Mark Hunnicutt

My snowy view this morning...

Yes, those are my feet propped up on the couch. Do we have milk and bread?

Snow Prediction

Just read FB update from Dr. Donna. My friend and her husband Mark, who works for DOT, predicts 18 inches!

25 Reasons My Wife Shouldn’t Trust Me

• If I don't give her permission and the passwords to check my computer.
• When I never allow her to drive my vehicle alone.
• If I don't go to bed when she goes to bed.
• When I compliment other women's looks or flirt.
• If I don't speak about her frequently to my guy friends.
• When I would feel uncomfortable for her to look through my contact and or call list.
• If I don't give her and her alone to authority to delete my text history.
• When I don't allow her to set the passwords to the TVs that block MA programming.
• If I'm not intentional with dates, gifts and romance.
• When I have a secret bank account or credit card.
• If I surround myself with guys that I wouldn't trust alone with my wife.
• When I'm not in an accountable relationship with guys that love their wives ask me tough questions.
• If she never sees me spending time with Jesus.
• When my eyes wonder away from her when other women are around.
• If I have conversations about my needs with any other lady beside my wife.
• When I not teachable in the area of marital fulfillment.
• If I don't compliment her privately and publically early and often.
• When I have to go out with the boys to blow of some steam.
• If I don't speak about goals that include her.
• When I don't lay out growth goals to be a better husband.
• If I go to lunch or ride in a car alone with another woman.
• When I give gifts to the opposite sex that are not from both of us.
• If I constantly blame her for my lack of integrity.
• When I don't allow her access and at will permission to delete anyone from my Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• If I'm not sacrificial with my time and recreation when it comes to time with her and doing what she likes to do.

Acts 26:24 – 27:11 God is a God of organization so I’m in subordination. What do I do when I disagree with my leader’s call…

Scripture

10 "Men," he said, "I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well." 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship's captain and the owner than to Paul.

Observations

• Paul has spent 2 years building influence
• He is an experienced traveler
• Paul doesn't agree with decision of structural leadership
• Voices opinion and gave an option
• He let that settle and then submitted

Applications

• Respect and subordination earns a right to be heard
• Leaned in and listened to those leading me
• Ask the right questions
• Respectfully give opinion and option
• Don't be critical
• Don't talk to people that are not part of the solution

Prayer

Because You are a God of organization I'm a subordinate. You are not my partner. You have also placed me in a structure where I'm "under" others. In this position give me influence and empower me to be respectful even when my experience and perspective pulls another way. I ask that I express my opinion and give an alternative option clearly and leave the results up to You.

Numerical results from 2009 Christmas Pageant. Thank you Jesus!

Accept Christ – 31

Information on beginning relationship with Christ - 10

Renewing commitment – 95

Interest in joining Mud Creek – 21

Those who have no church affiliation - 56

 

Acts 26:24 – 27:11 I desire Paul’s passion for people…

Scripture

29 Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains."

Observations

• Paul knew scripture
• Paul was respectful
• He spoke the "sober" truth
• He expounded on God's revelation
• Paul's prayer was that He wanted what had happened in his life to happen in others
• Paul audience of influence was growing larger and larger

Applications

• Stay in systematic study of scripture
• Be respectful and speak "sober" truth
• Expound on God's revelation
• Desire to give away revelation
• Speak truth and pray for open doors

Prayer

I'm intrigued how Paul balanced truth and not being a jerk. God what you have given me is precious and I need share it without slamming others. I believe that the people around Paul sensed and saw a passion for their souls. Lord, please equip me with a passion for people's eternities.

Acts 26:1-23 In Paul’s life trials were a canvas and his testimony was a brush that God used to grow His Kingdom.

Scripture

12 "One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.'

Observations

• In court on trial
• Paul used a trial for his testimony
• Life before Christ
• Life encounter with Christ
• Life experiences after Christ

Applications

• Use trials to share Your testimony
• Meditate on my life before Christ
• Illustrate my life change through Christ
• Communicate my life now in Christ
• Share my testimony/gospel

Prayer

God thank you for connecting my story to Your story! You are my salvation! I pray that I would use trials as a canvas to paint Your saving grace in my life. Empower me with this perspective.

Acts 25:13-27 When I’m waiting on God I need to think of Paul and God’s providence…

Scripture

19 Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive.

Observations

• This was Paul's message
• Throughout Paul's persecution he didn't try to shortcut God's will
• One of the most influential men in the world had a Jesus seed planted
• This had been over two years in the making

Applications

• What do I insist?
• Don't try to microwave persecution
• Have God's perspective on time

Prayer

Lord, I pray I'm mindful of your timetable and not mine. You are in control and are working Your glory story out for my good. I will not be satisfied and fulfilled outside of what You are doing. When I get impatient I pray I would think of men just like Paul and Your providential clock.

Acts 24:22 – 25:12 The Gospel isn’t about my convenience…

Scripture

24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. "Go away for now," he replied. "When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again." 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

27 After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.

Observations

• Paul's manner drew Felix to him
• Reasoned instead of rebuke
• Sad statement, "When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again."
• Two years!
• Paul used prison as a pulpit!

Applications

• Do my reactions to persecutors public repel or draw them?
• Do I reason more than a rebuke?
• Don't preach to people's convenience.
• Sometimes that place I don't want to be is the place I need to shine

Prayer

I'm amazed at Paul and his patience and persistence. These qualities are fueled by his passion to preach the truth. God, get in me what You want out of me. Help me not to use any situation as an excuse not to preach. When I have those opportunities empower me with Your Word.

PRIMAL – A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity: Chp. 1

This is the first post in a series as I read through and reflective on the book Primal written by Pastor Mark Batterson.

Chapter 1

This opening chapter is a call for all Christians to get primal with our walk and talk. Mark's desire is to strip away all the layers that keep us from a simplistic spirituality. Don't confuse simple with lack of depth or spiritually immaturity. Jesus had a way of bringing clarity to Scripture. He revealed the Great Commandment and how to have a primal love for the Lord.

Batterson's challenge is to be great at the great commandment.

"The right question is this: what's wrong with the church? My answer is simply this: we're not great at the Great Commandment. In too many instances, we're not even good at it."

Chapter one actually takes a step back. It is a chapter about rediscovery that results in a reimagination of the four primal elements detailed by Jesus in the Great Commandment.

• The heart of Christianity is primal compassion.
• The soul of Christianity is primal wonder.
• The mind of Christianity is primal curiosity.
• The strength of Christianity is primal energy.

Above is a personally created visual summary of the book's content and some of my personal reflections and prayers. This visual summary will grow as I walk through the sections and chapters. My prayer is twofold. One, God draw me back to a primal personal relationship with Jesus. Two, God empower me to be great at the Great Commandment.