Evangelist Martin A. Briggs

After speaking with Pastor Deric Thomas while shooting hoops he encouraged me to study Apostle Andrew and Philip the Evangelist.  Pastor Deric felt those two biblical characters would help me to better understand my biblical identify.  Although his advise was given to me several weeks ago I kept it in my mind to research the biblical characters just as soon as possible.

Between the time of speaking with Pastor Deric and this journal entry my wife Kayla encouraged me to complete a spiritual gift assessment in which it was revealed that my spiritual gift was that of evangelism.  Today I finally had the opportunity about two weeks from the time of my completing the assessment to study Andrew and Philip.  Andrew from what I can see was is not mentioned much in the Bible however he appears to he helpful in making a connection between the Greeks and Jesus.  Connecting is certainly a spiritual gift that I can relate and have for years accepted as a spiritual gift.

Philip was to help the overlooked and was actually referenced as a evangelist.

Evangelist a bringer of good tidings or good news or information.  I now accept my broader gifting beyond connecting is actually rooted in Evangelism.  Bringing good news that Jesus brings to my awareness to those he has instructed me to share it with.

Thank you Jesus for this revelation and for using Pastor Deric Thomas of Tapestry Church and my beloved wife for bringing me to this understanding.  This inspiration of identity is helping me to grown and heal as I walk the journey of life. 

Sincerely,

Martin


References: Matt 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:7; Luke 6:14; John 12:20; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5, Acts 21:7-9; Acts 8:4-8; 

Criteria for ULECx Investment

The purpose of this message is to articulate what we feel is the minimum requirements for capital infusion from The ULECx Market into a start up or rising company.  Ultimately we feel these criteria are the keys for success. 

1) Credit Score - The average personal credit score is 687 with the best being 723 or higher as they have a 5% or better probability of delinquency.

2) Culture builders - Must be committed to utilizing their company as an outlet of The ULECx four core values love God, love people, pursue excellence, and choose joy.  We are looking for business owners committed to building staff committed to these four core values and pour them into the market place.

3) Cash Cow - Must have what I call a cash cow out side of the business that supports the personal financial needs of the owner

4) Two Feet in - The primary owner is 100% committed and vested into the business.  Has no commitments on his or her time to any other business or projects outside of personal endeavors.  If married that the spouse although not involved in the business is 100% committed to the success of the endeavor.

5) In Demand - their is a high probability that the service or product rendered is a need of come defined base of consumers

6) Market Demographics - a market demographic study has been completed and a well grounded knowledge of how many customers are available.  A list of each potential client, including, name, phone #, email, is very helpful.

7) Personal commitment to Marketing and Sales - the owners commitment to the marketing and sales process must be priority number #1

8) Attractive Logo & Brand Presence - an attractive logo that has distinguish the brand is extremely important.  Building great market material and online presence around that brand is key

9) Strong delivery - strong operational systems to deliver promised services or goods on time and meets customer expectations every time

10) Hiring Pipe Line - has a strong system of producing a strong hiring pipeline to help keep the company growing

11) Cash Only Policy - requires little to no debt to launch the business.  If debt is required a clear plan to pay off the debt within 1 - 3 years is best

12) Significant start up cash on hand - it takes a minimum of  $10k to truly launch any enterprise.  To include cost for legal incorporation, accounting, and marketing.  Does not include build out and other cost related to equipping the company. 

13) Multi-million $ in production - company must be able to project the ability to grow to at least a multi-million dollar revenue producing company with at least state wide reach.  Nationally if possible.

14) Partnership - having one additional close partner is highly valuable.  A key manager with vested interest in the business is great aspect of success.  A married couple will suffice, however a partner not sharing the same household is an even great advantage 

15) Infrastructure - a commitment and proven dedication to excellent back office administration in the Seven Lanes 

16) Pricing structure - the owner has a pricing structure that includes enough space for profit, his wage, manager (franchisee) wage, employee wage, and overhead 

I am sure their are other criteria we will add over time but this is what we can think of at the moment

enclosure 

11 Leadership Lessons from Pastor Beth Cunningham

My wife Kayla and I just completed our first half of the Highlands College Evening Core program.  To date it has been the single greatest investment in the development as leaders in both ministry and business life.  Our last teacher was Mrs. Pastor. Beth Cunningham who has served on staff at Church of the Highlands as the leader of all things 'kids'.  Its a big role as from my understanding she leads more than 10,000 children and toddlers all over the Alabama spanning over 14 campuses state wide. 

