I was leading a seminar this week and we were talking about the importance of understanding just how precious time is and how so little of it we actually have in life.  We seem to live our lives as if we have “all the time in the world.

‘In other words it's very easy for us to put off the really important things that we say that we will ” someday” get around to doing.  You know the kinds of things I'm talking about-the” bucket list.”

In case you haven't seen it the movie featuring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman titled the bucket list is the story of two men who discover they are about to die and they go on an adventure of accomplishing all the things in life that they wanted to but they had put on their bucket list.  The places they wanted to visit, the things they wanted to see and do, and healing the relationships that had been broken in their lives before it was too late.

So as we were talking about this in the work shop a gentleman raised his hand and he said to the audience what would you do today if you knew that you were going to be dead at midnight?  If you knew this was the last day that you have on this earth what would you do are smart who would you talk to?  What would you say?  Where would you go?

Obviously a question like this is very powerful to consider.  The only problem with it is that we don't seem to ever stop and consider these kinds of questions in our lives.  But the reality of it is today could in fact be the last day that we have on planet Earth.

So let me repeat his question at this time directed to you-how would you treat this day if you knew that you were going to be dead by midnight?  Take a moment and write down three to five things that you would be surer that you would do.  That you would regret and drink into eternity having not done these three to five things.

So let me ask-what things on that list can you do today?  And what's stopping you from doing it?  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow?  So maybe today it's time to take care of these things.

Let's just hope that were not  “Dead by midnight.”

This has been a very interesting week.

This past week, a major magazine cover essentially spouted that “Christianity in America is dead,” and our current President told a group of people at a town hall forum in Europe that “America is not a Christian nation.”

It is very ironic that these two headlines came during the most important week of the year to Christians- Holy Week.

It is actually humorous to think that anyone could truly believe that Christianity could be considered as “dead” anywhere- seems like they once said that about Jesus Himself!  And we all know how that turned out- don’t we?!  Christianity will never be dead- and will never be defeated- you can bet the house on that!

I have not actually read the magazine article, but from what I understand it is spouting the declining impact Christians (true born-again believers) are having on American society, and how our country is heading towards a secular/progressive culture.  As much as I hate to say so, I actually agree with this premise.

However, this in and of itself is not really bad news-if you think about it from a truly Biblical perspective.  Just look at the Bible-God was always working through the “remnant.”   When a small group of dedicated followers of God got serious about obeying Him- God showed up and did mighty things.  Can anyone say Joshua, or Gideon, or even the church’s early disciples at Pentecost!!

So do not be discouraged- even if there is a declining number of committed Christians, or if our impact on the American culture is being diminished.  God has promised to show up and save the day!  And He will.

On Obama’s comment that “America is not a Christian nation,” while it too is a somewhat disturbing comment which frustrates me, again, to some degree I must say that I agree with this statement.  Just as I believe there is no such thing  as a “Christian company,” or a “Christian ministry,” I do not believe there is such thing as a “Christian country.”  I believe there are companies, organizations, ministries, and even countries founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles, and run by Christian Believers, the organizations and countries themselves have no redeeming value- no actual “soul” if you will. 

Scripture teaches that Jesus came and died for “His church.” This means His PEOPLE. Only individual people have a soul with redeeming value.

Let me be clear on something- I am NOT saying that as Christians we should sit idly by and watch our country go down the toilet. In fact, I believe quite the opposite.  We MUST be pro-active, our voice must be heard, and we certainly need to share our values, convictions, and beliefs every opportunity we can. We got here by the “silent majority” of Christians continuing to “turn the other cheek” while the godless reprobates have taken over with their “Babylonian” agendas.

But be not dismayed or discouraged- God will not be mocked- and He WILL use the remnant to be glorified!

Lately, I have been giving a lot of thought about my desire to live an authentic and transparent life- as a Christian man, who is in business, with a wife, children, community and church leadership responsibilities.

I believe I have come to the conclusion of wanting my life to be summarized by the following 12  words:

Nothing To Prove

Nothing To Hide

Nothing To Lose

Nothing To Fear

Imagine the freedom and power of leading and conducting your business, serving your spouse and children, and simply living your life in such a way.

How awesome would it be to feel like you have nothing to prove to anyone?  Just being yourself and having people accept and welcome you - exactly as you were created by God.  Never having to work outside of your passion or what you are good at just because you feel like you have to earn someone's respect.

Consider how clean your conscience would be with nothing to hide. This would mean that your life and business would be "above reproach," and you would have no shame or guilt over any aspect of your life- including the words you use, the sites you visit on the internet, the small details of those business deals that can be tempting to "work in the gray area" to maximize revenue or profit.  This would mean your local newspaper could do an in-depth expose' on your life and business, and they would not find anything worth printing!

How awesome would it be to come to the conclusion that God truly is in control, and it is ALL HIS anyway- so when all is said and done you have nothing to lose!  This would certainly make it easier to sleep at night, and would give us an incredible sense of peace in these troubled economic times. When you truly are not worried about what you will lose, you can live your life with passion and wreckless abandon for the Lord.

And finally, when you have nothing to fear, you live with such authenticity and confidence (in the Lord) that no person and no circumstance can cause you to worry, fret, or lose your joy in Christ!

I am challenging every follower of Christ to ponder this motto- steal it-borrow it- use it- change it-create their own motto, etc.

But whatever you do - LIVE IT!