Jon Acuff's Blog, page 50

Why we need you to be brave.

For the last 18 months I’ve been doing meetups around the country. The format is simple. At 7AM or 7PM, depending on the city, I hang out with 60 or so people who have been brave enough to hang out with some dude from the Internet.

I then share 20-30 minutes of ideas I’ve been working on, which is fun, but it’s not favorite part. My favorite part is what happens next.

For the rest of our time together, everyone else gets to stand up and share what they’ve been working on.

In Austin, TX a former NBA mascot shared what it’s like to figure out the next job when the last job was so unique.

In Lancaster, PA an executive shared how it felt to lose a job she had for 15 years.

In Phoenix, AZ a writer shared triumphantly that she was finally writing that book she always wanted to create.

The power of telling people what you’re working on, the impact of saying your dream out loud, is unbelievable

After each person who wants to shares we all applaud because there are so few applause moments in the average day.

Something crazy happens in those moments. The people who were brave enough to show up make me feel brave enough to share my story which makes them feel brave enough to share their stories too.

Bravery goes viral, but one person always has to go first.

Bravery goes viral, but one person always has to go first.
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When you go first with your story, your dream and your hustle you give everyone in the room a really powerful gift. You give them the gift of going second. It’s hard to go first. You don’t know the rules yet, you don’t know how it will be accepted, there’s no precedent. It’s easier to go second, which is why the world needs you to be brave first.

I’m balancing my travel with my home life, which is my biggest priority, and I can’t do a meetup in every city. But, I can try to create a new space where we can all be brave. (Whether that means sharing it out loud or typing it out loud to a webinar full of people who are going to cheer you on.)

That’s what I’m doing on April 14th. I’m holding my first ever Do Over Club online. I think it’s going to be awesome and unlike any other webinar you’ve been part of.

The event is free for anyone who pre-orders Do Over. If you already have, awesome! Check your inbox for instructions to register for the Do Over Club in the next few days. If you haven’t yet, pre-order today at any of the retailers and then fill out this quick form! I’ll send you an invite to the webinar and three other awesome surprises!

To get the invite to the event you have to pre-order the book by 12:01AM on Tuesday April 7th. Don’t miss it.

Thanks for being brave. Thanks for supporting Do Over. Thanks for going first!

Click one of these links to pre-order Do Over today.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Google Play

iBooks

IndieBound

Books-A-Million

Christianbook.com

Family Christian

Parable

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The Garth Brooks Dilemma.

I won’t ever win a humility contest. I don’t know if they have those, giving someone an award for being humble, probably defeats the purpose of humility. If they do though, please do not bet on me, I won’t even get an honorable mention.

I struggle with ego.

I recently realized it was my ego not my discipline driving my decision to blog daily.

So I wrote about the 3 signs your ego is making your decisions and I prayed about it.

I prayed that God would help me not be so entitled. That he would help me be humble. That he would help me learn humility.

And then a tiny voice inside said, “Do I have the freedom to teach you that in any way I deem best?”

I don’t know if that was God. There were no fireworks or tambourines, but I was convicted because I realized the answer was “no.”

I would prefer that God teaches me how to be humble through moments that are not humbling. I want to learn humility but not in ways that are unpleasant at all. I want to learn generosity but without that whole hassle of actually giving anyone anything.

I want growth without discomfort, but that’s not how it works. Growth is always uncomfortable.

I want growth without discomfort, but that’s not how it works. Growth is always uncomfortable.
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So this morning I laughed with God. And admitted my secret desires to him that were not so secret anyway. I remembered Garth Brooks and his song about how some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. I remembered that God doesn’t answer prayer my way, he answers it his way which turns out is always better.

 

 

 

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The world didn’t have to be amazing.

As I write this, it’s snowing outside.

For the first time this winter, Tennessee is getting some big, lazy flakes of snow to fall.

I’m struck by the fact that each snowflake is completely unique, but they didn’t have to be. They could have been boring.

Have you ever thought about that? Snowflakes could have come in one size. Sunsets could have come in one color. Birds could have all been brown.

But they’re not.

Snowflakes are tiny pieces of disposable art.

Sunsets are explosions of color.

Birds come in a crazy array of shapes and sizes.

The world didn’t have to be amazing, but it is. Why? Because we have an amazing God.

