GTG

A friend of mine named Stu uses a phrase with me and others regularly, "Glory to God!" He even signs his emails and notes with "GTG" at the bottom.

Some may find this strange, but if you know Stu, he means it. He is a great example.

I witnessed some other great of examples of this over the weekend at the Passion Conference Molly and I attended in Atlanta.

It seemed that every time after Louie Giglio or Francis Chan spoke, they would get off the stage somehow before the crowd could applaud for them. They did not want the adoration and the applause because they wanted it to go to God.

The Chris Tomlin Band, David Crowder Band and Charlie Hall's band were the same way. The spotlights would go off of them at the end of their songs so that the focus and applause was not on them. Very cool.

I have to admit I am one who likes applause. When I was growing up, I liked being praised more by my parents than corrected. When I played basketball, I certainly liked hearing claps rather than boos. When I write or speak, I like to hear that people liked what I had to say. This saddens me but it is true. That is why Stu's example and the things I witnessed this weekend were so powerful to me.

26:8

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for you;

Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:8

We returned yesterday from Atlanta where we attended the Passion Conference. Passion is a movement started by Louie Giglio to minister to college students. These conferences are all about developing leaders within that age group. We were with 9,500 mostly college-age kids (see picture above). Yes, I felt really old, but the conference was incredible!

At the beginning of the weekend, they mentioned that Isaiah 26:8 (shown above) has been and will continue to be the inspiration behind Passion. They exist to make Jesus famous.

Wow! A pretty simple statement, but what a great mission statement! They exist to make Jesus famous.

I have really been thinking a lot about this all weekend. I thought about all the times I have done things for other reasons, especially to please myself (which is most of the time!). I am going to try to keep this mission statement at the forefront of all I do.

Will you join me in doing this yourself? What would happen if we lived our lives with that singleness of purpose, to make Jesus famous? What would happen if we did this in all areas of our life, even at work? We could change the world!

Father Daughter Trip

Today, my 17 year-old daughter Molly and I, along with friends Bruce and Alana are heading for Atlanta for the Passion Conference.

Passion is a college student ministry started by Louie Giglio. He and Francis Chan are scheduled to speak and Chris Tomlin and the David Crowder Band are the musicians.

I am very excited. I’m not sure Molly feels exactly the same way. However, I am praying and believing for God to “rattle our cages” and to draw us near to Him and to each other!