The gospel of disappointment
Maybe it's just me, but I find it very difficult to find Christian T.V. that is not centered on the subject of "Me"! It seems that when you hear this kind of message it would be very easy to believe that the center of the Gospel is really about me and my prosperity. Now days you can pay money and get everything from special anointed water to personal prophecies. If you pledge $1,ooo to certain ministries you will unlock the secrets to riches and fame. The goal of the Gospel seems to be my happiness.
I don't mean to be unsanctified but it's a crock! This kind of programming, I can't call it preaching so I'll just call it telemarketing, whether on the T.V or in the pulpit is a false gospel. It leads to disappointment and some might even mistake it for the voice of God. Don't get me wrong, the longer I walk with God the more I realize just how much He cares about every detail of my life. He more than anyone is for me and my well being. However, He is looking to the end result of all my endeavors. It has been stated many times but is still very true today: "God is more interested in the journey than the destination". He is more interested in my attitude and behavior during the wait than my attitude when the prize is achieved. Psa. 106:15 says, He gave them the desires of their heart but sent leanness into their souls". We must be very careful how we approach God. There are times when having the Lord give us "what we want" can be tragic.
Let's back away from the table of "our desires" and ask God for an appetite for his will.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psa. 51:10
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Moby Dick or Shamu?
When I think of Moby Dick vs. Shamu I think of the difference between the natural and the natural that has been altered by man. Moby Dick, in the fictional story by Herman Melville, tells of a wild, adventurous creature untamed by man. Shamu was the first Killer Whale to live over 13 months in captivity and lived a life limited to entertaining people from a tank. This life of Shamu and a Nation's love for the whale says a lot about our National pysche. We have, in many ways, become more interested in appearances than actual reality. While we may think Shamu lives a wonderful life, no one has ever asked the opinion of Shamu.
Now I turn to the church. The church is supposed to live a free, unhindered life of following the Lord. The church is to be a people dedicated to swimming in the waters of the freedom of redemption with a passion for bringing the lost and bound into a place of freedom that only Jesus can bring. The church of the New Testament had this Spirit-controlled primitive temperament and even a little wildness about it. It was unpredictable to man, although under the control of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts displays an activated church going throughout society winning the lost and bringing them to a place of learning to swim the wonderful waters of the Kingdom of God. They never knew what would lie around the next corner. Today much of the Church looks more like Shamu than Moby Dick. It has been captured and has become satisfied with simply living in the tank and performing. It often seems unaware of the world outside. We were never intended to live in the bondage of programs and methods. As leaders our job is to train and equip our people to swim with the currents of the Holy Spirit and learn to relate to and win the lost. Once a person swims with whales in the wild, Sea World won't be very impressive.
When I think of Moby Dick vs. Shamu I think of the difference between the natural and the natural that has been altered by man. Moby Dick, in the fictional story by Herman Melville, tells of a wild, adventurous creature untamed by man. Shamu was the first Killer Whale to live over 13 months in captivity and lived a life limited to entertaining people from a tank. This life of Shamu and a Nation's love for the whale says a lot about our National pysche. We have, in many ways, become more interested in appearances than actual reality. While we may think Shamu lives a wonderful life, no one has ever asked the opinion of Shamu.
Now I turn to the church. The church is supposed to live a free, unhindered life of following the Lord. The church is to be a people dedicated to swimming in the waters of the freedom of redemption with a passion for bringing the lost and bound into a place of freedom that only Jesus can bring. The church of the New Testament had this Spirit-controlled primitive temperament and even a little wildness about it. It was unpredictable to man, although under the control of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts displays an activated church going throughout society winning the lost and bringing them to a place of learning to swim the wonderful waters of the Kingdom of God. They never knew what would lie around the next corner. Today much of the Church looks more like Shamu than Moby Dick. It has been captured and has become satisfied with simply living in the tank and performing. It often seems unaware of the world outside. We were never intended to live in the bondage of programs and methods. As leaders our job is to train and equip our people to swim with the currents of the Holy Spirit and learn to relate to and win the lost. Once a person swims with whales in the wild, Sea World won't be very impressive.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Tiffany Joiner Update:
Everywhere I travel the first question people usually ask is, "how is Tiffany"? I have tried not to overload you with reports but it has been awhile now and many are continuing to ask. I thought I would write an update as a blog entry this week.
First, some who may not know(I still find a few who aren't aware), my daughter Tiffany fell from her balcony at her apartment in Dubai in December of 2008. The fall shattered a vertebrae in her back, damaging her spinal cord and leaving her with a diagnosis of paraplegia. The official definition of paraplegia is "paralysis characterized by motor or sensory loss in the lower limbs and trunk." Although much healing has taken place, she is left with some paralysis from the waist down. Since then she has gone through several months of rehab in Dubai, California and most recently Spain. In December she developed an infection in the toes on one foot that became so serious that amputation was a possibility. That meant she had to stop all therapy and go to bed taking strong antibiotics for about 6 weeks. While the infection was treated successfully, the result was a loss of mobility that had been gained during the 6 weeks of bed rest. Not only did she lose mobility, her feet and toes became twisted. She was once again forced to return to the wheelchair.
She underwent surgery on both feet on May 19 in Miami to cut and extend the Achilles tendons on both feet to allow them to once again stand flat on the floor. They also performed a "flap" procedure on the right foot to force the foot to turn back inward to a forward facing direction. The toes on the right foot were also turning outward and pins were inserted to correct that as well. Today she returned to the surgeon. The bandages were removed, stitches removed and her right foot was put in a cast and her left in a hard boot. The cast will be on for 4 weeks after which therapy will resume. The situation has been difficult at every turn but now she faces having to start all over again with therapy in order to get back where she was a year ago.
Tiffany's attitude has been extraordinary! I am very proud of how she has handled this ordeal. As a matter of prayer, please continue to pray for great grace upon her life. Pray for healing to flow to the feet. Of course, we need a creative miracle for the spinal cord. Spinal cords don't heal or mend themselves as other parts of the body so that is why I say "a creative miracle".
All of you have been "family" to us in every way through this last year and a half. God has been so faithful to meet every need and beyond. Thank you. His grace is sufficient.
Everywhere I travel the first question people usually ask is, "how is Tiffany"? I have tried not to overload you with reports but it has been awhile now and many are continuing to ask. I thought I would write an update as a blog entry this week.
First, some who may not know(I still find a few who aren't aware), my daughter Tiffany fell from her balcony at her apartment in Dubai in December of 2008. The fall shattered a vertebrae in her back, damaging her spinal cord and leaving her with a diagnosis of paraplegia. The official definition of paraplegia is "paralysis characterized by motor or sensory loss in the lower limbs and trunk." Although much healing has taken place, she is left with some paralysis from the waist down. Since then she has gone through several months of rehab in Dubai, California and most recently Spain. In December she developed an infection in the toes on one foot that became so serious that amputation was a possibility. That meant she had to stop all therapy and go to bed taking strong antibiotics for about 6 weeks. While the infection was treated successfully, the result was a loss of mobility that had been gained during the 6 weeks of bed rest. Not only did she lose mobility, her feet and toes became twisted. She was once again forced to return to the wheelchair.
She underwent surgery on both feet on May 19 in Miami to cut and extend the Achilles tendons on both feet to allow them to once again stand flat on the floor. They also performed a "flap" procedure on the right foot to force the foot to turn back inward to a forward facing direction. The toes on the right foot were also turning outward and pins were inserted to correct that as well. Today she returned to the surgeon. The bandages were removed, stitches removed and her right foot was put in a cast and her left in a hard boot. The cast will be on for 4 weeks after which therapy will resume. The situation has been difficult at every turn but now she faces having to start all over again with therapy in order to get back where she was a year ago.
Tiffany's attitude has been extraordinary! I am very proud of how she has handled this ordeal. As a matter of prayer, please continue to pray for great grace upon her life. Pray for healing to flow to the feet. Of course, we need a creative miracle for the spinal cord. Spinal cords don't heal or mend themselves as other parts of the body so that is why I say "a creative miracle".
All of you have been "family" to us in every way through this last year and a half. God has been so faithful to meet every need and beyond. Thank you. His grace is sufficient.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Memorial Day, not to be forgotten!
Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.
In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.
In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
A New Power for a New Hour
I have been ministering here in Saginaw, Michigan for 6 days now. It has been a very busy schedule but so refreshing. Not only has it been refreshing to leave the 90 degree temps of North Florida and South Georgia to get back into early Spring temps here, but the spiritual atmosphere has been invigorating.
Pastor Ken Cline has been the Senior Pastor of the church for about 2 years now and he has done a great job taking an older church and slowly moving it toward a new era of equipping for mission. Much training has been going on and my coming here was to speak/teach/preach at their weekend seminar called, "Equip 2010". I am embarrassed to say that after teaching for 3 hours on Saturday to leaders, I was caught off guard Sunday morning when a spiritual eruption occured. There has been a lot of change going on here the last year and not all has been fun for the church. Any time there is a transition there is reaction! They certainly haven't been exempt. However, they have taken the high road and remained on point in pursing the calling of the Lord upon them. Rather than becoming enbroiled in trying to defend themselves they have chosen rather to continue to train and focus on the future. The result has been a new influx of young adults who are hungry to know Jesus in a greater way and they want to be used by Him. That is precisely why we saw this outpouring of the Holy Spirit this past Sunday morning, Sunday evening and again in this midweek service on Wednesday. I can't stress this enough, this Pastor prepared the way and then opened the door for the Holy Spirit to come and do whatever He wanted to do. That takes a lot of courage. I applaud Pastor Ken.
I came to this conference with plans and outlines to teach, teach, teach. I did that for a number of hours. Then, when I was so positively affected beginning on Sunday morning by the spontaneous worship of the people, I heard the Lord say, "put up your outline and follow me"! "Yikes, where are we going"? Many were Baptized in the Holy Spirit just like in the book of Acts. Again on Wednesday night, many more experienced the same empowering. That opened the door for a number of older Christians to be drawn in to experience the same wonderful time in the presence of the Lord with many more being renewed and refreshed by His Presence! Then, without any coersion, little children were right in the middle of it all experiencing the Holy Spirit.
