The Heath Mullikin Project

Figuring it all out one day at a time

The Techology Show

The Circle Maker Book Review

I’m a huge fan of Mark Batterson.  Chase Your Lion dot com came about after I read In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day.  It completely changed my life.  As a matter of fact, when my wife and I were praying and considering our current pastorate I was content to stay where we were at.  My wife asked,”So, everyone else needs to Chase Their Lion, but you get to play it safe?”  Needless to say, she was right and we haven’t regretted our decision.  The latest book from Mark Batterson,The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears, is another winner. The Circle Maker draws from 1st century story of Honi, the Jewish Circle Maker, who prayed for and received rain from the Lord during a severe drought.  The book challenges believes to dream big, pray big, and trust big.  The point isn’t to get in your circle to change God, but to allow him to change you while you’re in the circle.

He emphasizes that God is not a genie in a bottle whose wish is our command.  As a matter of fact he writes

His command better be your wish. If it’s not, you won’t be drawing prayer circles; you’ll end up walking in circles.

We live in a society where God has become little more than a short order cook:  on call for us 24 hours a day to serve up our hearts desire. Perhaps that’s why so many people today are walking in circles(just like the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness).  We aren’t praying for God’s will as much as we’re praying to will God.

Here’s another challenging thought from the book:

The more faith you have, the more specific your prayers will be. And the more specific your prayers are, the more glory God receives.

I’m starting 2012 by praying some very specific prayers and walking in obedience to see them through.  I believe that the God who designed the human eye is uniquely qualified to hear our prayers down to the smallest detail.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012, The Techology Show will be interviewing Mark Batterson about The Circle Maker and other happenings at National Community Church.  Check out http://www.thetechologyshow.com/live Wednesday at 9 am EST to submit your questions and win a copy of The Circle Maker!

Here’s our first interview with Mark:

Blog Renovations

Time for a Renovation

It’s been almost two years since I started Chase Your Lion and it’s time for some Blog Renovations.  It has been such a great learning experience and blessing for me.  I know I’ve been hot and cold with the blog.  My brain knows what to do, but yada yada yada.  I’ve discovered two great blogs since October 2009 that have been a tremendous encouragement and guide to great blogging.  Michael Hyatt and John Saddington(aka The Tentblogger) have two of the best blogs out there and give great tips and advice.  A lot of what you see here is a result of what I see them do as far as look and feel.  We all use Tentblogger’s Standard Theme.  Believe me, it is the easiest premium theme I have purchased and used by far.

With all that in mind, it’s time for some Blog Renovations around here.  It’s going to be a lot of work, but here’s an overview of what’s happening.

  1. I have switched from the All In One SEO Pack to Yoast’s WordPress SEO.  These are plugins that give your blog a better chance of being discovered on search engines(Search Engine Optimization).  I took the time to write this stuff.  I want people to find it and read it.  Yoast’s plugin is easier to use and has deeper options.
  2. I will be adding a picture to every post to make the nRelate Related Content plugin look prettier.  It will hopefully get more [Read more…] about Blog Renovations

The Next Step

Here's the Next Step

I recently shared why I haven’t been blogging consistently.  I have been reading voraciously lately(on my new Kindle) as I strive to lead Oakway Wesleyan forward.  Also, this summer I will begin ministering at Common Ground Community Church which is 9 miles from Oakway.  I will be preaching at both locations every Sunday starting in late July.  The books I’ve been reading from Nelson Searcy(like Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church) have been invaluable.  I’ve also been listening his his podcast.  I am really trying to invest a lot in my relationship with God and develop my skills as a speaker and pastor.  Another book that has influenced me is The Millionaire Messenger.  I really believe that there is money to be made online and blogging is a great way for someone to have influence and pay the bills.

I am constantly learning more and more about blogging and online marketing.  I know I’ve only scratched the surface of what I can accomplish.  I am amazed at how many people want to start blogging, but have no idea where to start or they don’t realize the full potential that blogging has to provide a platform and side income.  I am committed to:

Helping people Discover and Use their Unique Voice through blogging.

Sometimes the hardest part is getting started because people are clueless about web hosting, blogging software, affiliate marketing, social media, etc.  Soon, I will be offering people the opportunity to remove that roadblock from their path.  What if someone set it all up for you?

Being a part of the Techology Show has given me the podcasting bug.  I found the Podcast Answer Man and his advice has only challenged and encouraged me more.  So, my goal is to launch two podcasts by the end of the month.  They will be weekly and the Chase Your Lion podcast will focus on helping people discover their Purpose, Passion, and Possibilities.  Over on the newly revamped Heath Mullikin dot com, the podcast will focus on pastoring in a small town while the blog will focus on…a little bit of everything.  I think I’ve got something to bring to the table when it comes to bringing BIG ideas to smaller communities.

I recently was adding up a lot of time wasters in my life.  It was convicting.  Yes, I am committing that wasted time and energy to pursue God’s calling in these areas and continue running in 5k’s when the opportunity arises.  I actually ran a mile without stopping this morning which was a HUGE milestone for me.  What good is it to seek to be used greatly by God is you’re not healthy enough to sustain it?  What good is it to be healthy if you’re wasting you life away?

I think what I’m trying to say is:  Come join the adventure.

The Techology Show Notes Episode 095

The Techology Show
Show Notes
February 23, 2011

Today is Wednesday Feb. 23, 2011.
I’m Matthew Tietje
I’m Heath Mullikin
I’m Steve Stanley
and I’m Tony Casey
Welcome to The Techology Show. A weekly podcast featuring technology, theology, and everything in between. The world’s only user-antagonistic podcast. Episode #095.

This was a comment left for us last week after the show via Facebook [Read more…] about The Techology Show Notes Episode 095