JODYEARLEY.com

What on Earth Am I Here For?

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:59:00 -0600

Why am I here? What is my purpose? Today I finished a book that addresses these questions. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren has been sitting on my bookshelf calling my name and I finally read it. I’m sure you’ve heard of it because it is has been on the New York Times Best Seller list for one of the longest periods in history.

Here are some things that I walked away with:

It’s not about you.
If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God.
Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason.
There are no unspiritual abilities, just misused ones. Start using yours for God’s pleasure.
You cannot fulfill God’s purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans.
Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege, and being known and loved is God’s greatest pleasure.
You are as close to God as you choose to be.
God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.
God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do.
Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you.
Every temptation is an opportunity to do good.
Don’t waste your pain; use it to help others.
There are no shortcuts to maturity. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time.

So if you happen to have this book sitting on your bookshelf and haven’t read it I hope you do. You won’t regret it. The only regret I have about this book is not reading it sooner.

This Sunday is Big Day at People’s Church.

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:25:17 -0600

This Sunday is Big Day at People’s Church.

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you..."

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:52:17 -0600

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”

- John Wesley

worlds inside toilet paper rolls by Anastassia Elias

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:48:11 -0600

worlds inside toilet paper rolls by Anastassia Elias

God's Take on Sex

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:46:00 -0600

This weekend at People’s Church we are starting a series called Sexual Revolution. Everybody has an opinion on this topic, but we are going to share God’s take on the subject. So if your in the OKC area (or even if you’re not) make plans to be at People’s Church this Sunday as we kick off this exciting series with a special performance. Check out the promo video below for more details.

Click here to email an invite for this series. Be sure and bring someone with you this Sunday.

Sexual Revolution from People’s Church on Vimeo.

The Old Testament in 60 Seconds (Check out the New Testament in...

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:40:33 -0600

The Old Testament in 60 Seconds (Check out the New Testament in 60 Seconds here.)

"Art is what we’re doing when we do our best work."

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:59:46 -0600

“Art is what we’re doing when we do our best work.”

- Seth Godin

Photo

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:58:00 -0600

Just Quit

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:00:00 -0600

Last week I shared one of my favorite books is Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. I’m currently reading his first book In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day and thought I would send some inspiration your way by sharing the “Lion Chasers Manifesto”:

“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Criticize by creating. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.”

Quit running from lions and instead chase them.

Think Small

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:21:32 -0600

Yesterday my pastor, Herbert Cooper, shared 10 reasons why he is a big believer in small groups. Check out a few below and then see all 10 on his blog at herbertcooper.com.

People can pray and be prayed for.
People can care for one another.
People can hold each other accountable.

P.S. My pastor is now on twitter. Follow him @herbertcooper.

How to Achieve Greatness

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:55:00 -0600

Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Through his life he had many historical speeches and sermons includeing his I Have A Dream speech. Many would consider him a “great” man. I think deep down inside we all want to become men and women of greatness. Here is an excerpt from a sermon he preached addressing the issue of what it means to be great.

“And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness.”

“And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.”

Greatness is something that we can choose and not something that is chosen for us. I pray that through the grace of God that we would all choose to be people of greatness by following in the steps of Christ and serving others.

This is the video promo for our current series, Game of Life, at...

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:43:00 -0600

This is the video promo for our current series, Game of Life, at People’s Church. (I make a small cameo appearance in this one.)

Don't Just Sit There

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:06:58 -0600

Two days ago, on January 12, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit outside of the capital of Haiti, causing widespread destruction to homes, hospitals, schools, government buildings, roads, and lives. Approximately 2 million people live in the capital of Haiti and the surrounding areas where the earthquake struck. The American Red Cross is now estimating that 3 million people are affected by the disaster. Current reports from Haiti tell of terrible destruction, widespread chaos, and overcrowded hospitals.

Q. What can you do?

A. Give.

Your money will provide food, shelter, and other relief supplies. I encourage to not just sit back and be a spectator.

Here are some organizations to contribute to:

My wife and I are giving towards Samaritan’s Purse. Here is a video from the President and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham.

Some of the outreach that took place at People’s Church...

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0600

Some of the outreach that took place at People’s Church during the month of December.

My Desktop Wallpaper

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:57:07 -0600

My Desktop Wallpaper

I'm Done With Eating

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:06:03 -0600

I’m done with eating. I’m so over food. Well, at least for the next 7 days I am. Tomorrow we are beginning a week of prayer and fasting at People’s Church. I would be lying if I didn’t confess that it’s going to be difficult for me, but at the same time I am excited about what’s going to happen. I’m excited about what God is going to do in my life and in the lives of others. One of my goal words for 2010 is discipline and I know that during this week of fasting I will definitely be developing some discipline.

My focus during this week is simply to put myself in a better position to hear from God. To hear what He would have to say to me. I don’t have an agenda to gain some “thing”, but rather experience a closer relationship with my creator.

The cool thing is that God wants to speak to each of us uniquely, but often times we don’t put ourselves in a position to hear. Is there something that you can fast this week in order to draw closer to God?

"My Influence My life shall touch a dozen lives Before this day is done. Leave countless marks of..."

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:11:52 -0600

“

My Influence

My life shall touch a dozen lives
Before this day is done.
Leave countless marks of good or ill,
E’er sets the evening sun.

This, the wish I always wish,
The prayer I always pray:
Lord, may my life help other lives
It touches by the way.

”

3 Goal Words for 2010

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:17:16 -0600

Inspired by Chris Brogan & Terry Storch I have summarized my goals for 2010 into three words. Here’s how Chris Brogan explains it:

“If you want to try the process, it works something like this: think of how you want to be successful in 2010. Then, try to think in even broader terms. Extrapolate on the broader terms, and find one word to hang the idea on.”

“Try setting your three words far out on the horizon, but such that they can lead you to your goals every day. Meaning, can you use the same word to get you started, but have it still be relevant when you’re almost at the big goal?”

The words don’t even have to make sense to anyone else as long as they point you in the right direction. My 3 goal words for 2010 are…

1. Discipline - Be a more disciplined person in every area of my life. (i.e. physically, spiritually, financially)

2. Generosity - Give more to individuals (friends, family, strangers), charitable organizations and other opportunities that come my way.

3. Purpose - To fulfill my God-given purpose DAILY.

I came across this video from NewSpring Church in South...

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:18:48 -0600

I came across this video from NewSpring Church in South Carolina. It is the story of the prodigal son. This video speaks to me a lot because I spent the early part of my life running from God. It is also a great reminder of those that are in a similar situation. If you happen to be reading this and you have run away from your Heavenly Father, I encourage you to come home.

Luke 15:17-24
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

JODYEARLEY.com

What on Earth Am I Here For?

This Sunday is Big Day at People’s Church.

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you..."

worlds inside toilet paper rolls by Anastassia Elias

God's Take on Sex

The Old Testament in 60 Seconds (Check out the New Testament in...

"Art is what we’re doing when we do our best work."

Photo

Just Quit

Think Small

How to Achieve Greatness

This is the video promo for our current series, Game of Life, at...

Recommended Reading

Don't Just Sit There

Some of the outreach that took place at People’s Church...

My Desktop Wallpaper

I'm Done With Eating

"My Influence My life shall touch a dozen lives Before this day is done. Leave countless marks of..."

3 Goal Words for 2010

I came across this video from NewSpring Church in South...