Transformed Episode #51 – When Personalities Clash

Posted on November 9, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Barry Phegan reminds us that, “As a leader, you can do very little about someone’s personality… but you can do a lot about the situation.”

“When Personalities Clash” is the theme of today’s episode. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith shows how our God-created personalities are often the primary source of our conflicts because they are fed by our selfishness instead of God’s Spirit.

As we listen to Pastor Matt teach the congregation at First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California, today from Acts 15, let’s open our Bibles and follow along.

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

Posted in Transformed | Leave a comment

Thank You for Voting for the Transformed! Podcast

Posted on November 7, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

While we wait for the final outcome in the “Religion Inspiration” category for the 2008 Podcast awards, we wanted to thank you for your vote. As you know our Transformed! Podcast is a finalist and we are excitedly awaiting the announcement. Voting is now closed and vote review is in progress! The lower 20 Category Winners (including the ‘Religion Inspiration’ category) will be announced on Sunday, Nov 9th at 4 pm Pacific. No matter the outcome, we want to again thank you in advance for your gracious kindness. We will let you know the results as they are posted. You can watch the proceedings live at http://podcastawards.com/ on Sunday, Nov 9th at 4 pm Pacific if you so desire.

Posted in Advertizing | Leave a comment

Transformed Interview with Art Linkletter

Posted on November 5, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Art Linkletter was the host of two of the longest-running shows in United States broadcast history: House Party, which ran on CBS radio and television for 25 years, and People Are Funny, on NBC radio-TV for 19 years. Linkletter was famous for interviewing children on House Party and Kids Say the Darndest Things, which led to a successful series of books quoting children.

In his autobiography, Confessions of a Happy Man (1960), Linkletter revealed that he had had no contact with his natural parents or his sister or two brothers since he was abandoned when only a few weeks old. He was adopted by Mary and John Linkletter, an evangelical preacher. Later moving to the United States, he graduated from San Diego State University (SDSU) where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He had previously planned to attend Springfield College, but did not for financial reasons. He later served for many years as a trustee at Springfield College, and donated money to build the swim center named in his honor.

He has had one of the longest marriages of any celebrity in America. He married Lois Foerster on November 25, 1935 and they had five children: Arthur Jack (known as Jack Linkletter, a TV host), Dawn, Robert, Sharon, and Diane. He was a good friend of Walt Disney. It might be coincidence, but Walt Disney’s children, who arrived first, were also named Sharon and Diane.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Posted in Interviews, Mike Powers, Transformed | Leave a comment

Seeking God’s Best!

Posted on November 4, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

How do people treat you? How do you treat people? These are two of the most important questions we can ask ourselves, for in them we hold the ‘stuff’ of life: our relationships! Seeking the best for your self or for others is one of the keys to understanding God’s heart for us! Our prayer life demonstrates our awareness of the compassion of our loving and merciful God.

Listen to Jesus as he explains how our prayer life reflects our theological comprehension of the nature of our God …

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

o We act on the love of God by asking him for good things until they arrive!

God loves us so much. And when we get that in our DNA, we want all that our relationship with God can give. We want to give to others the joy and peace, the laughter and happiness that a sin-freed life contains. Our prayers for others – and for our own lives – reflect the passion of our faith in God’s amazing grace!

Today, why not trust God as good. Seek Him for the answers to your life’s miseries and woes. Draw near to Him in prayer and He will draw near to you. And remember, in His presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore as you walk the path of life together!

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Leave a comment

Transformed Podcast: Episode #050 – Why Grace Must Have It's Place

Posted on November 1, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

In Thomas Lynch’s popular book The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade, he reflects on his work as a funeral director in a small Michigan town. In 25 years, he has overseen some 5,000 burials. How has it shaped his thinking“It tends to make me want to resolve conflicts a little quicker,” Mr. Lynch says, “Because I’ve seen people go off to work who don’t come home.”

In today’s episode Dr. Matthew Lee Smith explains “Why Grace Must Have Its Place.” Without the grace of Jesus Christ we will not be able to handle the multitudes of conflict that come so easily in these distressed times.

As we listen to Pastor Matt teaching the congregation at First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California, let’s open our Bibles to Acts 15.

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

Posted in Transformed | Leave a comment

Watch Your Attitude (And Your Actions)!

Posted on October 30, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

Have you noticed how easy it is to look down on others? What is it about our human nature that seems to default into degrading another through criticism? How do we look into the mirror each morning and miss the flaws in ourselves which are so obvious to those who know us?

Jesus spoke directly to such attitudes and called us to account on the matter of our incongruities. Listen as he speaks strongly to each one of us …

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew 7:1-6 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

o We jettison the ‘better than thou’ attitude and remember our own failures!

Criticism can become like a virus … it is easily caught and difficult to get rid of! Consider what Jesus is talking about here for a moment.

  • We are treated the way we treat others!
  • We find our problems in the lives of others!
  • We minimize our gaping flaws by belittling those minor struggles in others!
  • We act out a lie in front of others – that we have it all together!

As you work in the office today, take that class with other students, attend the civic function, enjoy the game or go shopping remember this:

The flaws you are quick to judge in others are, most likely, some of YOUR greatest failures. Why not take another look in the mirror and fix those first. After all, your friends already know about them and are probably praying to that end right now.

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith


Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Leave a comment

Transformed Interview with Matt Bell

Posted on October 23, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Matt began his career as a radio journalist, with his work featured on National Public Radio, the NBC Radio Network, and several other networks. His reporting earned national awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and United Press International.

Today, Matt is a personal finance writer and speaker. He has been quoted in U.S. News and World Report, the Chicago Tribune, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, has written for ChristianityToday.com, writes two popular eNewsletters , and has been a guest on several nationally syndicated radio talk shows. His first book, Money, Purpose, Joy , was published by NavPress in September 2008.

Matt holds a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from DePaul University, where he wrote a thesis about the emergence of America’s consumer culture and its influence on people’s beliefs and behaviors.

Matt and his wife, Judy, live with their three young children in the Chicago area.

Posted in Interviews | Leave a comment

Transformed Podcast: Episode #049 – What’s A Church to Do in These Turbulent Times?

Posted on October 19, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Tom Welch tells us to “Declare your mission – and then live it!” No words could better speak to us in these turbulent times than these. It seems that while the world economy is shaken, world opinion continues to turn against the Christ-follower. Truly the environment we live in is increasingly hostile to our faith and struggling with major problems of its own.

The Great Commission of Jesus Christ is the only driving motivation for today’s church! This is the teaching in today’s episode of Transformed! from Acts 14 as Pastor Matt speaks to us on the topic of “What’s A Church to Do in These Turbulent Times?”

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

Posted in Transformed | Leave a comment

Transformed Interviews Alex Kendrick

Posted on October 16, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith


For more information on Fireproof the Movie Click here.

Mike Powers interviews Alex Kendrick of the FIREPROOF movie. FIREPROOF is the third feature film from Sherwood Pictures the creators of FACING THE GIANTS and FLYWHEEL. With hope-filled, heartfelt storytelling, the movie making ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church continues to touch the world from Albany, Georgia.

Ministry will continue long after FIREPROOF opens this fall. Cast and crew understand they are ambassadors for the film’s message of hope. And, as with FACING THE GIANTS and FLYWHEEL, proceeds from the movie will help build Sherwood’s 82-acre public sports park in Albany-with walking trails, a fishing pond, horse stables and riding trails, tennis courts, baseball fields, and soccer fields. Albany residents already enjoy many of the amenities, with more on the way.

Posted in Interviews, Mike Powers | Leave a comment

Worrying Through These Turbulent Times!

Posted on October 16, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

Banks failing, people panicking, pundits throwing LOTS of money at problems that don’t seem to go away as a result – these are turbulent times! What do we do when the financial bottom drops out? Most people worry!

Worry is such a common reaction to forces outside of our control. But listen to Jesus today … in a longer, but time-perfect passage

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

o We focus on God our loving Father in financially turbulent times!

Jesus reminds us of six key facts for turbulent times:

  • Life is more than stuff!
  • You are of more value than the animals God feeds every day!
  • Worry doesn’t do one single positive thing for you!
  • Worry is, in actuality, a demonstration of our lack of faith in God’s love and grace!
  • If we will seek God’s agenda, we will never lack for what we need!
  • Stay in today – it has enough troubles!

As you listen to the news reports, may I suggest something? Today would be a good day to spend AT LEAST as much time reading God’s Word as you do listening to the news. After all, He knows what the future really holds!

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

Christmas Is Only 10 Weeks Away!

This Christmas – as money is tight – why not give a gift that will last all through 2009? Give the gift of God’s love by ordering a copy of In His Image for each person on your Christmas list.

In His Image is a daily dose of God’s love that is guaranteed to bring great hope and inspiration to your family and friends! Listen to what Candy says …

“I have read many devotional books in the last thirty years and I rate this one in the top three! I enjoy the format and it is very uplifting. I need to be reminded of my Lord’s love for me. Dr. Matthew Smith writes in a very understanding and caring way.”

If you would like to share our great God and His great plan for life, we suggest you purchase a copy of Dr. Smith’s book, “In His Image”. We know you will want to get several copies for your friends today. To order your copy of “In His Image” click the link on the right hand toolbar.

To learn more about the ministry and resources of Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, click the ‘RESOURCES’ link at the top of this web page.

Posted in Eagles E-Letter | Leave a comment