the little big show | jason boles

Just Nuggets: DOUBLE DIGITS BABBBBBBY!!!!!.

Zig Ziglar, an amazing and inspirational speaker coined the phrase, “All you can do is all you can and all you can do is enough!”  I must have listened to Ziglar cry out that phrase through the car stereo a million times in my years as a sales executive and sales manager.

Good ol’ Zig.  I wonder if he knew just how right he was?

As a Believer, as someone that passionately leads a ministry and believes God can do ANYTHING, this is a secular inspired battle cry I can easily get my arms around.  This has not always been the case.

Isn’t it amazing how difficult it can be for us to grasp this simple, biblical and refreshing revelation?

We spend way too much of our lives trying to ‘fix’ those around us.  Whether it is preconceived notions or our 20/20 hindsight on almost any matter, our observation of others stirs emotions ranging from fear to freedom.  We are a culture of ‘fixers’, always looking for the next person to fix!

Sometimes getting out of the road is all it takes.

The investment we make in those around us is one aspect.  Whatever the resource, time, money or emotion we invest, we more than not take ownership of ‘junk’ we shouldn’t own.  No matter how inexperienced in a matter we may be, we are fervent in moving from consoler to strategist.

We also leave ourselves in a position to fail.  Many times our solution to someone else’s problem or circumstance is a bandage; that temporary fix that lasts until the next day.

I’ve learned there is a simple formula that will set us free (and often be the most appreciated)…

1. All you can do is all you can do and all you can is enough.  Establish the simple and straight forward mindset that separates us from the gossip and takes away our preconceived notions.  It’s not our problem to fix and it certainly isn’t going to be fixed in our own strength.
2. Listen.  Sometimes when we stop and just listen we find a friend that just needs to vent and isn’t looking for a fix… consequently we don’t walk away with a burden and they do not have to walk away confused!
3. Pray.  What we cannot see and what we cannot fix only God can.  How much faith do you have?
4. Encourage.  A little bit of encouragement goes a long way.

I’m sure there will be opinions on this post to the contrary.  I’m okay with that.  It’s my blog, my opinion and I can cry if I want to!  This is on my heart and making me crazy.  I’m being bombarded with stories, mostly distressing, and I’ve got to speak out.

What is with all the church mega-events and conferences?

Yes, I know, I once was caught up in it too.  Who doesn’t like a party?  Don’t let me mix messages.  I love when ministries make an impact, a big time splash in the neighborhoods, cities and nations they are called to work in.  Nothing can be taken away for the Kingdom publicity that falls when these types of events take place.  Sometimes people get saved and baptized… typically those already involved in the House.  I recognize the importance of fellow Believers coming together to corporately worship, corporately pray and study His word… true fellowship.

Does this have to be done on a such a grand scale and at such a high cost?  I mean really?  Is this biblical stewardship of our resources?

Consider this.  If we took the time, the money and the marketing that many ministries and churches spend promoting their own internal events and conferences, and we directed those resources to the people the Bible actually directs us to serve, would the impact be greater for God?

Our ministry is small.  Often I am questioned, even criticized, for directing our resources towards community service and specific needs of those that are desperate rather than completing projects important to us like the construction of our building or marketing initiatives.  When I seek God, I hear him guide our works and resources to serving.  When I read God’s Word, I interpret the importance of serving others.  Funny how God continues to meet the needs in those other, perhaps self serving areas, when we focus on the needs of our community.

Not all churches and ministries are the same.  As leaders we have to remain in God’s Word and seek His wisdom.  It is great how He always shows us the best path forward.

My challenge is to all the churches and ministries in marketplaces that are investing countless hours and finance towards conferences and events that exist to strengthen His troops but create platforms for false idols to emerge.

My challenge to other ministries and churches is to ask… What does it really take to strengthen His troops?  How can we be better stewards of the resources He gives us, honoring Him with our works?

