Funny Friday: The topic, Boy Attacks Mom!

This is too cute.
Watch how this kid responds after he finds out that his present.

-Share this if it made you smile!

Walk On

And love is not the easy thing...

The only baggage you can bring

Is all that you can't leave behind

 

And if the darkness is to keep us apart

And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off

And if your glass heart should crack

And for a second you turn back

Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got, they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight...

 

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been

A place that has to be believed to be seen

You could have flown away

A singing bird in an open cage

Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't deny it
Can't sell it or buy it
Walk on, walk on

Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches

And your heart it breaks

And you can only take so much

Walk on, walk on

Home...hard to know what it is if you never had one

Home...I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home

That's where the heart is

I know it aches

How your heart it breaks

And you can only take so much

Dr. Martin Luther King: Adversity



 

  

Coming from a man who not only talked the talk
But walked the walk



Seth Godin on curiosity

Seth Godin, the guru who brought us "Linchpin", "Tribes, and" The Purple Cow" talks about the importance of curiosity.
-Sadly, most schools have the goal to churn out standardized drones at graduation.

So if you are imaginative and think outside the box...keep your chin up.

The future belongs to you!

The Blue Rose

A Story...

Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I offered to

go to the store for her to get some needed items, which included light bulbs,

paper towels, trash bags, detergent and Clorox. So off I went.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the
checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who

appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently

waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his

hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice,

"Mommy, I'm over here."

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he turned
and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened
and surprise exploded on his face as I said,

"Hey Buddy, what's your name?"

"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.

"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve."

"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?"

"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle. "You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass
by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes
about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with
excitement, because he was the center of someone's attention. He then
abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time
to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him,
much less talk to him.

I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea
where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in
God's Garden; however,
"Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness.

You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?"
Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion, but I sure love living in God's garden."

She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you!" and then I had tears in my eyes.

May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don't turn your head and
walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child, grandchild, niece or nephew. What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.

-A friend of mine emailed this story to me. 
It moved me deeply. 
No wonder Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto Me."
I get the idea that Jesus was trying to get a message across that was much deeper than what His disciples could actually see.  I believe He wanted to teach His followers to stop and acknowledge people.  Too often we just hurry through life and miss all kinds of hurting people right around us. 
The man in this story was wise enough to give a little of his time to this 15 year old boy...and in doing so, he was giving more than just time, he was giving part of his life away. 
He was investing.  He was acknowledging something unique. 

He took the time to smell the Blue Rose.

Train - Marry Me (Official Music Video)

Marry Me
by
Train

--If you have a special one in your life, share this on your fb page and dedicate it to them!

The Incredible Hulk's favorite emotion: ANGER!

Anger is an emotion.

Keep in mind that even Jesus experienced anger, so getting angry is not necessarily wrong or even sinful.  (Anger can be a good thing. It might give you a way to express negative feelings or motivate you to find a solution to problems.)

It is when the emotion controls you -instead of you controlling it -that things often get messy and you start losing friends. 

Below are some of the best things ever said about anger.  

He who strikes the first blow admits he's lost the argument.  -Chinese Proverb
 
Anger is only one letter short of danger
 
“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson 


"Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.” -Benjamin Franklin

"I'm getting angry...you won't like me when I'm angry" -Hulk

“I know of no more disagreeable sensation than to be left feeling generally angry without anybody in particular to be angry at”

Frank Moore Colby

“The world needs anger. The world often continues to allow evil because it isn't angry enough.”  -Bede Jarrett 

"The truth shall make you free, but first it shall make you angry."

Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you.

Horace

"Anger ventilated often hurries toward forgiveness; and concealed often hardens into revenge"

Edward Bulwer-Lytton

"Speak when you are angry - and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret."  -Laurence Peter
 
A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult
(Proverbs 12:16).

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold

(Ephesians 4:26-27).

Because He Lives

Happy Easter!

Funny Friday's: Girl Falls Off Swing (& Knocks The Weave Off Her Head!)

Need some comic relief?  Here it is!
Pass this on!

G.O.S.P.E.L 2011

Fresh presentation of an endless truth.

Pass this on!

The Passion of the Christ

If you heard someone talking about their passion for football, I bet you would assume that they had a deep love for that game. 

But why does the Church refer to Jesus' last days as His Passion?

