Carpe Diem, seize the day (actually it means “pluck the day”), is the lesson Robin Williams’ character in Dead Poets’ Society tried to teach his students. Let’s seize the day to learn another lesson from Robin Williams’ real life: use your tools to shut down all the voices in your head, save one – Jesus.
In a 2006 interview with a TV reporter, Williams said, “Falling back into alcohol abuse (ed. note – he was sober for 20 years) was very gradual. It’s the same voice/thought that… you’re standing at a precipice and you look down, there’s a voice and it’s a little quiet voice that goes, ‘Jump,’ The same voice that goes, ‘Just one.’ … And the idea of just one for someone who has no tolerance for it, that’s not the possibility.”
In his own words, Williams listened to the voice that said, “Jump,” take your drug of choice. What voice in your head are you listening to? It should be the Word of Truth, Jesus Himself, through specific lie fighting truths, your caller ID mechanism, which you’ve stored in your brain. Seize the day by shutting down all the voices (doubt, fear, unworthiness, inept, unworthiness, anger, etc.) that tell you that your drug of choice will meet your need, even in small doses! It’s a lie and we all know it.
Someone once said, “A loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice, even if it’s a whisper.” Choose to focus on the clear small voice telling you, “Come to Me and I’ll give you rest, peace of mind and security right now.” Jesus isn’t always screaming, but He’s always talking. Will you choose to listen and follow only Him? Seize the day, this very moment, to be victorious to walk away from that precipice towards His loving and safe arms.
Set “FREE” Nowww

I was asked to pray the other day. I told the group that I don’t pray. What, a pastor who doesn’t pray? You could have heard the air being sucked right out of the room. Then I told them that I talk with my God. I simply hold conversations with Jesus. All was well in the world when they heard this.
And yet, no one asked me to explain; so I’ll tell you. In my experience, prayer is fast becoming another English word (another word is “church”) that is losing its way in the Christian world. We don’t go to church we are the church every where we go. We don’t stop and pray, we talk to God throughout our day (1 Thess. 5:17) about anything and everything. Holding a conversation with God denotes close between two people in relationship.
Jesus said His sheep listen to and follow Him (Jn. 10:27) as He is the source of true life…now and forever. How do we stay plugged into that life? We walk and talk with Him as we walk the talk about Him.
“S”et Free Nowww

It was another beautiful morning for a walk and talk with God. As I crested one hill, I saw three shinning lights in the distance. I knew I was looking at a housing tract, but it took me a while to catch what the lights were. Three of the homes had solar panels on their roof that were reflecting the early morning sun light.
It reminded me of what we’re supposed to be doing – reflecting Jesus’ life in ours. With each choice to listen to and follow Jesus throughout our day, our character will be exchanged with His. When this happens, we will be fulfilling His command to make disciples wherever we go as they will be hearing Jesus through us.
Quick thought for today: who are your choices reflecting today – you and Him? Slow the day down. Choose to exercise the truth today.
Set Fre“E” Nowww

I recently went indoor shooting with a few law enforcement friends. As I was shooting, I noticed that I consistently missed to the lower left of the target. It didn’t matter what I did to correct it either. I still missed in the same general area.
After repeatedly doing this, I asked one of friends to watch me while I shot a few rounds. They quickly noticed the problem. They told me I wasn’t gripping my weapon tight enough. The force of the projectile was moving the weapon in my hand; thus, causing me to miss the mark to the lower left of the target.
Sure enough, I was able to group my shots within the target as I gripped my weapon tighter. I couldn’t have seen this on my own. It took another person to observe what I was doing. This is what other believers do in Bible Impact for each other. We don’t counsel each other; we listen to each other using our biblical tools. We often don’t realize how we’re missing the mark in our thinking, which leads to actions, until we talk out loud with another person.
If you want to become more like Jesus, you’ll need others to watch your life and listen to your words. Who’s watching your life? Who have you given permission to tell you straight up what they’re hearing? Freedom comes to those who are transparent.
Set Free Noww“W”

I received a very important text before I went to sleep last night asking me to pray. This person was under heavy spiritual warfare and was asking me to join the battle for them. I immediately spent time in conversation with God. Afterwards, I read my Bible and drifted off to sleep.
Throughout the night, however, I kept waking up. I’ve learned over the years to ask the Lord, “Is there someone You want me to pray for?” when this happens. Sure enough, the Spirit brought this person’s name to mind. I went to war for them in the heavenlies and then back to sleep. What seemed like minutes, I was awake again praying for them. This happened repeatedly throughout the early morning hours. Funny thing about all this though was that I woke rested despite not getting a full night sleep.
This kind of warfare is talked about in Ephesians 6, especially the war talk in verse18, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
Notice the passage says “at all times.” This means early morning hours and any time the Spirit puts someone on your heart. This is what is meant by praying for each others’ healing in James 5:16. Victory comes when we go to war with each other by talking to God for each other. Yet, you never know when your Bible Impact partner is going to be attacked by the enemy to take their drug of choice!
Our victory is dependent upon us praying for each other, but we never know when our enemy will attack. So constantly be ready to go to war with and for each other, even at the strangest times like the early morning hours.
Set Free Noww“W”