Shannon Self

The Intro

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:45:00 +0000

My boy Chris Hopf lived in Chicago for a short time. Yesterday he sent me an email and the title was "Remember this....best starting 5 ever". That title hit me like a ton of bricks. The intro to the bulls playoff game in 1996 was so impactful, that 13 years later Chris still remembers it. That got me thinking about every intro to a basketball I have ever seen. I can even recall leaving my house early to make sure I got to the game in time to see the intro. When the lights went out everyone knew to stand up and get your cameras ready. Next, you heard the high energy music come and it was so loud you could feel it in your bones. Then every ones adrenaline jacks up and everyone goes nuts. You then see a video that takes you on a "Journey" -Brian Mills, of what the team has done up to that point. In ministry, "The Intro" has fallen off the radar because we want to keep our students guessing about what will happen next. If you think about it, the intro plays such a huge part of getting the crowd excited about what they are fixing to see. What would happen if next time you went to a profession game and there was no intro? I think the intro, if done with excellence, can be a very effective element to start off bible study. How AMAZING would it be if we could get our students just as excited about the beginning of bible study as a sports event? I have seen intros to sports that I care nothing about, but it was so good that I became interested. I think an intro can be an amazing thing if it is done right, like the bulls did and the Lakers do here: If on facebook, to see video click here: Lakers

My first hero in ministry: Matt Chandler

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Matt Chandler came and spoke at Faith West Academy my junior year of high school which was 1996. He was the first person I had ever heard that made the gospel com ALIVE. I can remember thinking "Someday I want to follow who he follows and do what he does". From that day forward I would check around and see when/where he was speaking and I would go. Here is a video that describes the battle he is fighting right now and the UNBELIEVABLE perspective he has....WOW: If your on facebook reading this to see the video click here: MATT

Allen Iverson and Matthew 23:12

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:00:00 +0000

When I saw this interview God really spoke to my heart about how important it is to stay "Coachable". If you have followed Allen Iverson's career in his earlier years he was everything but, on and off the court. He is blessed with all the talent in the world but had a very hard time with authority early on. It got me thinking about my our life and the way I do ministry. It sooooo easy to look at Allen and say "Wow, he is blowing it" or "What a waste of talent". If all of us would take a long hard look at our own lives, we do the same thing with the talent God gave us. How many times have we wasted an opportunity because we were to prideful to listen to the advice of someone who really cares about us? These are the questions I asked myself after I saw this interview. I love seeing someone who has been labeled all his life, come to a point where humility replaces exaltation. It's funny, we run from humility (out of fear) as long as we can, then when it catches us, it makes us a better person: Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. I'm excited to see how Allen Iverson's game changes on an off the court!!!

WOW.....My Day of 1st's

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:05:00 +0000

When I woke up this morning I knew it was going be a great day, little did I know it would be a day of 1st's that I will never forget:

The First time I have EVER ran 8 miles (in the snow with Michael Head)
The First time in Houston History it has snowed 2 years in a row
The First time it has snowed in Houston this early in the season
The First time I had to drive through a snow storm in Katy, Texas
The First time I went to Starbucks when it snowed (Carmel Apple Cider)
The First time I jumped into a freezing pond while it was snowing (to see the video, click here)

Matt Chandler: Planting, Preaching, and Leadership

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Choices:

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:53:00 +0000

5th/6th Grade Parents, Watch This:

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:02:00 +0000

And its comming to Second Baptist Church soon!!! Here is the Website: iShine

Veterans Day!!

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:20:00 +0000

To all of those who have fought for our counrty to provide the freedom we enjoy every day....Thank you!!!

Make Your Weakness Your Strenth

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Kobe Bryant, who is one of the greatest basketball players EVER recognized that his post moves needed work. So here called the best post player in the history of the NBA. When I saw this video it really got me thinking about how, we need to do the same in the weak areas of our lives. God has put people around us who are great and its our decision whether we utilize their wisdom or not. Unfortunately most of us don't because we have to much pride. Here is what I love about Kobe Bryant:
1. He recognized that an area of his game needed improvement
2. He was humble enough to seek help
3. He is the best player in the world yet is always coachable
4. He is never satisfied with where he is in his carrer

What areas of your marriage, ministry, vocation, or parenting are your weaknesses? Are you willing to attack your weakness so it can become your strength?

