Student of Scripture from Link Year on Vimeo.

Perspective is a word that I struggle to master in my life. I can get so caught up into thing’s that I think are important and need to get done, that I loose perspective on the things that I do and why I do them. Yesterday, I had an accountability meeting at 8 am. I woke up around 7 am, and realized that the sun had not yet risen in the sky due to daylight savings from the previous wee. For those who don’t know me, a model verse for me is Psalm 46:10 ‘Be still and know He is God’. One of the ways I try to be still is by watching the sunrise and the sunset. This is something that most people are either too busy or too lazy to do. However, for myself, there is an added bonus because I live in St. Petersburg, Fl with a beach 2 minutes from my house. Sunrises over the water I feel are even more incredible.

I quickly grabbed my  bag, threw some clothes on and headed down to the beach. I made it just in time to see the sun barely coming up from the water. On top of this incredible picture that I am describing, and that is above, a pod of dolphins were surfacing, seagulls flying across the beautifully painted sky and a hawk giving a fish a ride that he had just taken from the water. (more…)

Tanya from Link Year on Vimeo.

Have you ever felt like you wanted to escape, but you didn’t know how? Have you tried to escape and it seems as if it was the worst idea ever? What if you tried to escape and it seems like you will never be set free? What if I were to tell you that ESCAPE is not an option. Think about for a second. When you think of escape what comes to mind? I immediately think of something dangerous or being caught in something. What that might be I don’t know exactly, but I think that we all take escaping for granted now. We are constantly looking for ways to escape responsibility, people, places and at times our lives. There are times we aren’t too excited about the cards we have been dealt and so we look for an escape. We are too scared to change something and so we escape to our past comforts. Even though escaping is the last thing we need to do, it seems more comfortable then dealing with the reality in front of us.  (more…)

Biblical Worldview from Link Year on Vimeo.

A few years ago I was leading a mission trip down in the beautiful Bahamas. We had a fun relationship with a wonderful ministry called Bahamas Methodist Habitat. We were able to help renovate and build homes for those living in certain areas of the island of Eleutherea. It was such a unique trip because after working hard all day we were taken to these beautiful beaches to cool off at. I took advantage of this time by walking along the water to see what I might find. That’s when I came across the boat which is pictured above. What grabbed my attention was not the boat itself, but what was written on it in true Bahamian English spelling ‘Paint Won’t Stick’.

As I looked at the boat, I noticed that someone had try to paint it. Not just once, but a number of times and with different colors. Obviously those painters failed to do the job they were seeking to do. Eventually to the point where they wrote ‘Paint Won’t Stick’. Does anyone else find it ironic those are the words that actually stuck to the boat?

Romans 12:2, says

‘Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by the testing you will discern the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect’.

As the paint was never able to truly conform the boat to it’s liking, I pray that our bodies have the same reaction to this world. We will never reach perfection and yes we will have stains and markings to remind us what the world is capable of. But the Lord’s grace covers over it. When you strive to not be conformed by this world, but to be transformed by continually renewing your mind. You develop a defense that is impenetrable, that ‘This World Won’t Stik’. We must be diligent in knowing ‘Why we believe what we believe?’ so that we can be a light to those that we encounter on a daily basis. That they would visibly be able to see that there is something different about us.

Are there any area’s on your boat that paint IS sticking to? What must you do to change that?

Maximizing Moments from Link Year on Vimeo.

Here is our second of 7 Pillars we have at Link Year. Presented by Assistant Director Adam Martin:

Growing in Gratefulness from Link Year on Vimeo.

At the Link Year we have 7 Pillars we hope to establish within every single one of our students that completes the program. The first one I want to share with all of you is Heart Transformation. Jesus did not come to live, die, and rise so that we would modify our behavior, but rather transform our hearts. The latter will take care of the former. Have a look:

Heart Transformation from Link Year on Vimeo.

Austin Mann Photography

Perhaps it’s the media that controls our thinking more than we would like to admit. Or perhaps it was just the environment we were raised in. Worse even still it may be the bitterness and anger we refuse to let go of. Whatever it may have been there is no escaping the fact that now is the time for us to get re-focused.
We so easily get distracted by this world and its ways. Following is a list of things in our lives that may need to be re-focused:
 
*Criticizing or Judging Others+Re-focused= encouraging and examining yourself.
*Bitterness or Hate + Re-focused= Forgiveness and Love
*Complaining+Re-Focused=Thankfulness
*Laziness or Excuses + Re-Focused= Disciplined and Admitting when your wrong.
*Selfishness + Re-Focused= Servant
*Me Focused + Re-Focused= Humility
Whatever it may be, now is a great time for us to re-focus. The easy thing for us to do is to focus on things of this world, especially when we see them all around us. But just because we can see it doesn’t mean we have to focus on it. Your behavior is probably reflected by where your eyes are fixed. So with great encouragement I leave you with this verse, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12: