Young Person (and some adults)....READ THIS before you POST THAT

I love social media.

Social media has significantly shrunk the world. 

You can connect and communicate with a childhood friend that you haven't seen in years.


You can share information instantaneously. 

You can update people on events in your life.

Social Media has CHANGED the game, period.

I love social media and use it regularly. In fact, you're probably reading this blog post after I shared it on one of my social media platforms.

One of my FAVORITE things about social media is that it gives you a platform to share your opinions, thoughts, pictures, and videos.

One of my LEAST FAVORITE things about social media is that it gives you a platform to share your opinions, thoughts, pictures, and videos.


Young person, here are 7 things you need to know about what your saying + sharing:

1. Nobody cares what you're eating.

Unless your cereal can win a Super Bowl for the Chicago Bears or bring people back from the dead I don't need to see it. 

2. You're not fooling anyone.

 Those who know you, know when you're lying. 

Stop posting pictures of you next to cars + homes that aren't yours and acting like they are.

Stop using the hashtag #SelfMade when you still live with your parents.

Pride and pretense are not attractive. 

You know what is? Being real, being honest, being humble. 

I heard one of my favorite preachers say recently "God can't bless who you pretend to be."

#ThatWillPreach #SelfMade

3. Re-read it before you post it.

Really.....??? 

This person is probably a very smart individual....BUT...

Re-read it before you let others read it.

4. Put some clothes on.

We get it: You're fit and you think you look good. 

In most cases your lack of clothing is not saying "look how good I look"....It's screaming "I'm insecure and am seeking attention."

I could be wrong on this or maybe I'm just mad I don't have this luxury (except for that one 3 month period when I was guilty of this cuz I was actually in shape for once)....but I think most people would agree...put some clothes on.

5. Everyone is Watching

From your possible future employer to your college admittance interviewer everyone is watching what you say + share.

To be honest I don't know if this percentage is accurate or who the source is. It could be total BS. But, I know for a fact that people don't get hired and can get fired because of what they've posted online. 

#StreetsIsWatchin'

6.  Don't Subtweet

Example: "I LOVE how SOME PEOPLE always know what's best for you! Like seriously leave me alone."

I see it all the time. 

You're talking specifically to one person but you post it like you're just making a general statement. If you have a problem with them work it out OFFLINE. 

Thanks!

Sincerely,

Everyone


7. 60 Second Rule

Before you post it take at least 60 seconds and ask yourself some questions:

"Do I really want to say this?"
 "Am I just posting this because I'm hurt,angry, etc?"
"Do I really want people to perceive me like this?"
"Will this hurt my reputation?"

Then, be honest with your answers. 

I encourage typing or writing down anything and everything you think and feel..But that doesn't mean you have to post it.




Hope you enjoyed it. Hope this helps. I wish I would have followed these 7 when I was younger.


Happy Posting,


Tylre

5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 16

I've said it many times before but I've never believed it more than right now..."The older I become, the more I realize how much I don't know."

When you're young you think you know EVERYTHING. 

16 year olds are the smartest people on the planet, or at least they think they are. I thought I was.

Life has a way of "teaching" you lessons along the way. At 27 years old I feel like I am just now beginning to understand life, love, and leadership. 

Here are 5 things I wish I knew when I was 16:

1. College Is Not Cheap

Good News: I have an undergrad and a Master's degree.

Bad News: I owe $70,000 to this girl named Sallie(mae) and am expected to pay every month until Jesus comes back.

  I'm all for education, but don't go to college just to go to college. College used to be something that could help your resume stand out when you were applying for jobs; not anymore. Tuition prices continue to rise while the significance and value of a college degree continues to drop. 

If you don't know what you want to do with your life just yet that's totally fine. Take a year and work a job and figure it out.

Non-specialized degrees will cost you thousands and still leave you at the bottom floor of your career search.

My advice would be to choose a specialized degree or even a trade and go for it. College is too expensive to go just to "experience" it.

Also, get good grades in high school and apply for every scholarship you can. 

2. Your Friends Will Shape Who You Become

I've heard it said "Friends are family you can choose".
  
Well....choose wisely

Surround yourself with people who see the best in you, who believe in the things you do, who have a good reputation. 

The friends you choose play a much bigger role in shaping who you will become then you realize. 

Statistics show that most people become an average of their five closest friends. 

Another popular phrase says "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future."

