Razor Ray’s World

In my most recent hunger for reading books (this is typical of me during slower winter months in Real Estate.), I had a driving thirst to revisit an old read from about 3 years ago. Spiritual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby. I remember the time very well when I first read this book. I was in the middle of my considerations for starting my own business and questioning many of my lifelong religious traditions of my life. So, as I started through it again, I was surprised at some things that did not strike me the first time through as I still had on some heavy “filters” as my dear friend Craig likes to call them.

Here are just a few of the things I have seen just through chapter 2:

1. “Pastors of large churches (and some not so large) are starting to act more like CEO’s than shepherds.” – He went on to say that many have seen this move as a boost in the growth of their numbers, but little is said about people becoming more intimate with God through this path.

2. “Pastors are discovering that the godliness of the minister may not be enough to satisfy the congregation looking to keep up with the church down the street.”(or across town.) – I had written in my copy of the book previously how sad it is when we have allowed our enemy to make our progress vs another gathering of believers a point of excitement or hype. True, we normally do not hear “We had this many members join ad they only had that many” however the fact numbers have become so huge in our “church” world today is sad!

3. “Jesus the Christ is the Lord of ALL believers whether they are at church or at work. The kingdom of God is, in fact, the rule of God in every area of life.” a principle often lost when we regulate God to “His house” or a special time of our day, as Blackaby finely points out!

4. “Spiritual Leadership is moving people on to God’s agenda.  Taking people from where they are to were God wants them to be.”

5. “Spiritual Leadership occurs down the middle of everyday life.” Once again, this is a huge statement which flies in the face of our traditions that God has His time (quiet times and church on Sunday). God is breathing in every single movement of our lives and it is our jobs to recognize it and move onto his agenda.

The next chorus of quotes deal with a huge problem we have in our traditions today. I am simply amazed I did not key on these the first time through as so important, but, it has been 3 years!

6. “The greatest obstacle to effective spiritual leadership is people pursuing their own agendas rather than seeking Gods will……His Purpose is to turn people away from their self-centeredness and their sinful desires and to draw them into a RELATIONSHIP with himself ( I would point you to Romans 8:29 here)……Too often people assume along with the role of leader comes the responsibility to determine what should be done. They develop aggressive goals, dream big dreams, and cast grandiose visions, then they ask God to join THEM in their agenda and bless their efforts. That is NOT what spiritual leaders do……Jesus did not develop a plan or cast a vision. He sought his Fathers will. He  had a vision  for himself and his disciples, but the vision came from his Father ( not his own dreams and goals)……….The key to Jesus’ leadership was the relationship with His Father…….(in Satans” temptations) Satan sought to persuade Jsus that saving the world was HIS job, so HE should develop his own plan to get the job done………Jesus was never required to to develop ministry goals or action plans. He was sent to follow the Father’s plan……..Jesus had developed such a close relationship with his Father that he could recognize His Fathers activity even in the midst of a large crowd (John 5, the pool of Bethesda)…….Jesus understood that he was to facilitate the relationship between his disciples and his Father. His task was to bring His disciples face to face with the Father so they could develop the same intimate relationship with him that Jesus enjoyed (John 14:8-11).……he trained his disciples to watch for God’s activity rather than to set their own agendas…..Jesus characterized  his entire ministry with these words: “By myself I can do nothing.”(John 5:30 NIV)……God does not ask leaders to dream big dreams for him or to solve the problems that confront them. He asks leaders to walk with him so intimately that, when He reveals what is on His agenda, they will immediately adjust their lives to his will and the results will bring glory to God!

And that is just two chapters. Overwhelmingly, Blackaby is pointing out how we so easily become engulfed in our own dreams and ideas, that we miss out on two things. An intimate relationship with the greatest lover of all time, and, the opportunity to join Him in his amazing work! Mercy Me put it well in one of their songs when they said we are so “busy” working for Him (church, good deeds, accomplishing our goals of spiritual and secular natures) that we completely miss out on just being with Him!

*****as a disclaimer, I have read other works of Blackaby and have not been a great fan. but for some reason, this resignates with truth and reality in my heart. So, I am not necessarily a Blackaby fan, but I have enjoyed this book once, and am enjoying it again!*******

My New E-book is here! The Three P’s of Success,  What Every Realtor needs to know to Succeed in Today’s Market and Beyond! (A Priority One Handbook for Realtors!)

As the market has tightened around the globe, people everywhere are offering us new technology or gimmicks that guarantee success. Their leads system, marketing campaign, or latest web trend offers hope in the midst of the storm. And as these have given hope to some, they have simply drained the life from others. What we need is not another gimmick, but rather foundational methods that have stood the test of time!

I was blessed to be born into a family with nearly 100 years of Real Estate heritage. As a young boy, I remember the stories told by my Grandfather and Father of how they survived the extremely tough times in the Real Estate World! As the years passed by, I began to see a set of keys for their time tested success! And these very keys have been what have allowed me to succeed as a Realtor, even in our market of today!

In this straight to the point e-book, I am offering you these same truths that were instilled into me. They are nothing new, and have no special twist! BUT, they are time tested and proven by the results they bring!

You can get your copy today for just $3.95. Click the Paypal button on this site and once your payment is received, you  will receive your copy of Three P’s of Success within 24 hours!

Thanks again, and may God Bless your journey!

Of recent, I have been reading a book by Stephen Villanueva called “We Have Been Lied to!” It has been a good word from a mans personal journey of coming to know God. The REAL God of the Bible. I enjoy reading another mans journey to coming to know Jesus!

