tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12436109565753295232011-04-21T17:16:50.323-05:00austin new church - south austin caresBrandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.comBlogger4411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-38222511530707197912009-05-26T18:13:00.001-05:002009-05-26T18:14:51.252-05:00

Well, I finally made the jump to WordPress. For those who read my posts, please make any necessary changes. Here's my new address: http://brandonhatmaker.wordpress.com/

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Throughout the book we see the Psalmist on an up-and-down journey. We see psalms of victory riddled with praise, we see psalms of discouragement reflecting dark days of the soul, and most often we see psalms with elements of both. The only thing that seems as consistent as this reality of a roller-coaster type journey is the obvious “turning point” found in each. It’s the attitude expressed that

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Guest Post: Tray Pruet"You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains, rich with game." - Psalm 76:4Well I actually added that last comma….sorry God, but he does have game….and it’s rich. I was just amazed yesterday, and I was searching for words to describe God….but realized that any word used, falls short. Not that ‘resplendent with light’ came to mind….but I realized that all

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I’ve enjoyed being married to an author and communicator. It’s interesting to me to see how people interact with Jen depending upon how they know her. If you were to watch those who first met Jen through one of her books or from the audience of a conference she was speaking at, you’d think she hung the moon (Which I’m pretty convinced she did). It’s fun to listen to the emails that come to her

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I'm reminded today how we often let the physical and temporary things in our life become central and therefore seem critical. When they are taken away or even challenged it can quickly feel like a devastating loss. In chapter 74, the Psalmist reminds us that while we may be derailed by what we consider a "devastating loss", a sovereign God cannot be contained. No matter the temporal object

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Guest Post: Mike KilbaneIt’s interesting to look at life and see how often we reflect on what we lack. We obsess on what is absent from our lives and imagine that all of our problems and anxieties would be resolved if that one element was changed. For the cancer patient it is the desire to be healthy again, for the unemployed it is a job, for the poor it is wealth, for the single it is marriage

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-58526845569321107722009-05-18T08:47:00.000-05:002009-05-18T08:49:01.602-05:00

We all have a following. It may be as simple as an individual child, an employee, a friend, or someone we’re mentoring. It may be as vast as a company, a team, an organization, or even a church. While the scope in which we lead may vary greatly, we’re constantly in a position of influence.Leadership has become quite an endeared term to us, and honestly, rightfully so in many cases. However, when

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When I was in high school, I went swimming with a group of friends in a pond near my house. After a couple of hours hanging out, one of my friends started flopping around and yelling for help. He wasn’t a very good swimmer and it was obvious he wasn’t playing around.I remember swimming out and trying to help, only to be rewarded by him pushing me under the water, trying to lift himself up by

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Guest Post: Tray Pruet"Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; 
O LORD, do not delay.Was David literally poor or needy?" - Psalm 70:5 I’m thinking this posture of David is one that we all need to take. David could have said….Lord I got this world on a string….I am it’s king…what do you have to offer me, or better yet….what can I do for you today if I

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Guest Post: Mike Kilbane Growing in faith is an example of something where we want the result, a stronger faith, without having to go through what it takes to get there. When it comes to faith, I wish the growth process were like an inoculation: you get one shot of faith and it protects you for life. Kind of like a measles shot. That way, we could suffer through the stretching, waiting and

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There are certain things that are just good things. It doesn’t take a genius to recognize them. Even a child can tell. One of the most obvious good is realized when providing for those who are in need. And while you can’t always trust your feelings, it certainly feels good to help. “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he

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Several years ago I had some conflict with another person on my leadership team. To be honest with you, it was a really tough time. While it wasn’t about something that was intended towards them, they took it personally. I found myself really struggling with wanting them to see that it wasn’t about them, and if they could just see that, we could both get over it. All along I was asking God for

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This week my ANC Restore Community (Community Group) had the opportunity to hear from the National Director of Habitat for Humanity Egypt. He was a humble man with a huge heart. He started the evening by explaining what he would mean by “substandard housing”. It was obvious that he felt it an important obstacle to cross with Americans to define what that means. He did so by telling stories of

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Just a few thoughts from Matthew Henry today on Psalm 65: 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 8 Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy. 9 You care for the