When I returned to my room I was basking in the overflow of these meetings and I realized that this was the icing on the cake of equipping. Yes, they needed to be trained but training is not the end of equipping. The Holy Spirit empowering was the most important of all. While I was there seeking to be used to help equip the saints for the work of the ministry, did the Holy Spirit do or say anything to me? Oh yes! He told me to bring a new Pentecost to a new generation. If we don't equip this new generation by exposing them to the truth of Pentecost we will be back where many of us started in the late 1960's and 70's with nice sweet churches without the Power of God to set the captives free. Then the Holy Spirit will raise up a new group who is not ashamed of the Full Gospel. It is time for A NEW POWER FOR A NEW HOUR!
I have been ministering here in Saginaw, Michigan for 6 days now. It has been a very busy schedule but so refreshing. Not only has it been refreshing to leave the 90 degree temps of North Florida and South Georgia to get back into early Spring temps here, but the spiritual atmosphere has been invigorating.
Pastor Ken Cline has been the Senior Pastor of the church for about 2 years now and he has done a great job taking an older church and slowly moving it toward a new era of equipping for mission. Much training has been going on and my coming here was to speak/teach/preach at their weekend seminar called, "Equip 2010". I am embarrassed to say that after teaching for 3 hours on Saturday to leaders, I was caught off guard Sunday morning when a spiritual eruption occured. There has been a lot of change going on here the last year and not all has been fun for the church. Any time there is a transition there is reaction! They certainly haven't been exempt. However, they have taken the high road and remained on point in pursing the calling of the Lord upon them. Rather than becoming enbroiled in trying to defend themselves they have chosen rather to continue to train and focus on the future. The result has been a new influx of young adults who are hungry to know Jesus in a greater way and they want to be used by Him. That is precisely why we saw this outpouring of the Holy Spirit this past Sunday morning, Sunday evening and again in this midweek service on Wednesday. I can't stress this enough, this Pastor prepared the way and then opened the door for the Holy Spirit to come and do whatever He wanted to do. That takes a lot of courage. I applaud Pastor Ken.
I came to this conference with plans and outlines to teach, teach, teach. I did that for a number of hours. Then, when I was so positively affected beginning on Sunday morning by the spontaneous worship of the people, I heard the Lord say, "put up your outline and follow me"! "Yikes, where are we going"? Many were Baptized in the Holy Spirit just like in the book of Acts. Again on Wednesday night, many more experienced the same empowering. That opened the door for a number of older Christians to be drawn in to experience the same wonderful time in the presence of the Lord with many more being renewed and refreshed by His Presence! Then, without any coersion, little children were right in the middle of it all experiencing the Holy Spirit.
When I returned to my room I was basking in the overflow of these meetings and I realized that this was the icing on the cake of equipping. Yes, they needed to be trained but training is not the end of equipping. The Holy Spirit empowering was the most important of all. While I was there seeking to be used to help equip the saints for the work of the ministry, did the Holy Spirit do or say anything to me? Oh yes! He told me to bring a new Pentecost to a new generation. If we don't equip this new generation by exposing them to the truth of Pentecost we will be back where many of us started in the late 1960's and 70's with nice sweet churches without the Power of God to set the captives free. Then the Holy Spirit will raise up a new group who is not ashamed of the Full Gospel. It is time for A NEW POWER FOR A NEW HOUR!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Exchanging the Known Past for the Unknown Future
Numbers 11:4-6 (NKJV)
4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat?
5 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;
6 but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"
The ongoing walk with the Lord is a never ending journey. The Bible is filled with descriptions of our relationship with God that speaks of a journey. His Word in Psalm 119: 105 says,
“ Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” In the book of acts it is called the Way. Understanding that living with and for God involves a moving, active, changing daily journey helps us to remain stable. A person who thinks that having a relationship with God is about a destination is apt to become disoriented. God is always on the move and always requiring his “followers” to move as well. As long as we live on this planet, there will be no final resting place in the physical sense. Once we accept that truth we are not confused when the Lord requires change in our lives even from things that we might consider good things.
Israel in these verses had been delivered from the bondage of Egypt and were now on the Exodus, the journey toward the Promised Land. They were living by the direct instruction of God Almighty. They were being fed by the hand of God in a supernatural way through Manna. They had cried out for generations for deliverance and now they are walking in that deliverance. Yet, there is pressure in the will of God just like there is pressure in bondage. Pressure, how we hate it. We confused deliverance from bondage and actually thought it meant moving into a Kingdom utopia. What we often miss is the purpose of the deliverance and the journey. The deliverance of the Lord is to break the power of the bondage over us but the journey from that point on is to empty us, cleans us from within, fill us and reshape us for life in this New Kingdom.
Israel didn’t understand the process. They hated this New Kingdom of deliverance and development so much that they were actually preferring the provision of past bondage. Be careful how you look upon your past. Looking back with lust for lost pleasures of bondage could cause you to miss a step with the Lord and you could lose your way. Make a decision to set your gaze on the future and never allow your mind to drift back to the sinful past with desire.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Numbers 11:4-6 (NKJV)
4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat?
5 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;
6 but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"
The ongoing walk with the Lord is a never ending journey. The Bible is filled with descriptions of our relationship with God that speaks of a journey. His Word in Psalm 119: 105 says,
“ Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” In the book of acts it is called the Way. Understanding that living with and for God involves a moving, active, changing daily journey helps us to remain stable. A person who thinks that having a relationship with God is about a destination is apt to become disoriented. God is always on the move and always requiring his “followers” to move as well. As long as we live on this planet, there will be no final resting place in the physical sense. Once we accept that truth we are not confused when the Lord requires change in our lives even from things that we might consider good things.
Israel in these verses had been delivered from the bondage of Egypt and were now on the Exodus, the journey toward the Promised Land. They were living by the direct instruction of God Almighty. They were being fed by the hand of God in a supernatural way through Manna. They had cried out for generations for deliverance and now they are walking in that deliverance. Yet, there is pressure in the will of God just like there is pressure in bondage. Pressure, how we hate it. We confused deliverance from bondage and actually thought it meant moving into a Kingdom utopia. What we often miss is the purpose of the deliverance and the journey. The deliverance of the Lord is to break the power of the bondage over us but the journey from that point on is to empty us, cleans us from within, fill us and reshape us for life in this New Kingdom.
Israel didn’t understand the process. They hated this New Kingdom of deliverance and development so much that they were actually preferring the provision of past bondage. Be careful how you look upon your past. Looking back with lust for lost pleasures of bondage could cause you to miss a step with the Lord and you could lose your way. Make a decision to set your gaze on the future and never allow your mind to drift back to the sinful past with desire.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Mergers of Ministries: Things to consider
From time to time I am asked to give input to ministries considering a merger with another ministry. While I was a pastor of a three year old church that I started in 1980, we were a part of a coming together of two congregations. It was an exciting time and a scary time for a couple of years. Our end result was a plus and a gain for the Kingdom of God. A merger of churches or ministries can be a wonderful thing, and a sign to a community of unity in the Kingdom. However, it is a very delicate process and must be approached with much prayer , thought, dialogue and courage.
Pros:
1. The benefits of a larger congregation or ministry
A. More people to serve, improving ministries at all levels.
B. More finances available to expand more ministries
C. More competent leaders to help bring the people to a greater place of service.
D. Positive effects of increase “in the house and in the community”. Success breeds success.
2. The benefits of increasing the sphere of ministry overall.
3. The benefits of increased effects of a greater anointing created by unity. Psa. 133
Cons:
1. The challenge of bringing two congregations into one.
2. The potential of strife caused by a perspective that, “we have lost our closeness and/or idenity”.
3. The challenge of competition among leaders. Determined by how it is handled.
4. The fear of loss by some. (Loss of position, influence, etc)
5. The possibility of losing some who can’t make the shift.
6. The challenge of merging possible different government styles.
7. The challenge of doctrinal variations or interpretations.
Suggestions and Questions:
1. Spend much time in prayer
A. Senior Leaders first come to an agreement that this is the will of God.
B. Make sure you are in agreement doctrinally and philosophically.
C. Get leadership teams together for fellowship and prayer.
D. Senior leaders must be completely clear about lines of authority.
E. Don’t fear an open discussion among leaders regarding all aspects of the merger.
F. Go slow. Think through all aspects of the process. Try to see 3 years down the road.
2. What are you most excited about regarding the possible merger?
3. What concerns you most about the possible merger?
From time to time I am asked to give input to ministries considering a merger with another ministry. While I was a pastor of a three year old church that I started in 1980, we were a part of a coming together of two congregations. It was an exciting time and a scary time for a couple of years. Our end result was a plus and a gain for the Kingdom of God. A merger of churches or ministries can be a wonderful thing, and a sign to a community of unity in the Kingdom. However, it is a very delicate process and must be approached with much prayer , thought, dialogue and courage.
Pros:
1. The benefits of a larger congregation or ministry
A. More people to serve, improving ministries at all levels.
B. More finances available to expand more ministries
C. More competent leaders to help bring the people to a greater place of service.
D. Positive effects of increase “in the house and in the community”. Success breeds success.
2. The benefits of increasing the sphere of ministry overall.
3. The benefits of increased effects of a greater anointing created by unity. Psa. 133
Cons:
1. The challenge of bringing two congregations into one.
2. The potential of strife caused by a perspective that, “we have lost our closeness and/or idenity”.
3. The challenge of competition among leaders. Determined by how it is handled.
4. The fear of loss by some. (Loss of position, influence, etc)
5. The possibility of losing some who can’t make the shift.
6. The challenge of merging possible different government styles.
7. The challenge of doctrinal variations or interpretations.
Suggestions and Questions:
1. Spend much time in prayer
A. Senior Leaders first come to an agreement that this is the will of God.
B. Make sure you are in agreement doctrinally and philosophically.
C. Get leadership teams together for fellowship and prayer.
D. Senior leaders must be completely clear about lines of authority.
E. Don’t fear an open discussion among leaders regarding all aspects of the merger.
F. Go slow. Think through all aspects of the process. Try to see 3 years down the road.
2. What are you most excited about regarding the possible merger?
3. What concerns you most about the possible merger?
Hopefully, these suggestions from experience will help you as you navigate the waters of merging two congregations or even two businesses.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Dealing with Distractions
Being an old golfer and one who loves the grand old game, I have learned that one of the most important aspects of the game is focus. It has been said that the game has to be won between your ears first before you can win on the course.
