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Think about what you are thinking…

January 7, 2011 in Life with 0 Comments

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you.  You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”  -James Allen

“Thinking is the talking of the soul with itself.” -Plato

Each day is filled with endless mind chatter that we either tune into or allow to ramble on within our head.  Whether you realize it or not the very things you allow to chatter away in your head without thinking about effect everything you do.  Your thoughts influence the way you see other, the way you act in situations during the day, and the way you end up going when you have to make major decisions.  Research suggests that each of us talk privately to ourselves at the rate of approximately 1,300 words per minute.  Crazy, when you stop and really think about it!  Ha, Ha!

But that is my point…if your thoughts are leading your life today, then you need to think about what you are thinking.  It could be that you could drastically change your life by tuning into the chatter within your head.  Just THINK about it.

First time situations are fun!

May 6, 2009 in Family, Life with 2 Comments

video-6-00m-06sYesterday, my youngest daughter took here first bite.  We all gathered around as a family and watched to see exactly what kind of face she would make, weather she would spit it right up or swallow it down, and finally to celebrate progress.  Whether we realize it or not, first time situations are fun.  God made us to experience newness every day.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Today are you experiencing new things for the first time?  If not, why?

When things are not working…

December 4, 2008 in Life, Teaching with 2 Comments

781286_30800578Oswald Chambers once said, “If God allows you to be stripped of the exterior portions of your life, He means for you to cultivate the interior.” I meet people all the time that live so discouraged because things are not working out the way they had hope. When things do not work, it is time for us to go to work. Not working on the other person, or on the dream, or on the job, or even on trying to figure out the problems, instead it is time for work on our personal walk with Christ. When things are all good and you get everything you want the way you wanted, it is easy to become complacent and even prideful. It is in the unmet expectation and the dashing of our dreams that we learn to lean deeper into Jesus. The true test of a great relationship with Christ is your ability to trust no matter if things are working out or not.

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

July Stuff…

July 31, 2008 in Life, Ministry with 0 Comments

  1. My grandma and great grandma are in the hospital. Please pray for them.
  2. Julie and I still need to decide what to call our next baby girl. Any suggestions? We want the middle name to be HOPE.
  3. One of my good friends lost his dad suddenly to a heart attack this last week. God give him peace and comfort.
  4. We had students get saved at camp this month. Thank You God.
  5. One of our church Air Conditioners went out. It is going to cost $9500 to fix it. That is a hard hit, but God always takes care of us. Thanks staff for being patient about having no air in the office.
  6. God is doing amazing things in the life of one of my friends in recovery. He is making it. Thank God.
  7. Sara, my trainer, is continuing to make me work out hard. I am now down 16 lbs.
  8. As I have already posted, but I will repeat, Luke and Megan got married. Yeah!
  9. Got to spend a week speaking to HS Students. It was awesome to see tender hearts follow God and to spend time alone seeking the Lord.
  10. Planned out some incredible new series for the fall. This fall will rock at real church.
  11. Many new plans are in the work for RC this fall. As August progresses I will be speaking to the church. Thank You God for some wise advisers that have stuck in there on this journey.
  12. Broken was a powerful series where God moved in the hearts of some of our key people. I am still challenging our church to pray “Lord break me.” Thank You for those who have shared with me.
  13. After “Lord make us colorblind” pastor Clarence and I have been praying in July about what God wants us to do next. We are committed to asking God to break the Sunday morning segregation. July 06 was one of the finest moments in the history of our church. Thank You Lord.
  14. Satan has tried to discourage me this month. This can only me good things are around the corner. “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.” -Psalm 16:8
  15. I have become a huge Sushi fan. I really do not understand this, but it is slowly becoming a passion. Crazy! What is your favorite sushi?
  16. Julie has had a tough time this month in pregnancy. Her iron and blood sugar have been low. Yet amidst the tiredness and having a very active 2 year, she has done an amazing job as a mom and wife.
  17. The bible has been so refreshing. As I read finished 2 Corinthians, it was awesome to see Paul get frustrated, I felt comfort. As I read through Titus and Timothy, God challenged me as an overseer. Now I am in James and boy is he direct.
  18. Another good friend who’s wife had breast cancer 12 years ago and they thought they got it all, may have some more issues. Test came in with signs of some new formation, so now they have to do more test. He is handling it so well. I admire the way he trust God.
  19. Real Church was able to send two more out on mission this month.  Casey and Summer Short have moved to Texas to work with Gospel for Asia in their church planting movement.  Please pray for them.  We will miss you guys.  Casey my stomach will not miss late night tacos though.
  20. I found a new favorite quote. “History is history, tomorrow is a mystery, so live today.” With that said, I look forward to this moment and new ones tomorrow should God allow it. As James says “Life is a vapor…” Hello August.