Here are Best and Worst things to eat at the movies

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:08:00 +0000

CANDY:

Worst: Skittles (7.2 oz.) 826 calories, 9.7 grams fat

Better:Twizzlers (6 oz.) 606 calories, 3.8 grams fat
Best: Sour Patch Soft & Chewy Candy (3.5 oz.) 375 calories, 0 grams fat

POPCORN:

Worst: Large buttered popcorn 1,640 calories, 126 grams fat (That’s almost two days’ worth of fat!)
Better: Small, no butter 400 calories, 27 grams fat
Best: Kid size, no butter 300 calories, 20 grams fat

COLD TREATS:

Worst: Toll House chocolate-chip cookie ice cream sandwich 490 calories, 23 grams fat
Better: Butterfinger Loaded ice cream bar 290 calories, 19 grams fat
Best: Edy’s strawberry iced-fruit bar 120 calories, 0 grams fat

CHOCOLATE:

Worst: Peanut M&M’s (5.3 oz.) 786 calories,39.3 grams fat

Better: Junior Mints (4.75 oz.) 595 calories,10.5 grams fat

Best: Milk Duds (3 oz.) 371 calories,13.1 grams fat

HOT SNACKS:

In general, beware of anything with glow-in-the-dark cheese.
Worst: Nachos with cheese 894 calories, 52.5 grams fat
Better: Hot dog with ketchup 315 calories, 19 grams fat
Best: Soft pretzel 310 calories, 4 grams fat

Forgiveness from 1996

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:32:00 +0000

This was a very touching illustration of forgiveness. I feel very sorry for Mike Tyson and have always had a heart for him. I love it when we get a chance to see two competitors take the "High Road" and forgive each other, very inspiring!!!
Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

3D Ministry (If you have 3D glasses put them on)

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Lately I have been seeing that the film industry has been moving in the direction of 3D. They have even been taking old films and making them 3D so the quality and shapes are move alive t. I was just think about what if we can make the Gospel 3D? What we can make the stories of the most important book in the world COME ALIVE!! I remember the first time the Gospel came alive to me was when I heard Matt Chandler speak my junior year of high school. You make scripture "COME ALIVE" by "Telling the Story" taking people with you. Yesterday I was watching "The day After Tomorrow" and the first scene was in Greenland during a blizzard. I had my window open because it was cold outside. This is how great our God is, right then the coldest breeze came in my window and I remember thinking "I feel like I'm in this movie" and I thought to myself how AMAZING would it be to let our students experience the gospel in the same way. Obviously this is waaaay out of the box but what a great goal. I love "Google Earth" anywhere in the world you want to go, it will take you there. We need to do the same thing in ministry tell the story and take your audience with you!!!

Welcome a new Blogger!!!

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Leanne Jamieson is the Director of our Women's Ministry here at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas @ our west campus and has been doing an AMAZING job!! check out her new blog: Leanne Jamieson

Lunch with Stephon Leary

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Yesterday I had lunch with one of the most influential people in my life. Coach Leary introduced me to "The Lord" when I was a freshman in high school. I say this with all seriousness, I am where I am today because of Stephon Leary. He would pick me up for church every Sunday, even when I didn't care anything about Christ. He was the first christian I had ever met and he invested in not only me but in my family. He was my coach for 4 years but he has been my friend for 16. Stephon played college basketball at Liberty University and was Drafted by the Dallas Mavericks then suffered a career ending knee injury. God had bigger plans for him. After coaching at Faith West Academy then he went back to be an Assistant Coach for Liberty University, then a head coach at Palm Beach Atlantic and Texas A&M International. He is now a professional basketball agent and God is blessing him so much. I was so excited because our entire lunch conversation was about the lord and student ministry. He understood that student ministry is not pointing students in the right direction its walking with them and no one did that better than him. He was always playing basketball with us, in our homes, and spending time with us outside of school and church. He truly showed me what it was to invest in people eternally!!! He has been coming to Second Baptist and I am VERY excited to see what God is going to do next in Stephon's life.

