Monday Funday: My take on the new Noah movie

After hearing about the new Noah movie, I just can't believe all the inaccuracies.

That's why I'm sticking with the original Bill Cosby version.

If video doesn't appear, go here.

How You Can Encourage Us AND Get Encouraged

Here's a great way to support Cadre Ministries AND get encouraged and equipped at the same time!

All you have to do is purchase one of Cadre's digital ebooks above for your iPad or Macintosh iBook reader. Each digital iBook features...

1. Media rich interaction via audio and/or video and/or PDF downloads
2. Bible-based learning experiences for disciplemakers and disciplemaking friendships

PDF ebook editions are also available for other electronic readers (Kindle, Nook, etc.) here on the Cadre Store.

These Cadre resources are fun for small groups, team use or disciplemaking coffee shop encounters.

All proceeds go directly to support the mission of Cadre Ministries!

We are your Cadre missionaries of disciplemaking—and we thank you for your prayers and support!

Visit the Cadre iBookstore

www.cadreministries.com

store.cadreministries.com

Monday Funday: Starbucks' Newest Coffee

In the news: Starbucks apologizes for Satanic symbols in coffee foam.

In other news, Starbucks announced a brand new coffee called...   The Dark Lord Roast.

Confessions of a Time Management Loser

I have a confession to make.

I’m a loser when it comes to traditional time management.

My desk is often cluttered (it is even now as I type), my email inbox is often overflowing (I started the day with 137 emails needing a response), and I'm horribly slow at returning phone calls (the phone just rang and I kept on typing—it went to voicemail—I'll get to it later).

If I were a traditional time management man, I would be ashamed to speak so honestly with you like this.

But here’s another confession.

I think the focus of traditional time management is way wrong for the age in which we live.

Let me explain.

Traditional time management is about doing things right. Clean desks. Zero emails in your inbox. No dandelions in your yard. No phone calls left unreturned. No sentences left un….

But are those things really the most important things in life?

I think not.

You could get all of those things right and miss life.

I contend that healthy time management is not about doing things right—as much as it is doing the right things.

I'm not against doing things right... if I have the time. But who does? So—with my limited time—I choose to focus on doing the right things for this particular season of my life.

I'm usually able to eat evening meals with my family. I enjoy regular walks and jogs with my wife. And I'm reading the Bible completely through again this year.

Don't get me wrong. My life is far from perfect—and I have lots of areas that need attention. But because I have a sense of God's priorities for my life at this season, that which is most important is usually getting my time, energy, and attention.

However, it's a trade off.

My garage needs to be cleaned and organized. My desk needs cleaned off. My email inbox is packed. And my phone has voicemail messages waiting for me. I’ll eventually give these things some time and attention—but not at the expense of God's most important priorities for this season of my life.

I'm learning to live with the tension of lesser things left undone.

But think about this with me.

What's worse than a cluttered desk, not answering email, and letting your calls go to voicemail? In my opinion, being busy cleaning your desk, emailing, and talking on the phone while God's most important priorities for this season of your life get neglected.

A house with toys strewn all over is not necessarily an indication that a person is unorganized and a poor manager of time. It could be a sign of a person who understands the difference between doing things right and doing the right things.

Are you doing things right? Or are you doing the right things?

Want More?
Check out Time Management for Painfully Pooped-Out People book and audio download.






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Monday Funday: To err is human...

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The Power of Love Over Hate

Considering the notoriously offensive behavior of Westboro Baptist Church, I found this response to Westboro inspiring. Here's the story...

"The Westboro Baptist Church sent their forces to protest a Lorde concert in Kansas City, but opponents met them with a new tactic: killing them with kindness.

From the opposite side of the street, the rival protesters sent their condolences to the followers of Fred Phelps, the longtime pastor of the Church who died on Wednesday of natural causes.

Megan Coleman helped make the sign for the Friday night protest with the simple words: 'Sorry for your loss.'"

While you can read the rest of the story here, stop and ponder the power of love over hate.

Stop and ponder the example Jesus gave us.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

—I Peter 2:21-25

Stop and ponder what living that example might look like for you today.

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Let me encourage you and make you think 2-3x a week with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox.
1. Go here and submit your email.
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Note: You can unsubscribe anytime simply by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email that comes from Cup O' Joe with Bill.

Monday Funday: Funny because it's true

Each Picture Tells a Fun Story About What God Is Doing...

Thank you so much for taking a few moments to celebrate God's good work in and through us for HIS glory. The best way to view this is to go here. Or you can click any image below to enlarge for viewing, reading, and praying. Thanks for reading and celebrating what God is doing!