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The other day I saw an old cowboy sitting in the back of his Ford F-350. He was a leathery faced, cowboy-hat-toting, old school cowboy. He was sitting on the edge of the pickup bed, pretty sure he had a big dip in his mouth, and was sharpening his knife like he was on the North 40 about to skin a rabbit. The irony was that he was sitting in the parking lot of Starbucks, with his triple venti

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Fun Friday. That’s what I call it.It’s the first night when Jen is speaking at an out-of-state conference and I turn into “Super Dad”. Fun Friday usually entails a dinner out on the town, some type of entertaining event like a movie or putt-putt, and wraps up with a shake from Fran’s.A couple of months ago, I had a bit of a busy Friday, and “Super Dad” was running a little late on delivering the

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Guest Post: Mike KilbaneFind rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Do not trust in extortion, or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. (Psalm 62:5,6,10) What are we willing to do to find rest? Where do we go when we need rest? Whether it is physical

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Guest Post: Tray Pruet"Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him." - Psalm 61:6-7I was talking to my daughter the other day and she revealed to me that she wanted to live to the oldest woman ever. My thought was…I sure wouldn’t want to live to be that old. I’m not really

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A good quarterback has short-term memory. After throwing an interception, they need to forget that they did it and move on. If they can’t get it out of their mind, they’ll be too cautious or even hesitate. Since throwing a football is so much about timing, even the slightest hesitation can cause more mistakes. We naturally have short-term memory in faith. That may be good for when we fall short,

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There are many areas of our faith in which we really don’t know what we’re doing. We think we do. We act like we do, but we don’t. Paul wrote, “We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.”However, this shouldn’t keep us from doing what we think we should. We should not remain idle. In

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My 11 year old is getting into a little bit of trouble at school right now. He’s a good kid, first born, who typically avoids breaking the rules at all costs (so it's a bit funny that he's even in trouble). He’s not really in major trouble… he’s just getting a little sassy with his teachers. And he’s just smart enough to think he’s getting away with it. I don’t know where he gets it. (wink, wink)

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I was intrigued by these verses today:“The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. Anyone who is among the living has hope - even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!” – Ecclesiastes 9:3-4These words remind me of a thought I had this past week while preparing my sermon.

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We apply our minds in varying degrees. For our work, it seems the most natural, to apply them the most. We make much effort for our hobbies and likes. With our families, which might seem most intuitive and certainly most deserving, can often be the most neglected… and unfortunately our faith even beyond that.“When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man's labor on earth—his eyes not

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Guest Post: Mike Kilbane"Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise – why destroy yourself? The man who fears God will avoid all extremes." - Eccl 7:16, 18) Can we be “too good” or “too wise”. Solomon clearly thinks so. How do we know when we’ve crossed the line? I think it’s when we believe we have “arrived” at goodness or wisdom. The day we wake up and think, “I am a really good person

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-65436728727308696522009-04-23T13:05:00.003-05:002009-04-23T13:11:05.039-05:00

Empty calories are usually foods that give you a quick burst (sugar high) but the impending sugar crash is on its way. They seem to have substance but don’t. They offer no nutritional value and typically leave you wanting more. Drink a coke and you typically want another coke. Drink some water and you typically end up with a quenched thirst.All man's efforts are for his mouth, 
 yet his

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Guest Post: Alex Shootman"When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." Eccl. 5Why do we promise stuff to God anyway? Sitting in church, saying, “God – if you just do XYZ then I will really behave this time”. We cannot imagine that it makes God feel better when we promise

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Guest Post: Tray Pruet"Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning." - Ecclesiastes 4:13Being poor creates need. Being wise and poor lets you see where you can sustain yourself…get your needs met. I know this, I don’t want to become the old foolish king. I think about President Obama, and his Cabinet. The President can’t be completely

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-9448517646316118372009-04-20T10:39:00.002-05:002009-04-20T10:41:24.195-05:00

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane"He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Eccl. 3:11What an incredible gift, or curse, God has placed in our hearts. The concept of eternity. For the believer, it is the ultimate carrot to keep us pursuing God, to strive to find and develop a deeper relationship with Him. To have the security and