Given her very significant leadership career and her anointing for inspiring others I felt like I needed to adopt her list of the 11 things she has learned as my very own.  Listed below is a brief list of the lessons she has learned over the last 11 years and the principles that I will adopt into my leadership practices from this point going forward. 

1) God has not required me to do something at the expense of what he has required of me

God never ask us to do anything that he didn't give us the ability to do. Nor does he requires us to fulfill obligation that would require us to not honor our covenant relationships (i.e spouse, children, and other significant relationships etc)      

2) insecurity and pride are two sides of the same coin

In that case we are either making ourselves too big or God too small.   In either case we have made about 'me'.   We always have something to give and something to learn. 

3) leadership is influence

The ultimate leader is willing to assume responsibility and are willing to have touch conversations.  

4) Great leaders know when to be where

Great leaders know where they need to be and when they should be there.  They have great discernment and a great since of identity.  Knowing what they are made to accomplish and letting the rest go understanding they can't do everything  

5) A job title does not validate my position

It does not matter my title as Jesus will affirm who we are  

6) Who will often determine your what

The relationships we form often times will tell us the what 

7) H.A.L.T

Never make important decisions or do significant things when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired

8) God divinely orders his house

God will build your team because he loves your purpose.  He is the one that made our purpose and he himself will build that purpose.   Build a team from a place of faith know God will fulfill his word.  People are energized by vision and testimony.  Desperation exhaust people.   

9) God's leaders are willing to choose to shoulder the spiritual burden

Leaders understand and empathize with the struggles of others.  They feel the burden in a real way without internalizing it.                  

10) As a leaders at times I will at times be misunderstood

Yes you as a leader and also the team or organization you represent from time to time will be viewed differently then what you thought you were projecting.   But we can not let it change the way we see people.   Do you want to be right or righteous.  

11)  Perception is someone else's reality

What you are projecting is in many cases maybe the only 'Bible' a person ever sees or reads 

    

Open the Tabernacle

Revelation 15:2-5 New International Version (NIV)

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
    Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
    King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
    and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened.

- Prayer in general

- 2001 Church of the Highlands

- 2007-13 Great Recession

- 2010 Railroad Park

- 2012 Children's of Alabama builds new facility in Southside of Birmingham

- 2013 Regions Park

- 2013 - 2017 continued prayer, recovery, improvements, and building 

- 2018 the year of announcements

- 2019 Amazon fulfillment center is coming to Bessemer 1,500 - 3000 jobs

- 2020 Facebook data center to Huntsville

- 2021 Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA, Inc., or (MTMUS),  $1.6 billion Huntsville plant 4000 jobs

Book Reflection: The Brilliant Church by Dr. Martin Williams

Kayla and I had the great honor of attending and serving great house of Ambassadors Worship Center (AWC) for a few years while Kayla was in grad school starting back in about 2001.  We felt compelled by the spirit to reunite with AWC at their conference called Convergence back in the late fall 2017.  The event served as a major aspect of the catalyst and inspiration for The ULECx.

We were given a book called The Brilliant Church by Dr. Martin Williams that has been very helpful.  Here are key statements that I wish to retain as a basis of my understanding: 

 - The Church is a group of redeemed people that live and serve together in such away that their lives and communities are transformed page iii

- "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.  And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place!  This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" page 14 

- He calls the house of God, the place of God's presence.  The House of God can be translated simply into the Church.  In Jacob's eyes the Church was awesome.  Page 17

- ...the heart of God is for the Church to be known as the Gate of Heaven page 17  

- The Church is the place of entrance for the heart of God.  God wants to use the Church as the originator, the innovator, and the initiator of executing His will page 18 

- This is what God expects from the Church that revelation knowledge and innovation would increase as the people of God walk out the plan of God from the House of God. page 24 

- No matter where you go, no matter where you live, you want to be a part of a life-giving church.  The Church is the only hope for the earth and for mankind ever getting back on track.   page 24 

- The fruit and the leaves could be used for food and for healing medicine and all of this would happen because the water flowed from the temple.  A river came out of the House of God.   