In any endeavor, one has to learn to block out everything that is in competition with the task at hand. I was thinking about the leadership of Toyota. While it is important that the company deal with their quality control issues, the primary leadership team must stay on point remembering that their job is planning and building arguably the best cars in the world. The President of the company has to address the problems and lead through this season but he better not lose his focus on his main goal.
Leaders must learn this valuable lesson. We all have to deal with crises on a daily basis. It's a part of the job. However, the quicker you can diagnose the problem, get a fix in place and get back to your primary responsibility, the better. As spiritual leaders, we must know that there are enemies that are bent on doing nothing more than distracting us. In the old days of the cold war and communist aggression it was difficult to understand the thinking behind the agenda of communism. What could they possibly gain by stirring up trouble all over the world. If they would see a dissatisfied sector in a society, they would make an appeal to help them overthrow their government or leadership. Then I got it. They believed that chaos in itself was a plan. If they could cause a distraction, the government in power would be forced to stop what they were doing and be forced to deal with the chaos. Then in the midst of the storm they might gain access and control. Control is what all enemies want to gain.
In the church world it is important for leadership to learn this lesson. Stay on point! I gave this example to a great young pastor recently. As a word of encouragement to him I said, "don't let the distractions on the sidelines keep your head out of the game and cause you to lose on the field". Being a lover of sports, he got it!
Let me encourage you to focus and stay on point with that which the Lord has called you to do.
Being an old golfer and one who loves the grand old game, I have learned that one of the most important aspects of the game is focus. It has been said that the game has to be won between your ears first before you can win on the course.
In any endeavor, one has to learn to block out everything that is in competition with the task at hand. I was thinking about the leadership of Toyota. While it is important that the company deal with their quality control issues, the primary leadership team must stay on point remembering that their job is planning and building arguably the best cars in the world. The President of the company has to address the problems and lead through this season but he better not lose his focus on his main goal.
Leaders must learn this valuable lesson. We all have to deal with crises on a daily basis. It's a part of the job. However, the quicker you can diagnose the problem, get a fix in place and get back to your primary responsibility, the better. As spiritual leaders, we must know that there are enemies that are bent on doing nothing more than distracting us. In the old days of the cold war and communist aggression it was difficult to understand the thinking behind the agenda of communism. What could they possibly gain by stirring up trouble all over the world. If they would see a dissatisfied sector in a society, they would make an appeal to help them overthrow their government or leadership. Then I got it. They believed that chaos in itself was a plan. If they could cause a distraction, the government in power would be forced to stop what they were doing and be forced to deal with the chaos. Then in the midst of the storm they might gain access and control. Control is what all enemies want to gain.
In the church world it is important for leadership to learn this lesson. Stay on point! I gave this example to a great young pastor recently. As a word of encouragement to him I said, "don't let the distractions on the sidelines keep your head out of the game and cause you to lose on the field". Being a lover of sports, he got it!
Let me encourage you to focus and stay on point with that which the Lord has called you to do.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Intimacy or Intimidation
It is easy to see why newcomers to the Christian faith might have some struggles trying to understand the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. The God of the Old Testament seems so harsh and demanding while the God of the New Testament seems so loving and forgiving. What’s the deal?
Regardless of how different they may appear, the God of the Old and New are the same God. The Old was a preparation for the New. God, from the beginning of time, wanted to live in intimate relationship with man. When man sinned, that sin was a barricade that kept sinful man from enjoying the presence of a perfectly Holy God. Jesus came and died in man’s place and removed the barricade between God and man. Now through the individual’s acceptance of Jesus, man can come with boldness right into the presence of Father God. It is to be a relationship. For all Christians, that relationship should be one of intimacy. Yet, all too many believers seem to live in a relationship of intimidation rather than intimacy.
The great problem here is that intimidation limits and causes the relationship to remain on a powerless plane. The Christian at this level never moves beyond that first level of introduction. Every time he encounters God, he is uncomfortable and gets little from the experience. On the other hand, a person who has an intimate relationship with the Lord is at peace in God’s presence. That connectivity of intimacy transfers spiritual power that leaves the believer on a higher level than before.
The church was built on a revelation that the Apostle Peter received through that connectivity of intimacy, “thou art the Christ”. Jesus said to him, “flesh and blood did not reveal that to you”. As Christians, we need to move beyond “flesh and blood” Christianity. We need to move beyond only keeping the rules and regulations and enter that place of intimacy with the Lord.
It is easy to see why newcomers to the Christian faith might have some struggles trying to understand the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. The God of the Old Testament seems so harsh and demanding while the God of the New Testament seems so loving and forgiving. What’s the deal?
Regardless of how different they may appear, the God of the Old and New are the same God. The Old was a preparation for the New. God, from the beginning of time, wanted to live in intimate relationship with man. When man sinned, that sin was a barricade that kept sinful man from enjoying the presence of a perfectly Holy God. Jesus came and died in man’s place and removed the barricade between God and man. Now through the individual’s acceptance of Jesus, man can come with boldness right into the presence of Father God. It is to be a relationship. For all Christians, that relationship should be one of intimacy. Yet, all too many believers seem to live in a relationship of intimidation rather than intimacy.
The great problem here is that intimidation limits and causes the relationship to remain on a powerless plane. The Christian at this level never moves beyond that first level of introduction. Every time he encounters God, he is uncomfortable and gets little from the experience. On the other hand, a person who has an intimate relationship with the Lord is at peace in God’s presence. That connectivity of intimacy transfers spiritual power that leaves the believer on a higher level than before.
The church was built on a revelation that the Apostle Peter received through that connectivity of intimacy, “thou art the Christ”. Jesus said to him, “flesh and blood did not reveal that to you”. As Christians, we need to move beyond “flesh and blood” Christianity. We need to move beyond only keeping the rules and regulations and enter that place of intimacy with the Lord.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Intellect and Spirit
Can a person who has a higher educational level have a deeper relationship with God? I have known people who had an earned doctorate and maintained a wonderful faith in God. I have also known adults with an eighth grade education that had deep spiritual knowledge of God and His ways. This is a very important subject because some would think that faith in God and higher education seem to conflict. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
It has been said that no human being has ever attained to the same intellectual capacity of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden prior to their fall into rebellion and sin. In that state before they chose to sin, these two perfect specimens of creation had a powerful relationship with God. It was after their fall from grace that everything around them deteriorated including their intellectual abilities. It is through faith in God that man can experience restoration in every area of life. That includes spirit, body and yes, the mind. As a matter of fact, the Scripture teaches that through the process of regeneration, the mind of man is also renewed. This renewal process would involve greater intellectual capacity. Even more importantly, spiritual renewal brings the mind of God and his ways to the forefront in the mind of man. In Romans 12:2, we read of this process called “the renewing of the mind”. The Greek word here for renewing actually is translated “renovation”. By putting your faith in God and what Jesus did by his supernatural act of redemption on the cross, a renovation takes place in the life of the believer that includes the mind.
What are the benefits of such a renovation? Obviously, there is a new illumination of thought and ideology that brings man into union with the mind and thought of God. Intellectual ability that has been redeemed and renovated by God now is on the right track and working in unison with the Creator of the universe. The outcome will certainly be great discoveries in science, medicine and every field of endeavor. If a person rebels against reconciliation with God and tries to press ahead seeking to develop the intellect alone, the outcome will be something much less than could have been achieved by experiencing God. Many have produced great things in our day without a renewed mind through God. However, how far short have they fallen? What could they have realized with God working in and through their already gifted intellect?
Some of our greatest discoveries have been attained by men and women who knew God personally and depended upon Him for guidance and revelation. Intellect is not a doorway to God and lack of education is not an obstacle to knowing him. Arrogant intellect choosing to ignore God has limited itself to a small sphere. In truth, God is not known nor realized by intellect but by the spirit of man. Nonetheless, when a person comes to know and experience God in a personal, way he will be expanded in all areas of life. This will especially apply to intellectual expansion. True faith and true education should run hand in hand. All should benefit from their union.
Can a person who has a higher educational level have a deeper relationship with God? I have known people who had an earned doctorate and maintained a wonderful faith in God. I have also known adults with an eighth grade education that had deep spiritual knowledge of God and His ways. This is a very important subject because some would think that faith in God and higher education seem to conflict. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
It has been said that no human being has ever attained to the same intellectual capacity of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden prior to their fall into rebellion and sin. In that state before they chose to sin, these two perfect specimens of creation had a powerful relationship with God. It was after their fall from grace that everything around them deteriorated including their intellectual abilities. It is through faith in God that man can experience restoration in every area of life. That includes spirit, body and yes, the mind. As a matter of fact, the Scripture teaches that through the process of regeneration, the mind of man is also renewed. This renewal process would involve greater intellectual capacity. Even more importantly, spiritual renewal brings the mind of God and his ways to the forefront in the mind of man. In Romans 12:2, we read of this process called “the renewing of the mind”. The Greek word here for renewing actually is translated “renovation”. By putting your faith in God and what Jesus did by his supernatural act of redemption on the cross, a renovation takes place in the life of the believer that includes the mind.
What are the benefits of such a renovation? Obviously, there is a new illumination of thought and ideology that brings man into union with the mind and thought of God. Intellectual ability that has been redeemed and renovated by God now is on the right track and working in unison with the Creator of the universe. The outcome will certainly be great discoveries in science, medicine and every field of endeavor. If a person rebels against reconciliation with God and tries to press ahead seeking to develop the intellect alone, the outcome will be something much less than could have been achieved by experiencing God. Many have produced great things in our day without a renewed mind through God. However, how far short have they fallen? What could they have realized with God working in and through their already gifted intellect?
