Reminder about your invitation from Larry Cotton

LinkedIn ------------

This is a reminder that on July 25, Larry Cotton sent you an invitation to become part of his or her professional network at LinkedIn.

Follow this link to accept Larry Cotton's invitation.

https://www.linkedin.com/e/-gkhb0b-gqtbewjq-4y/doi/3638166827/7-ns-Dhz/gir_875581349_1/EML-inv_17_rem/

Signing up is free and takes less than a minute.

On July 25, Larry Cotton wrote:

> To: [post.gotritown.blog@squarespace.com] > From: Larry Cotton [larry@greenhouseprojects.org] > Subject: Invitation to connect on LinkedIn > > I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. > > - Larry

The only way to get access to Larry Cotton's professional network on LinkedIn is through the following link:

https://www.linkedin.com/e/-gkhb0b-gqtbewjq-4y/doi/3638166827/7-ns-Dhz/gir_875581349_1/EML-inv_17_rem/

You can remove yourself from Larry Cotton's network at any time.

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-- (c) 2011, LinkedIn Corporation

Reminder about your invitation from Larry Cotton

LinkedIn ------------

This is a reminder that on July 25, Larry Cotton sent you an invitation to become part of his or her professional network at LinkedIn.

Follow this link to accept Larry Cotton's invitation.

https://www.linkedin.com/e/-gkhb0b-gqknhjjl-68/doi/3638166827/7-ns-Dhz/gir_875581349_0/EML-inv_17_rem/

Signing up is free and takes less than a minute.

On July 25, Larry Cotton wrote:

> To: [post.gotritown.blog@squarespace.com] > From: Larry Cotton [larry@greenhouseprojects.org] > Subject: Invitation to connect on LinkedIn > > I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. > > - Larry

The only way to get access to Larry Cotton's professional network on LinkedIn is through the following link:

https://www.linkedin.com/e/-gkhb0b-gqknhjjl-68/doi/3638166827/7-ns-Dhz/gir_875581349_0/EML-inv_17_rem/

You can remove yourself from Larry Cotton's network at any time.

--------------

-- (c) 2011, LinkedIn Corporation

Invitation to connect on LinkedIn

LinkedIn ------------

I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

- Larry

Larry Cotton Teaching, Leadership, Consulting at GreenHouse Church Projects Austin, Texas Area

Confirm that you know Larry Cotton https://www.linkedin.com/e/-gkhb0b-gqit2e3u-4e/isd/3638166827/7-ns-Dhz/

-- (c) 2011, LinkedIn Corporation

Introducing Leadership GreenHouse - Part 1

For well over a year I have had an alarm set on my phone to ring every morning at 9:35 am.  Why?  After being inspired by a friend who said when his alarms rings, he takes a moment to pray for workers.  So I set my alarm for 9:35 and began that day to do the same.

You see in Matthew 9:35 Jesus says, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'"

With the vast problems of illiteracy, injustice, poverty and disease in every city and nation of the world, the work far surpasses the number of workers.  This prompts feelings of hopelessness and questions like...  

"Is it really possible for every man, woman and child in a city to hear and see the Gospel lived out?" 

"How can more Gospel centered workers be trained and sent?"

First Jesus says to pray.  This means it is ultimately God's job to send enough workers into his own harvest. We can trust God to raise up people to work... to go... to make disciples.  We are instructed to simply ask God to send them!  

Will you take the 9:35 challenge?  Set your phone or watch to buzz, ding, or bark... whatever it takes to remind you to pray.  "God, send out workers into your great harvest."

Leadership GreenHouse is all about seeing workers raised up and sent out.  I will be explaining more in the blogs to come... 

A Disciple is a Reproducer too!

We are here in The Woodlands today and tomorrow seeing our friends and speaking at StoneBridge Church.  I was able to share some thoughts on being a disciple this morning at a men's breakfast.  Wow, it was great to see so many men all together.  We explored a definition that has really gripped me in its simplicity.

A disciple is: a learner, a follower and a reproducer.  Most "church guys" have done well with the learner part... then they may make a passing grade on being a follower... but the reproducer part... oh well... not so great!

The action point for most men is to just take the knowledge you currently have... take the relationship you currently experience with Christ... and pray for God to show you one other man to disciple.  Ask that guy to meet you for coffee and begin to read through the Bible... or study a book together.  Get to know them, hang out with their family and friends... just build a friendship.  This NOT rocket science... just become friends and do life together.

Give these thoughts some time to percolate... pray about it and jump out there... Jesus never instructed us to do anything that He will not empower us to do.

Let me know if I can pray for you or if you have any questions... I'd love to know who is taking this step of action.

Our first Easter in Austin

Jesus demonstrated "restoration" after His resurrection.  His interaction with Mary, Thomas and Peter proved Jesus' deep love for His followers and friends. Read in the Gospel of John, chapters 20 & 21.

