Influence and favor isn’t a bad thing. In fact, Jesus was very influential and favored during much of His ministry. He never compromised His character or morals to gain acceptance. These are four challenges to take in the coming days as together we stand in prayer.

01. BE A KIND PERSON: You will never be short on favor and increase.

02. BE EXCELLENT: When you do something, do it with all your might. Excellence brings favor and influence.

03. BE A SERVANT: What you make happen for somebody else God will make happen for you. Ephesians 4:6

04. BE BOLD: Dream big, pray for the impossible, and have the boldness to make the Big Ask. The Bible says “You have not because you do not ask.” Step out in faith. People are drawn to that.

Let me tell you a true story, and it’s a great one. A man was flying from Atlanta to Chicago. There was one stop in St. Louis on this flight. The attendant explained there would be a slight delay in St. Louis, so if passengers wanted to get off the aircraft, the plane would reboard in 50 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane but one man. He was blind. Another passenger had noticed him as he walked by and could tell the gentleman was blind because his seeing-eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of him. He could also tell the old man had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached him, calling him by name. “Hey Keith, we’re in St. Louis for almost an hour. Do you want to get off and stretch your legs?”

The blind man replied to the pilot, “No thanks, Bill but I think my dog would like to stretch his legs. Duke doesn’t like these long flights.”

Now picture this: all the passengers from that flight in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw their pilot walk off the plane with a seeing-eye dog! He was also wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they even tried to change airlines!

Most of us have lived long enough and are wise enough to know that not everything we read or hear or see it the total truth. With your friends, your family, your neighborhood, at your job, and in our great church, realize there’s always more to the story than you know. Don’t jump to conclusions. Believe the best about people whenever possible (check out 1 Cor 13:4-6). Be a peace-maker and not a trouble maker. And by all means, absolutely refuse to gossip.

Now, ever so often recall this story of the pilot with the seeing-eye dog and sunglasses. Then remember that things aren’t always as they appear. Have a great day and keep the faith.

As 2012 is just around the corner I want to challenge you to get a jumpstart on your New Years Resolutions. Why wait to do what’s right? There is never a better time to start than today.

So with that said, my challenge to you is to take these seven and with Gods help put them into practice in your life today.

01. VOW TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY: 2 Peter 3:14 (NIV) So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this,make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

02. VOW TO BE A PEACEMAKER: Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

03. VOW TO RELAX AND TRUST GOD: Hebrews 4:11 (NIV) Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

04. VOW TO BE AN ENCOURAGER: Romans 14:19 (NIV) Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

05. VOW NEVER TO STOP GROWING: 2 Peter 1:5 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

06. VOW TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HURT YOU: Hebrews 12:14-15 (NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

07. VOW TO KEEP JESUS IN THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE: Luke 13:24 (NIV) “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Dear Life Fellowship family and friends,

I’m sitting here in my office filled with a holy anticipation for what God is going to do among us on Sunday. I don’t know how else to say it other than my heart is EXPLODING inside of me. I wish it was Sunday already!!!

I know that before we see each other again we’re first going to celebrate “Thanksgiving” with family and friends and then take on the crowds for the American ritual called Black Friday. These are fun times with our families where memories are made. Slow down and really take time to enjoy your family.

But can I promise you something? This Sunday God is going to meet with us in a special way. He’s going to fill you with a new sense of His presence, encouragement, and strength as we unite in ONE SERVICE to lift up the Strong Name of Jesus.

Can I be honest with you, this entire week God has been blowing my mind, challenging me in my faith as a Pastor. Words like “Limitless” “Unstoppable” “Unlimited Potential” “New Ground” “Risk” “Dream Big” “Who Told You It Was Impossible?” have been racing through my heart every time I pray.

I wish I could say exactly what God is doing in me. What He is preparing us for, but I think to try to define it would be to limit it. I just know God has called us to “Reach those far from Him and build life-long followers of Christ.” And I don’t know about you, but I’m ALL in.

All that to say, buckle your seat-belts. The coming months are going to take us to new heights, new levels, new relationships. God is going to use you and me to BE THE CHURCH.

Hey, I know I won’t see you before Sunday, so from the LF Staff and the Lindberg Family, have a Great Thanksgiving. Love you.

