Saluki downTime September 25, 2023

Saluki downTime September 25, 2023

What are you watching right now?

Cooperation

Define Cooperation - 

The meaning of COOPERATION is the actions of someone who is being helpful by doing what is wanted or asked for : common effort.

Listen if you want to be heard is also cooperation. 

What is your style of Cooperation? 

You want to be the Boss or you are a follower? Leader or doer? 

Gentleness is a better method of getting cooperation than harshness

John Wooden Teams was once described as: 

UCLA was a fine little team. But Duke was a fine big team. But a European coach observed that UCLA will win because they are a team. That was true and they did win.

You need people in your life.

The abilities of the players served the team, as opposed to the players being used to serve an individual. That's cooperation.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one. they get a better return for their labor. 

How much can 1 ox carry? - 2 oxen?

•A yoke is a wooden frame by which two animals, such as oxen, are coupled at the neck for the purpose of pulling a heavy load.

•Two animals work side by side in order to carry a load that one can’t do alone. If the load is not heavy, a yoke is not needed.

•A yoke makes independence impossible. You can’t go your own way.

•Typically a young, untrained ox is yoked with an older, trained ox. The younger learns from the older.

•If a trained ox can pull 5,000 pounds and an untrained ox can pull 2,000 pounds, together they can pull 10,000 pounds—much more than the sum of the two.

•Over time, the untrained ox becomes trained and the two begin to walk in-step with each other. Then they can pull 15,000 pounds.

How many of you wish you had another ability? Or were better than you are at something?

Any examples?

Romans 12:4-5

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

There is a reason you have what you have. YOU need to use it. No one else. Then partner with people who have what you don't have.

Think about building a house. 

What are all the parts we need for a house? Specialities.

Do Your Job. The job that God has called you to do. He has equipped you. 

Where are you working alone but could benefit from working with someone else?

Where do you need help in your life? 

How can you help someone in your life? 

Let's cooperate as we use our spiritual gifts.

Saluki downTime September 18, 2023

Downtime September 18, 2023

Favorite wings flavor and place

The Right Friends

240 push ups - power of friendship - 2 of you to do 120 each - 10 of you to do 24 each

Which way is easier? 

Define the word friend

Write on a card:

1. Who has your back?

2. Whose back do you have?

3. Who do you need to turn your back to?

4. Who do you need to back up to?

Reckless love lyrics - what Jesus does for you as your friend.

There's no shadow You won't light up - Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down - Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future is a saying our pastor told us. 

Limiting people’s access can be self care.

We all get to make our own choices of who we want in our life. Especially when it comes to our friends. We all have people right now that we ask - why are they my friend? or why do I allow them to be a part of my life.

Friendship is doing for others while they are doing for you.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 - a person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.

Famous friends? - 3 musketeers?

David and Jonathan were close.

Jobs' friends came to console him.

90 people were connected to Paul. Timothy being one of the closest.

Jesus and John were close.

Daniel had 3 close friends (Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego) and they were willing to burn in a fiery furnace together for the cause of Christ.

What would have happened if they didn't have each other? 

Their actions led the king to believe in God.

Who knows what would have happened but we do know that collectively they were strong. strong enough to jump in a fire for what they believed.

Do you have friends that strong?

Philippians 2:3-8

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who in your life do you have that will tell you the truth?

 You need someone that will be honest with you and not be offended or get mad. Maybe offensive because sometimes we need truth in our life.

Lean on me song -

Sometimes in our lives - We all have pain - We all have sorrow - But if we are wise - We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me - When you're not strong - And I'll be your friend -I'll help you carry on...

For it won't be long - Till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on - Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow - For no one can fill

Those of your needs that you won't let show - You just call on me brother when you need a hand - We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand - We all need somebody to lean on

You just call on me brother - When you need a hand - We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand - We all need somebody to lean on - If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry - I'm right up the road - I'll share your load

If you just call me

The right friends

1. Keep you out of trouble

Story of Shaq's body guards

2. Keep you accountable

3. Keep you from being lonely

4. Keep you in the word

1 thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Saluki downTime 9/11/23

Saluki downTime - September 11, 2023

The right Enthusiasm

I think we have to enjoy what we do if we are going to succeed

I am enthusiastic where I am willing.

How is your heart?

An enthusiastic leader will keep those undert his or her charge fom achieving their collective best

1. Are you leading with enthusiasm?
2. How do you handle situations where your leader isn't?

Romans 12:11 - Never be lazy in your work, but serve the lord enthusiastically.

Think about where you are in your career? How are you handling it? Are you in it fully? Are you excited to be where you are? Share time.

Story of Apollos is something to think about. Acts 18.

At the beginning Apollos was going around an sharing stories of Jesus but didn't know the whole story. He was enthusiastic but the wrong way.

He went to Ephesus and this is where a Godly couple Priscilla and Aquila. He was told the whole story of Jesus and believe it to be truth. Now he was able to spread the Gospel and the whole story with enthusiasm.

Biblical enthusiasm means to

1. boil in the spirit

2. commit with your whole heart

3. be zealous

4. be passionate

We have to figure out how to be excited about where we are both in the real life and in our life where God has us.