See you on the streets…. not at the next conference.

Just Nuggets: A sort of funny, AWESOME revelation….

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who madethem at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”  Matthew 19:4-6 (NKJV)

Every now and then, I think when we’ve had just about enough, it is okay to stomp our feet, pitch a fit… and, in this case, publish a rant!

 Important Disclosure: The Little Big Show blog is my personal Blog.  The writings here are solely my perspective and opinion except where others have posted comments.  The opinions expressed may or may not be the opinion of organizations, businesses and business partners for which I am associated.

I’ve been fairly free to express attitudes towards and opinions about the state of our government, the 2012 Presidential Election and certain candidates in that race through various social medias.  Some have responded positively and in agreement, others have been opposed.  Perhaps the biggest criticism I have taken is that of my position against Mitt Romney.  Debate is the freedom we are afforded and as such I never take the counter perspective personally.  Whether you agree or disagree, this is where I stand.

Barrack Obama

I didn’t vote for Barrack Obama and I believe he has done an poor job as an elected leader, the President.  I do not support his vision for our Nation nor do I believe his solutions are the best way forward.  The division we endure domestically and abroad is, in my opinion, failed leadership.  Whilst I do not support President Obama, I maintain high respect for the office he holds.  I pray for Barrack Obama as our current President, obedient to God’s command for us to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2).  The Bible is clear that we are to be obedient to authority that is allowed to come over our lives (Romans 13:1-2).

US Government 2012

The modern evolution of government is oversized and is intrusive on the very liberties this Nation was organized to insure.  I’ve had enough of politics and government in our country as a whole.  Elected officials have created ‘full time’ jobs of their offices, and as thankful as I am for their public service, the nature of their work is way off what our Founding Fathers envisioned.  Our government has swelled and entrenched itself into our daily lives in ways never intended.  The legislative branch, at all levels of government, has continued to architect and implement laws that are opposed to the very freedom our Constitution was authored to protect and it has continuously misappropriated resources to create departments and agencies whose sole purposes are to establish a societal dependency on itself.  Our country is bankrupt yet continues to ignore the reality and continues to create and operate false economies.  To be fair, by most, I am considered ‘right of right’.  I am a conservative, small government advocate.  My ‘conservative’ theology applies to all aspects of the government and our rights; I’m not ‘just’ fiscally conservative.  Contrary to public perception, caring and looking out for those that have less or live in need does not mean you must be liberal in social policy.  Caring for those in need, regardless of ‘class’ or political association is the responsibility of each of us; of private citizens and private industry, and it should be led by the Church.  The concern I have for modern government is its obstruction of liberty and its staggering manipulation of ‘free markets’ whether through policy, legislation or propaganda.

The 2012 GOP Field

I have been open minded to many of the candidates that entered the GOP race for nomination.  Rick Perry captured my attention early on, yet as the campaign process is designed to work, I saw the weaknesses.  Governor Perry has accomplished a great deal in Texas and been a good public servant, but the successful growth in Texas has proven to be the result of very little Rick Perry.  Herman Cain generated a lot of interest and won my respect quickly.  I do believe Herman Cain had the potential to be a strong leader but too many ‘character’ questions remain.  I’ll forever wonder the truth about Herman Cain.  Newt Gingrich might be one of the most intelligent men willing to pursue the presidency.  There is a lot I like about Newt, including the openness of his short fallings and repentance.  Heck, I’m a ‘comeback’ kind of guy and thank God every single day He redeemed (redeems) me.  Rick Santorum finally earned his way on to my radar.  It is too early to tell, but I’m learning and liking what I am finding about Santorum.  I am fervent in my unwillingness to support Mitt Romney.  It’s for this position I have received the most criticism.