- Everything rises and falls on leadership.  Research has shown leaders provide more influence in shaping a church's culture than any other organizational factor.  page 29 

- Remember, the gate is the place of transactions.  The gate is the place of entrance.  The gate is a place of "transfer".  A place where ruling authorities occupy making decisions for those housed inside the city gates.  Most importantly don't forget that Jacob called the House of God "the gate".  The type and shadow here is that no matter what is going on in the world around us a shift can happen overnight through the Church.  

- We must pray but at some point, we must get up and act on what we believe.  page 43

- Have you ever thought much about God learning on the Church?  Have you considered the fact that God is depending on the Church?  page 45

- The marketplace during Jesus's day was located immediately inside the gate.  The gate was the entrance to the city; it is where elders sat and judged what came in and out of the city and it was also the marketplace.  At the gate of the city the elders acted like "watchmen".

- The Church is the place of transfer.  According to God, the Church will always be the most important entity on the planet!  page 54

- ...only kings in those days had churches.  The Greek word is ecclesia.  An ecclesia is a group of people who were called-out to represent the king in important matters.  Through this group called the ecclesia or church, the king's will would be executed.  These are people who have His heart and know His will.  They are also given permission to act on His behalf.  That's why this revelation of Jesus being King is so important.  page 77

- ...the Gates of Hell that guarded and protected the systems will longer have power.  Then satan would be totally powerless against the Church.  And again the kingdoms of this world would become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.  page 78

- These keys of the earth according to Jesus would be given to His Church; not necessarily to individuals, but to this collective group of called-out representatives referred to as the "ecclesia".  page 79

- He says keys not just one key.  The earth is not one-dimensional, it is multifaceted.  There are many systems, or kingdoms, on this earth, all made by God to be managed by man.  page 79

- With authority comes responsibility.  With responsibility comes accountability.  With accountability comes management.  Lastly, with management comes reward or punishment.  page 80

- ecclesia...church... is a people who have been called out to make an assembly page 86

- We should no longer seek after the center of our longing and focus in life but on the center of His longing and whatever is pleasing and acceptable unto Him.  Page 87

- ...don't struggle with this principal, give up an give in to the perfect will of the King; and watch life get better for you page 88

- Grace is simply the supernatural ability of God to get things accomplished page 93

- ...there is a fellowship of this mystery which only a few had the revelation of page 93

- The Church was designed to be at the top of every system and discipline of life.  The Church was originally designed to rule and reign over all the systems and mountains of the entire world page 94

- He wants to reign over the worlds of business, education, family, entertainment, government and health, finances and as well as church.

- In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and peoples will stream to it.

2 Many nations will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Micah 4:12

- According to Apostle Paul's revelation the Church is responsible for showing how brilliant God is.  God's attempt to show His brilliance was to build His Church!  page 95     

- Brilliant describes something super bright like intense lights at a football stadium, a super sparkly diamond, or the student who graduates from Harvard at age 13 page 99

- The Church is the most important entity on planet earth; however, it must be "brilliant" to be effective page 101 

- The brilliant diamond is cut with seven intentional facets.  The facets are designed to fully capture, embrace and emulate light when it engages with it page 102 

- The Church was created to show the brilliance and true characteristics of God page 105

- The Church should sparkle and shine with the original idea of God.  It is the portal and gate by which God intended to lead, manage and influence the earth's systems.  page 108

- Whatever God is doing in the earth, it will be done through the Church!  If it's not of the Church, God is not involved with it!  page 108

- Fire happens when the revelation of the Kingdom comes through the Church then this revelation is put into context of all the systems or kingdoms of the world, if you will.  When revelation leaves the Church and enters the world, it engages the systems of the world with the wisdom of God.  page 110 

- These seven churches speak to us personally.  God is going to hold us responsible for the truth we have heard or we would have heard if we had listened.   The sad truth about this all is that God's Church is going to be built with or without you!  page 111

- The Church is a collection of purposed people who become a part of body that moves together to fulfill the ultimate purpose; God's will on earth.  page 115

- My faith, which is my action base on what I believe, does not even work properly outside the leadership of the Church page 116 

- It is my hope that I can be a part of a local Church and a universal Church that restores beauty to the world.  page 121

- The seven mountains of Family, Education, Government, Media, Church, Business and Health will be dramatically changed and healed when the revelation of the Kingdom shines on them.  Page 122 

In Jesus name the house of KM Briggs stands united with The Church and we are in agreement to give our life to the cause of the Church! 

