Thursday, September 28, 2006

California Adventure Park Finale




New York Life rented out the entire park for a "private party" for all the NYL agents and thier families. It was a lot of fun! We will be returning to West Monroe tomorrow. Enjoy the pics!

Laguna Beach and my new car!!!





Guess what!? Jodi got me a red 2006 Ford Mustang convertible for our "4th" Anniversary! (Well, I have it until 9 A.M. tomorrow morning but we won't tell anybody)
Jodi got a great deal on a rental car (only $50 for the day) and we spent the day at Laguna Beach. The day started out with lots of "haze" but cleared out by the afternoon. We threw the top back and cruised on the Pacific Coast. It was cool. Enjoy the pics!

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

More pics from Cali...



More pics from Cali...

So I learned how to post pics on (recieving the Life Foundation Award)
my blog...I'm like a kid in a candy
store now...

(alongside my precious wife Jodi)
(my good friend Daren Moody)
(standing outside the hotel getting ready to go to the evening banquet with Jodi)

More pics from Cali...

(me alongside my precious wife Jodi) Okay, so I learned how
to post pics on my blog...I'm
like a kid in a candy store now...Beck

(with my precious wife Jodi in front of our hotel)
(recieving the Life Foundation Award at the dinner banquet)
(with my good friend Daren Moody both recieving the Life Foundation Award)

California

A couple of pictures from our Executive Council Meeting in Anaheim, California.
Be sure and read the blog below entitled, "Get some rest."

Get some rest

"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said, to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31-31)

The apostles had just returned to report to Jesus everything they had done in their ministry! Lives saved! Miracles! Healings! Their time was consumed by the many people that needed their help that they didn't even have time to eat! Talk about busy! What Jesus was saying here was, "Guys, that is great!" "But don't forget, activity doesn't always mean productivity". You need not get the two greatest commandments confused, "First, love the Lord, then love your neighbor as yourself." Don't get too busy ministering to people you forget to minister to God! Don't lose your relationship with God by being so "busy."

Jodi and I are currently enjoying a very much needed vacation/business /anniversary trip in Anahiem, California awarded to us by the NYL, the company I represent. I can't remember the last time I slept so good during the night. I popped up early around 5:45-6:00 and "went away with the Lord by myself to get some rest." We are "resting in the Lord this week". Sometimes we need to refresh ourselves not only spiritually, but emotionally, physically, and mentally as well.

We kicked it by the pool today and tomorrow we go to Disney Land followed by Laguna Beach Thursday. I've been to some very great business meetings with thousands of other NYL agents literally all over the U.S. The company has really gone above and beyond to show thier appreciation to all the agents. It was for sure worth all the hard work. Tonight, we will enjoy a wonderful dinner banquet and have the opportunity to meet and have our picture taken with CEO Sy Sternberg.

Jodi and I will celebrate our "4th Year" Wedding Anniversary on the 28th this week. Man, took me four years to get this girl right...(Just messing). Jodi, thank you for four wonderful years! Each year has gotten better! Pastor and Angel, thank you for working with us through all of the "bumps" along the way! God used you mightily in our lives and still does til this day! We love you very much!

Been too busy this week? Even busy doing "spiritual" things? Go in your room, close the door and be with God! He is calling you! Can you hear him? Over the hectic schedule, can you hear him calling? Over the cares and worrys of the world, can you feel him drawing? Go rest in him! Get some rest spirit man!

Beck

P.S. Go Saints!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Who is the greatest?

Ali said he was but my chips are still on "Iron" Mike Tyson...
So how do you determine who is "great" in this world? Do you measure greatest by money, prestige, big homes, fast cars, big bank accounts, social status? "Beck, that's the worlds way!" Okay, let's spiritualize this abit. How do you measure greatness spiritually? The most annointed? The best put together sermon? The biggest buildings?

In Mark 9 Jesus questioned his disciples about a discussion they had while walking down the road. The disciples had kept quite because thier discussion had been about "who was the greatest among them". Can you think about how that discussion may have sounded? They were probably comparing each others "greatness" by who had prayed more, who knew the scriptures best, who had healed more diseases, cast out more devils, you get the picture!

But Jesus basically said, "Guys, you got it all wrong." "You got it backwards, you see yes all those things are great and important but if you really want to be great listen to this." "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." POW! That had to hit them square in the face!

We live in a society that says, "Me first!" We want to be first in line, first at bat, first in competitions, first, first, first! We think greatness is measured by having people under us, telling others what to do, but if that is our mentallity we have it backwards!

Can you think of the "great" Mother Teresa (yes, she was Catholic) who decided to be "last", gave up her life, and lived to serve others! Not much to show for on this earth huh? But I can imagine when she stepped into heaven the angels might have said, "Step aside boys, this lady is coming to the front of the line!" She was great on earth! She served!

Take some time today and read more on servanthood in John 13. Find somebody today and serve! We reach those we serve!

Beck

Thursday, September 14, 2006

A night out on the town...

We've almost made it through the week and boy am I enjoying this nice cooler weather! (My neck is starting to swell as hunting season approaches us.)

Well, the wife and I (and baby girl) are getting ready for a night out with Pastor Joel and his family. We are thinking about grubbing at the Waterfront Grill in Monroe. Sounds like a good choice to me. I always enjoy the fellowship of my Pastor and his family. Isn't it cool to be able to have a Pastor down-to-earth enough to kick back and hangout with?

Til the next post...God Bless!

Friday, September 08, 2006

Your Level of Commitment

"...he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:8)

"Beck, one thing that concerns me about you is your stability." Those words of a particular pastor cut deep in my heart over six years ago but changed my life forever. His words were true, I was becoming unstable. But was it my fault? Events in my past had molded me to be this way. Jumping from one place to another, from one church to another, from one school to another, from one "belief" to another....unstable....double-minded in ALL I did. I decided whether my fault or not that I was going to do something about that! I wanted to be a stable person!

Show me a person who "church hops" or who "flakes" and I will show you a person whose WHOLE life is unstable,whose marriage is unstable,whose jobs are unstable,whose relationships have been and will be unstable.

But you show me a person who is totally committed to God and where God has planted him and I will show you a stable person, a stable marriage, stable relationships, etc.

Seem a bit harsh? Maybe not harsh enough! What does the word commitment mean to us? Does it mean staying in a marriage or in a job or in a church commited enough until someone or something makes us mad? Until the pastor does something we don't agree with? Until we don't get our way? Until the boss man "does us wrong"?
Let me say this, if one does not love people, have deep character, and a true level of commitment the ministry is not for him or her! Yes, regardless of the gifts or annointing one may possess!

Over three years ago when I first arrived at Life Church West Monroe I felt the Lord impress in my spirit, "I am going to teach you how to be faithful and committed." By remaining faithful to where God has planted me (Life Church) and by knowing my place (completely submitted to my Pastor) my life has become stable. Funny how when you get these traits in order the rest of your life gets in order. I refuse to live my life unstable any longer! I refuse not to get in me an unshakable level of commitment! You see that is what it takes! Commitment! Commited people! Commited churches!