Some of our greatest discoveries have been attained by men and women who knew God personally and depended upon Him for guidance and revelation. Intellect is not a doorway to God and lack of education is not an obstacle to knowing him. Arrogant intellect choosing to ignore God has limited itself to a small sphere. In truth, God is not known nor realized by intellect but by the spirit of man. Nonetheless, when a person comes to know and experience God in a personal, way he will be expanded in all areas of life. This will especially apply to intellectual expansion. True faith and true education should run hand in hand. All should benefit from their union.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Living Faith
Nothing hinders God’s work more than dead religion. What is dead religion? A religion that has all the answers but does not believe God is actively working in daily life. Dead religion is interested in the environment even to the point of worshipping nature but gives no praise to the Creator. It is passionately devoted to human rights with no regard for Divine purpose. It puts total faith in intellectualism, and proves it with active pursuit while growing more and more indifferent regarding the things of God.
We shouldn’t be surprised when we see dead religion in our day. It’s nothing new. Jesus found it and was persecuted by it in his ministry. The Pharisees challenged the living faith of Jesus with all their knowledge, social standing and political correctness. These religious leaders looked good in every outward way. However, rather than hope, they only offered more of the mediocre. Rather than life, they only brought bondage and death. Rather than power, all they could muster was a form of godliness.
Before we begin to cast stones, let us examine our own lives. I am not referring to any group or denomination. I am challenging all who are called by the name Christian to evaluate who we are and what we offer to those around us. Jesus came offering a better way. He came bringing life, hope and a way of escape. The religious community in Jesus’ day was more interested in protecting their buildings, their programs and their personal interests than they were in bringing deliverance and help to those hurting around them. While I deeply appreciate all that God has done for us, let us never forget why we are here. We are not here to perpetuate a religious system. We are here to carry out the same ministry Jesus established when he said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” May our Lord Jesus help us to shake off the blinding effects of comfort and help us to see those who are looking for the hope we offer in Jesus.
Nothing hinders God’s work more than dead religion. What is dead religion? A religion that has all the answers but does not believe God is actively working in daily life. Dead religion is interested in the environment even to the point of worshipping nature but gives no praise to the Creator. It is passionately devoted to human rights with no regard for Divine purpose. It puts total faith in intellectualism, and proves it with active pursuit while growing more and more indifferent regarding the things of God.
We shouldn’t be surprised when we see dead religion in our day. It’s nothing new. Jesus found it and was persecuted by it in his ministry. The Pharisees challenged the living faith of Jesus with all their knowledge, social standing and political correctness. These religious leaders looked good in every outward way. However, rather than hope, they only offered more of the mediocre. Rather than life, they only brought bondage and death. Rather than power, all they could muster was a form of godliness.
Before we begin to cast stones, let us examine our own lives. I am not referring to any group or denomination. I am challenging all who are called by the name Christian to evaluate who we are and what we offer to those around us. Jesus came offering a better way. He came bringing life, hope and a way of escape. The religious community in Jesus’ day was more interested in protecting their buildings, their programs and their personal interests than they were in bringing deliverance and help to those hurting around them. While I deeply appreciate all that God has done for us, let us never forget why we are here. We are not here to perpetuate a religious system. We are here to carry out the same ministry Jesus established when he said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” May our Lord Jesus help us to shake off the blinding effects of comfort and help us to see those who are looking for the hope we offer in Jesus.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A stitch in time saves nine
We have all heard it but what does it mean? "A stitch in time" is an old English saying that means to stitch a small hole quickly before it becomes a larger one. Great lesson!
Not a lot surprises me anymore. I am however, still amazed when I see people who face worsening problems dismiss them as if they will take care of themselves. Problems don't fix themselves. Now here's a shocker: God doesn't usually fix problems solo either. Most of the time the Lord will send the answer or remedy to us with instructions on how to apply the fix. It is our job to remain in right relationship with the Father and be able to hear and see and embrace the instructions when they come. One of the great "cop outs" in the Christian world is, "I'm waiting on the Lord". Of course, we know the Lord does have a timing and it is critical that we discern that timing and make sure our actions fit within his time frame. However, all too often the delay is on our part and we like to shift the blame of procrastination to Jesus.
I watched a guy once spend two years at home in "prayer for a job"! What a farce! He wanted the perfect job. Actually, he wanted what he thought was the perfect job. That is not God's way. God is a God who brings "the job" to a person who has taken the initiative and gotten "a job". Ask yourself the question today: "what area of my life is undone because I haven't taken any initiative?" I am convinced that many answers to prayer are delayed not because God hasn't answered but because there has been no "faith activity" on the part of the one needing the answer. When Teresa and I were first married we were transferred to San Diego by the Navy. Teresa had just graduated from business college and had not been able to get a job. My meager pay left us in a bind. We weren't in trouble yet but a week of delay would cause us to be behind the eight ball. We were praying for help. We went for a walk and passed a Denny's restaurant. There was a sign in the window that said, "Dishwasher wanted". I said to Teresa, "I'll be back in a minute". I came back out in about 5 minutes and said, "go on home, I'll see you later, I have just been hired and have to go to work"! I worked there washing other people's dirty dishes for several months as a second job. Teresa did find a job and our financial world improved dramatically. However, before that happened, this little job proved to be a life saver for us. I didn't want to do it but it was a job! Looking back on that experience I know the Lord opened that door and I learned a lot from it. Yes, Jesus wanted me to wash dishes!
Take some initiative. If you need to sell your house, clean it up. If you need "the job", take "a job". Begin to act in line with your need. Procrastination is faith in reverse. It can actually hinder the provision of the Lord. Remember, "a stitch in time saves nine".
We have all heard it but what does it mean? "A stitch in time" is an old English saying that means to stitch a small hole quickly before it becomes a larger one. Great lesson!
Not a lot surprises me anymore. I am however, still amazed when I see people who face worsening problems dismiss them as if they will take care of themselves. Problems don't fix themselves. Now here's a shocker: God doesn't usually fix problems solo either. Most of the time the Lord will send the answer or remedy to us with instructions on how to apply the fix. It is our job to remain in right relationship with the Father and be able to hear and see and embrace the instructions when they come. One of the great "cop outs" in the Christian world is, "I'm waiting on the Lord". Of course, we know the Lord does have a timing and it is critical that we discern that timing and make sure our actions fit within his time frame. However, all too often the delay is on our part and we like to shift the blame of procrastination to Jesus.
I watched a guy once spend two years at home in "prayer for a job"! What a farce! He wanted the perfect job. Actually, he wanted what he thought was the perfect job. That is not God's way. God is a God who brings "the job" to a person who has taken the initiative and gotten "a job". Ask yourself the question today: "what area of my life is undone because I haven't taken any initiative?" I am convinced that many answers to prayer are delayed not because God hasn't answered but because there has been no "faith activity" on the part of the one needing the answer. When Teresa and I were first married we were transferred to San Diego by the Navy. Teresa had just graduated from business college and had not been able to get a job. My meager pay left us in a bind. We weren't in trouble yet but a week of delay would cause us to be behind the eight ball. We were praying for help. We went for a walk and passed a Denny's restaurant. There was a sign in the window that said, "Dishwasher wanted". I said to Teresa, "I'll be back in a minute". I came back out in about 5 minutes and said, "go on home, I'll see you later, I have just been hired and have to go to work"! I worked there washing other people's dirty dishes for several months as a second job. Teresa did find a job and our financial world improved dramatically. However, before that happened, this little job proved to be a life saver for us. I didn't want to do it but it was a job! Looking back on that experience I know the Lord opened that door and I learned a lot from it. Yes, Jesus wanted me to wash dishes!
Take some initiative. If you need to sell your house, clean it up. If you need "the job", take "a job". Begin to act in line with your need. Procrastination is faith in reverse. It can actually hinder the provision of the Lord. Remember, "a stitch in time saves nine".
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Dealing with Distractions
Being an old golfer and one who loves the grand old game, I have learned that one of the most important aspects of the game is focus. It has been said that the game has to be won between your ears first before you can win on the course.
In any endeavor, one has to learn to block out everything that is in competition with the task at hand. I was thinking about the leadership of Toyota. While it is important that the company deal with their quality control issues, the primary leadership team must stay on point remembering that their job is planning and building arguably the best cars in the world. The President of the company has to address the problems and lead through this season but he better not lose his focus on his main goal.
Leaders must learn this valuable lesson. We all have to deal with crises on a daily basis. It's a part of the job. However, the quicker you can diagnose the problem, get a fix in place and get back to your primary responsibility, the better. As spiritual leaders, we must know that there are enemies that are bent on doing nothing more than distracting us. In the old days of the cold war and communist aggression it was difficult to understand the thinking behind the agenda of communism. What could they possibly gain by stirring up trouble all over the world. If they would see a dissatisfied sector in a society, they would make an appeal to help them overthrow their government or leadership. Then I got it. They believed that chaos in itself was a plan. If they could cause a distraction, the government in power would be forced to stop what they were doing and be forced to deal with the chaos. Then in the midst of the storm they might gain access and control. Control is what all enemies want to gain.
In the church world it is important for leadership to learn this lesson. Stay on point! I gave this example to a great young pastor recently. As a word of encouragement to him I said, "don't let the distractions on the sidelines keep your head out of the game and cause you to lose on the field". Being a lover of sports, he got it!
Let me encourage you to focus and stay on point with that which the Lord has called you to do.
Being an old golfer and one who loves the grand old game, I have learned that one of the most important aspects of the game is focus. It has been said that the game has to be won between your ears first before you can win on the course.
In any endeavor, one has to learn to block out everything that is in competition with the task at hand. I was thinking about the leadership of Toyota. While it is important that the company deal with their quality control issues, the primary leadership team must stay on point remembering that their job is planning and building arguably the best cars in the world. The President of the company has to address the problems and lead through this season but he better not lose his focus on his main goal.