Martin 

  

Book Reflection: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott

My very good friend Andrew Munroe was kind enough to purchased a personal development book for me named The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, King Solomon's Secrets to Success, Wealth, and Happiness written by Mr. Steven K. Scott.  I informed Andrew that it most likely would be a long time before I would ever even begin the thought of reading the book as I already had so many other reading materials on hand.  I thought I would take a quick peek at the first chapter of the book just to get an idea of what the author had in mind and before I knew it I was hooked.  My curiously and thirst to understand how Mr. Scott had become a multi-millionaire many times over utilizing Solomon's advice was unstoppable. 

The following action words are the key to mega success according to Mr. Scott's interpretation of Solomon's writings: 

diligent action 

visionary  

holds hope 

effective communication 

effective counselors/partners   

joyful heart 

speaks truth 

and is kind

gracious personality  

peace maker 

embrace criticism

is at peace 

chooses discernment 

is content 

a heart of humility 

seeks wisdom

The following twenty-five statements are thoughts I would like to highlight in my memory and/or are habits I would like to incorporate on a daily basis:

Just as there are physical laws that govern the universe, there are laws of living that are just as sure and true.  It doesn't matter if you love them or hate them, they still exist, and they will govern your life.  page 3

I'd prefer to use the phrase "smart-working".  If I need to cut down a tree and try to cut it down with a hammer, that would be hard-working, but it certainly would not be diligent.   page 11

Diligence is a learnable skill that combines: creative persistence, a smart-working effort rightly planned and rightly performed in a timely, efficient, and effective manner to attain a result that is purse and of the highest quality of excellence. page 12

The diligent take all the time they need to plan and prepare, so that they can perform with excellence.  Those who aren't diligent fail to take the time they need to plan, prepare, or perform.  They tend to "shoot from the hip," and their haste ultimately results in failure.  Solom says, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.   But everyone who is hasty [comes] surely to poverty' (Proverbs 21:5).

There are four root causes of laziness... self-centeredness, conceit (arrogance), ignorance, and irresponsibility.  (He often combines these last two into single category he calls foolishness.)  page 21

...we act without seeking the advice or counsel of others.  It's much easier to act first and seek advice later.  And since we think we know more than others anyway, we simply take the action that we want to take.  page 21

To educate ourselves take time and effort. page 22

Throughout history, no one has achieved any worthwhile goal, significant project, or impossible dream without effectively partnering and seeking outside counsel.  page 26

Whether at work or at home, most ideas are ignored or rejected not because they're bad ideas but because they're ineffectively or unpersuasively communicated.  According to a survey of business owners and corporate CEOs, ineffective communication is the number-one problem in business... page 42 

Manipulation uses any means possible, including deceit, to convince someome to do something that is not in their best interest.  Persuaion, on the other hand, allows you to present your point of view in a clear and compelling way to motivate someone to do what you believe to be in their best interest or for the common good.  page 62

...being truly happy produces wonderful health benefits.  page 95

"You can't stop a bird from landing on your head, but you can stop him from building a nest on it."  We cannot prevent envious thoughts from entering our hearts, but we can keep from taking root.   page 99

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write the on the tablet of your heart." page 107

But dishonesty never starts in a corporate boardroom.  It starts in the hearts and minds of individual men and women.  By making honesty the cornerstone of your personality, you can avoid...consequences.  page 113

Solomon promises that those who are generous will never lack for anything-every true need will be provided-and that you will prosper, and your prosperity will always increase.   page 114

Winning becomes no longer a matter of getting "my way", or persuading someone to do what I want them to do; rather, it becomes a way of achieving what's best for all.  page 127

When people push you to hurry, a red flag should go up.  Put on the brakes; DON'T let anyone push you to make an important decision in haste.  Insist on taking the time to dig deep, seek counsel, and perform the level of diligence necessary to make a wise decision.  page 183

Diligence is like a giant floodlight: turn it on, and naivete's darkness disappears.  page 185

Greed is a deep longing for something that creates a willingness to do whatever it takes to acquire it...  A person can be greedy in just about any imaginable area: the pursuit of power or recognition, the pursuit of love, the pursuit of sexual fulfillment, the pursuit of leisure or a hobby.  page 194

...when desire becomes our focus, or causes us to set aside our priorities, values, or ethics, it has become greed.  page 198 