Might you be interested in being a part of our prayer team? We are missionaries with Cadre Ministries. About 2-3 times a month, I'd like to send you a short email with details about how you can say a quick prayer for us. If you are willing to say a quick prayer for us 2-3 times a month, please email me and put "prayer team" in the subject line. THANKS!

We need you. We couldn't take any of part of this Jesus-like disciplemaking adventure without people like you who love us, pray for us, and give to Cadre. We need you. You make our ministry powerful and possible. Every expression of partnership breathes life into our souls… and enables us to do the same for many others! For more information about how you can partner with God, the Allisons, and Cadre Ministries, go here. To make a secure online tax-deductible donation, go here.  Cadre Ministries is a recognized 501(c)3 ministry.

* For up-to-date ways to pray for us, go here.

Monday Funday: Romancing the Bean...

If I must have a soulless cup of coffee, I'll drink Starbucks. But if I want a Cup O' Joe that smiles, kisses me, and says, "Good morning you stud!" then I drink Eysals.

Best. Americano. Ever.


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There is no substitute for real friendship...

If video doesn't appear, go here.

Technology and social media can be a great enhancer of real friendships, but it's a horrible substitute for real friendships.

Yeah. You should re-read that sentence above one more time a little more s l o w l y.

So why is this such a big deal?  Here's a thought.


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Let me encourage you and make you think 2-3x a week with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox.
1. Go here and submit your email.
2. Check your email and click the Feedburner confirmation link.
Note: You can unsubscribe anytime simply by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email that comes from Cup O' Joe with Bill.

Monday Funday: Daylight Savings

Updated 4/2/14: 

Daylight Savings mistake may have caused bomber to blow himself up.

Hope that brought a smile to your face.

For an interesting take on Daylight Savings, check this out.

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Let me encourage you and make you think 2-3x a week with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Go here and submit your email. Then check your email inbox and click the Feedburner confirmation link. Note: You can unsubscribe anytime simply by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email that comes from Cup O' Joe with Bill.

A God Adventure in Colorado

Recently, I had the honor of exploring Cadre's Evangelism Is Relationship training experience with Shane Stacey, National Director of Student Ministries with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA)—and some disciplemaking youth leaders from around the country—in the very snowy mountains of Colorado.

Once we got to Colorado, Shane and I grabbed a cup O' joe and headed up the mountains where we had an appointment with God and the other EFCA youth ministry leaders. I love the look on Shane’s face in this picture because it looks like at this precise moment, the caffeine started to kick in : ) God knew we were going to need it.

Driving into the mountains of CO. So far so good. All seemed well in our world.

The further up the mountains we went, the worse it got. But up the mountains we went anyway. Why? Because it's there.

With about a quarter mile to go, we got stuck. Leaving the car stuck in the middle of the road, we hiked up the mountain to the place we were going to gather for training and planning.

So this is why Shane invited me to be a part of this gathering? We got into the mountain home, found a snowblower, and got to work. There was about a foot of snow—with more snow falling every minute.

So this is what disciplemaking and following Jesus together looks like in CO? Yes. Yes it does. Everyone is stuck—and having the time of their lives. At least I was : ) How bad was it? Even a tow truck got stuck. Not kidding.

We invested a good portion of two days in friendship and experiencing Evangelism Is Relationships training (a.k.a., disciplemaking with friends who don’t know Jesus yet). We explored what it might look like to multiply God’s heart for lost people via Disciplemaking Learning Communities. We're prayerfully working out those details. PLEASE pray for us! Our passion is to see youth leaders and students encouraged and equipped to be very intentional about loving God and loving people and sharing the Gospel of Jesus in their natural spheres of influence! What could God do!

These leaders of the next generation of disciplemakers came from PA, IA, CA, TX, CO, MN, WI, ND, IL, NC, and KS. Pray for them! Most of them I had already met. All of them I grew love and appreciate more.

And I modeled for everyone there how to love a really lost Packer’s fan. Only the love of God could make me do it. Plus, I was really tired from 3 hours of shoving snow. Love this guy!

Updated 3/18/14

Here's an exciting update from Shane Stacey—from his ministry update—that is the fruit of your prayers. Thanks be to God!

Thanks for reading all the way to the end!

Might you be interested in being a part of our prayer team?
We are missionaries with Cadre Ministries. About 2-3 times a month, I'd like to send you a short email with details about how you can say a quick prayer for us. If you are willing to say a quick prayer for us 2-3 times a month, please email me and put "prayer team" in the subject line. THANKS!