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney has been an incredibly successful businessman.  I’m inspired by what he has accomplished in the private sector.  Romney’s success in private-public work leading the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics cannot be overlooked either.  Yet, as I take into consideration these attributes considered positive for someone wanting to lead our country, I consider other attributes I am less impressed with or flat out opposed to in Romney’s case.  Faith is a critical component for someone to be my leader.  I am strongly opposed to the Mormon faith and do not accept the argument by some that Mormons are Christians.  Faith is a leading reason I’m opposed to Mitt Romney’s candidacy.  Just as it is important to consider Romney’s work in the private sector, consider his work in the public sector, as a governor.  Romney served as an elected official and has a record to evaluate.  Based on ‘conservative’ standards and a ‘conservative’ platform, Mitt Romney has failed in his public service.  There is little debate concerning the liberal bias of legislation and policy under his leadership.  Finally, Mitt Romney doesn’t inspire me.  To earn legitimate support in a presidential election, a candidate needs to exude attributes of a leader worthy of serving the most powerful country in the free world… domestically and internationally.  Rather than telling everything that is wrong in this country, rather than tearing down each competitor and rather than generating an emotion of fear… the, “how we are doomed without your election”… present me solutions and a vision for your leadership.  Mitt Romney doesn’t get this.  It is our personal responsibility to assess where the Nation is and to vet other candidates, please, if you want to be President, inspire us to believe the vision you have and the strategy you will implement.  Mitt has demonstrated in his campaign everything I don’t want in a leader, the attributes I reference above.

Voting

It’s difficult to argue with sound bites and misleading OpEd’s.  The electorate (you and me) is fairly ignorant and our government trades on this reality.  Very few of us are willing to dig into details, study economic reports and understand what really is happening in our world.  We are busy and undoubtedly have become selfishly focused on taking in the information most readily available and presented.  It is a sad predicament because we move forward uninformed and making emotional decisions that often prove contrary to our core beliefs.

Voting is so important.  Whether you vote for a Republican, a Democrat or member of another party, the important thing is to get out and vote.  If you disagree with the direction the government is headed, the way our country is led, vote to change it by voting for someone that truly aligns with your values and principles.  If you believe in the direction we are moving and the leadership we have then vote your support.  The important thing is to research the candidate you select, not solely with mainstream sound bites and entertainment based reporting, with truth.

We live in a great nation and there is a lot we have worth fighting for.  Make a point to make a difference.  God’s creation of uniqueness in each of us, and in turn the freedom to express it, is what makes where we call home so incredibly amazing!

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck….

My mother retired as a VP at Delta Airlines, beginning as an entry level flight attendant and working her way up the corporate ladder, and as such earned a few really nice retirement benefits.  One benefit includes travel privileges.  Along with several friends that retired from Delta with similar benefits, a group known as the Delta Dames, she sets out a couple times each year to spend 3-5 days exploring the world.

This week the Delta Dames storm into Barcelona, Spain.  The trip had included an excursion to Athens as well, but due to the economic crisis and the ensuing civil unrest, the Dames decided Athens was off the itinerary.  I do not disagree with the choice to skip Athens. They will, undoubtedly, see it another time!

Our conversation, and why the group decided to forgo the Athens leg, however, did evoke some interesting thoughts and comparisons?

You say “tom-A-to”, I say “tom-au-to”.

Greece (Athens) is in a debt crisis… bankrupt.  The government by many accounts has been futile in handling it’s economic crisis and uncertainty.  There are daily ‘civil’ riots where angry protestors are expressing outrage concerning the way the country’s finances are being handled.

The United States is in a debt crisis, and whilst unwilling to admit it, by definition, bankrupt.  The government by many accounts has been futile in handling the economic crisis and uncertainty.  There are ‘civil’ riots (a.k.a. Occupy Wall Street, OWS) where angry protestors are expressing outrage concerning the way the country’s finances are being handled.

Financial melt down… Civil unrest and violence… Government incompetence…

One country we avoid… One country we call home.  Oh the irony.

(Have a safe trip Mom, and tell the Dames hello.  Love you.)