Do not wear yourself out to get riches; have the wisdom to show restraint.  page 203

The fastest way to eliminate greed from your life is to make a concentrated effort to give to others.  You don't have to wait until you're rich to become generous.  page 203

Whether he needs a solution in a time of trouble or wisdom to capitalize on an opportunity, he'll always have plenty of knowledge to draw upon.  Not so for the foolish.   page 227

According to Gary Smalley, the number-one desire of a man is to be admired.  And everyone - man, woman, boy, girl - wants to feel valued.   page 228  

enclosure

Book Reflection: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Kayla and I recently completed our first term of our first semester as Highlands College evening core students!  It has been a wonderful journey that no doubt has strengthened my spirit and helped to bring me much more in line with the culture of God's will for my life!

It looks like each term we will be assigned a book to read and this first round was The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren.  For me this book was like going to a chiropractor and helped adjust my life in more accordance with Gods word and to a great extent to the interpretation of popular pastor voice today.  

Listed below are the thoughts and principles that I would like to remember and keep at the forefront of my modus operandi: 

- God is not the starting point of my life, he is the source of it.  page 27 

- Character is both developed and revealed by test, and all of life is a test.  You are always being tested.  God constantly watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather!  He watches the simplest actions such as when you open a door for others, when you pick up a piece of trash, or when you're polite toward a clerk or waitress.  page 56

- Throughout history, God has revealed his glory to people in different settings.  He revealed it first in the garden of Eden, then to Moses, then in the tabernacle and the temple, then through Jesus, and now through the church.  page 71 

- We bring glory to God by telling other about him. page 75

- Bringing pleasure to God is called "worship" page 82

- We worship for God's benefit.  When we worship, our goal is to bring pleasure to God, not to ourselves. page 85 

- ...we will never understand some commands until you obey them first.  Obedience unlocks understanding.  page 92  

- Every human activity, expect sin, can be done for God's pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise page 95

- The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar, so you have to surrender your life fifty times a day.  page 108

- In the Bible, the friends of God were honest about their feelings, often complaining...God defended Job for being honest, and he rebuked Job's friends for being inauthentic.  page 121  

- Four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God while the other six deal with our relationships with people.  But all ten are about relationships!  Page 160

- Real maturity shows up in relationships. page 172 

- He created the church to meet your five deepest needs: a purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on.  page 174  

- Once a group becomes larger than about ten people, someone stops participating - usually the quietest person - and a few people will dominate the group.  page 178

- ...the Bible tells that God has given us the ministry of restoring relationships. page 196

- Christlike is all about transforming your character, not your personality.  page 221 

- Every problem is a character-building opportunity page 252

- Temptation simply provides the choice.  While temptation is Satan's primary weapon to destroy you, God wants to use it to develop you.  page 257 

- Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.  page 258 

- We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on.  The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold on you.  page 270 

- While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow.  page 279

- Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ.  page 280  

- Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servanthood.  Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant.  Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you're needed at the moment.  page 329 

- We serve to get others to like us, to be admired, or to achieve our own goals.  That is manipulation, not ministry.  The whole time we're really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are.  page 340 

- Kingdom Builders and Wealth Builders.  Both are gifted at making a business grow, making deals or sales, and making a profit.  Wealth Builders continue to amass wealth for themselves no matter how much they make, but Kingdom Builders change the rules of the game.  They still try to make as much money as they can, but they do it in order to give it away.  They use the wealth to fund God's church and its mission in the world.  page 343 

- Everyone has weaknesses.  In fact, you have a bundle of flaws and imperfections: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.  You may also have uncontrollable circumstances that weaken you, such as financial or relational limitations.  The more important issue is what you do with these.   page 348 

- God is never limited by our limitations.  In fact, he enjoys putting his great power into our ordinary containers.  

- He made you to be a member of his family, a model of his character, a magnifier of his glory, a minister of his grace, and a messenger of his Good News to others.  Of these five purposes, the fifth can only be done on earth.  page 378   

- People are most receptive to God when they are under tension or transition. page 385

- Happiness is a choice.  You are as happy as you choose to be.  What other people think of you cannot rob your happiness unless you allow them to rob it.  

  It is a fact that life on our broken planet filled with broken people, there will always be those who will demean how you look, dislike what you do, disapprove of what you believe, dispute what you say, and disrespect who you are.  page 432 

enclosure