We celebrated Easter and invited friends to join us at the Erwin Center in Austin.  The Austin Stone Community Church hosted the service.  This idea of using the UT basketball stadium for an Easter celebration was a dream of Rick Barnes, UT's coach (and a fellow North Carolinian, I might add).  Matt Carter, pastor of The Austin Stone, invited Coach Barnes to open the service with prayer.  

Over 12,000 people gathered to worship and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  This will be a milestone in the work of God in the city of Austin.  We were especially thankful to participate.

       

April 2011 Video Update from Austin

With Easter coming this weekend, I am praying and asking God to sow the seeds of The Gospel in many people's hearts as the attend services.  Easter is the BEST weekend of the year to invite someone to join you for worship.

For the past two weeks, men have gathered at this local restaurant to discuss their faith journeys.  It is our hope to expand these lunch groups to other parts of Austin.

March 2011 Video Update - Wondering Questions

Here's a tool that is taking our faith conversations into another level!  Listen to the update and take a look at the link below.  There you can view and/or download "99 Wondering Questions" that will help you improve your conversations around faith and the Gospel.

Click here to see or download the 99 Wondering Questions.

Please know how much we appreciate your prayers, encouragement and support for the work here in Austin!!! Thank you.

>> Here are some specific prayer requests.

Update from Dude Perfect

Just for fun here's the latest news from Dude Perfect!

Dude Perfect the Game!!

http://www.facebook.com/DudePerfectGame 

Reframe Your Perspective with Psalm 50

¹⁰For every beast of the forest is mine,
   the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know all the birds of the hills,
   and all that moves in the field is mine.

 ¹²"If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    for the world and its fullness are mine.
¹³Do I eat the flesh of bulls
   or drink the blood of goats?
¹⁴ Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
   and perform your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵and call upon me in the day of trouble;
   I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

I needed this perspective adjustment.  Too often I slip into the notion that I am serving God and "helping Him out."  My work and my efforts become my focus.  

However, God does not depend on my sacrifice or surrender.  My work does not meet His needs (hunger and thirst).  In fact, all creation belongs to Him and follows His direction perfectly.

Instead, my reflection on Him, my thankful expression of His work in and around me is what pleases Him.  My obedience to follow His direction, just like the creation pleases Him.  My quickness to call on Him when I'm troubled pleases Him.  And when He delivers... when He rescues... when He acts, then He receives the glory.

After telling us FIVE times, you'd think we'd get it!

Jesus told His followers on five separate occasions His instructions for their mission.

You may know of this "commission" recorded in Matthew 28:18-20.  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

But Jesus actually commissioned His disciples (and us as His followers) four other times.

Look these up... John 20:21, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:45-49, and Acts 1:8.  Jesus was clear.  Take the Gospel, the Good News of God's Kingdom, to everyone!  Not just to certain people.  Not just when it's easy and comfortable.  Not assuming he or she is uninterested. 

Be bold, take the initiative, be vocal, help others understand, live out what you've seen and heard.  

Who do you know that God has connected you to ... who you feel God nudging you to listen to and enter a God conversation with?  Pray for discernment and boldness... and go for it!  Let me know what happens.

February Video Update

Bringing you up to date since the Christmas break, we are excited about how God is at work around us.  We see people responding as we seek to create a "GreenHouse" environment for people... so that seeds of truth may be planted and faith in Christ might grow strong!

I mentioned two experiments in this video.  They are explained in the blog entries below.  Join us in becoming better at engaging in faith conversations.  Lives will be changed by God as we skillfully engage people in meaningful discussions.

Watch my video.  Do the experiments.  Read about "conversation-killers" below.

click to > Pray with us this month.

Video Update Experiments

Here are the TWO EXPERIMENTS I mentioned in the February Video update.

EXPERIMENT 1
View these two videos online:
First -- on You Tube -- Test Your Awareness > Do the Test
Second -- on SermonSpice.com -- click -- Get Service

How did you do rank yourself on the skill of noticing?

EXPERIMENT 2
Pray this prayer daily for the next 31 days: "Lord Jesus, as I interact with others today, help me to see them as you do."
Each day, keep a written record or journal of things you hadn't noticed before.  Ask God what He'd like you to do with what you are noticing.  Email me stories of what you are noticing.  larry@greenhouseprojects.org

Some Conversation Killers to Avoid

You may feel a little beat up after reading these... I did.  I am highlighting 4 out of 9 that Pollock writes about.

1. An Unbelieving Heart
-Do you really believe the people in your Monday-through-Saturday world want to talk about spiritual things?

2. Our Language, Not Theirs
Terms like, "saved", born again, "sister" or "brother"...  When we use our language rather than theirs, we confuse people and leave them feeling uninformed or stupid.  Jesus used language that built bridges and opened doors.