One Pumped Up Pastor. See you on Sunday,

Chris Lindberg | Life Fellowship Pastor

P.S. Don’t forget click the SONG OF THE DAY. You’ll be glad you did. It will inspire your day. CLICK HERE

November 13th & 20th | 10 & 11:30am  | LF Message Series

Over 2,000 years ago, God used twelve ordinary men to transform the world. As followers of Christ, the call on our lives is no less. We are to be the church, we are to live dangerous lives for Christ, allowing ourselves to be God’s vessels for accomplishing extraordinary things. When is the last time you believed God for something extraordinary? Are you comfortable in your walk with Christ? Living a Christian life is a hard road to travel, and is anything but comfortable.

In this new series Pastor Chris will discuss the radical calling on the fully devoted follower of Christ. Prepare yourself to be challenged to take a risk and BE THE CHURCH. To go where no church has gone before!

As I have looked at the situation America is in, it bothers me because I believe this is a sin issue, a greed issue that America is facing. America is the greatest country on earth, but we’re burying our children in debt they cannot bear, all because we are a greedy people. It’s a sin that will soon catch up with us all. At the beginning of this month when the “Debt Ceiling” was raised I strongly stated to some friends that this won’t stop the crisis, it just postpones it unless we do something. This is not a Democrat/Republican issue; it’s a spiritual issue that as the people of God we must speak against.

I LOVE HOW BEAUTIFULLY DAVE RAMSEY PUT IT WHEN HE SAID… “The federal government will take in $2.173 trillion in 2011, and spend $3.818 trillion, overspending by $1.645 trillion. The U.S. is already $14.2 trillion in debt. Here’s what that would look like if we ran our homes like politicians run our government…if our household income was $55,000/yr, we’d be spending $96,500/yr. So, in 2011 we’d add $41,500 of debt to our current debt of $366,000!”

Friends, I’m not telling you how to vote, but bottom line we must tell our government, cuts are not enough, it is sin to spend more than we make, and we will not vote for you if you continue to overspend.  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Ok, now that I got your attention lets have some fun and let me give you three conspiracy theories that might be true.

01. The Loch Ness Monster – Exists

02. Big Foot Lives.

03. Al Gore Invented the Internet.

Ok, I admit these three aren’t even remotely accurate or true, but if you give me 2 minutes I want to give you, 3 theories about how to have true happiness that just aren’t true.

Ok, this might burst your bubble but, happiness is not an event or goal that you’ll someday reach. Happiness is not an act or a thing. True happiness is not an emotion that you can manufacture or a feeling that accidentally happens. True happiness is a lifestyle. If you are going to truly be happy, it’s because of how you live your life, not because of what you have in your life. Here are 3 things that seem to make people happy but won’t make you truly happy at all.

01. LOVE. Some of the strongest emotions you and I will ever experience in life come from romantic feelings towards our spouse or that significant other. They can make you feel like the most important person on the planet. You feel like you could conquer the world. You seem to smile all the time. Then comes the inevitable — they let you down. You feel alone, abandoned. Why would they do this? Don’t they love me? Of course they love you, but we must always remember we’re all human, and the love of another person is never enough to fill a hole in your heart that is meant for a relationship with God, even if that other person is your spouse. Like it or not, people will let you down, but God will always be there for you. Happiness comes from building a foundation in God and then forming other relationships off of that. (Matt. 7:24.)

02. FAME. Ever see those smiling faces of Hollywood Stars in the tabloids? Smile for the camera. With all the glitz and glamour it can seem that their lives are perfect. But being famous is no more a guarantee of happiness than being a car is a guarantee of being fast; it is what’s under the hood that counts. Without a question there are happy famous people. There isn’t anything wrong with being famous. More often than not, fame comes from being good at what you have chosen to do with your life. So choose to pursue something that you love, and you will be more likely to be good at what you do. Who knows, you might even become world famous. But if you pursue fame just to be famous, you will miss out on what you are truly good at. You will miss out on being truly happy. (Ps. 1:2,3.)

03. MONEY. There is a saying that “money can’t make you happy, but the things you can buy with it will.” There is no question that when you are buying things you’ve always wanted you are able to experience a fun thrill. But chances are strong that that thrill you experienced is going to fade away quickly. It’s no longer a thrill and something else must take its place. This never-ending circle of loss for people who place all their happiness in the stuff of life. Please hear me, stuff isn’t bad at all, but expecting the stuff to make you truly happy will leave you empty. God wants you to have everything that you need, but the things and the money must be kept in perspective. Honor God first, Seek God first and He will give you the desires of your heart.