Is giving thanks without an expectation that hard to do?

It shouldn’t be.  Yet, human nature influenced by the culture we live certainly can make it a challenge.

One of my favorite authors and speakers is Francis Chan.  Chan’s direct, non-apologetic, communication style complimented by his compassion for others, really resonates for me.  Crazy Love, one of Chan’s bestsellers, is something I have been studying lately and is what stirred this revelation.  Chan asked the poignant question, “Do you love God because of what He has done or because of what He can do for you?”

How many times do you go into prayer giving thanks, and ultimately find yourself seeking favor?  How many times do you find yourself moving hastily through the day, absent of time in the Word or prayer, only to find yourself asking God, “Just let this meeting turn out as I need for it… just let me get there on time without a traffic jam, flight delay or speeding ticket… etc., etc.”?

The ministry we lead, Audacious Faith, hosts a Wednesday night gathering in Roswell called beSTIRRED.  We begin every meeting with corporate prayer, sometimes we go into a bit of worship music, we discuss a piece of scripture a leader presents, we talk about prayer needs amongst all those gathered and we wrap up in corporate prayer.  We stated from the outset the first prayer, the opening for every gathering, would be prayer of thanks (Ps 50:14).  And, we talk about this as we open each meeting!  Can I tell you how often it morphs into prayers of seeking?  No more than 3 minutes in, time and again, our prayers have shifted to ‘seeking’ with ‘thanks’ mixed in!  This is not an indictment but an interesting observation in the context of the world and Chan’s question.

Can we focus on giving thanks without an expectation of what is to come?

In the book Crazy Love Chan does a remarkable job presenting what God has already done.  As we take in the magnitude of what He has created and done, we will find the task of praying ‘thanks’ consumes us.  As I look at all He has built in creation, at his unconditional love towards me, what He has established in my life, I begin to feel that seeking anything more is just too much, almost arrogant and self centered.  To achieve any balance I have to remind myself how He also directs us to seek Him and ask of Him.

Looking beyond prayer and our relationship with God, how does this apply in our relationships?  In marriage, can you give thanks to your spouse without an expectation of anything back?  With our children, can we thank our kids for something, congratulate them on something, and not expect something in return?  In business, can we exude thankful motives towards colleagues, employees or customers without an expectation of return?

There is an incredible freedom in freely giving thanks.  And, as simple as a concept as it may seem, freely giving thanks takes practice.  We must consider the expectation of return is not always tangible, not always spoken, but sometimes emotional.  The manifestation of thanks in our minds, without an alignment of our hearts, can lead us astray.
Recognizing our thanks to one another must begin from our hearts to be given freely will support our desire towards a ‘no strings attached’ lifestyle.

Give thanks today!  And, thank YOU for reading.

I read a statement about faith once that I carry with me and quote often:

“When we walk to the edge of all light we have, and take that step into darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen… there will be something solid for us to stand on, or we will be taught to fly.”

Disingenuous faith is risky.  Absolute faith is secure.  One thing is for certain.  Without faith, we are sunk.

Simple enough, yes?  For me, someone leading a ministry called Audacious Faith, you can appreciate how important this concept is to understand.  If you are a Believer, you certainly get it.

Yet, the result of recent studying, reminds that faith without works is dead. Wow. Let me say it again, faith without works is dead.  It’s a profound statement.  It is biblical truth (James 2:14-26).  Unfortunately, for a lot of different reasons, I think this has a tendency to get misplaced.

Even more so, what makes the statement so relevant beyond ministry and the Bible is how it encompasses so many other actions we have towards one another.  The truth in the simple statement, faith without works is dead, unlocks a key principle in our relationships with one another.  When taken for granted or ignored the result can be devastating and terminal.  The revelation of value and importance, however, not only assure our Salvation, it prospers our relationships.

Love… love without works is dead.

Trust… trust without works is dead.

Thanks… thanks without works is dead.