Leaders must learn this valuable lesson. We all have to deal with crises on a daily basis. It's a part of the job. However, the quicker you can diagnose the problem, get a fix in place and get back to your primary responsibility, the better. As spiritual leaders, we must know that there are enemies that are bent on doing nothing more than distracting us. In the old days of the cold war and communist aggression it was difficult to understand the thinking behind the agenda of communism. What could they possibly gain by stirring up trouble all over the world. If they would see a dissatisfied sector in a society, they would make an appeal to help them overthrow their government or leadership. Then I got it. They believed that chaos in itself was a plan. If they could cause a distraction, the government in power would be forced to stop what they were doing and be forced to deal with the chaos. Then in the midst of the storm they might gain access and control. Control is what all enemies want to gain.
In the church world it is important for leadership to learn this lesson. Stay on point! I gave this example to a great young pastor recently. As a word of encouragement to him I said, "don't let the distractions on the sidelines keep your head out of the game and cause you to lose on the field". Being a lover of sports, he got it!
Let me encourage you to focus and stay on point with that which the Lord has called you to do.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Observations from visiting a new church, hoping to assist church leaders.
On the road again in my RV. We attended another church Sunday where we were not known nor did we know the congregation. I'm getting into to this as I have never been able to do this because of ministry responsibilities. It was a relatively new church launch with a lot of young believers and a lot of excitement. The church was a part of a National fellowship of churches that is known for a lot of growth and new church launches. Because I am a church planter/launcher, and because I now oversee churches and ministries, it's difficult not to "oversee" when I attend a new church. I have to blank it all out and make a decision to love, blend and worship. I did a fair job and didn't allow myself to process the service until after I left that afternoon
Here were my observations: First, the church was moderately friendly. About two people welcomed us when we entered. It is not unusual to attend a new church and have no one greet us. I know that sounds strange but it is true. We should all work on that. Just as we were a little "sheepish" upon entering an unknown congregation for the first time, I could tell the people were a little nervous about us as well and that was probably why we weren't welcomed more warmly. The building was a store front which is where most new church launches start once they leave the home setting and start trying to reach a community. The building was very clean and neat. The service opened with a young man welcoming the group. He was a little nervous which didn't really "break the ice". The worship team started the worship and it was average. They didn't appear to be worshipping as much as trying to get through the mechanics of the songs. That tends to put a hindrance on the congregation and stops a real flow in worship. It can keep a song service from turning into worship. A relaxed and comfortable atmosphere is so important to worship and fellowship. Of course a church has to use the giftings they have.
When we got to the speaker, the Senior Pastor took the platform. He was a gentle and kind young man. He did an adequate job through the message but at the end, he moved into a very personal story that had a dramatic impact. You could sense that this man was motivated to truly love and help people. He ended without a strong challenge for salvation, although it was included in his presentation. The endtire service was one hour. Then there was coffee and rolls and people seemd to be connected. Once again, as I mentioned in another blog about this earlier, this church is far greater in substance than is demonstrated on Sunday morning. The church is growing and vibrant. It is growing with average worship and preaching. The emphasis of the church is focused on having a real relationship with Jesus and one anohter.
For me it was obvious that this group was making a deliberate effort to focus on spiritual growth in their members more than having a "show" on Sunday. I noticed that they offered home/cell/support groups 5 nights a week which seemed to be their real life flow.
We are all trying to learn as we go and I'm still learning!
On the road again in my RV. We attended another church Sunday where we were not known nor did we know the congregation. I'm getting into to this as I have never been able to do this because of ministry responsibilities. It was a relatively new church launch with a lot of young believers and a lot of excitement. The church was a part of a National fellowship of churches that is known for a lot of growth and new church launches. Because I am a church planter/launcher, and because I now oversee churches and ministries, it's difficult not to "oversee" when I attend a new church. I have to blank it all out and make a decision to love, blend and worship. I did a fair job and didn't allow myself to process the service until after I left that afternoon
Here were my observations: First, the church was moderately friendly. About two people welcomed us when we entered. It is not unusual to attend a new church and have no one greet us. I know that sounds strange but it is true. We should all work on that. Just as we were a little "sheepish" upon entering an unknown congregation for the first time, I could tell the people were a little nervous about us as well and that was probably why we weren't welcomed more warmly. The building was a store front which is where most new church launches start once they leave the home setting and start trying to reach a community. The building was very clean and neat. The service opened with a young man welcoming the group. He was a little nervous which didn't really "break the ice". The worship team started the worship and it was average. They didn't appear to be worshipping as much as trying to get through the mechanics of the songs. That tends to put a hindrance on the congregation and stops a real flow in worship. It can keep a song service from turning into worship. A relaxed and comfortable atmosphere is so important to worship and fellowship. Of course a church has to use the giftings they have.
When we got to the speaker, the Senior Pastor took the platform. He was a gentle and kind young man. He did an adequate job through the message but at the end, he moved into a very personal story that had a dramatic impact. You could sense that this man was motivated to truly love and help people. He ended without a strong challenge for salvation, although it was included in his presentation. The endtire service was one hour. Then there was coffee and rolls and people seemd to be connected. Once again, as I mentioned in another blog about this earlier, this church is far greater in substance than is demonstrated on Sunday morning. The church is growing and vibrant. It is growing with average worship and preaching. The emphasis of the church is focused on having a real relationship with Jesus and one anohter.
For me it was obvious that this group was making a deliberate effort to focus on spiritual growth in their members more than having a "show" on Sunday. I noticed that they offered home/cell/support groups 5 nights a week which seemed to be their real life flow.
We are all trying to learn as we go and I'm still learning!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Christian Heperopia
It is amazing how clearly we can see the faults of others while oblivious to our own weaknesses. Jesus, it seems was always dealing with this problem. I can't think of a time when he dealt with it among unbelievers. He was always dealing with it among religious people and more often than not, among religious leaders.
When we were young converts to Jesus and his way of living, we were like a sponge absorbing all that we could. There is another characteristic to a sponge other than being porous, it is also very pliable and flexible. As youngsters in the faith we were "bright eyed" and open. As we get older we can get closed and narrow in our perspective. Of course, hopefully, that narrower vision is a sign of maturity but it can also be caused by a kind of blindness. Hyperopia is a condition of the eye that we commonly call farsightedness. A person with this problem sees things clearly off in the distance but can't see clearly up close. In Christian terms we would call it Phariseeism. Sounds a lot like "far-a-see-ism" doesn't it? (I couldn't resist that one!)
Let me get to my point in this writing. Christian Hyperopia causes a kind of blindness that leaves us where we see the faults of others more than our own. That farsightedness allows us to develop pride and a self-deception that can wreck our Walk with the Lord. It also causes us to have great difficulty fitting into the Church as God designed. We all have had days of hyperopia. A symptom is when we judge another person's motivation by the motivation of our own heart! In truth, very often our judgment is caused by our putting on others our own weaknesses that we just can't see.
Let us take this thought to Jesus and ask him to heal our vision problem.
It is amazing how clearly we can see the faults of others while oblivious to our own weaknesses. Jesus, it seems was always dealing with this problem. I can't think of a time when he dealt with it among unbelievers. He was always dealing with it among religious people and more often than not, among religious leaders.
When we were young converts to Jesus and his way of living, we were like a sponge absorbing all that we could. There is another characteristic to a sponge other than being porous, it is also very pliable and flexible. As youngsters in the faith we were "bright eyed" and open. As we get older we can get closed and narrow in our perspective. Of course, hopefully, that narrower vision is a sign of maturity but it can also be caused by a kind of blindness. Hyperopia is a condition of the eye that we commonly call farsightedness. A person with this problem sees things clearly off in the distance but can't see clearly up close. In Christian terms we would call it Phariseeism. Sounds a lot like "far-a-see-ism" doesn't it? (I couldn't resist that one!)
Let me get to my point in this writing. Christian Hyperopia causes a kind of blindness that leaves us where we see the faults of others more than our own. That farsightedness allows us to develop pride and a self-deception that can wreck our Walk with the Lord. It also causes us to have great difficulty fitting into the Church as God designed. We all have had days of hyperopia. A symptom is when we judge another person's motivation by the motivation of our own heart! In truth, very often our judgment is caused by our putting on others our own weaknesses that we just can't see.
Let us take this thought to Jesus and ask him to heal our vision problem.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Manipulation
Manipulation is such a powerful, negative force! It has its origins in witchcraft. Manipulation is the counterfeit of real Godly leadership. The purpose of manipulation is to bring another person into a place of submission to the will and purposes of the one doing the manipulating. To manipulate another person is a sin and to allow yourself to be manipulated is death. To allow yourself to be manipulated brings death to your vision, your zeal, your courage and your obedience to God. Jezebel in the Bible is the most obvious example of one who lived by manipulation. She had as her intent to follow this process: intimidation, manipulation, control and finally immobilization.
We have all had the temptation to manipulate. We don't have to learn it, we are born with the instinct. We are most tempted to manipulate others in our weakest hour of faith. To manipulate says, "I don't trust God to work this out". Make a decision that you will not allow yourself to fall to the faithless realm of manipulating people or circumstances. Also make a commitment that you will not allow yourself to be manipulated. You can find yourself in the clutches of manipulation in a moment. It can come from the nicest people. Zechariah 4:6 tells us we are to live, "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord".
Don't allow the enemy to use you on the giving or receiving end of manipulation. It has no part in the life of a Godly leader.
Manipulation is such a powerful, negative force! It has its origins in witchcraft. Manipulation is the counterfeit of real Godly leadership. The purpose of manipulation is to bring another person into a place of submission to the will and purposes of the one doing the manipulating. To manipulate another person is a sin and to allow yourself to be manipulated is death. To allow yourself to be manipulated brings death to your vision, your zeal, your courage and your obedience to God. Jezebel in the Bible is the most obvious example of one who lived by manipulation. She had as her intent to follow this process: intimidation, manipulation, control and finally immobilization.
We have all had the temptation to manipulate. We don't have to learn it, we are born with the instinct. We are most tempted to manipulate others in our weakest hour of faith. To manipulate says, "I don't trust God to work this out". Make a decision that you will not allow yourself to fall to the faithless realm of manipulating people or circumstances. Also make a commitment that you will not allow yourself to be manipulated. You can find yourself in the clutches of manipulation in a moment. It can come from the nicest people. Zechariah 4:6 tells us we are to live, "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord".