Want to be successful? Faithful? Love God? Then surround yourself with people who will make you better. 

Don't compromise who you are and who God has called you to be just so you can "fit in". It's not worth it. 

#KnowNewFriends

3. Saving is Sexier than Spending

Your future spouse won't care if you had the latest J's or popular name brand clothes at the time. 

You know what's sexy to an adult....MONEY IN THE BANK.

When you're young you spend money you don't have to buy things you don't need to impress people you don't like.  What kind of joke is that.

Sure, treat yourself from time to time but don't live outside your means. 

Put God first financially and then put as much money as you can in the bank.

Some of my generation have big rims but no real estate. It's not a good look to park your 2015 car next to your run down apartment. 

Young person, start a ROTH IRA. If you start saving now you have this little thing called time on your side. With time and compound interest on your side you can retire a MILLIONAIRE...no really, I'm serious.   

No one ever looks back and says "Man, I wish I would have bought those shoes." 

I look back and think "Man, I wish I would have saved more."

Read Proverbs for more zingers.

4. My Parents Knew What They Were Talking About

Listen to your parents. Most of the time they know what they're talking about. 

Seek their advice and then listen with sincere openness. Chances are they've gone through EXACTLY what you're going through. 

They're not perfect but they want what's best for you. 

Avoid the temptation to treat your peers like your parents and your parents like your peers. 

Listen to mom and dad and things will go a little smoother.

And all the parents said "AMEN". 

5. Nothing is More Important than Your Relationship With Jesus.

Nothing. 

Not friends, not boyfriends or girlfriends, not being popular NOTHING. 

I regret the times I put other things ahead of my relationship with God. 

I've learned that if you put God first then everything else seems to fall into place. (See Matt 6:33)

You can have all the religion you want but if you don't have a real relationship then you don't have anything at all.

Put God first and watch Him orchestrate your life. It will be a life that is beyond your ability to ask, think, or even imagine. 



Thanks for reading. Feel free to share!
 

9 Things I Learned on the Way to School

EVERY SINGLE DAY on the way to school my dad would say this phrase and have me repeat it:

"Be young, have fun, celebrate Jesus. Go in the victory and power of your anointing. Be blessed among children. I bless you with health, wealth, wisdom, and a great day in Jesus."

Sitting in the front seat with my pops on the way to school I must have heard this confession 5,000 times. 

Every day I knew it was coming and sure enough before he sent me off to another day of recess, Lunchables, and a satisfactory shaping of my mind he would drop this bomb on me.

I didn't really know the magnitude of motto at the moment. 

So much power packed into one phrase.

As I've gotten older I recall the moments in that front seat and I realize that it is a confession to live by.

1. Be Young

Life is short. Enjoy your youth.

Don't try to grow up too soon. Be present in the moment. Soak it all in.

Even when you get older, don't get to serious. 

Have Faith like a child. Act Silly. Smile.

2. Have Fun

The Bible says that the JOY of the LORD is our STRENGTH. 

If you're in a weak season perhaps you're not having enough fun.

It's okay to laugh. Gina caught me laughing uncontrollably just this week!

Live life to the fullest. No one likes to be around someone who is always down, negative, and critical.

Have fun baby!

3. Celebrate Jesus

Celebrate what He's done, what He's doing, and what He's going to do.

Throw a party, invite a bunch of people, point them towards Jesus.

My life's goal.

4. Go In the Victory and Power of Your Anointing.

Say it with me.."I AM ANOINTED".

I am blessed to do ministry along side my father. He is anointed and has passed the generational blessing down to me. 

I wouldn't have it any other way.

There is VICTORY and POWER when you stay in your lane.

Don't go outside your anointing or where God has graced you....

.....it's not where you're the strongest

.....it's not where the WINS are

.....it's not worth it

5. Be Blessed Among Children

If you're not a child replace "children" with employee, men, women, humans, etc.

The point is that you're blessed.

Don't look at the circumstances; look to the Creator.

Don't tell God how big your problem is. Tell your problem how big your God is.

You're too blessed to be stressed.

(NOTHING like 3 Christian Cliques in a row haha :)

6. Health

Get healthy.

Gina and I just joined Crossfit. 

Cut the carbs, add some protein.

There's too much at stake to play around with your health. 

I'm learning this like never before.

7. Wealth

It would be sad if money was the only thing a person was wealthy in.

Be wealthy in friends, relationships, loyalty, well-managed time, and LIFE.