3. Control
How long does it usually take for you to seize a conversation and dominate it with your worldview?  Jesus told his disciples not to worry about what to say because the Holy Spirit would give them what they needed when they needed it. (Matthew 10:19-20)

4. Judgement
We have worked hard to earn the label" disagreement people." Our body language, tone of voice and verbal responses send the message: "Not only do we not endorse your point of view, we also don't accept you."  Lack of acceptance crushes opportunities for spiritual conversation.  Remember, acceptance does not mean endorsement.  We often confuse the two.

Just one of these conversation-killers can close down your opportunities in a relationship.  The good news is that failure is usually not fatal or final; it's just an opportunity to begin again more intelligently.  I urge you to take these ideas seriously, and consider them prayerfully.

What is a spiritual conversation?

I am currently reading God Space and experiencing more of these conversations than ever before.  

You know the feeling... when someone is talking and you sense God nudging you to say something.  But what?  How can you bring up God without shutting down the conversation?

Doug Pollock is teaching me tons in his book God Space.

He defines God Space is where:

...seeds of faith are planted, watered and nurtured.
...gentleness and respect are present, judgement is absent, and divine dialogue flows naturally because trust has been established.
...cynics, skeptics, scoffers and spiritually curious people alike can raise their questions, share their doubts.
...spiritual curiosity is aroused, and the message of Christ becomes plausible.

This is by far the best book I have ever read on how to have spiritual conversations.  It is filled with practical skills and stories.  Grab a copy of this book and read it with me.  The learnings from this book will help you enjoy having God in your conversations!! 

Make Reading God's Word # 1

Join me in clearing the clutter of to do's and distractions to read God's Word first thing in the morning and last thing at bedtime.  It is easy to slip away from this practice.  I know.

The benefit of daily intake of God's Truth is knowing God more intimately, understanding His will for me and staying spiritually fit.

I am currently using this reading plan to help me know where to read in the Bible and to keep me moving ahead this year.  Click this link to view the reading plan... http://www.austinstone.org/resources/bible_reading_plan/

Let's fill our mind and thoughts with God's Word in 2011!

Family Time at Christmas

2010 was a year of great change for my whole family.  My brother, his wife and five kids moved from Augusta, Georgia to Portland.  Our move was from The Woodlands, Texas to Austin.

So for this Christmas we are hosting a family reunion here in Austin... my brother's family from Portland and my mom from North Carolina.

It is never easy to travel, to plan and to be away from home for the holidays, but I am glad everyone went to such effort.  Lots of food, late night movies, coordinating schedules.  The result -- some great memories.

"Remember this and stand firm..."

Reading in Isaiah 46 today.  Such confidence, such wonder in knowing the Almighty God of all creation!

 5 "To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
   and compare me, that we may be alike? ...

 8"Remember this and stand firm,
   recall it to mind, you transgressors, ...

 9remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
   I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning
   and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, 'My counsel shall stand,
   and I will accomplish all my purpose,' ...
 I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
   I have purposed, and I will do it.

Wow... thank you Father for being trustworthy and beyond my understanding.  Thy will be done on this earth, at this time, through your sons and daughters... to bring Good News of great joy to everyone who will listen.

Christmas 2 Minute Video Update

Merry Christmas!!  Thanks for your prayers, encouragement and support for GreenHouse Church Project!!

 

Here is your Christmas Video Update from Austin ...

At Christmas there is an openness among people to think and talk about Christ, perhaps more than any other season during the year!  We encourage you to pause, pray and talk with others about their own stories and tell them about your own faith journey.  I can assure you that God will direct your conversations and use you in ways you won't believe to help others experience the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

Since our November update we have seen God answer so many prayers.  We have met dozens of new people and developed good friendships with three new couples.  Diann and I are excited to know these couples and their families!  God supplied new monthly funding and networked us with more area ministries and churches.  Thanks sooooo much for praying with us!

 

Please remember to pray ...

... for God to strengthen and expand our friendships in Austin this season!

... for our Christmas party (Saturday, Dec. 11) - that God would build strong relationships between us and all the people invited to our home.

... For God's Kingdom to be advanced in Austin through the unified work of existing and new churches.

... For new partners to join us in working, praying and funding GreenHouse.

Knowing God Intimately... part 2

God is "omnipresent."  He is present everywhere... at the same time!  

Because God is ever-present, He is always with me.
"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” --Joshua 1:9
You will show me the way of life,
      granting me the joy of your presence
      and the pleasures of living with you forever.   --Psalm 16:11

Our ever-present God is everywhere you have been and everywhere you will go.  He is in the classroom, the courtroom, the office, the home and the hospital room.  He is with you in life and in death.  He is the only one who can be with you no matter what! 

Are you in the midst of a struggle or situation where you need His guidance?  Turn to Him now and place your trust in the One who is always with you.

Who can you encourage today with the great news that our God is always with us?