Ed Jr's prep for a sermon

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Innovation's Leader was Michael Jackson

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Innovation is soooooo important in ministry. If you are in any type of programming at any level, you need to see this movie. The times are always changing but rarely to you meet people who are ahead of the times. Michael did not allow this to happen to his music, work ethic, performance or his unwillingness for perfection. We need to be thinking the same way in our ministry. I love getting a behind the scenes look at how hard artists really work. I will be seeing this movie when it comes out:

Spiritual Discipline from Matt Chandler

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:18:00 +0000

The word "Discipline" is not a word I run to with excitement. When I think about that word here is where my thought life goes: "Find every way to avoid it", "Negative", "Hurts" and "Old School". What we forget is that Discipline can be a great thing. I have a very fast pace, fly by the seat of my pants lifestyle that often gets me emotionally and spiritually drained. I love my lifestyle but as a result it makes me "Surfacey" (if that's even a word) I was so convicted about Matt's honesty about what distracts him from his time with The Lord. Some of the best forms of inspiration in my life has come more from honesty than leadership!!! I want to challenge everyone who watches this video to examine their heart and what takes away from our time with Christ!!
"Self-respect is the fruit of discipline : the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself."
------- Abraham J. Heschel

Teachers, a must see video.. AMAZING story!!!

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Dalton Sherman spoke in front of 20,000 teachers from Dallas ISD and challenged them to "Believe" in themselves. I think so many times in our job especially teaching, you can get burnt out and want to quit. Then we see someone like Dalton, who because of one teacher investing in him impacted his life forever. Dalton was always in trouble and talked all the time so his teacher, instead of giving him detention, made him enroll in a public speaking class. All of us have that one teacher/professor that changed our life. In ministry we have an opportunity to eternally change lives everyday. All of us have a "I Remember My Pastor" story. Each of us had someone who spiritually impacted the rest of our lives and challenged us to become great. More importantly they "Believed" in you when no one else did. When I saw this video it reminded me of this verse: 1 Timothy 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

When "Passion" turns into "Anger" in Tennis!!!!

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Serena went off, she was given a $10,500.00 fine and a $500.00 fine for throwing her racket and maybe banned from any furture Grand Slam tournaments...WOW!!!!

Remembering Sept 11th 2001

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Matt Chandler 7 miles Video

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:31:00 +0000

Check it:

"Fearless"

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:19:00 +0000

I just started reading this book and it is AMAZING!!! Best Quote of chapter 1: Fear creates spiritual amnesia..it makes us forget what Jesus has done and how good he is -Max Lucado

No Excuses

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:20:00 +0000

It is amazing what God has been putting on my heart during my morning runs (the work out kind, not the other kind) and this morning he reminded me of this commercial. Honestly, the last couple of weeks for me has been a spiritually "dry" time. I have been reading God's word but in preparation for a sermon. Then what I do is make excuses why I haven't been spending any time with him. There are so many different areas of our life that we make excuses for why we can't do it anymore because it has gotten too hard: marriages, eating right, working out, reading Gods word, relationships, friendships just to name a few. What ever God has put on your heart to do, Nike said it best "Just Do it" No Excuses!!

Our New Worship Center!!! Click the link below

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Channel 2 News!!!!

"The First Mile"

sself@second.org (Shannon Self) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:21:00 +0000

I was running this morning and God brought this commercial back to my heart. I think this commercial paints a great picture of what happens to us spiritually when we choose to run (live a life) with Christ. Sin will try to entangle you so it makes it harder to run. We have areas in our life that bring us down could be people, our past, relationships, or even family. We only have two choices; we can let our past pull us down or we can continue to keep running. We have to know that we have an enemy that wants us to give up in our race. He want to discourage you and make you think "It's to Hard"!! I want to challenge you to "Stay in the Battle" don't give up keep running and push through was has stopped you in the past!! Hebrews 12:1 says 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.