The world didn’t have to be amazing , but it is. Why? Because we have an amazing God.
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And it turns out, he doesn’t do boring.

 

 

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The Sunday after Christmas, AKA “Let’s have the youth minister preach today” Sunday.

Today, the youth minister will be preaching at your church.

Or the campus pastor.

Or an executive pastor who everyone loves but is rarely given the opportunity to rock the mic.

Someone who doesn’t speak often will be behind the pulpit today. (Or behind the small table and tiny chair that has absolutely no back support. Or in front of the large flat screen TV. Pulpits are so 2000 and late, which itself is an ancient reference to a Fergie lyric. I’m nothing if not culturally relevant.)

Why will this happen today?

Because as I’ve written about before, it’s the Sunday after a major holiday.

Attendance will be light. The Senior Pastor might be on vacation. Anything goes.

I love this Sunday, in part because some times I get to be the after a major holiday speaker.

You’ve been warned.

When this happens at your church and your mind is blown at my ability to see into the future, please don’t tweet that I’m a prophet. It goes to my head and I got a new hat for Christmas that I want to fit.

Happy Sunday after Christmas! AKA “Let’s have the youth minister preach” Sunday.
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Christmas doesn’t make sense. Thank goodness.

Through the power of the Internet, I am often able to look like I have my life all together.

I know the things to tweet and the things to edit.

I know the moments to Instagram and the ones to crop out like they never happened.

I know what to say in conversations with friends to give the appearance of stability.

But the truth is, all too often I kick my own life down a flight of stairs. I make mistakes. I blow opportunities. I chase distractions and hide. I make a mess of things. In those moments, I fear that perfection is the only path out of the chaos. That perhaps if I string together a few perfect days, I can repay the debts I’ve incurred from a life lived with brokenness.

Only I can’t. I know that. I’ve tried that a thousand times before and it doesn’t work. My track record of perfect living is perfectly flawed.

But then there’s Christmas.

It’s not what I expected. It’s not what I deserved. It’s not what I can comprehend most days. Why?

Because what is Christmas?

It is the answer to the question, “Are you loved?”

It is the answer to the question, “Do you matter?”

It is the answer to the question, “Is there more to life than this?”

Christmas is the answer to the question, “Are you loved?”
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And it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t. The gift of grace fails to line up with everything I know about the world. When you make a mistake, you pay for it with an equal consequence. When you have a debt, someone eventually calls you on the loan. You made your bed, now lie in it. That is how life works.

But not Christmas.

Christmas doesn’t work that way.

Christmas is a gift from a sender who sent himself.

Christmas is a raucous world defining expression of love.

Christmas is enough because Christ is enough.

And it’s here.

Sometimes I try to fix myself. I look at my parade of mishaps, the failures bright and loud and think I have to fix it all. But I can’t. I can’t fix me, with me. And the good news of the gospel, the good news of Christmas, is that I don’t have to.

I can’t fix me, with me. And the good news of Christmas, is that I don’t have to.
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In fact, God knew I’d never be able to. That’s why he sent his son. That’s why he gave us Christmas.

It’s a gift.

Never feel your hands are too dirty to receive it. It was sent because our hands are too dirty.

Christmas doesn’t make sense. Thank goodness.

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Three years later, this still surprises me.

Three years ago this week, Jenny and I stood in the jungles of Vietnam. Why?

Because readers of this blog went on an adventure together that changed two villages halfway around the world.

I think about this video and that project whenever I wonder about the power of online communities. I think about the generosity of you and the possibility of us.

Those are two powerful things that I think God loves to throw together. Individuals that might never meet, giving hope to a village that might have never heard of, in a country they might never visit.

Never doubt what our mustard seed growing God can do when we step out in small, brave ways. There’s no such thing as a step that’s too small when you take it with a God who loves big adventures. Watch the video and be reminded and encouraged.

 

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How to Instagram your quiet time.

If a Christian has a quiet time and doesn’t Instagram it, did it really happen?

Comedian John Crist has the answer and it is brilliant.

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The secret circle of people you text funny stuff that you’re afraid to share online.

I have a confession.

I have a small group of friends I text funny stuff to that I am afraid to share online. They are like minded, humor friendly, non judgy people I trust not to shame me for laughing at something I probably shouldn’t be laughing at.

It is possible I am the only one who does this.