Loyalty… loyalty without works is dead.

In a world cluttered with communication messages, where news breaks in a Twitter Trend before it hits the Networks and separation from our smartphone for more than 10 minutes feels like an eternity, perhaps words carry less meaning.  In a culture that has given way in communications to proper sentence structure, grammar and punctuation to glamorize short code and sometimes mysterious abbreviations, perhaps what we say becomes less important.  In a marketplace where eMail and 30-minute Webinars replace in person meetings, perhaps eye-to-eye conversation has less value.  We can go on and on and debate the demise of spoken languages.

The truth, however, lays in Biblical truth, that without action our intent is dead.  We must orchestrate action to substantiate our words and feelings towards one another lest we leave behind an uncertainty and emptiness.

Perhaps Cuba Gooding Jr. said it best as Rod Tidwell in Jerry McGuire.  ”Jerry, you know what you are going to do for me?  SHOW. ME. THE. MONEY!”

Perhaps the most recognizable characteristic of Bill Spencer was a radiating smile that spoke as much inward truth as joy it gave to those around him.  I had the privilege of getting to know Bill as a neighbor and a businessman.  He treated my family like his own.  Whilst I will miss that big smile coming down Eves Road, it won’t take much to look around and see it in God’s nature.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” -Matthew 5:14 (NKJV)

Bill always gave more of himself than anyone expected.  You didn’t sit down to have a chat with Bill and walk away without gaining something… knowledge, wisdom, sometimes a simple peace or plain, old love.

There are very few, if any, aspects of Bill’s life that didn’t exude excellence and his nature as a man that feared God.  As a man he sought Jesus, built unquestionable relationship with God and lived a life above reproach, quite purposed.  I was able to witness this in so many different ways.  For many, the most obvious success is encompassing of the family legacy he has built (Prov 24:3).  He was the head of his house and as such, he was a husband second to none; Patty goes about life carrying the light Bill sowed (Eph 5:25-27).  He raised incredibly successful children; successful as parents, as business people, as advocates, as citizens and as Believers (Prov 22:6).  Sheri, Troy and Dawn continue to honor Bill in ways true to his foundation yet uniquely “theirs” (Eph 6:1-3).  Bill was a diligent, hard working businessman with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Undoubtedly the businesses he built, whether directly or indirectly, have touched people’s lives throughout the United States (James 2:26, Prov 21:5).  Known for his quickness on the tennis court, even through his biggest health battles Bill respected the need to care for his body (1 Cor 6:19).  And, lest I mention his immeasurable generosity (Acts 20:35) and his commitment to God’s House (Joshua 22:5).  Bill’s nature, reflective of his love of Christ, could continue to be listed and referenced because it was just that special.

Everyone that knew Bill here on earth got more, even in the end of his time here, then they bargained for.  Whilst we shed tears and searched for words, Bill showed us an absolute perfect peace.  Yes, that perfect peace that surpasses all understanding.  I don’t think it was because he said he was at peace that we are left with more, but because it was action.  Bill was at peace.

I will miss Bill.  I will miss sitting in meaningful conversations that I reap value from long after they are complete.  I will miss lunch at Oak Street Cafe where the reaction of the other guests and employees to his visit can only be compared to that of Julia Roberts at The Ivy for Sunday Brunch.  I will miss the smile he brought to my son’s face.  I will miss the friendship he gave to my mother and step-father.

My hope is to achieve the wisdom and peace he passed along to so many others… children, grandchildren, friends.  My affirmation of his place in Heaven, the bigger than life role I know he plays there, came as I re-read an update written by his son Troy.  The update was one of the last and Troy recounted, “The other day I was holding his hand while he was laying on the sofa and I leaned into him and said softly, ‘Dad, I am SO sorry that you are having to go through all of this…’ and his broken reply was, ‘It’s all part of the process’.”

Rest In Peace Bill Spencer.  Job well done.