set out to achieve, and suddenly, the dream job becomes a trudge instead. The job hasn't changed--your dreams have. Mostly, though, it's about our fear. Fear is the dream killer, the silent voice that pushes us to lose our passion in a vain attempt to seek safety. While you can work hard to dream smaller dreams, I think it's better to embrace the fear and find bigger goals instead.” –Seth Godin

Back to Blogging

I'm back in the blogging game after a 16-month hiatus. Here we go...