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-45586179968140726892009-04-18T15:31:00.002-05:002009-04-18T17:46:22.191-05:00

I love Johnny Cash. From the time I first heard “A Boy Named Sue” when I was in fourth grade I was hooked. Although I’ve had seasons following other artists, bands, and genres, there’s always been a place for Johnny Cash.My favorite album was his final album: “American IV: The Man Comes Around”. It has a simple black cover with a silhouette of Johnny on it and “CASH” in big white letters at the

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-71062595102156865182009-04-15T08:09:00.001-05:002009-04-15T12:28:03.814-05:00

I grew up in western Colorado. While it certainly gets cold in the winter (and I’ve shoveled my fair share of snow), what might surprise you, is how hot it can get in the summer. It’s a different kind of hot than we get in Texas. It’s a dry hot. It’s a hot that will scorch you in minutes. During the summer, we always seemed to end up swimming, tubing, wading, jumping from bridges and/or fishing

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"Save us and help us with your right hand that those you love may be delivered." - Psalm 60:5This verse reminds me of the conversation between Moses and God in Numbers. The Israelites are complaining because they only have manna and no meat and God tells Moses that He will provide meat for a month. “But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them

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David is obviously in a tough spot. He finds himself in a moment where he simply needs deliverance. While he dedicates the beginning of this Psalm to painting the picture of his situation followed by his plea to God to intercede, he closes it out by showing us (once again) why he is known as a “man after God’s own heart”. “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love;

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Guest Post: Mike KilbaneThe righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then men will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” (Psalm 58:10-11) Friday was Good Friday, the day we remember a time evil thought it had truly triumphed, when the prince of darkness thought he had succeeded by

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I have a pattern in the weight room. My favorite exercises are the ones that come most naturally to me. Since the lady who just got off the shoulder press did more weight than I can lift, I prefer to just stay away from that machine. My pride, the extra work it takes, and the pain afterwards keep me from focusing on the areas I need most. This is a common trend when practicing sports as well.

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It seems somewhat impossible that we could actually defeat fear entirely. By the tone of David’s Psalms and through the repetition of his requests, it communicates one of two things: either (1) that he’s reminding himself that he should not fear or (2) he’s actually experienced a complete departure from fear. Either way, it is accompanied by complete trust and the natural response of worship…“In

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It’s Holy Week. Some call it Passion Week. Today (Tuesday) is known as the “Day of Argument”. It was the day when Jesus’ authority was challenged in the temple. It was the day he confronted the Jewish leaders, the day of the Olivet Discourse (The Great Eschatological Discourse), and the day Judas agreed to betray Jesus.I can’t help but think about these confrontations as I read David’s words

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Last night we celebrated the first year of Austin New Church. It was an amazing time of worship, reflection, celebration, and commissioning. As I sift through all my emotions, more than anything, I just felt comfort. Seemed strange to me really… I try to be really aware of “feelings”… and that’s honestly where I was. Then I read Psalm 54 this morning:Behold, God is my helper;The Lord is the

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Guest Post: Mike Kilbane (I love the quote at the end)The fool says in his heart, “There is not God.” (Psalm 53:1) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Rom 1:20) Atheism is living in denial of God. Denial can happen around a number

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-41282702768922333792009-04-03T13:06:00.003-05:002009-04-04T19:36:08.682-05:00

My kids are liars. Well, at least that’s what they say about each other. If you were to ask the accused, they would say they were actually “just kidding”. I digress. To call someone a liar is an amazingly strong accusation. We don’t let our kids get away with it (even when it’s true) instead we teach them to say, “I’m not sure you’re telling the truth” as a healthy alternative.Why do you boast

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Since this is the online version of my personal study and journal, I usually don't publish "guest posts" two days in a row. But I just thought this was so good that I wanted to share it. It's from Tray Pruet, Associate Pastor at Austin New Church:"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn

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Just a short post today coming from a friend on Psalm 50:"What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you." -Psalm 50:16-17 God has made many promises to us throughout scripture. From promises of eternal life through the belief in His son (John 3:16), to others about health, blessing, wisdom and peace. After reading

