So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. - Galatians 5:1 NLT
Family Meeting (January '12)
Did your family ever have a “family meeting?”You know what I mean, right?Generally Mom or Dad had an issue (or “thought” that the kids had issues).So they would call a family meeting to make sure that everyone and everything was clear on that issue.That meant we would hear from them and know what to expect going forward.Some parents were likely better than others in inviting all opinions to be heard.But either way, in the end there wouldn’t be any doubts.We would be united in vision and purpose (and sometimes, often for effect, there was an “or else”).
I mentioned in passing in our last update that the Church in greater New Orleans (that’s big-C Church – not any particular church in the city) would be holding a Sacred Assembly on the first Saturday in January to start off 2012 in the right place…on our faces before the Lord.Since I briefly shared it with you, the momentum and excitement for the upcoming gathering has continued to grow.more
Leaning in to the Lord (October '11)
A few weeks after that, I was asked to share the sermon at both services in our home church.God seemed to continue this theme of Leaning into Him.Basically, I shared three people’s stories from the Bible (and three other people in my life).The conclusion was that we all get to places in our life where we are unsure about what is next.When we do, the only meaningful solution is to hear from the Lord and to trust in His plans.
Two times each year the Malinich family and the board of Set Free meet to reflect on the past year and look to where God is leading.One of the revelations for me from our meeting this past July was the recognition that “Set Free” no longer equals “Paul Malinich.”In God’s grand design and timing, Set Free has become and perhaps always was a family in ministry.more
Raising World-Changers (May '11)
Jesus never set his vision too low.He never looked down upon the fisherman and other various clueless people that chose to listen to Him or to follow Him.He didn’t give up His plan or His purpose because no influential leaders chose to ask Him to write a book or to share His wisdom on a talk show.He never just decided to pack it all in because it was too hard and His motley crew didn’t have the resources or the capacity to do great things.But most importantly, He never allowed his disciples to look upon themselves too low either.He was constantly lifting their vision.He was constantly challenging their thinking.He was constantly pointing them to a greater purpose, to a greater calling, and to a greater life.His message was simple – go change the world.more
1,000 Presidents (January '11)
Maybe some of you thought I was going to write about money.Just maybe you thought I would share about 1,000 George Washingtons ($1,000), 1,000 Abe Lincolns ($5,000), or better yet 1,000 Ben Franklins ($100,000).Well, that’s not the topic.Maybe some of you were on a more spiritual line of thought.Maybe I would talk about America and how the blessings of the Lord should last for a 1,000 generations (or presidents) because our forefathers loved God and kept his commandments.That’s His promise to His people in Exodus 20:5-6.And as we’ve lost His way in our culture, will that affect us?more
Everybody Gets to be the Quarterback (December '10)
The cool thing about this year’s (Sportsman of the Year) awarding by Sports Illustrated (SI) was that they awarded both Drew Brees’ on-field and his in-the-community achievements.Too often we allow our heroes to exist simply because of what they can do at the highest level of a game (and it is just a game).But in this case, I think that SI got it right.Drew was singled out by them not only because he accomplished a lot by throwing a ball, but because he has also invested in a community that lost so much in 2005 (and is far from fully recovered).