Wealth is not buying things that you want. It's being content with the things you already have.

8. Wisdom

Read the Book of Proverbs!

Some of my fav's:

~ "Get Wisdom and she will protect you"

~ "Getting Wisdom is the wisest thing you can do"

~"How much better is wisdom than Gold"

There is a lesson to be learned with every step in life. 

Always be learning. 

Ask for Wisdom...He gave it to Solomon and He'll give it to you. (James 1:5)

9. A Great Day in Jesus

It always comes back to Jesus. 

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Don't ruin today by holding on to the past pains of yesterday. 

Today is your day! 

"Be young, have fun, Celebrate Jesus. Go in the victory and power of your anointing. Be blessed among children. I bless you with health, wealth, wisdom, and a great day in Jesus."

Words to LIVE by...

Do You Smell That??? What I Learned From Cleaning My House

In just a few hours from now Gina (my hot wife pictured to the left) and I are having some people over to our house.

And you know as well as I do that is code for "We better clean this place before people get here."

We keep our place pretty clean, but normal clean and "people are coming over" clean are two totally different realities.


As I was cleaning (which I love to do....NOT) a few "revelations" came to mind.

1. Don't wait for people to come over to clean your house.

1 Cor. 6:19 tells us that our bodies are the house of the Holy Spirit.

Clean your House often.

Take inventory of your life. See what is dirty in you and clean it.

Don't wait for the "guests" to come before you clean some stuff.

If your House is dirty, the guests will leave and they won't come back.

2. The Trash STINKS until you get rid of it.

Don't ignore the odor.

No amount of Fabreeze can cover the stench of your garbage.

Sometimes we get so used to our environments that our senses become dulled to the evident realities of the present.

If you can smell it....they can DEFINITELY smell it.

I don't care what it looks like....it smells terrible

In your House, life, ministry, and character.....Locate the trash and get rid of it.

#WhatThatSmellLike

3. For one thing to become clean another thing must become dirty.

I had to clean the baseboards. They were kinda gross. Like dust fairies were setting up communities and starting families. Not a good look....

I started off cleaning dirty baseboards with a clean rag....

But it didn't take long before I had clean baseboards and a dirty rag.

Isaiah 64:6 says that our righteousness is like dirty rags....

Juxtapose that verse with 2 Corinthians 5:21 that states "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

For one thing to become clean another thing must become dirty.

For ME to become clean JESUS had to become dirty.

I could never be clean enough on my own. Jesus could never be dirty on his own.

He became sin so I could become righteous!

THAT WILL PREACH ALL DAY! HELLO!

5 Things the NBA Playoffs Have Taught Me...

I'm a pretty simple man.

Dang...Gina

I love God, the House of God (CHURCH), and the things of God.

I love my wife Gina (Pictured to the right) (If you don't know now you know).

And......I love Sports

I pretty much love all sports. I enjoy watching them, arguing about them, playing them, and watching them some more.

 I'm talking about football, hockey, golf, soccer, track and field, rugby, and
of course basketball. (Baseball is not a sport in my book. And neither is Nascar)

This is a great time in the sporting year because we just finished March Madness and the Masters, and now we are approaching the NFL Draft and the US Open...

...AND....We're smack dab in the middle of the NBA PLAYOFFS.


Here are 5 things that the this year's NBA Playoffs have taught me about life, leadership, and church culture:

1. A #1 Seed Means NOTHING if you're team isn't playing together.

The Indiana Pacers were arguably the best team all year. Not the best talent but the best team. They played selflessly for each other, acknowledging each other's strengths and weaknesses and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

They barely squeaked by the #8 seed ATL Hawks and are playing the worst basketball out of the remaining teams in the playoffs.

How do you go from the best team to the worst team?

They failed to realize that if you want to experience something you've never felt before you will need to do things you've never done before.

You don't reach the next level by accident. What got you to one level will not propel you to the next level.

And...they are not playing together as a team.

I don't care what you're ranked if the team isn't playing together then your season is about to be OVER.

2. Everything Rises and Falls with LEADERSHIP

ESPN reported just hours ago that Mark Jackson, the coach of the GS Warriors was fired. Mark Jackson from all accounts was a great coach, an even greater man, and there is no way he should have been fired.

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/10892128/mark-jackson-coach-golden-state-warriors

He changed the Warriors culture to actually WINNING basketball games.