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Over the past year and a half (or so) I’ve been approaching the Bible in a different way. I’ve been reading it looking for the answer to the question, “God, in what ways did you love us?” It initially came from Jesus’ command, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” I’m reminded of this search today as I read Psalm 49. I really hope to not only understand the instruction of God’s

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I’ve come to truly love the “sending” of the Church. I love the opportunity to band together in unity of Spirit when we go out into our workplaces, social circles, schools, and neighborhoods as ambassadors for something greater than ourselves. I’ve grown to love experiencing faith in new and exciting ways. I’m learning more and more each day the joy that comes from intentionally living out the

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-83748573666176765442009-03-27T07:21:00.000-05:002009-03-27T07:22:23.005-05:00

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane"The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God." -Psalm 47:9Reveille is the bugle call that starts the day at military installations around the world. The flag is raised, a cannon is fired, and the troops assemble for roll call. The status, “All present or accounted for” is the expected response provided

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What’s your opinion of yourself? Seriously. Like when our mom or dad used to say when we got a little out of line, “Who do you think you are?”, maybe we should take a moment to think that through. We all think something of ourselves. Maybe we view ourselves too lowly. Maybe it’s pretty squared with who we really are (probably not). Or maybe we think too much of ourselves, especially in

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-32376128442057902292009-03-24T09:28:00.003-05:002009-03-24T09:44:23.307-05:00

I had a great conversation yesterday with Dave Ferguson, Pastor of Community Christian Church in Chicago. It’s a large church with 10 campuses. Dave’s an awesome guy and has a heart for church planting. Since Austin New Church has officially entered the journey of helping plant churches (not just be a church plant ourselves), we were talking about the sustainability of some of the modern church

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Yesterday at Austin New Church, we discussed the journey of Peter. We started at the unusual place in John 18 where he denied Jesus three times and worked our way back to the day he was called. He has quite an amazing story. When discussing the moment Peter walked on water, I paused for a moment and thought to myself, wow… I wish I were there. I wish I were able to see Jesus literally walk on

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Psalm 43 seems to end a bit strangely. It starts as a prayer of David for the return of God’s hand. Then at the end, he turns the conversation to himself, and reminds his very own soul where to place it’s hope.“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” – Psalm 43:5Matthew Henry said, “Let us pray earnestly

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I gotta be honest with you. Every time I read this scripture I have bad thoughts. Why? Several years ago I was visiting a church where the pastor began to pray… in King James version… “Oh Lord, as the deer panteth for the water, so my soul panteth for you.”I almost threw up in my mouth a little bit.Did he mean it? Probably. But as I sat there I just thought, man, no wonder people feel like

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As we jump back into Psalms today, I wanted to share this quick thought that my good friend Mike Kilbane emailed me this morning on chapter 41. I thought it both simple and profound:"The consistency of the themes in the bible continues to amaze me; especially after growing up thinking there was an Old Testament and a New Testament God. The more I read and understand, the more I see that age to

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Chapter ten caught me off guard today. At first with how short it was. Then second in how inappropriate it seemed that the closing chapter doesn’t even mention the true hero of the story – Esther. But then I thought, wow, who was the one who offered wisdom and great counsel to Esther? Who was the one who raised her as his own child? And who was the one who stood against Haman knowing the

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This is quite a remarkable story of influence. Influence is defined as being, “The capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.” Esther, had influence. And at the right time, with the right words, in the right way, she used her influence. The result? She was given more favor and even more influence:“

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Today's post is a guest post from a friend of mine, Alex Shootman. Though I'd share:" Now write another decree in the king's name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king's signet ring—for no document written in the king's name and sealed with his ring can be revoked." - Esther 8:8What is a signet ring? The Oxford English Reference Dictionary says that a signet is a

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Yesterday a homeless man cut in front of me in line at a restaurant. I was in a hurry, so initially I was “disturbed”. That emotion was quickly released as I heard him ordering a water and a small item from the junior menu. The total was a $1.07. As he exchanged his three wadded up dollar bills for the .93 cents in change, I saw him reading the box on the counter asking for donations to help

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This chapter reads like a familiar novel. The irony is so thick it’s humorous. The bad guy gets what he deserves. And the good guy wins."Go at once," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended."So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led

