Radical Grace in Life and Leadership

People of the Second Chance

SEE YA USA

Posted by Mike Foster:

Got my passport. My visas. Laptop, Ipad, and Iphone. Shorts and flip flops. And a heart full of anticipation.

Tonight the Foster Family hops on a non-stop 18 hour flight to Bangkok.

We are very excited to be living in Thailand for 2 months. We get back October 1.

I will be blogging and tweeting and all the same stuff. But now from the other side of the planet.

I hope to bring a fresh perspective to life and leadership. I will also be sharing pics of my family at the Chocolate Buffet. Yummy!

You’re invited to “virtually” come along. Follow on Twitter. Subscribe to the Blog.

Let’s do this together.

(Btw, next week I will show you guys a sneak peek of the cover of my new book, GRACENOMICS. Comes out in October.)

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ROTFC – RENEE OF THE FOURTH CHANCE

Today’s guest post is from Renee Johnson from Throwing Mountains and is the author of Faith Book Jes

If you read it too fast, you might have thought it said rolling on the floor laughing! Not even close. My story is one of horror, years of isolation, and God’s redemption. Or as POTSC likes to call it: radical grace.

I’ve always known from a young age that I was meant to do great things for God. I remember my parents buying me “Book of Bible Lists” when I was 7 so I could reach the orphans half-way around the world in Romania with the gospel. It was a child’s Bible concordance. It took me twenty more years to realize that we’re all spiritual orphans and God’s the only one who guarantees an 100% adoption rate. Talk about radical.

Then in Junior High I was home schooled (this time not by choice) because of severe anxiety, which all started when my parents (full time missionaries) left for a two week overseas trip. I felt abandoned. I don’t know why I ever would. My parents are SO Beaver Cleaver it’s not even funny.

I remember being forced to learn how to pray. My thoughts would race from “I’m too fat” to “I’m too scared” to “Nobody will ever love me” to “I’m too afraid to even leave the house.” I don’t wish that upon anyone, let alone a child—but God’s grace covered me even then.

High School wasn’t any better. I lost the skin off my feet and face due to severe eczema. I was one of “those” cases the doctors could never figure out. They gave me tons of drugs for it and I ballooned to a size 45-inch waist and gained over 100 pounds in ten months. This time I KNEW no one would EVER love me, nor would I EVER have a NORMAL life. Period.

Six years later (and I’m leaving out a lot of pain, heartache, wishing I were dead, having no life/friends) I moved to Texas to pursue missions full time. I totally jumped the gun. If God healed me then certainly He’d want me serving Him full time somewhere other than where I was living in California with my parents. Five months later, I lost the skin off my hands. Stupid Texas. Stupid weather. Stupid God. This time I really wanted to die. Why? What’s the point? I spent six years of my life reading the Bible EVERY day, journaling, everything—only to fail at serving God?

Three years later (mind, you that’s about 10 years of my life) I s-l-o-w-l-y got back into ministry. I bought a keyboard and played worship at my church. Thanks to mom and dad years of piano lessons paid off. I learned one thing: worship wins the war. Enough said! I praised God when he gave and took away, when the tears fall, and whatever other clever worship song title I can insert here.

But that wasn’t enough. I wanted more. My mentor at the time asked me, “Renee, the Holy Spirit wants to know—if you were well, what would you do?” I still have the card today. I wrote down: counselor, teacher, writer, speaker. Check. Check. Check. Check.

All those years of begging God to heal me paid off. I graduated from Biola University, I got the job of my dreams at Outreach Events helping to serve pastor’s nationwide by hooking them up with the best speakers and comedians—then if that weren’t enough got discovered on Twitter by NavPress and published my first book, a daily devotional for 20-somethings called “Faithbook of Jesus.” Or also known as “Those who plant in tears…” Faithbook is my Samuel. Everything I prayed and asked God for He’s answered. It was the best couple years of my life. Until…

About a year ago, I realized I couldn’t handle launching a ministry to 20-somethings while working at Outreach Events. Even though I had faced the worst 10 years of my life, nothing prepared me for when God called me to reach those who need Him (or also known as people who need a second chance).

I wasn’t prepared. The economy sucked. I’d have to move home with my parents. My anxiety was killing me. There were so many odds. To make it as a speaker/author is tough, let alone sustain it in this economy…but, it was something I knew God was literally “calling” me to do. So I started my life over for the fourth time.

Now? I live in Graceland. Who knows where He’s taking me next. I swear I’m done with the whole suffering bit, but every time I think it’s over God breaks me down to build me back up. Not a picture of what I wanted when I accepted Christ at the age of 5, but I’ve learned to forgive myself every time I fall short of my own expectations.

God, not my will but yours be done. Say it 4x!

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INTRODUCING POTSC SUPER MODELS

Who needs Cindy Crawford win you have Carlos and Chris?

Carlos Whittaker played a 30 minute set in front of 40,000 peeps this week at Creation. He sent us a picture of his snazzy looking band uniform from that day.

Chris Huelat sent us this picture from La Limonada, Guatemala City, Guatemala. Chris is working in one of the toughest neighborhoods controlled by fear from rampant gang violence.

Got a pic? Send it our way! Contact(at)POTSC.com or post it HERE!

WANT ONE? CLICK HERE!

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LOAD UP MY IPOD! SUGGESTIONS?

Posted by Mike Foster:

I’m living on a plane the next 7 days and music is my drug for flying.

Heading today to Atlanta to speak at Do Good.

Then Grand Rapids.

Then an 18 hour NON-STOP flight to Bangkok. Ouch!

I’ve already worn out the current music on my Ipod.

Like Katy Perry’s “California Girls.” (Yes I admit it) And my new fav band Freelance Whales.

So what’s on your Ipod that you’re loving? (And please don’t say this artist.)

What new tunes should I load up for my trips? Help!

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NEW POTSC DESKTOPS AND IPHONE BACKGROUND

Posted by Mike Foster:

Our great friends over at Ghostlight Creative whipped us up some new People of the Second Chance desktops and Iphone screens.

These guys are huge supporters of what we are doing and have been incredibly generous to us.

Ghostlight has created 3 new designs including Fail Love, Overthrow Judgment, and Round 2.

DOWNLOAD THEM FROM FLICKR BY CLICKING HERE.

These are great ways to remind us everyday that we are POTSC. It’s also a great conversation starter with friends and co-workers.

I’ve got Fail Love on my Iphone and IMac. I put Overthrow Judgment on my Mac Book.

And if you can, let other POTSCers know by clicking on the RETWEET button down below!

DOWNLOAD THEM FROM FLICKR BY CLICKING HERE.

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