The “Passion of Jesus Christ” is generally understood to begin with the final meal Jesus had with His twelve disciples (the Last Supper); it continues through His agony and betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, His trial before Pontius Pilate, His scourging at the pillar, His carrying of the cross, and ends with His crucifixion and death.’
The reason is discovered when you understand the original meaning of the word "Passion"

-Passion means agony or suffering.

Jesus experienced agony and suffering for each one of us, and therefore what He did is called The Passion.

The last week of His life, in particular, was a living expression of the original meaning of this word – “Passion”.

Isaiah 53:4-5


“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Many of us have a "passion" for something.  

Whether it is football, cooking, or fixing up old cars...  

But most of our passions are not experienced first hand -they are something external that we really enjoy. 

(think of the guy who really likes a sports team but is not ON the team)

 

The amazing thing about Jesus is that He not only spoke of His Passion

-He experienced it- 

-He was one with it-

   

And that my friends, is what separates Him from you, me

And every other person that has walked this earth. 

 

  "For our sake he made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (II Corinthians 5:21) 

Funny Friday's: The Topic: A brother Jogging

Pass it on if this made you laugh!

You can't scare a dead man

I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creation of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him. –Napoleon


No one else holds or has held the place in the heart of the world which Jesus holds. Other gods have been as devoutly worshipped; no other man has been so devoutly loved. --John Knox

Grace: The Dual Purpose

-Grace has a dual purpose in your life- 

It is intended to restore you to a proper relationship with God. (Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.)

It is by grace that we are forgiven and can climb into God's lap without fear or guilt. (Romans 8:1, There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.)

It also has a second purpose, it is intended to restore us to a proper relationship with one another.

(Romans 13:8, Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.)

It is by experiencing the overwhelming love of God through Christ that we can relate properly to others. (James 2:8, If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,"you are doing right.)

Working on a Dream: Cheers vs The Church: The battle for The 3rd Place...

Working on a Dream: Cheers vs The Church: The battle for The 3rd Place...: "Recently, in our church service, we had a time to meet and greet one another. As the folks were passing the peace, this is what played ..."

Google Exodus

Ever wonder what the Exodus would have looked like if Moses had the Internet????????

Click Below & Find OUT!
  Google Exodus

Starbucks vs. The Church: The fight for The 3rd Place.

If you and I were to go back in time, say 25 years ago, and I were to ask you these two questions what would you say. 
1.  Would you believe that people would be paying 5 dollars for a cup of coffee in the year 2011?
2.  Would you believe that this company would be successful?

I know that my answer would have started off with a hearty laugh and then a solid NO.

Fast forward to the year Starbucks.  This place is so popular, that it does not even need its name attached to its logo.   

There has to be a reason for this hugely successful coffee shop.  Right??
Lucky for you, I found it.  --It is in the little quote below:

The inspiration behind this quote is found in a book titled "The Great Good Place" by Ray Oldenburgh.  It in, he explains societies 3 places of social interaction. 

The "first place" is your home.  This is where you spend the majority of your time.

The "second place" is your workplace.  You spend a lot of time here too.

The "third place" is that special arena where you go get away and relax.  It may be the coffee shop, your favorite restaurant, the bar, (remember the theme song from Cheers?  "I want to go where everybody knows your name...)  And so on.   

A key ingredient that The 3rd place provides is connection & community. In a world of social connections (facebook, twitter, cell phones, texting, etc...) that leaves us more isolated than ever, the 3rd place steps in and gets me and you in the same place, interacting face to face. 

Why am I even writing about this subject?  Good question. 
Ever since I first heard of this concept, I cannot shake the lingering quake it left behind. 

Which is this question:  Where does the Church fit into all of this?

Could it be that God created the original 3rd place? Affectionately called The Church? 

And if this is true, will the Church to wake up and smell the coffee?  (pun intended)


I can't help but wonder if The Church would see itself as the 3rd Place in the community ---what other 3rd Places would go out of business. 
Don't get me wrong, I like coffee shops, but not all 3rd places are good, some are breeding grounds for very bad things.  (A gang is a 3rd place for many of our youth). 

So I leave you with this:  Starbucks has filled a void in our community around what is basically 90 percent water & they charge a lot of money for it. 

Can the Church do better than Starbucks?

Our Leader was raised from the dead.

Healed the sick, gave sight to the blind.

Is Coming again.

