Frank Bealer: There Is A Better Way

Preparation

fbealer — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 03:25:47 +0000

Many people do not know this about me but I was an avid Boy Scout for over 10 years. The Scout motto was simple…Be Prepared. I can’t tell you how much this thought has been ingrained in me. During every ceremony, every meeting, every event we would recite the Scout Oath, Law and Motto. Another decade later and I remember it all like it was yesterday.

I recently had the opportunity to teach on the concept of preparation to an amazing group of leaders investing in Elementary age students. As I sorted out my thoughts in the days leading up to this workshop a phrase developed…

It is virtually impossible to be passionate when unprepared.

The more that I have ran this through the filter of my life experiences the more I have discovered that this is true. I believe that we should make every effort to be passionate (especially when it comes to presenting the Gospel) but more times than I would like to admit, I have witnessed someone trying to speak passionately on a topic or lesson that they have now clue about.

Definition of Disaster: an uprepared leader trying to present to a group of people that recognize them as leader.

The next time you think about not taking the time to prepare a lesson, message, or presentation do me a favor, DON’T even bother. Either defer to someone else, buy some more time, or better yet, prepare.

Could this be?

fbealer — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:09:44 +0000

As God often does in my life, I found Micah’s lesson from eKidz this week intersecting with my time with God. This morning I found myself in Matthew chapter 12. A line particularly stood out…verse 23 “All the people were astonished and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David.’”

You see, the people had been watching and listening to Jesus. He was performing miracles and providing some underappreciated insight to the religious leaders. The people began to genuinely ask if Jesus was in deed the Savior mentioned in the Old Testament.

I think there are many people in our own lives who are in this place. They have seen God do some incredible things in their life or possibly through your life but they just aren’t quite sure about it all. We must be determined to create opportunities for our friends to continually witness the hope and glory of God.

Boxing, Kids, Fasts: 2011 Goals

fbealer — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:01:26 +0000

You will notice that some of these goals are the same as those of my wife (go figure)

Spiritual Goals:
1. Spend 3 months studying each Gospel (includes reading each gosepel 3 times and at least 2 commmentaries per book)
2. Continue to develop my role at Elevation Church
3. 3 Fasts: 21 Day Daniel Fast, 7 Day Juice Fast, 3 Day Water Only Fast
4. Memorize 52 Bible verses

Relational Goals:
1. To teach Isaac and Layla to swim
2. To make mine and Jessica’s 10th year of marriage the best year yet
3. To participate in at least 3 community outreach projects as a family

Health/Wellness Goals:
1. To work out at least three days a week.
2. To run my first 5K (I hate running)
3. To continue to eat healthy

Personal Goals:
1. To take at least 5 Boxing lessons (yes you read this right!)
2. To spend at least 4 hours a week playing my guitar
3. To self publish my first eBook (only about 35 pages)
4. Read at least 24 books (total)

Financial Goals:
1. To get our house in TN sold
2. To become debt free in 2011
3. To set up Educational IRA’s for each of my children

Travel Goals:
1. To take the kids to Disneyworld this year
2. To get back home to TN at least six times
3. To travel to London and Paris for our 10 year wedding anniversary

Reflecting On My Goals for 2010

fbealer — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:00:59 +0000

I’m really glad that I took the time to write down my goals for 2010 in late 2009. I know for a fact that many of my goals for this year (like reading the bible cover to cover, reading 24 books, getting to >11% body fat, reduce family debt, complete 2 Insurance courses) would not have been reached if I hadn’t done so. A few highlites from this past year can be found below.

My favorite books from 2010: Sun Stand Still (Steven Furtick), Delivering Hapiness (Story of Zappos), A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (Donald Miller)

My favorite workout: LL Cool J Platinum Workout

My favorite date night with my daughter Layla involved Marble Slab and no schedule.

Tomorrow I will reveal my goals for 2011

Scarecrow in a Melon Patch

fbealer — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 01:42:15 +0000

The way to make the most out of what means the most to me is to make more of the God who made it all.

Check out this incredible message by clicking the image above. It will help you ask the questions necessary to discover the idols in your life.

Thank @stevenfurtick for another incredibly challenging message.

Start A Fire In Your BackYard

fbealer — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:45:48 +0000

What’s the best way to meet people in your neighborhood? Start a Fire.

Two weeks ago we moved to a new neighborhood and Jessica and I were ready to meet some of the parents and children on our street. In a matter of 3 easy steps we met a few of those families.

Step 1. Jessica went to the store to get marshmallows

Step 2. Micah rode around on his bicycle inviting people on our street over to the house.

Step 3. I started a fire.

It didn’t take long and we met Dan, Adam, Sophie, Applie, Ron, and Leanna.

How long have you lived on your street? When is the last time you had a chat with your neighbors? One easy way to spark a conversation (Sorry, I couldn’t resist) is to start a fire this weekend.

Not An Option

fbealer — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:49:23 +0000

The idea alone breaks my heart. Divorce Insurance. The fact that divorce insurance exists means that couples have discussed it. I believe one of the main reasons that divorce is so prevelant in our society (somewhere around 50%) is because it is considered an option if things “don’t work out”.

More couples need to be counseled with the concept that divorce is not to be in your marriages’ vocabulary. Not in the heat of an argument, not when talking to your friend, and especially not in front of your kids.

Approach your marriage with the same love that Jesus has shown His bride (the church); work at it, repair it, invest in it, and watch it flourish.

When asked what if my wife isn’t the right one for me @stevenfurtick says ”When she became the one, she became the right one!”

Headlines

fbealer — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 01:29:09 +0000

I know several people that find meaning in life by keeping everyone ‘in the loop’ with all of the latest celebrity gossip. They tweet all day about all of the headlines. By the way, did you know that John Mayer deleted his Twitter account?

It got me thinking, if my family were to reach celebrity status, what would the headlines read? I would like to think it would be something like “family continues to change the world through the love of Jesus” not “Nothing New.”

What is your family doing this week to make memories? How is your family investing in the lives of others?

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Letters Written Without Ink (Kids ca·pac·i·ty)

fbealer — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:09:06 +0000

ca·pac·i·ty

Kids have a tremendous capacity. They have a mind and heart ready to be filled with something. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. What is the result of our ministry? What is being written on our kids hearts?

About two weeks ago I shared with my family that I would like for us to memorize the Code (the core values of Elevation church). We determined that each car ride we would say them together. To see the results click the links below. Needless to say I was encouraged.

Isaac

Micah

Drop What You Are Doing

fbealer — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:30:58 +0000

I find myself telling my kids to ‘wait just a minute’ or ‘hang on a second’ a lot these days. It occurred to me today that ‘just a minute’ to a young child feels like a lifetime. While I know there are times when I need to wrap up one more thing, what would happen if I immediately dropped everything the next time one of my kids walked up to me?

I did this for my son today and you would have thought I announced that he was going to have two birthdays this year. He had this incredibly surprised expression on his face. It was a special moment.

I want more moments like this one. After all, I say that all of the work and effort that I put in is for my family and yet these very tasks cause me to push back the moments with my kids.

Today…Drop What You Are Doing!