Congratulations to a great couple

July 29, 2008 in Friendship, Life with 0 Comments

This last weekend (July 26) I had the honor and privilege of performing the wedding of my friends and fellow staff members Luke and Megan Rountree. I thank God for this couple. I have worked with Luke for the last four years and I have to tell you that he is the real deal. He loves Jesus and he loves people! As for Megan, she is witty, extremely fun to hang out with, and does an amazing job of planning a wedding. This wedding was very eloquent and well thought out.

I pray that their marriage is filled with much joy and love. May the Lord give them strength for ministry and bless their life with peace. Thank You Luke and Megan for allowing me to be a part of the beginning of your journey as husband and wife. I wish you the best as your pastor and friend.

Great Moments in my life – Part One

July 9, 2008 in Life, Random with 6 Comments

  1. Obviously being born is a great moment. Without it there are no other moments. Some of God’s finest work.
  2. Going fishing with my grandpa when I was a little child. We used to put our feet in the water and talk for hours.
  3. Tying the wooden shoe in Kindergarten. I know this may sound weird, but we had this wooden shoe we would pass around the circle to learn and tie our shoes. I was really good at this.
  4. Little League at age 6. Playing baseball as a child was one of my greatest joys. I played catcher and first base. I also loved watching Pete Rose play. Put him in the hall of fame.
  5. Math in second grade at age 7. Mrs. Clark taught me to multiple and I loved every moment of it. I used to wiz through the flash cards. 12 x 11 is what?
  6. Fourth grade. My step brother came to live with us. Every day he would smart off at school and I would watch him get licks. Oh Shawn.
  7. Watching Mid-South wrestling. As a kid I would watch the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, Nikolai Volkoff, King Kong Bundy, Junkyard Dog, Kamala, Andre the Giant, “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, Skandar Akbar, Terry Taylor, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, Jim Niedhart, Dusty Rhodes, Rick Steiner, & many more, then go out in the yard and my brothers and me would beat each other up. It was awesome.
  8. Going to OKC 89er games with my grandpa. Grandpa was a great man who taught me many things. He will always be one of my heroes.
  9. Rocking the Casball in Jr. High. That is right, we had a little dance hall that was made for JH students we used to go hang out at, play video games, and dance to purple rain.
  10. Football. This sport allowed me to get all the anger out and at the same time learn the importance of a team. Every player has to play their role. Nothing was better than playing four quarters until you could barely walk.

Tomorrow I will share more great moments in the life of Tommy Haines, but before you go, share a great moment in your life. Especially those of you who grew up in the eighties!

Ahi Tuna Steaks

July 5, 2008 in Life, Random with 0 Comments

Recently I found a brand new grill under our cabinet in our kitchen. I am sure this grill was given as a gift sometime in the past, but for some reason I have never cooked on it. Yet this last week as my trainer gave me new instructions for eating better, I found myself grilling every day. I have cooked eggs (both scrambled and over easy), Salmon, Fresh Tilapia, bread, Mickey eggs (this was for Elli, she loved it), and finally today Ahi Tuna Steak.