Today I was reading a chapter he wrote on Christian Idolatry. I was amazed at some of the descriptions of a false god we have living among us today all because of little lies. Amazing how we can get so far off course with such small lies embedded by our Enemy.

My uncle is a land surveyor. For years I have heard the stories of how VERY important it is to start at the correct place or you can end up a long way off. They have told me a story of how one of his crews one day started at a corner for a survey. Unfortunately they had started about 6 inches off. YOu and I would think that would mean they would come out about 6 inches off course at the end. But following the deed instructions, they were approximately a mile off form where they should have been. A great story of where a little lie or seed of misconception can take us so far off course in knowing the REAL God.

With all we have going on in our country, in our individual lives, and in our circle of friends, it has caused me to come back to a very important question in my life. ” How well do I personally know this real Jesus and this Real God I claim to know and follow?” Do I know the Real Deal, or just something I have concocted for my own personal comfort and desires? 2 Peter 1:10 says “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”

So in this time it has pushed me back to the same question that started this journey of mine 2 years ago, “Who is Jesus?” Not just the general or Sunday School answers, but who really is this man? John 6:43-46 says this, ” ^{43 -46}Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End. This is what the prophets meant when they wrote, ‘And then they will all be personally taught by God.’ Anyone who has spent any time at all listening to the Father, really listening and therefore learning, comes to me to be taught personally—to see it with his own eyes, hear it with his own ears, from me, since I have it firsthand from the Father. No one has seen the Father except the One who has his Being alongside the Father—and you can see me.”

My hope and quest is to sit at His feet and learn of him!

I have always enjoyed this message excerpt from a pastor in San Diego preached in 1976. Here it is without the glitz and glamor we seem to think it needs. This is as it was in 1976:

I recently had the honor and pleasure of reading a new book, “Getting the Most from God! (but not what you might think).” It was written by a friend and Brother in the Lord, John Revell.

In this wonderfully thought out book, John goes over some very exciting promises that God has offered, but, there is a catch in each case! It is a quick and easy read and very affordable, only $3.99! It concludes with a strong and true Gospel presentation, and would be a great book to study through with a lost friend!

You can see Johns post about it here, and pick up your own copy at www.GinoskoPublishing.com. I highly recommend it!

Have you ever read the book? I have just finished it. What did you think? Has it made a difference, as it seems to have for all couples mentioned in the book? Is there value in these thoughts. I am curious to your thoughts on this, and, if you have not read the book, I would recommend it for something to think on as you live with your spouse and children, or will one day.

I should post a list of the books I have consumed over the past 12 months or so, but I do not feel like typing that much! At this present time, when I last counted, I am reading four:

Plan A and there is no plan B by Dwight Robertson – this is a re-read for a little refresher!

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis – this is for my “deep thinking” brain parts. Great stuff, but, you have to think and pray as you read.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman – for some wisdom, knowledge, and encouragement in our marriage!

Talent is never enough by John C. Maxwell – handed to me today actually. Never read a book by this author, and honestly, never had the desire. I will go into it with eyes wide open and with much prayer!

Reading is a great thing to do to keep yourself spiritually fed, BUT, you MUST be wise in what you read, because you can easily be led astray by a gifted and talented writer!

I am presently reading “Mere Christianity” by C.S Lewis. It is suppose to be an updated version as far as language goes, but, it is still not quite the “norm”! None the less, I found some quotes that resonated with my personal self last night and thought I would share them.

“People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.” (actually this was Lewis quoting Dr. Johnson.)

on Christian society – “If there were such a society in existence……each of us would like some bits of it, but I am very afraid that very few of us would like the whole thing. That is just what one would expect if Christianity is the total plan for humanity. We have ALL departed from the total plan in different ways, and each of us wants to make out that our modifications of the original plan is the plan itself. …..Everyone is attracted by bits of it and wants to pick out those bits and leave the rest.”

on giving – ” In the passage where the New Testament says that every one must work, it gives a reason, “in order that he may have something to give to those in need.” Charity is an essential past of Cristian morality. ……. I do not believe one can settle how much he ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than you can spare. In other words, if our expenditures on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.”

” A Christian society is not going to arrive until most of us really want it, and we are not going to want it until we become fully Christian.”

“For the longest way round is the shortest way home.”

Might be a good book to check out!

Some have asked me how the “book” is coming. Well, believe it or not, it is probably a 1/3rd of the way through it’s first draft. Please keep praying for me as I still have not embraced fully the desire to do this. But, as I do it, in obedience, pray I will say only what He wants said. I only want Him to be seen in and through me.

Other than that, is it just me, or is it freakin hot outside!

I have been reading “The Cost of Commitment” by John White. I am only a few chapters in, but I would already recommend it to anyone looking for a challenging read.  Here are a few quotes that have stuck out to this point:

“And we reveal where our interest lies by the way we distribute our energies. Just as the Roman Catholics in past years sought to buy heavenly favors with earthly cash, so evangelicals try to buy heavenly treasure by giving money to missions.”

“Recently I have been studying the history of revivals, only to find that far from being times of heaven on earth, they have commonly proved to be times when……God’s spirit is being poured out, sinners are convicted and converted….and the church is advancing. BUT, at the same time, hostility, bitterness, and name calling among Christians is reaching an unprecedented climax. Not all Christians understand what is happening. Many are threatened by what God is doing. Some see it as a threat to ”
their” work. And there are usually genuinely godly people on both sides.”

And keep in mind, this was originally written in 1976 and revised by Mr White in 1990! Some powerful words, and there are plenty from where these came from. If you get hungry for some mental fodder, pick it up and read it!