All you have to do is visit http://www.facebook.com/NewLivingTranslation and click on the tab that says “Sweepstakes”

Fill out a simple form, take a quick Bible clarity survey, invite your friends to join and you’ll be entered to win one of the exciting prizes.

With each fan number milestone a new prize will be given away.

Grand Prize
Apple iPad 64G and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the NLT Fan Page hits the fifth milestone
Retail Value: $829.00

2nd Prize
32G iPod Touch and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the NLT Fan Page hits the fourth milestone
Retail Value: $300.00

3rd Prize
Kindle DX and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the NLT Fan Page hits the third milestone
Retail Value: $489.00

4th Prize
Apple iPad 16G and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the New Living Translation Fan Page hits the second milestone
Retail Value: $499.00

5th Prize
Apple iPad 32G and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the NLT Fan Page hits the first milestone
Retail Value: $599.00

The contest launches March 17, 2010 @ 10:24 am (PDT) and ends
April 30, 2010 @ 10:24 am (PDT)., Unfortunately the contest is only for residents of the United States that are over the age of 18.

So yeah, tomorrow once the contest launches … go ahead and enter!! I hope and pray that either myself (snicker) or one of you all win one of the awesome prizes!!

So with that … welcome to my minimalistic house. Please remember … I am single and have no decorating abilities what-so-ever.

Have a seat on my comfy couch.

WAnt somethign to drink? I have tea, water, milk, soda, hot chocolate, coffee, etc.

I need to get breakfast bar stools. Don't ya think?

Hope you enjoyed stay … LOL … I told you … I need a decorator. LOL

• How to know when you are “Living Life In The Zone”?
• Finding the zone in your relationship with your wife.
• Finding the zone in your relationship with your children.
• Finding the zone in your relationship with your friends.
• Finding the zone in your relationships at work.
• Finding the zone as you look to the future.

This book first caught my eye because it was specifically written for me. I like books that are aimed at not only making me a better person but also aimed for men specifically. I want to be a true man of God in every area of my life and this book brought forth several points that has pushed and prodded me to be even better.

This book would be a great book for married men and men with children as a good portion of the book deals with those situations. As a single guy, I think that the two sections of the book that talked about relationships with friends and climbing the ladder of success really spoke to me most.

I myself want to be everyone’s friend. This is sometimes an issue. The book explained clearly how this can be issue and who I should truly be close friends to based of scriptures from the Word of God. It really made me think about past friendships/relationships and current friendships/relationships and is prodding me to make some serious changes in that area.

The other section of the book that really spoke to me was “Climbing the ladder of success”. This chapter really mainly focused on keeping us level headed but it also talked about judging ourselves. The book shares the scripture 2 Corinthians 10:12 which tells us very bluntly to not compare ourselves to others. As men, we do this a lot. In reality, I have done it all my life but God is clearly saying “STOP”. We should be living our life not based on where others are in their life but based off where God wants us in ours.

While a majority of this book is written for married men I would still encourage single men to pick it up as a good read. It’s not a hard book to read and it relates a lot of the points to prominent figures in history including Reggie White, Michael Vick, David Green, etc.

Each chapter/day is between 5-10 pages so it doesn’t take much time to read. I encourage you to pick up the book and take 10-15 minutes out of your day each day to read a chapter and see what changes the book makes in your life.

I am the Lettuce Monster! I love me lettuce.

Any other funny captions for this pic?

Greg Laurie, the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California explains that we, even as Christians lie and are tempted to do things that we know are not right (imagine that … Gasp). We make up excuses in our mind make it alright but in reality it’s not and that’s just one of the tricks of the enemy.

This book really opened my eyes up a lot to temptation and how we are tempted. Pastor Greg really explains not only the tactics of the enemy but also how to overcome the enemy by the example of Jesus Christ.

The book is awesome in the fact that it’s a simple read but yet it goes into a lot of detail. Pastor Greg goes through the three noted temptations of Jesus in detail and explains the significance of each temptation. One personal thing I found out is that while the Bible only goes into detail about those three (3) temptations of Jesus, we can assume He was tempted more than that based on Luke 4:13 (msg) which reads “That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.” This to me says, the devil was defeated but wasn’t giving up. He was just going to stay in the bushes and wait for another opportunity. This blew my mind away.