Out of everything you do what do you enjoy least? Can be simple or complex task.

Out of everything you do what do you enjoy most? Can be simple or complex.

How can you have the same enthusiasm for what you enjoy least as your do with what you enjoy most?

Be where your feet are.

What is the purpose for where God has you?

The right enthusiasm.

Apollos has it wrong. It wasn't until someone sat down with him and set him on the right path.

What is your next step regarding enthusiasm.

Saluki DownTime September 4, 2023

Hard Work

Favorite Soda

Hard Work has two components. Work and Planning

Are there any substitutes for HARD WORK? Shortcuts? 

What are some examples of jobs where you work really hard?

Who is someone that you think of when you think of hard work?

Coach wooden says that he did

1. a lot of research.

2. talked with other coaches

3. read books

4. examined every angle

What are some other detailed words you think of when it comes to hard work? Do words Action 

The only competition I have is with myself. If I do not do so, I will not succeed.

Do you really give it all in all you do? Be honest - share.

Proverbs 21:5 - Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

This is in all areas of life. This does not mean if you work hard you will be rich and if you don't you will be poor.

It is your job to find a way to put out maximum effort.

Most people slack off when they think their lack of effort will go unnoticed.

Coach Ash said - There are 11 players and 1 can easily do nothing.

What about in your walk with Christ? It is easy to slack off thinking no one will notice.

• Bible study.

• prayer

• Church

• Serving

God sees us every minute of every day.

Ephesian 6:7 - work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Working hard, digging deep, and bringing out the good from within us are the keys.

Paul is a great example of this.

1 Thessalonians 2:9 - don't you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that our expenses would not be a burden to anyone there as we preached God's good new among you.

When we follow Paul's example, it is easier to give our all.

What are some issues in our lives that need hard work?

In what area do you think you can push past your current limitations?

Saluki downTime August 28, 2023

Saluki downTime August 28, 2023

Favorite Cereal

Success - what it is and what it is not

How would you define success?

I am a firm believer that your best is enough.

How much of your brain do you use on a daily basis? some say 10 percent. Some say 25-65 percent. Either way none of us are as smart as we could be.

Why do I say this? Because success is based off of what you can do. Not anyone else. If you daily give you best and truly try as hard as you want to - your definition is perfect.

you trying your hardest and making a C is better than someone else not trying or caring and making a C.

2 principles to define success.
1. Dont try to be better than someone else.
2. always try to be the best you can be.

success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

If we refrain from comparing ourselves to others and stay off other people's ladders of success, we will have peace of mind.

Do you have a win at all cost mentality?

+ Luke 16:10-11 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

How have you handled a little?

+ Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

What do you desire?

Proverbs 16:3 - commit to the lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans.

What percent have you committed to the lord?

Success defined by the world could be many things. Finances are a huge part of success. The world tells us that having money is success. If you can buy what you want or borrow what you want you are successful.

Having a career could mean you are successful.

Having toys could mean you are successful. 4 wheelers, Cars, boats, and anything else you want for entertainment can define success.

Having kids that are "successful" could define success.

God tells us that giving your life to him defines success. Focusing on Christ in your life is different than what the world says. There is no money or things that can add up to a life in Christ.

All we need is Christ and everything else falls into place.

Now define success?

Saluki DownTime July 14, 2023

 God's Grace - Your Purpose

1 Timothy 1:9

What is the greatest gift you have ever been given? 

For me I remember two things in my life. When I was about 11 years old my mom found a deal on portable cd players during black Friday event. My mom got me and by brother and two sisters one. We were not expecting them and definitely did not ask for them. What I remember the most was the spice girls cd I got with it. 

Ok so I may have asked for the spice girls cd.  But I will never will forget that moment. 

I am a huge North Carolina fan. And I never could afford their team shoes. One of the first years we were married Laura's step mom gave us a $200 budget for Christmas and I knew what I was getting. 

I still have those shoes and will probably never get rid of them. I will never forget that gift. 

So what about you? 

One of God's greatest gifts he has given us is PURPOSE.

Do you have days where you feel like your life doesn't matter? 

Do you ever feel like you aren't valuable or effective?  

The world says that if you go to school, work hard, and make enough money you will be someone. You will be noticed. The world does not create purpose. 

God had a plan for you before the world began. God knit you in your mothers womb. God knows how many hairs on your head. 

God created purpose for you. 

Now what? 

What do you do? 

Its your choice.

Do you follow the world and create an empty sense of purpose in your life? 

Or do you follow what God created for you and the real purpose for you here on earth. 

#1 Purpose - Have a relationship with God. 

Talk to him. 

Read his word. 

Work for him.

#2 Purpose - Love others. 

Be there for your friend. 

Take care of the homeless

Take care of the widows. 

Embrace others. 

Go to God to fully know the purpose God has created you to be. 

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” John 15:16

Reflect on your own life. 

Have you been living with the purpose of Jesus? 

God's Grace is Your Purpose

God knows you. God wants to know you more. 

God forgives you when you mess up. God wants you to start today with change if that is what you need. 

Today is the Day!