Should he have gotten fired? No, absolutely not.

Am I surprised? No, absolutely not.

When a team loses everyone wants to place the blame somewhere. And whether it is fair or not that blame usually falls on the coach.

EVERYTHING rises and falls on LEADERSHIP.

(I love Mark Jackson and he will be getting job offers probably starting today)

3. Get Your Stars the Ball

I was in agony as I watched the OKC Thunder play the LA Clippers last night. I'm a huge fan of Kevin Durant. He's a strong Christian and one of the most prolific scorers in league history. (Named MVP today). There were times when the Thunder went possession after possession after possession without getting KD the ball. Didn't make any sense...

If people on your team have the right heart then its perfectly okay to let them shine!

Don't be an insecure leader that is afraid of others outshining you. When the stars play their part the team almost always wins. When the team wins it makes the leader look good too.

Stop hogging the rock.

Get your stars the ball!

4. What You Do in the Dark Will Come to Light

The Donald Sterling fiasco teaches us that private matters are not so private. What he said was so terrible that I'm not going to spend time repeating it. It was bad. He should be ashamed.

The principle that the whole situation teaches me is that your gift will not take you where your character cannot keep you.

In leadership character is key. I pray that I'm the same on and off the stage, that I walk what I talk, that I practice what I preach.

I've learned that private prayer produces public power. Private power produces public pride....and we all know that pride comes before a fall.

5. Oftentimes You Gotta Go to a Game 7

In the first round 5 out of 8 series went to a game seven.

The first round of the NBA Playoffs set the record for:

• Most games in the 1st round
• Most games decided by 5 pts or less
• Most games decided by 3 pts or less

Leadership, Life, Church culture is a  GRIND....

It is a game of inches oftentimes coming down to the buzzer.

I've learned that so many times the winner is decided simply by who wants it more...

There are going to be times when you want to quit, stop, give in, let up....DON'T!

We need you to lead, preach, pray, give, serve with all you got, even if you have to go to some game 7's.

The reward for continuing feels much better than the remorse of deciding to let up.

Game 7's will come. Fight til the end, then fight some more!

I'm looking to see a Prophet

"I'm Looking to See a Prophet"

If you want to see a profit in business or ministry I've discovered that you usually need these 4 main components as a foundation:



1. A Product that is Proven

This answers the question WHAT?

For Church leaders, church builders, and Christians the Gospel of Jesus is our product. Christianity is the product.

This product is so proven that it never has to change. There is no need for "new and improved" (which is actually an oxymoron in my book).

Heb. 13:8 says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Our product is not new and improved, it's old but always fresh!

This product is so proven that it sells itself.

"If I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself" (John 12:32)

This product has proven to solve all problems.

A study by Boston Business Journal found that products that focus on solving consumers' problems have 50% more sales and an increased longevity in the market place.

I'm encouraged because there is no problem that our product cannot solve. There is no problem that is too big for Jesus. He is the problem Solver. Sickness, disease, lack, sin....don't stand a chance against our product.

"Is ANYTHING too hard for the Lord....?"


2. Packaging that is Pleasing and Persuasive

If Jesus is the product then packaging is the presentation of the product. It is our church culture.

It answers the question HOW?

Kevin Gerald says "Every church has a culture; either by design or by default".

A strong designed church culture is crucial for sustainable growth and profits.

Questions I consider often:

• How is our culture?
• Is it pleasing?
• Is it persuasive?
• Are we presenting the gospel in a way that honorable to Him?
• Are we welcoming?
• Are we nice?
• Do we really want to grow?
• Are we excellent?
• Are we willing to serve? Go the extra mile?
• Are we accepting of people no matter where they are on their journey?
• Are we bringers?

3. Processes that are Permeating and Penetrating

Also answers the question HOW?

Another word for processes is systems.

Jesus had a system for almost everything He did in his life.

He had a system for His prayer life. Read Matt. 6.

He had a system for His ministry life.

Even when he broke bread He had a system:

• Feeding the 5,000
• Road to Emmaus
• Last Supper

He took it, blessed it, broke it, and gave it.
He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it.
Took it, blessed it, broke it, and gave it.

It's interesting because I see Jesus in one of these four stages throughout His life and ministry.

He was TAKEN from Heaven, BLESSED in River Jordan, BROKEN in Garden of Gethsemane, and GIVEN to all on the cross.