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If you were to read chapter five alone, it may seem to be a pleasant scenario. There is no mention of fear or concern. There is no reminder of the fact that anyone who comes to the king uninvited could be put to death. There is only a vision of favor and protection. Surely the favor was granted from God, not just from king Xerxes. It was most certainly because of God’s sovereign plan,

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-117172142115110732009-03-09T21:14:00.001-05:002009-03-09T21:17:04.523-05:00

There it is. The most famous of all the Esther lines: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" - Esther 4:14Great question. Typically rhetorical questions aren’t of this magnitude. But wait. Is it rhetorical? Great question again. I think the heart of it, and for our purposes, it most certainly is. Especially when we take a moment to think about God’s

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Sometimes we don’t see the awfulness of our own ways. Such was the case with King Xerxes’ decree to kill all the Jews. Even if Haman was on the up-and-up it was an awful thing to do just at the word of another.“Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and little children—on a single day, the

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-74696537384588052772009-03-05T11:03:00.006-06:002009-03-05T11:10:15.875-06:00

I love to remind my kids that God has special plans for their lives and that I can’t wait to see what they are. There are a couple of reasons I do this: (1) I hope it’s an encouraging word to them. (2) I hope they begin to believe it themselves and it can play just a small role in their desire to discover God’s best for their lives. (3) I hope they become visionary thinkers. But more than

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Many lessons and reminders are found in the story of Esther. In just the first chapter, we see the theme of pride and excess, the impairing nature of too much wine, the story of consequence, insight to the sovereignty of God shown in how Esther was used to displace the evil plans of Haman… the list goes on and on.I want to key in on a very small lesson in this chapter that I feel has big impact;

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-7330678730200314032009-03-04T07:24:00.000-06:002009-03-04T07:25:25.638-06:00

Just a quick and encouraging word from Matthew Henry on Psalm 40:“Doubts and fears about the eternal state, are a horrible pit and miry clay, and have been so too many a dear child of God. There is power enough in God to help the weakest, and grace enough to help the un-worthiest of all that trust in him. The psalmist waited patiently; he continued believing, hoping, and praying. This is

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-7421041212705175602009-03-03T09:25:00.007-06:002009-03-03T09:42:08.869-06:00

My six year old recently informed us that he would rather be homeless than have to learn how to make “right decisions”. He was having a bad day (translated: he was getting picked on by older kids in the neighborhood and I was “reminding” him not to throw gut-punches in response). This is the same kid who told us he wanted to be a professional honey taster when he grows up and has asked three

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They were dumb games really. Whether it was “mercy”, “uncle”, or “bloody knuckles”, they were all fairly worthless. Except, of course, for the building of our pride and establishing the pecking order. Middle School pretty much was an exercise of figuring out who was weak and who was tough. It was a strange land of adolescent tribal sifting.We’re taught from the beginning that calling for mercy

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-65166655776410782142009-02-27T07:51:00.005-06:002009-02-27T08:09:01.153-06:00

Thursday I ended up at Burger Tex for lunch. For those of you not familiar with it, it's exactly the way it sounds. Not exactly healthy, but at least I had the Grilled Chicken (with fries and a coke). I guess that’s the opposite of eating a Quarter Pounder w/Cheese supersized value meal with a DIET coke. Anyway, I digress. When I went into the bathroom to wash my hands I saw a sign near the

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-34736532732319493502009-02-26T08:34:00.005-06:002009-02-27T00:08:37.098-06:00

At 6 and 10 years old, my boys are in a stage where they are dirty. Seriously. They are never clean. Within 5 minutes of putting on any clean shirt, it will have a mixture of dirt, sharpie, and ketchup from the wrist to the elbows. At any point in the day, the same combination of foreign substance can be found on each of their faces. And they are completely clueless. I don’t know how they miss

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Guest Post: Tray PruetI noticed a couple of things in Psalm 35, the David/Jesus correlation is strong in this Psalm. It is thought that this Psalm was written with either Saul or Absolom pursuing David. I think the practical application for us is to wait on God. David was mocked, lied about and literally fearful for his life. In all instances David continued to rely on God. And when God didn’t

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-83978665617613898712009-02-24T05:13:00.004-06:002009-02-24T00:27:43.753-06:00

Great question. Where? Where does our hope come from? Where do we seek answers? Where do we look for direction? Where do we find comfort and counsel? David knew the answer to “Where”:“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” – Psalm 34:4-5Not only did he know the answer to “where”.