Don't allow the enemy to use you on the giving or receiving end of manipulation. It has no part in the life of a Godly leader.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Power Of Sacrifice
The word sacrifice is used almost 200 times in the Old Testament. The personal sacrifice was a major part of worship and the personal relationship between God and man. This sacrifice was something that men wanted to do and they knew it must involve the best of what they had. When David was purchasing land to make an altar, the land was offered to him free. His comments tell us a lot about his heart. He said, " I will not offer to the Lord from that which cost me nothing". Sacrifice was and is a gift from the heart that cost us. Personal cost is at the heart of the faith life.
It seems popular today to teach that sacrifice is not a part of New Testament Christianity. The argument is that Jesus made a sacrifice for us and there is no longer a need for sacrifice. That is certainly true in regard to our salvation. Jesus paid it all! However, once we are believers and followers of Jesus and the Way, sacrifice is an ongoing part of our walk with Him. The rich young ruler is a prime example of a man who missed the Messiah because he wasn't willing to sacrifice his worldly riches for Jesus. The most famous use of the word sacrifice in the New Testament is found in Romans 12:1. Let me quote it from God's Word translation: "Brothers and Sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you." Here the word sacrifice is rightly associated with an act of worship. We are not saved by our sacrifices but our sacrifices are certainly a part of our ongoing service and worship.
Some would question this kind of thinking and some even say, "God would not require such sacrifice from me because He loves me and only wants what is best for me". The Scripture is rich with answers to that comment that prove to us that a loving Father is committed to our best in its highest form. When I hear people say, "God would never require me to move from my house, town or family, or make less money", I want to say, "who told you that? Where in the world did you get that idea?" As a matter of fact, as I study the Scripture I come to understand that many people might just be one sacrifice away from their answer to prayer. A resistance to making the sacrifice might keep them stranded in the quagmire of mediocrity. Miracles happen in the atmosphere of reckless abandonment before God.
The word sacrifice is used almost 200 times in the Old Testament. The personal sacrifice was a major part of worship and the personal relationship between God and man. This sacrifice was something that men wanted to do and they knew it must involve the best of what they had. When David was purchasing land to make an altar, the land was offered to him free. His comments tell us a lot about his heart. He said, " I will not offer to the Lord from that which cost me nothing". Sacrifice was and is a gift from the heart that cost us. Personal cost is at the heart of the faith life.
It seems popular today to teach that sacrifice is not a part of New Testament Christianity. The argument is that Jesus made a sacrifice for us and there is no longer a need for sacrifice. That is certainly true in regard to our salvation. Jesus paid it all! However, once we are believers and followers of Jesus and the Way, sacrifice is an ongoing part of our walk with Him. The rich young ruler is a prime example of a man who missed the Messiah because he wasn't willing to sacrifice his worldly riches for Jesus. The most famous use of the word sacrifice in the New Testament is found in Romans 12:1. Let me quote it from God's Word translation: "Brothers and Sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you." Here the word sacrifice is rightly associated with an act of worship. We are not saved by our sacrifices but our sacrifices are certainly a part of our ongoing service and worship.
Some would question this kind of thinking and some even say, "God would not require such sacrifice from me because He loves me and only wants what is best for me". The Scripture is rich with answers to that comment that prove to us that a loving Father is committed to our best in its highest form. When I hear people say, "God would never require me to move from my house, town or family, or make less money", I want to say, "who told you that? Where in the world did you get that idea?" As a matter of fact, as I study the Scripture I come to understand that many people might just be one sacrifice away from their answer to prayer. A resistance to making the sacrifice might keep them stranded in the quagmire of mediocrity. Miracles happen in the atmosphere of reckless abandonment before God.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Transformation or Inoculation?
It is amazing the things people "think" or "suppose" that God doesn't mind. It is unbelievable the things that people assume that God will bless. It was a shocking revelation when I realized that God isn't obligated to bless everything I do and even those good things that I do in His Name! If I were the Lord, and we are all very glad that I am not, I would be upset by all the quasi-christian thinking, talking and writing out there today. "Quasi" basically means "resembling something". Today there is obviously more "resembling" christianity than true Christianity. The reason I would be so upset if I were the Lord is that this quasi-christian mentality and lifestyle represents God and what people think of God. This only perpetuates more quasi or resembling christianity rather than the real deal.
The problem with this watered down, lukewarm and most often invalid form of christianity is that it inoculates new seekers from getting the real thing. When you are given a shot, like the H1N1 flu shot, you are actually given a little dose of the flu. The point here is to cause you to build up a resistance to the real thing if it comes your way. That is exactly what quasi-christianity does. It gives people a small does of christian antidote that makes them believe they have the real thing when in actuality they have been given a counterfeit. This counterfeit work work in crisis and won't fill the voids in the hearts of men. You see true Christianity is not primarily about getting people into churches or conformity, although these are important parts of our walk, it is about bringing people into the genuine presence of Jesus by exposing them to Truth. This relationship with Truth and Jesus, rather than insulating them from more truth, strips them bare and actually causes them to be more susceptible to catching the full blown condition of true Christianity. That is what Jesus was trying to get Nicodemus to see when Jesus said to him, "you must be born again". If there is not a moment in time where there is a confrontation with Jesus, Truth comes and that person walks away changed for all time, the seeker has been short changed.
In our efforts as believers, followers of the Way, let us make sure that we are not "giving them what they want" in order to gather and keep them and in doing so we have only inoculated them to the life changing message of the true Gospel.
It is amazing the things people "think" or "suppose" that God doesn't mind. It is unbelievable the things that people assume that God will bless. It was a shocking revelation when I realized that God isn't obligated to bless everything I do and even those good things that I do in His Name! If I were the Lord, and we are all very glad that I am not, I would be upset by all the quasi-christian thinking, talking and writing out there today. "Quasi" basically means "resembling something". Today there is obviously more "resembling" christianity than true Christianity. The reason I would be so upset if I were the Lord is that this quasi-christian mentality and lifestyle represents God and what people think of God. This only perpetuates more quasi or resembling christianity rather than the real deal.
The problem with this watered down, lukewarm and most often invalid form of christianity is that it inoculates new seekers from getting the real thing. When you are given a shot, like the H1N1 flu shot, you are actually given a little dose of the flu. The point here is to cause you to build up a resistance to the real thing if it comes your way. That is exactly what quasi-christianity does. It gives people a small does of christian antidote that makes them believe they have the real thing when in actuality they have been given a counterfeit. This counterfeit work work in crisis and won't fill the voids in the hearts of men. You see true Christianity is not primarily about getting people into churches or conformity, although these are important parts of our walk, it is about bringing people into the genuine presence of Jesus by exposing them to Truth. This relationship with Truth and Jesus, rather than insulating them from more truth, strips them bare and actually causes them to be more susceptible to catching the full blown condition of true Christianity. That is what Jesus was trying to get Nicodemus to see when Jesus said to him, "you must be born again". If there is not a moment in time where there is a confrontation with Jesus, Truth comes and that person walks away changed for all time, the seeker has been short changed.
In our efforts as believers, followers of the Way, let us make sure that we are not "giving them what they want" in order to gather and keep them and in doing so we have only inoculated them to the life changing message of the true Gospel.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Not a spurt but a flow!
Productivity is a powerful thing. It is not accomplished by created ideas or bursts of energy alone. Productivity comes with longevity. As Christians, we have within us this living water, this well that is springing up into eternal life as the Scripture says. A part of this power within us is manifested in seasons of great impulses or creative times of ideas flooding us. The difference between a Christian who is successful and one who is not is stewardship. Both have the same Holy Spirit within them. Certainly, some are more gifted than others. However, don't forget, all are gifted. More often than not, it is the person with the lessor gifting who accomplishes more than the more highly gifted person. What is the reason? There could be a number of reasons but one primary reason is again, stewardship. What are you doing with what the Lord does bring to you.
I can remember going to bed and having this wonderful creative thought come to me. Ididn't want to take a chance at interrupting my sleep so I would pray, Lord please bring that back to me in the morning. As morning came, I couldn't remember the idea. Then it occurred to me that ideas are the most valuable things in the world. Everything started with an idea which was the doorway to another idea. My unwillingness to capture the idea was a kind of neglect of God and his speaking to me. What if the great inventors had disregarded their ideas. Einstein, Bell, Edison all listened, captured and developed the ideas that came out of their gifting. They were good stewards over what God gave them. I finally learned the value of being a better steward over the creative flows from God to me. I learned to be prepared with a note by the bed or a recorder in the car to capture what the Lord was revealing to and through my gifts.
It is the beginning days of a new year. Let's make a decision to get prepared to capture these creative impulses that the Lord brings. Then, let's enter the door of creativity and follow the idea to a place of longevity and productivity.
Productivity is a powerful thing. It is not accomplished by created ideas or bursts of energy alone. Productivity comes with longevity. As Christians, we have within us this living water, this well that is springing up into eternal life as the Scripture says. A part of this power within us is manifested in seasons of great impulses or creative times of ideas flooding us. The difference between a Christian who is successful and one who is not is stewardship. Both have the same Holy Spirit within them. Certainly, some are more gifted than others. However, don't forget, all are gifted. More often than not, it is the person with the lessor gifting who accomplishes more than the more highly gifted person. What is the reason? There could be a number of reasons but one primary reason is again, stewardship. What are you doing with what the Lord does bring to you.
I can remember going to bed and having this wonderful creative thought come to me. Ididn't want to take a chance at interrupting my sleep so I would pray, Lord please bring that back to me in the morning. As morning came, I couldn't remember the idea. Then it occurred to me that ideas are the most valuable things in the world. Everything started with an idea which was the doorway to another idea. My unwillingness to capture the idea was a kind of neglect of God and his speaking to me. What if the great inventors had disregarded their ideas. Einstein, Bell, Edison all listened, captured and developed the ideas that came out of their gifting. They were good stewards over what God gave them. I finally learned the value of being a better steward over the creative flows from God to me. I learned to be prepared with a note by the bed or a recorder in the car to capture what the Lord was revealing to and through my gifts.