Bottomline – temptation will always be there waiting … it’s what you do when you are faced with it that matters.

Like I said, this book is a very simple read. Someone who normally doesn’t read can finish this book in an hour or less and be blessed beyond measure. Pastor Greg has a great way of getting the point across and helping you learn and grow from what He has said.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Even Pastors … it’s a small 120 page book that will change the way you see things forever!

Pub. Date: October 2006
Publisher: Gospel Light Publications
Format: Paperback, 128pp
ISBN-13: 9780830742752
ISBN: 0830742751

Order your copy of “Lies We Tell Ourselves” by clicking here!

With that being said, some of the awesome people I follow closely on Twitter have posted some awesome Tweets and I really want to share them with you. So please … enjoy!

A mantra I try to live by: “If I told you I would, I will.” Keep your word-even when it hurts. (Ps. 15:4)” via @StevenFurtick

“I CAN’T always choose what confronts me in life, but I CAN choose what will follow me. Goodness and mercy will follow me.” via @BrianCHouston

“Jump and God will catch you. (This is not a suicide message but a FAITH message).” via @RandyMB

“Leaders Goal: For my loyalty to the future, to out-weigh my sentiment about the past. GREAT days are past – BETTER days ahead!” via @BrianCHouston

“The more you refuse to be offended, the less power you give to the wrong people. Forgiveness is strength! Prov 19:11” via @StevenFurtick

“If you never ever GO, you will never, ever KNOW!” via @BrianCHouston

“The eyes of mercy see quicker than the eyes of repentance. God sees us long before we see Him” via @KeithCraft

“Prayer is not a ritual, it’s a way of life. It’s power is not in it’s volume, but in it’s earnestness.“ via @BrianCHouston

“To seek God’s voice without being in His Word is asking for error. God’s Will never contradicts His Word. Mark 12:24” via @RickWarren

This past week I have really spent a lot of time thinking about love. Not the romantic love but agape love. Now don’t tune me out. Hear me out. PLEASE!!

We live in culture in which we value ourselves more than anything. We think that we are the most important. Is that the way Christ lived? Aren’t we to be Christ followers (Christ Like)? STAY WITH ME.

In January I was put on meds for my blood pressure. (should have been on them 6 yrs ago but I had to much pride). Anyways, when I was put on blood pressure meds I made the decision to change my life. Change what I eat and how I live. I watch my sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats now like never before. Literally, everything I eat has been “researched” by me. LOL I made that change after 29 years of eating anything and everything. It was killing me. I had to change and to be honest … it wasn’t hard because it was important to me. It should be just as important to walk in love with those around us every day. It may not be easy to change and to treat everyone with love (including our enemies) but we should do it no matter the cost.

The Word of God says

Mark 12:28-31 (The Message)
One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?”

Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.“

I am not telling you love everyone just because it’s a command from God (although that is huge) … I am wanting you to love everyone because it’s your ID … it’s what defines you as a Christian (Christ-like).

John 13:34-35 (The Message)
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

I want to encourage you this week to take love to the next level. Go beyond … stretch further. I really believe that Matthew 5:43-48 sums up exactly what I am trying to say so I will end with it.

Matthew 5:43-48 (The Message)
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

I hope this post encourages you to take that next step. I believe that if you start showing love to everyone … including your enemies you will see and abundance of blessing come your way.

In regards to all the health stuff. I am so much better now. Everything is getting better. I have a test next week to check my liver again and I believe that that is going to come back awesome!! I really do believe that God is working a miracle in me.

I have officially broken my plateau as well. I am now down 26 pounds. Only about 65 more pounds to go and I will be to hot to handle. LOL

I have a bunch to write and tons of photos to share so watch out for all the new posts!! Im excited … although disappointed I am not heading to Las Vegas this week for the Napkin Conference but … a friend and I are working on getting to Australia later this year. ROCK IT!!

Anyways … hope all is well!! If not, please email me “imaworldchanger@yahoo.com” and let me know what I can pray about and do to help!!