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-7894449602463632082009-02-23T08:38:00.003-06:002009-02-23T08:48:51.795-06:00

I grew up in a traditional Southern Baptist Church. I pretty much loved it (Probably 'cause I loved our pastor. He was a good one). While I didn’t really live it, I still loved it. We had a pianist that played by herself with brother so-and-so leading us through a handful of hymns (verses 1,2, and 4 only of course). As I think back on it now, it feels kind of nostalgic.I remember a time when I

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We need a break. Not because we’re working too hard or because we think we deserve it, but because we need to take the time to stop and reflect on the goodness of God. We get so busy going, doing, and being that we forget to acknowledge, absorb, and appreciate.King David knew the value of soaking it up. He soaked up every moment he had before God. He soaked up the victories. He soaked up the

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-81505053532220949252009-02-19T21:10:00.002-06:002009-02-19T21:12:18.294-06:00

It's good to be back in Austin. I look forward to getting back on track to posting tomorrow. Psalm 31 is rich. Since I wasn't able to write while in the mountains, I figured I'd just post what Tray (Pruet) wrote today. Good thoughts:Psalm 29: God’s power, strength and hugeness.Psalm 30: Joy of the Lord, mercy and favorPsalm 31: David is in distress and he is calling to his rescuer, his rock,

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Looks like I won't be able to get to my computer this morning so I'm posting from my phone. I'll hopefully get to write more later. Psalm 30 is so rich. If you found yourself here prior to my post, please still leave your thoughts. For me, verse 5 captures what puts me in awe today: "For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime."

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-38750273047697542772009-02-17T04:31:00.000-06:002009-02-17T07:31:36.716-06:00

The first word used in chapter 29 is “ascribe”. “Ascribe” is the Hebrew word, yahab (yaw-hab') which means “to put, to give, or to set.” It’s something we do. The only reason I can think of why we would first and foremost need to remember to DO something is if our tendency is to either not do it, or easily forget it. Either way, it’s a good reminder of what we need to be doing with the

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David was the King of Posture. He was the poster child of leading with both strength and humility. We know of his military success, we’ve heard of his favor before the people, and we constantly see his posture of humility before God. Just one chapter ago we were reminded that David truly desired to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, to simply “gaze upon his beauty” and seek him “all the

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I wonder if he meant it. Seriously. I mean really meant it. Okay, I think he did. What I meant was, do we? David wrote in Psalm 27 that he just wanted to gaze upon God and seek him his whole life.“One thing I ask of the LORD, 
this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” – Psalm 27:

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“Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.” – Psalm 26:2-3There are several powerful claims wrapped up in these two verses. It starts with the desire for God to examine our hearts and minds. Stop right there. That’s enough for today. God, David says that he’s willing to let you test and try him. He

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-49733764285131079712009-02-11T10:19:00.001-06:002009-02-11T10:20:28.198-06:00

There is a big difference between fear of failure and fear of the Lord. The problem is, most of us don’t see the difference in ourselves. Especially when we’re pursuing success. Yet, it simply changes everything.“Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.” – Psalm 25:12The significance of this statement is the promise of instruction for those who

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-75899694857240893402009-02-11T09:03:00.002-06:002009-02-11T09:07:33.689-06:00

I've been blessed with a handful of guys who I do "life" with. They've become my sounding board, given me counsel, encouragement, and we share thoughts on scripture (as we read together) on a daily basis. Every now and then I like to pass along what's been passed on to me (instead of giving my own thoughts). Today's one of those days. Good Stuff:The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains. The

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-30566311174489963712009-02-09T08:22:00.001-06:002009-02-09T08:24:17.107-06:00

This might be the most well known psalm of all. It’s used in a variety of ways. Jews might traditionally sing the Psalm in Hebrew at the third meal of their weekly Sabbath. Most Orthodox Christians recite the Psalm prior to taking communion. And we’re probably most familiar with it being read at the burial site of a funeral.The verse that stands out to me today is the very first.“The Lord is

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We hate being abandoned. We hate even the thought of it. In John 14 the greatest fear that came upon the Disciples was from the thought of Jesus leaving. They were afraid they couldn’t do it alone. They were afraid they would fail, disappoint, stumble, and misrepresent their leader.I can relate.That’s why it’s so tough to be in those seasons in which we hear or feel nothing. Does that mean

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-89684754124440192742009-02-05T13:12:00.001-06:002009-02-05T13:14:03.381-06:00

I remember as a kid we always said a simple prayer before our meals: “God is great. God is good. Thank you for this food. Amen.”Pretty basic. As an adult it seems a bit trivial and almost belittling of the greatness of God. But there is beauty in that simplicity. In it, we expressed his greatness, his goodness, and our position of thanks.Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-26611344954124992332009-02-04T18:38:00.002-06:002009-02-04T18:39:24.009-06:00

It’s never really sunk in for me the significance that after the wall was finished, Nehemiah left Jerusalem to regain his post with King Artaxerxes. I knew he left, but hadn’t realized that he left without expectation to return and be in charge. That would be hard. To work so hard, oversee such a massive project, then leave it. Much less to leave it and hear of it’s fading back into the

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There were those who volunteered, those who were “drafted”, and those who came as leaders to this new city. But let’s not forget, it was a new city that wasn’t so new. It was in shambles and needed to be rebuilt. It had a new wall, but the city was starting over.In chapter 12 we see the people doing two things that are related to one another. First they were dedicating their way and second

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God doesn’t give such a task without reason. He doesn’t hand out jobs just to waste our time. We can be sure that He is up so something. He certainly did not put it in the hearts of his people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem only to let it immediately fall again to foreign armies. So what was required? They must take residence there.Their leaders were not only among the people, they made

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So once again, the Israelites made a promise. In light and in line with their neglect, here's what they said: "In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it." Promises are a big deal to God. Scripture tells us it's better not to make a promise than to make one and break it. So it would

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-17650122473204216812009-02-01T15:12:00.000-06:002009-02-01T15:13:26.309-06:00

Today's thought comes from a friend. enjoy:For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. (Nehemiah 9:21) I remember writing up a safety officer in one of my units for an award one time and putting in the line, “we will never be able to measure the number of accidents that did not occur because of his

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-78619090258884756262009-01-27T22:39:00.002-06:002009-01-27T22:43:28.615-06:00

We don’t celebrate enough. We don’t. We’re so critical of ourselves and suspicious of how short term victories are that we fail to celebrate. Maybe this is in line with how we respond to most things, we make them about us. If we thought about victories as being God’s more than ours, we might release ourselves to celebrate them more. We might recognize God’s hand more, see His work as more

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-83687739459812638092009-01-27T22:19:00.004-06:002009-01-27T22:22:26.051-06:00

Here's a leadership thought from a friend of mine on Nehemiah 7."I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do." Nehemiah 7:2Nehemiah was not in this for political or personal fame and glory. He could have stayed on and I am sure that the people would have elected him their

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-43484468898880704062009-01-26T07:52:00.002-06:002009-01-26T07:57:46.605-06:00

Last night I watched an interesting documentary about Air Force One. What an amazing display of technology. What struck me as amazing was the fact that I was awed with just the things that they were willing to show on television. I could only imagine the capabilities they did not reveal. The bottom line is that the aircraft is designed with every threat in mind. When they learn of a new

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-58378857683055899272009-01-23T08:44:00.005-06:002009-01-23T08:53:30.434-06:00

Chapter four ended right. They were doing the work of God. Although it came with great opposition, they worked with a sword in one hand. I would imagine working with one hand would slow down their pace, but none-the-less they pressed on. However, in chapter 5 there is no mention of work, only strife. One commentary read, “A great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-28215684442416242882009-01-22T08:24:00.009-06:002009-01-22T09:01:14.334-06:00

In 1998 I went through the Primary Leadership and Development Course (PLDC) at the NCO Academy. It’s a two-week course required for all Non-Commissioned Officers. While the first week of leadership training was primarily academic, the second was held “in the field”, and consisted of a number of mission type scenarios. That week was one of the first opportunities we had to put into practice some