As I was at the store earlier I found these Tuna Steaks and decided to be creative and cook something I have never cooked for lunch. I really did not know what I was doing so I just rubbed some virgin olive oil on them, threw a little all season spice on afterwards and began to grill. As they came to a finishing point, I brushed a little teriyaki on them to give them a little extra something. WOW, they were amazing! This Tuna was what I call “love on a plate.” Tasty perfection.

So here is the synopsis of this blog. If it has been a while since you tried something new in the kitchen or your life, maybe today you should do something about that. Go out and do something new. Maybe try cooking, maybe sit under a tree and read, maybe go on a hike, or do some sport you have never done. Just be creative and go out and do something new, it will change your day. Life is too short to not experience new things. If you are reading this, what is a new thing you have recently done that brought a little happiness into your life?

The best picture

June 19, 2008 in Family, Life, Random with 0 Comments

Last week Julie and I were sitting in our study doing the bills when our little girl climbed into the trash can. I just had to share this picture with you. It is amazing. Let me know what you think…

Two things I am enjoying

June 18, 2008 in Life, Random with 0 Comments

I know that yesterday I talked about how “Free is NOT your friend.” Well today let me tell you about something that is FREE. It is a web site called thedailyplate.com. This site is the first thing I am enjoying right now in life.

On this site I can search more than 350,900 foods for calorie counts, total carbs, fat, protein — or any other nutrition facts! Also, this site allows me to track what I eat, my weight, and then sets a calorie intake that helps me reach my weight goals each week. This is FREE, but it will cost you effort and time.

The second thing I am enjoying right now is Cliff Kid Organic Zbars. These little bars created for kids are saving my days and my waist. As part of my new program I am trying to eat 5 to 6 times a day instead of my standard three. These little guys help me do just that. They only have 140 calories which is just enough to give me a boost of energy. While at the same time, they make me feel like a kid all over again. (jk)

So there you have it, two things I am enjoying. What new things are you enjoying right now in your life?

Free is NOT your friend

June 17, 2008 in Life, Random with 0 Comments

Throughout the years I have said many times, “Free is your friend.”  Now I still believe this is true in certain aspects of life.  Last year a friend gave my wife and I a trip to Disney World.  It was awesome.  We made so many memories and had so much fun, free was our friend.  So at times “free really is your friend!”

Yet recently I realized one area where free has not been my friend.  Ever since I stopped playing football in High School I have struggled with my weight.  I often tell people “I have lost more weight than any person alive.”  While that is true, I have also gained weight like crazy.  Anyways, when I started Real Church God lead us to start inside a health club of all places. The Health Club gave me a “free membership.”  Even though it is free, it has not worked for me.  For two years I barely worked out.  Then God lead us to move Real Church to a new location, we bought an old skating rink. 

Guess what, the health club that our church used to lease from sold their building.  They had nowhere to go, so they came to us and ask if they could lease half our building.   Crazy, I know?  I feel like God is chasing me down with this work out thing.  Once again, they gave me a free membership.  Off and on I have worked out, but nothing major, nothing really consistent.  Meanwhile I have gained even more weight.  Free has not been my friend.

Recently though, after a lecture from my doctor, one of my best friends giving me a serious talk, and a bible study, I finally realized free has not been my friend.  So what did I do?  I hired a personal trainer.  One time a week a tiny little girl named Sara makes me feel like the biggest weakest man in the universe.  She plots out a week’s worth of workouts and asks me to turn in everything I eat that week.  This has cost me $$$, but it has been worth it.  In just a couple of weeks, results have been amazing.  So where free has not been my friend, making sacrifices and paying has been.

As a conclusion, when it comes to having a gym membership, “free is your friend,” yet to lose weight, be healthy and change your life, you may need to pay $$$, be disciplined, and sacrifice.  Same is true of God.  When it comes to salvation “Free is your friend,” yet when it comes to growing and knowing God it takes wiliness, focus, discipline, and sacrifice. 

What areas have you seen in your life where “free is NOT your friend?”

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