I also find myself in one of these 4 areas

• taken from my past
• blessed
• broken
• given to ministry

You see people when they're blessed. We talk about that, we Facebook that, we tweet that.....but people don't like to talk about when they're broken.

If you've ever been broken be encouraged....GOD ONLY USES BROKEN PEOPLE.

In fact, the depth of your brokenness creates space for the height of His glory!

"I must decrease so that He may increase...."

It's interesting because when Jesus fed the 5,000 the bread did not multiple until it was broken.

The more He can break me, the more He can give me!!

Jesus had a system for everything. 1 Cor. 14:33 says "God is not a God of disorder" which means He is a God of order. A synonym for order is system.

So....questions I consider often:

• How are our systems?
• Do we have order?
• Are our systems penetrating? (aka do they actually work)
• 1st Time guest system?
• New family system?
• Altar response system?

4. People as the Priority

Answers the question: WHY?

Why we do all that we do is for the People. Reaching lost people.

Everything we do inside the church is designed for everyone outside our church.

We must be more concerned with reaching new people as we are with keeping current people.
After all, Jesus left the 99 to go after the 1.

If we aren't reaching people then we are missing the point of church and ministry.

When you have:
1. A Product that is Proven
2. Packaging that is Pleasing and Persuasive
3. Processes that are Permeable and Penetrating
4. People as the Priority

YOU WILL SEE THE PROPHET.

Jesus will show up. People will be reached. Lives will be transformed. Destinies will be altered.

I'M LOOKING TO SEE THE PROPHET.

Let Me Count.....Yep, It's All About the Numbers

Yea, I said it....It's all about the numbers.

When it comes to church and church culture the idea of "numbers" and questions like "how many are you running?" tend to be very polarizing.

Some people seem to be all about the numbers; counting people, counting guest cards, counting cars, counting new families, etc. Then there are those who don't feel the need to count, and possibly are even critical of those pastors/churches who do count.

So the questions remain: which group is correct? Should we place so much emphasis on counting people? Should we push for the "biggest, best EVER..."?

I don't remember where I heard the phrase but I love it: "We count people because people count."

I'm not saying that I am the only one who has the best answer or only answer. I'm not even saying that I necessarily have the "right" answer ("right" is always relative). BUT what I am saying is for me and my house "True Life Ministries" we will count numbers.

Yep, it is ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS...

You see, we don't count numbers for counting's sake. And we don't count numbers for number's sake. We count numbers because each number represents an individual and each individual has a story. We count people because people count; people matter.

So for True Life it is all about the numbers:

• The number of 1st time guests
• The number of people asking Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of their life
• The number of people breaking free from addictions
• The number of "un-churched" people getting a new perspective on church and Christianity
• The number of children receiving a strong Biblical foundation through LifeKids Children's Ministry
• The number of baptisms
• Etc

You know what else? Historically speaking, counting people is not a new phenomenon. It is not an idea birthed out of a "mega-church" mentality. Over 2000 years ago  Luke wrote  "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2: 41,47)

I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and every detail in the Bible is there for a reason. In other words, something or someone didn't slip into the Holy text on accident. This passage in Acts is just one of numerous accounts where numbers were mentioned because numbers matter to God. And if numbers matter to Him, then in my opinion they should matter to me.

You might be averse to numbers for a number of reasons.  Maybe you don’t like the idea of big crowds. If that’s the case, you wouldn’t have liked the New Testament Church. And you really won’t like heaven.


So for our Passion Week I want us to do everything we can to get as many people in our church as possible. We want to have hundreds of new guests, people giving their lives to Jesus, people signing up to be baptized, and new families calling True Life home. I want us, as a church family to spread the word as much as possible about our Passion week activities and I want BIG NUMBERS. Not so we can feel good about ourselves. Not so I can brag to my ministry friends, not because of ego or pride..but simply because every person represents a story and a soul.

Use the graphics provided below. Email them, text them, Facebook, Instagram, and tweet them. Yelp them. Make a Youtube video. Snapchat and Vine them. Just do something. Because I believe God wants to grow His church, and we need to continue to do our very best to make sure we play our part in His heavenly equation.

Let me count.....Yep, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

I'm so pumped to see what God is going to do in us and through us during this Passion Season. Thank you for your sacrifice and the part that you play.

Much Love!
The Best is Yet to Come!

Tylre Butler
Assoc. Pastor
True Life Ministries
www.truelifeministries.com