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-65741791286034064052009-01-21T19:21:00.000-06:002009-01-21T19:22:22.529-06:00

The story of Nehemiah is a story of team. It’s a story of individuals who believed in a common task. They believed it was worthy of the sacrifices. They believed it was worthy of their time and money. It was literally worthy of their blood, sweat, and tears.It was a worthy task because it was God’s task.In chapter three we see that most of their work was that of “repair”. The word is used 35

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-79565288306464063292009-01-20T08:33:00.000-06:002009-01-20T08:34:28.943-06:00

“So the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." – Nehemiah 2:2The Book of Nehemiah is filled with leadership and faith lessons. But verse 2 shows the heart behind his journey. It shows the fact that Nehemiah’s desire to rebuild the wall was so strong, that it impacted his demeanor beyond his ability to conceal it. His

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-75409382403947444952009-01-19T09:53:00.003-06:002009-01-19T09:57:47.955-06:00

When was the last time you were moved to tears about something? Maybe it was from a tragedy in your family or a great disappointment. Maybe they were tears of joy or even tears of appreciation. Whatever they were from, can you remember them? What were the circumstances surrounding them? Ever notice that they always seem to include other people? Maybe they were tears shed for someone else or

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-49229599109415046242009-01-14T09:13:00.014-06:002009-01-14T09:32:04.814-06:00

Worship is interesting. How we do it is even more interesting. If we don’t get into it, an observer might see it as completely powerless. If we sell out to it, we might seem like a crazy. It’s amazing the emotion and insecurity that can flood our mind during worship. And it’s amazing the criticism that can come from the outside world (let’s be honest, even other Christians) when we do sell

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-7970030359801207222009-01-13T09:05:00.006-06:002009-01-13T09:25:00.513-06:00

My boys are 6 and 10. My little girl is 8. The difference is remarkable. Not only in age and gender, but mostly in personality. And I love the differences. I love how I relate and wrestle with Gavin and Caleb and snuggle with Sydney Beth. But I love even more when, every now and then, Gavin and Caleb want to snuggle too. Mostly at bed time. Mostly through a request like, “Hey dad, will

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-74548822437184235332009-01-12T08:56:00.001-06:002009-01-12T08:56:56.970-06:00

I’m not a huge fan of the magic bullet. Mostly because when we put everything into one bucket it typically leaves blind spots. Thus nullifying the reality that it is a true “magic bullet” and offering more and more proof that one may not even exist. This will always be the case as long as we think of the bullet as a “thing” instead of a “who” and a “what”. This may be at the heart of our

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-21160809078910605512009-01-09T08:48:00.004-06:002009-01-09T08:57:18.606-06:00

We are a people of lists. We have to do lists, shopping lists, lists of things we want, lists of best restaurants in town, lists of potential names for babies, bucket lists, the list goes on and on (get it?). Lists help us organize our lives.Throughout the Psalms we are given lists of things that lead to blessing, lead to God’s favor, are considered righteous, and help keep judgment at arms

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-18462978479780916452009-01-08T09:37:00.004-06:002009-01-08T09:39:41.570-06:00

This is a sad chapter. Often I think about those who do evil things and feel no pain for them. Unless, of course, it’s the evil things I struggle with myself, then I feel uncomfortable in our commonality. Verse three puts it in perspective:“All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” – Psalm 14:3If this is our condition, a condition

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-22298913127294993642009-01-07T14:08:00.000-06:002009-01-07T14:09:40.889-06:00

Chapter 13 seems to show David at one of his most desperate and lonely places. You can hear it in his words:“How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?How long will you hide your face from me?How long must I wrestle with my thoughtsand every day have sorrow in my heart?How long will my enemy triumph over me?Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death”

Brandon Hatmakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186026392126052416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1243610956575329523.post-27948284434571047612009-01-06T15:34:00.003-06:002009-01-06T15:43:20.282-06:00

I had a great conversation with two contemporaries (and friends) today; one is a church planter here in Austin, the other the founder of a non-profit focusing on the fight to help end local poverty. Our conversation somehow made it to a discussion about how as believers we should measure success, and how when measured properly, is often accompanied with a peace that might not typically make

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