It is possible that you will have two reactions to this post:

How dare you sir! I never text funny things to a select group of like minded people.
You’re not brave! I tweet, Facebook, and pin whatever I feel like.

But regardless of your reaction, I felt it was time to come clean.

Here’s how it usually happens:

I see something I think is hilarious online or I run into a hilarious situation in my real life. (Remember that one? It’s the one we all focused on until about 2002.)


I save the image or take a photo.


I stop for a second and think, “If I post this online, will other Christians judge me or misinterpret it?”


I realize the answer to that question is always, “Yes.”


I calculate what percentage of people will judge me. (Not all Christians are judgmental of course. I would argue the majority are awesome and many are kind hearted. I’m talking about the loud minority that will see my photo of my kids Halloween costume and make a comment about “Satan’s Birthday.” We were the cast of Gilligan’s Island by the way!)


Depending on the threshold I am willing to accept, I deem it a “non-tweetable” moment and instead text it to a handful of close friends who will not judge me but instead laugh along with me at the silliness of laugh.

The one caveat to this process is Jenny’s proximity to me at the moment. At her funeral I am going to release a book titled, “Things my wife wouldn’t let me tweet.” It will be sold in wheelbarrows because the volume is so heavy. Will it be awkward to do a funeral/book release party? Perhaps, but publishing is changing so quickly that you have to constantly try new stuff in order to stay relevant.

So there it is, I have a secret circle of friends I text funny stuff to. We could probably spend some time analyzing my insecurity about being judged by strangers. (That I need everyone to like me, including people I wouldn’t even like, is a conversation that has made many of my counselors wealthy enough to buy a boat.) We could unpack the state of my heart, perhaps noting that maybe if I can’t share something with the masses I shouldn’t share it with friends either. (I disagree with that point, because there will always be things I will tell close friends who know me that I will never turn into a pinterest image for the world to see.) But instead, let’s have a little bit of shared confession.

Do you have a circle of friends you text stuff to?

If so, list on, give your friend a shout out in the comments.

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If the Hobbits made an airline safety video, this would be it.

If there were ever something that belonged on the Stuff Christians Like blog, it’s this video in which Air New Zealand shows you how the Hobbits would prepare to have a safe flight.

Bravo!

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Group Prayer: The How to’s and The Houdinis

(Today is another great guest post from Gabriel Lytle! Check him out on Twitter too @gaberuski!)

If you’re not already cringing, then you may be what some would call a “sneaky snake.” (words chosen purposefully)

We’ve all been there.

They’ve just finished up weekly home group, the end draws near, the night is almost over and that can only mean one thing:

Time to pray. Out loud.

Your leader peers around the circle, and everyone is already saying a small prayer, “Please God, don’t pick me.”

One to play the Houdini card?

Here are 5 subtle moves to get out of dodge (Unless you’ve got Enoch-level clearance and can literally disappear):

Put your head down, slowly. Don’t drop too fast, or he’ll pick you for being so eager to pray.
Look prayerful, with eyes of terror. Make that face that let’s him know absolutely nothing is going on upstairs. It may help to have already royally screwed up a group question early in the night. “Psh, he’s not praying us out.”
Start crying.
Utilize anything that covers your face: hoodie, hands, or if you’re a glowing Moses, opt for the veil.
It’s risky, but open your Bible (getting everyone’s attention), scan the pages, close your Bible, then shamefully shake your head. Your group leader will think, “He’s got nothing.”

In the (conspicuously frequent) event that you DO get picked, here are 5 how to tips on how to give an amazing group prayer:

Repeat verbatim the prayer requests in order. They’re like packaged prayers. If you’re confident, turn the tablets by assigning them to others.
Be sure to say “God” before and after every single word. Sometimes twice in a row. Won’t make sense in normal conversation, but somehow works in public prayer.
Start crying.
Open with, “Hey Daddy.” No one will like it, but they’ll all be thinking, “Wow. He’s actually speaking to someone.”
Summarize the last worship song the group sang,

“God. You are the everlasting God. I’m talking, the everlasting God. You don’t even faint or take power naps. You defend the weak, like us (then chuckle). You comfort those in need, like us (touch the nearest leg). You lift us up on wings, wings like…eagles.”

I pray this helps. If anyone needs anything, Jon will be taking all “unspokens.”

Group members, have YOU ever done this?

What advice do you have for public prayer time?

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