It is the beginning days of a new year. Let's make a decision to get prepared to capture these creative impulses that the Lord brings. Then, let's enter the door of creativity and follow the idea to a place of longevity and productivity.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Intellect, Wisdom and Prosperity
As we are still in the opening hours of this new year, we are still hearing the greeting "happy new year". With this greeting people also usually attach a blessing such as have a "prosperous new year." Anyone with any life experience at all has come to realize that prosperity or success doesn't come automatically with intellect. There is a host of very successful people out there who never graduated from college. Bill Gates stands at the top the list which includes others like Peter Jennings and Harry Truman. On the other hand, I know some with post graduate degrees who can't get or keep a job. Obviously, education cannot be the measure of intellect either. Again, Bill Gates would be a prime example.
What is at the heart of achieving success and prosperity? I am not going to go into the argument in this writing about the true meaning of success. Let's just assume most of us on this reading list are on the same page here. The heart of achieving success is not found in intellect or education alone. Something else comes into play after intellect is recognized. Wisdom is the key to truly achieving success. When I speak of wisdom, I am talking about an accumulation of life skills that has been sought after and artfully absorbed through experience. A foolish person is one who refuses to hear correction and who believes that they are smarter than others. This foolish person is cutting themselves off from developing wisdom and sentencing themselves to a life of failure and poverty. Prov. 1:7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction." It doesn't say that fools will reject wisdom, they actually "despise wisdom and instruction". The problem here is not one of not seeing their need, they see it but their own pride is a locked gate to gaining the wisdom that would bring the success they so desperately desire.
How can one get past this locked gate and become open to instruction in order to gain true wisdom? After many years of counseling, I am convinced that no person can change and become an open gate through mere will power or desire. There has to be a heart change. Only through recognizing that pride over intellect and knowledge is an affront to God Himself can a person begin to experience change. Then there has to be a humbling of self before God and man in order to see wisdom developed and long lasting success be established. Usually the Lord will have the person be discipled or tutored under one of much less education or intellect. One of my greatest and most respected tutors was a man with a grade school education, but a man of much wisdom.
May the Lord give us all great grace to humble ourselves at the beginning of this new year in order to truly see a "prosperous new year".
As we are still in the opening hours of this new year, we are still hearing the greeting "happy new year". With this greeting people also usually attach a blessing such as have a "prosperous new year." Anyone with any life experience at all has come to realize that prosperity or success doesn't come automatically with intellect. There is a host of very successful people out there who never graduated from college. Bill Gates stands at the top the list which includes others like Peter Jennings and Harry Truman. On the other hand, I know some with post graduate degrees who can't get or keep a job. Obviously, education cannot be the measure of intellect either. Again, Bill Gates would be a prime example.
What is at the heart of achieving success and prosperity? I am not going to go into the argument in this writing about the true meaning of success. Let's just assume most of us on this reading list are on the same page here. The heart of achieving success is not found in intellect or education alone. Something else comes into play after intellect is recognized. Wisdom is the key to truly achieving success. When I speak of wisdom, I am talking about an accumulation of life skills that has been sought after and artfully absorbed through experience. A foolish person is one who refuses to hear correction and who believes that they are smarter than others. This foolish person is cutting themselves off from developing wisdom and sentencing themselves to a life of failure and poverty. Prov. 1:7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction." It doesn't say that fools will reject wisdom, they actually "despise wisdom and instruction". The problem here is not one of not seeing their need, they see it but their own pride is a locked gate to gaining the wisdom that would bring the success they so desperately desire.
How can one get past this locked gate and become open to instruction in order to gain true wisdom? After many years of counseling, I am convinced that no person can change and become an open gate through mere will power or desire. There has to be a heart change. Only through recognizing that pride over intellect and knowledge is an affront to God Himself can a person begin to experience change. Then there has to be a humbling of self before God and man in order to see wisdom developed and long lasting success be established. Usually the Lord will have the person be discipled or tutored under one of much less education or intellect. One of my greatest and most respected tutors was a man with a grade school education, but a man of much wisdom.
May the Lord give us all great grace to humble ourselves at the beginning of this new year in order to truly see a "prosperous new year".
Thursday, December 31, 2009
New Year's Eve
The word "eve" is defined as the day leading up to an event. The event isn't here yet, but it will be tomorrow. Not much of value happens on "eve" days. They are usually spent imagining or dreaming of tomorrow. Then there is the word "post" that is used as a prefix to speak of what happened. Again, this is speaking of a time other than now. What you hoped for has already either been realized, or you are now in disappointment. I'm not a big "eve" or "post" guy. I like "now". I can get my hands around now. Now is still underway and still adjustable. Of course "eve" still promises a lot of hope if we are willing to use today to work on making tomorrow different in a more positive way. Rather than spending all of New Year's Eve in a kind of dreamy fog, why don't we take some time to make it a planning day for tomorrow. Tomorrow we get to see that fresh big "one" pop up on the calendar. Let's be ready for it! Hebrews 11: 1 tells us, "NOW faith is..." Faith is not "eve" and faith is not "post", faith is now.
The word "eve" is defined as the day leading up to an event. The event isn't here yet, but it will be tomorrow. Not much of value happens on "eve" days. They are usually spent imagining or dreaming of tomorrow. Then there is the word "post" that is used as a prefix to speak of what happened. Again, this is speaking of a time other than now. What you hoped for has already either been realized, or you are now in disappointment. I'm not a big "eve" or "post" guy. I like "now". I can get my hands around now. Now is still underway and still adjustable. Of course "eve" still promises a lot of hope if we are willing to use today to work on making tomorrow different in a more positive way. Rather than spending all of New Year's Eve in a kind of dreamy fog, why don't we take some time to make it a planning day for tomorrow. Tomorrow we get to see that fresh big "one" pop up on the calendar. Let's be ready for it! Hebrews 11: 1 tells us, "NOW faith is..." Faith is not "eve" and faith is not "post", faith is now.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Christmas week. I love it! Have a wonderful week with family and loved ones and don't forget to maintain a heart of love and worship to Jesus who came to bring us out of bondage and into His marvelous light!
Luke 2:6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."
Christmas week. I love it! Have a wonderful week with family and loved ones and don't forget to maintain a heart of love and worship to Jesus who came to bring us out of bondage and into His marvelous light!
Luke 2:6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."
Monday, December 14, 2009
Being Called And Being Sent
I don't know many songs from the mid to late 1970's. I remember a lot from the 60's and many from the 80's but the 70's is pretty much a blank. Movies are much the same way. One day I was thinking about it and as I was pondering the blank spaces in my memory I realized why. I came back to the Lord in 1973, responded to the Call to ministry that same year and was immersed in God, revival, training and discipleship for the next few years.
You see, I was so much in the world that my worldview, my tastes and my process of thinking was totally a worldly mindset. It was months before I could even tell a real change was occurring in my attitudes. Romans tells us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by "the renewing of your mind." That was what was happening to me in the 70's and by the way, is still taking place. I had so much of the world in me that if I had just continued walking as I had been walking and thinking the way I had been thinking with the only change being ministry training and a new vocation, I would have been of no value to God.
In the life of every servant of Jesus, there must be this coming out of the world, a season of separation, before there can be an effective sending for Kingdom purposes. There must be a time of sanctification and then an immersion in the things of God in order to see true Kingdom fruit. Otherwise we will find ourselves in the church sending "clouds without rain". We are warned to avoid having "a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof". The sending without first before the drawing away for preparation produces this powerless religion in time.
All the great ones have had this experience. Jesus in the desert, Paul in Arabia, Moses in the wilderness, Joseph in the prison, Jacob at Bethel and the list goes on endlessly. Any person who tries to take a shortcut to ministry will end up in disaster while taking others with him.
What about you and me? If you find yourself already in a place of leadership and you know in your heart that you bypassed the "coming aside" for preparation, and I don't mean training alone. I mean a season of the emptying of you in order to be filled with Him. It's not too late. If asked, the Lord will take you through this process even while you are in a place of service. He does it all the time. Simply see it and pursue Him.
I don't know many songs from the mid to late 1970's. I remember a lot from the 60's and many from the 80's but the 70's is pretty much a blank. Movies are much the same way. One day I was thinking about it and as I was pondering the blank spaces in my memory I realized why. I came back to the Lord in 1973, responded to the Call to ministry that same year and was immersed in God, revival, training and discipleship for the next few years.
You see, I was so much in the world that my worldview, my tastes and my process of thinking was totally a worldly mindset. It was months before I could even tell a real change was occurring in my attitudes. Romans tells us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by "the renewing of your mind." That was what was happening to me in the 70's and by the way, is still taking place. I had so much of the world in me that if I had just continued walking as I had been walking and thinking the way I had been thinking with the only change being ministry training and a new vocation, I would have been of no value to God.
In the life of every servant of Jesus, there must be this coming out of the world, a season of separation, before there can be an effective sending for Kingdom purposes. There must be a time of sanctification and then an immersion in the things of God in order to see true Kingdom fruit. Otherwise we will find ourselves in the church sending "clouds without rain". We are warned to avoid having "a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof". The sending without first before the drawing away for preparation produces this powerless religion in time.
All the great ones have had this experience. Jesus in the desert, Paul in Arabia, Moses in the wilderness, Joseph in the prison, Jacob at Bethel and the list goes on endlessly. Any person who tries to take a shortcut to ministry will end up in disaster while taking others with him.
What about you and me? If you find yourself already in a place of leadership and you know in your heart that you bypassed the "coming aside" for preparation, and I don't mean training alone. I mean a season of the emptying of you in order to be filled with Him. It's not too late. If asked, the Lord will take you through this process even while you are in a place of service. He does it all the time. Simply see it and pursue Him.
Monday, December 7, 2009
After The Fact
When people tell you that hindsight is 20/20, understand that behind that statement are many, many mistakes. It is through mistakes that we learn, hopefully, and gain wisdom for future success. All great discoveries stand upon the shoulders of countless failures. When you see a person who can do, what to you is a difficult task, it is because they have failed at it until they finally got it right.