His followers gather in is in His Name. 

That means we should act, think, and look like our Leader. 

And that is way better than a cup of coffee...especially at 5 bucks a pop!

Cheers vs The Church: The battle for The 3rd Place (Part II)

Recently, in our church service, we had a time to meet and greet one another.

As the folks were passing the peace, this is what played over the speakers.


Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go - where everybody knows your name
and they're always glad you came


You wanna be where you can see - our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name
You wanna go where people know people are all the same
You wanna go where everybody knows your name

-If you read my last post challenging the Church becoming the 3rd place, then you will see how this fits.  Look again at the words to the song. 

Now ask yourself the following question:

"Can you say those words about your church?"

If you are wondering why I obsess over this is type of thing, then you need a gentle reminder that The World stays up day and night trying to figure out how to become the "Cheers" for you and your kids. 

I will leave you with this: 
There was a kinda famous man named Rodney King who after being beat up by police in a kinda famous video said this kinda famous statement. 

-Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

The place that has the answer to that question...

Wins the battle for the 3rd Place. 

Period.

11 Year Old Preacher bringing down the house.

"Greater is He that is in YOU than he that is in the world." -
I John 4:4

When you pray...

Remember to Whom you are praying.
Remember you don't need fancy words.
Remember to pray like a son to a Father.

Remember God not only hears your words -but also sees your heart.
Remember that although you might have taken 1,000 steps away from God, He is just 1 step behind you.
Remember that in this life, there has only been 1 perfect Person.

Remember that prayer involves 2 things:
-Talking & Listening
Remember that the end result is not for your will to be accomplished...but His.

"The point of prayer is not to get what you want, but to receive what you need."
-J. Mulholland.

If you Never failed, You never Lived

"In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer -through Him who Loved Us." Romans 8: 37

Why I like to fail forward.

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. ~Thomas Edison


Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. ~F. Scott Fitzgerald


They say President Wilson has blundered. Perhaps he has, but I notice he usually blunders forward. ~Thomas Edison


Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.  ~Henry Ford
 
The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed.  ~Lloyd Jones
 
 I Corinthians 9: 24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

Dream, Wide Awake.

There are those who dream of a world that does not yet exist; of a world that must exist. They dream of a future that must be created.

They are the artists...
They are the ones who dream WIDE AWAKE.

-E. McManus

_______________________________________________________________

What do you get when you get a kid who graduated from high school with a total GPA of 1.9? (yes, that's a D+)

What do you get when that kid finds his passion right before walking out of high school?

What do you get when that person spent time in HOTS class? (translation = slow classes)

What do you get when that boy gets accepted into college on academic probation?

You get Anthony Kladitis

What do you get when you defy the odds of your past?

What do you get when after graduating from college, you get put through the blender in your first job?

What do you get when you almost quit -but put one foot in front of the the other?

You get Anthony Kladitis

What do you get when you work full time, and go to school full time to receive your M.Div?

What do you get when instead of driving home to be with the one person you miss most, you sleep on library floors?

What do you get when instead of graduating in 3 years it takes you 4?

You get Anthony Kladitis

What do you get when after a month of graduating with your M.Div. you start your second master's degree?

What do you get when your heart gets ripped out of your chest and you try to find a way to live again?

You get Anthony Kladtis

What do you get when you set out to defy the odds again and apply for your Ph.D?
What do you get when others just can't see what you can see? 
When others don't believe you can accomplish what sets your heart ablaze?
When people want to see you fail but you persist?

You get me.

Anthony Kladitis 

is 

Working on a Dream 

What is your Dream?

ROCKY BALBOA teaches on Proverbs!

Proverbs 24:16

 “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:

but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

Last night, a friend of mine was sharing his story of faith with the youth group.
The above verse was one he used to describe his life.  When he talked about it, I could not help but think about how many times I have failed and wanted to give up. 
But I didn't.  I'm still here.  Fighting.

As I thought more about the verse, I was reflecting on how I am here because of the Grace of God.  Grace is the reason I am able to get up again after failure.  Grace is the best motivator.

If you are down and need some umph in your life.  Then I recommend taking a minute and letting Rocky talk you out of your slump.  *I know that not everyone shares the same sentiments about Sly, but I can't help to run through walls when I watch one of these movies.

Remember,

In salvation we lose what we cannot keep in order to gain what we cannot lose.