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Running with the Big Boys

Drayven our 11 year old is playing basketball this year. The other day Drayven was shooting some hoops by himself.  The next thing I know he is playing a game of 4 on 4 with some big boys, ranging from 15-35 years old. 

My first initial reaction as a caring dad, was to go pull him from the game because these guys were way over skilled for him. The longer I watched, I knew this was a good thing. He always plays with kids his skill level or his age. As I thought about it and was watching him, he was actually learning from playing with higher skilled people. 

Although they ran him hard, it was a good experience to run the ball with people better players than he was. I think it boosts his confidence and gives him the motivation & aspirations to be better and to shoot for higher goals.    

Who are you running with that is better than you? Who is motivating you?

www.ryancook.net

L7 Youth Band

Wednesday night was our 4th and final night of our Stir conference. What a great week of God moving, God challenging, God dreaming and God Stirring it has been.

Last night our youth band, L7 got to lead worship. When our youth lead worship, it always blesses me. We have a team of highly talented kids!  To see them using their talents to glorify God, is just AWESOME! Not to mention I think they have the best lead singer on the western slope. (even if she was not my wife, I would still be making the above statement) I love to see God move and challenge our youth. 

The youth in our churches need to be involved. I think the church in general needs to listen to their youth, give them a chance. If they need help, teach them, thats what we are here for. I think every youth, in fact every person, deep down, wants to please God.

Anyway, I just wanted to give props to the L7 worship band. PROPS GUYS, YOU ROCK!!

Please leave all comments @www.ryancook.net

-Peace

Stir Conference-1

John Stanko- 10am

Good things happen when we get honest w/ God.

Get beyond your fear, stop hiding in the crowd and get out what God wants you to do.

Our job is not to evaluate everyone else, its for us to find our position and do it.

John 5:1-10-

Many are waiting for things to be stirred up so they can be stirred.  God wants to stir you up so that you can stir things up.  Your purpose will stir you up!

Usually people get stirred up and take it back to their people and stir them, usually they get stirred over an issue, problem, cause.

This man was waiting for something to happen. Someone would always beat him to it. Sometimes we wait (scared) lose the idea because someone beats us to it. We are waiting for something external, when stirring comes from the inside.

Generally we never get burned out by our purpose. Kind of like the burning bush that wouldnt go out.

One thing about God, He thinks Hes God.

Why me? Thats not the point- it is you.

The beauty of purpose, God meets you more than half way.

If you know the will of God- you plus God make the majority! 

1.   1. It requires faith to find purpose - put your faith in Gods ability to speak or show to you your purpose. No one would help him, but he kept coming. He saw others get it and he wanted to get it too.

2.   2. Its never too early or to late too find purpose. He had been ill for 38 years, but still had hope that something would happen.

3.  3. It is in Gods hands as to when you find your purpose. Jesus showed up one day. Jesus spoke to the man and he was stirred up to walk.   

4.  4. Dont wait for your surrounding to be stirred. The mans focus was in the wrong place. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. Strange question? 

5.  5. It isnt a long, involved process to engage and fulfill your purpose. God wants you to fulfill your purpose more than you do. You have probably been doing your purpose and dont realize it.

6.  6. Not everyone will be happy when you find your purpose. It puts pressure on them. They have opinions that they treat as facts.

Would the world miss you if you werent here? What is your purpose?

Your purpose is often simple, practical and personal!

www.ryancook.net

Bravery 2

Today, the Cook family got a little back on schedule, sort of speak. The kids are all back in school. It was a great winter break, but its nice to be back on a schedule. Except for the starting time for high school, 7:20AM… I remember mine used to start at 8:30AM, man how times change.

A few blogs back, I asked the question, ‘What would you do if you were brave?’ One response was moving to a new town for a family and career. Our family moved to Grand Junction totally on faith and reliance on God.

Bravery can be many things: sharing faith, speaking the truth, going into fulltime ministry, changing jobs/careers, going back to school, starting a family or a business.. bravery is endless. Basically, it is something you can not do on your own. Something you must TOTALLY RELY on God for, as your source.

So that being said, I am sure there are many bravery stories out there. Bravery is contagious and encouraging. So lets hear those bravery stories!  At the bottom of the website , www.ryancook.net there is a comment tab, simply click on it and enter your bravery story. Lets be contagious!

-Peace

 

 

First Post of 2009

Happy New Year to all!!

Although 2008 was a great year for me and my family, I am expecting 2009 to be even better and for God to move in miraculous ways!

The first thing I did today was woke up and thanked God for 08 and prayed over 09. After that, Renee and I were off to the gym for a little cardio exercise.(after maintaining through the holidays, we are upping our cardio exercises to drop a few more unwanted lbs') 

To my surprise the gym was a little empty. After all the resolutions I heard about, I thought for sure it would be packed. I guess after the New Years eve festivities, people were a little vertically challenged. Maybe they will come around after a good nights sleep- haha.

Anyway, there are many things I look forward to in 2009. 

The first thing on the radar is our Stir Winter Conference at GJFA. We have a great speaker line-up and we are expecting God to Stir in a great way. 

Drayven is going to start playing basketball. He is a very talented boy, so I look forward to watching him dominate the court!

Our firstborn, Chayce, will turn 16 this year (man, I feel old after that statement).

Of course there is a few new TV shows I look forward to: 24 and Jack Bauer, American Idol, The Biggest Loser, Survivor and Homeland Security.

I am also looking forward to some preaching opportunities and finishing up a couple college classes.

There are many more, but too many to list..... one last thing I look forward to is SPRING, SUMMER and FALL!!!  I am sooo done w/ winter!! LOL

Here's to a great 2009!!

www.ryancook.net

-Peace