I have this bad habit of starting a new project and being so excited that I often forget to read the instructions that accompany the new materials. I just want to get the job done so badly that I can't take the time to do the proper preparation work. Recently I was rebuilding an old bike rack. I needed to attach some new rubber guards on the metal to protect the bikes from the metal. I had some Gorilla Glue on my shelf. I had previously used it on a small job. Now I would tackle this larger job. I had grease on my hands from another job I was doing the same afternoon. The glue worked fantastic. It was the best I had ever used! Then I came to the part where I would clean my hands. I scrubbed, and scrubbed, used chemicals and did all I knew to do and guess what? I had greasy, dirty looking hands with a Gorilla Glue permanent coating! Then, after the fact, I went and found the instructions that I had cast aside and it said, "don't make contact with hands. Make sure you wear gloves when using this product". UUUuuuggghhhh!!!!! I did it again!!!
I will never use glue without gloves again. The pain of this experience was now steamed into my brain. Sounds pretty silly. Yet, Christians do it all the time with much more serious matters than having dirty hands for a few days. They launch headlong into everything from major business decisions to marriage without every consulting the Scripture or counsel to see if there is direction or confirmation regarding their situation. Most of the counseling I did as a Pastor dealt with just this topic. People would come to me for help "after the fact". Often people would get into situations that resulted in bondage that would take years from which to get free. It is such a waste because if they had sought the counsel of God's Word first they could have prevented the crisis. Preventative maintenance is much better than repair. It's a great thing to be able to tell people now, "don't use Gorilla Glue without gloves"! However, I would much rather have read the instructions and never had to learn the lesson the way I did. There are a lot of people out there who wish the same thing but in much more serious matters.
The good news? God is the the "mess fixin'" business! You can still see God work for you even when you made the mess. Like me, you might have to walk through some embarrassment for a time, but a new day will come and redemption is in your future!
When people tell you that hindsight is 20/20, understand that behind that statement are many, many mistakes. It is through mistakes that we learn, hopefully, and gain wisdom for future success. All great discoveries stand upon the shoulders of countless failures. When you see a person who can do, what to you is a difficult task, it is because they have failed at it until they finally got it right.
I have this bad habit of starting a new project and being so excited that I often forget to read the instructions that accompany the new materials. I just want to get the job done so badly that I can't take the time to do the proper preparation work. Recently I was rebuilding an old bike rack. I needed to attach some new rubber guards on the metal to protect the bikes from the metal. I had some Gorilla Glue on my shelf. I had previously used it on a small job. Now I would tackle this larger job. I had grease on my hands from another job I was doing the same afternoon. The glue worked fantastic. It was the best I had ever used! Then I came to the part where I would clean my hands. I scrubbed, and scrubbed, used chemicals and did all I knew to do and guess what? I had greasy, dirty looking hands with a Gorilla Glue permanent coating! Then, after the fact, I went and found the instructions that I had cast aside and it said, "don't make contact with hands. Make sure you wear gloves when using this product". UUUuuuggghhhh!!!!! I did it again!!!
I will never use glue without gloves again. The pain of this experience was now steamed into my brain. Sounds pretty silly. Yet, Christians do it all the time with much more serious matters than having dirty hands for a few days. They launch headlong into everything from major business decisions to marriage without every consulting the Scripture or counsel to see if there is direction or confirmation regarding their situation. Most of the counseling I did as a Pastor dealt with just this topic. People would come to me for help "after the fact". Often people would get into situations that resulted in bondage that would take years from which to get free. It is such a waste because if they had sought the counsel of God's Word first they could have prevented the crisis. Preventative maintenance is much better than repair. It's a great thing to be able to tell people now, "don't use Gorilla Glue without gloves"! However, I would much rather have read the instructions and never had to learn the lesson the way I did. There are a lot of people out there who wish the same thing but in much more serious matters.
The good news? God is the the "mess fixin'" business! You can still see God work for you even when you made the mess. Like me, you might have to walk through some embarrassment for a time, but a new day will come and redemption is in your future!
Monday, November 30, 2009
In All Things Charity
I once heard a man say, "men of faith pray short prayers". I also believe men and women of faith, enlightenment and understanding can say more with less words. Unfortunately, I have a ways to go in that department! One of the most powerful sentences that I have ever read written by mortal man was written by the pen of St. Augustine. He said, "in essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity." How many wars could have been averted, how many churches could have remained united and how many friends might have remained close if these words had been taken to heart.
Of course the argument will arise trying to answer the question, "what are essentials"? The essentials would have to cover only the most central of doctrinal issues. In these things we must have unity or else we would in time evaporate as a Kingdom influence on the earth. Most of the time the things that divide us however, are not the essentials at all but the petty preferences guarded by pride. It is in these issues where we must make the decision to allow and embrace liberty. The harder a person fights to protect a non-essential, the more they reveal their pride shallowness or immaturity.
Then we come to the last part of the sentence: "in all things charity". Whether there is unity in non-essentials or even the essentials, there still must be charity. There is a time when we are released from walking with a person because they don't embrace our doctrine. However, there is never a time when we are released from the commandment to love.
Romans 5: 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I once heard a man say, "men of faith pray short prayers". I also believe men and women of faith, enlightenment and understanding can say more with less words. Unfortunately, I have a ways to go in that department! One of the most powerful sentences that I have ever read written by mortal man was written by the pen of St. Augustine. He said, "in essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity." How many wars could have been averted, how many churches could have remained united and how many friends might have remained close if these words had been taken to heart.
Of course the argument will arise trying to answer the question, "what are essentials"? The essentials would have to cover only the most central of doctrinal issues. In these things we must have unity or else we would in time evaporate as a Kingdom influence on the earth. Most of the time the things that divide us however, are not the essentials at all but the petty preferences guarded by pride. It is in these issues where we must make the decision to allow and embrace liberty. The harder a person fights to protect a non-essential, the more they reveal their pride shallowness or immaturity.
Then we come to the last part of the sentence: "in all things charity". Whether there is unity in non-essentials or even the essentials, there still must be charity. There is a time when we are released from walking with a person because they don't embrace our doctrine. However, there is never a time when we are released from the commandment to love.
Romans 5: 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Monday, November 23, 2009
When Others Interfere With The Will Of God For You
I know this sounds strange, but there are times when others can hinder or even stop the will of God in your life. Let me give you an example. There have been times in my life when I have been a part of a leadership team that moved as a team in making decisions. I remember at one point when I felt that I was supposed to go to a certain Nation to work with leaders there. I was also a Senior Pastor of a church working with elders. When I shared my desire to go to this country, there was a group feeling that I was not to go. I had to make a decision to believe in the process of God's government as we moved as a group. I didn't go. About two years later one of the leaders said to me, "I believe we missed God and that you were supposed to go". That was a very unusual situation of something that hasn't happened many times in my life and ministry. It did however, serve as a check point for me to see if I would in fact submit to the team. Submission isn't submission unless it is tested. I have also known of men of God that felt they were to go to a church as the Senior Pastor only to have the local elders make a decision to call someone else. Let us evaluate this kind of situation that could very well mean that God's will was hindered in your life.
First of all, there are times, like in the case of the man who felt he was to be the new pastor but hindered by local elders, when things are out of your control. What should you do?
1. Don't take it personally. Taking it personally will cause you to try to redeem yourself, lead a rebellion or at the very least become embittered. This will taint you and leave you less effective when the next opportunity for ministry arises.
2. Submit yourself to God in humility. This is the evidence that you see God as your source and not man.
3. Get your heart in a place of neutrality. Only from a neutral posture will you be able to on with a pure heart. Don't let the past pollute your future.
4. Set your heart to believe that the Lord will promote you. A person who fights for position is not a person of faith.
5. Don't allow anyone to try to start a war on your behalf. Again, sowing and reaping will come into play and you may sabotage your future.
This topic is a rare case study but it happens. If man hinders the will of God for you today, the right attitude and action can release heaven to bring you into a new place to experience the perfect will of God. Man may slow the process but only you can stop it.
I know this sounds strange, but there are times when others can hinder or even stop the will of God in your life. Let me give you an example. There have been times in my life when I have been a part of a leadership team that moved as a team in making decisions. I remember at one point when I felt that I was supposed to go to a certain Nation to work with leaders there. I was also a Senior Pastor of a church working with elders. When I shared my desire to go to this country, there was a group feeling that I was not to go. I had to make a decision to believe in the process of God's government as we moved as a group. I didn't go. About two years later one of the leaders said to me, "I believe we missed God and that you were supposed to go". That was a very unusual situation of something that hasn't happened many times in my life and ministry. It did however, serve as a check point for me to see if I would in fact submit to the team. Submission isn't submission unless it is tested. I have also known of men of God that felt they were to go to a church as the Senior Pastor only to have the local elders make a decision to call someone else. Let us evaluate this kind of situation that could very well mean that God's will was hindered in your life.
First of all, there are times, like in the case of the man who felt he was to be the new pastor but hindered by local elders, when things are out of your control. What should you do?
1. Don't take it personally. Taking it personally will cause you to try to redeem yourself, lead a rebellion or at the very least become embittered. This will taint you and leave you less effective when the next opportunity for ministry arises.
2. Submit yourself to God in humility. This is the evidence that you see God as your source and not man.
3. Get your heart in a place of neutrality. Only from a neutral posture will you be able to on with a pure heart. Don't let the past pollute your future.
4. Set your heart to believe that the Lord will promote you. A person who fights for position is not a person of faith.
5. Don't allow anyone to try to start a war on your behalf. Again, sowing and reaping will come into play and you may sabotage your future.
This topic is a rare case study but it happens. If man hinders the will of God for you today, the right attitude and action can release heaven to bring you into a new place to experience the perfect will of God. Man may slow the process but only you can stop it.
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Power of Personal Encouragement
(Reprint)
By his own admission he was an unattractive, unmotivated little boy. He was difficult to like, especially for a schoolteacher who all day long faced his deadpan, expressionless, unfocused stare. Although his fifth grade teacher said she loved all her students, Miss Thompson had to admit that deep down she wasn’t being honest. She didn’t like him, and she even received a certain perverse pleasure in marking his papers with red ink and writing the F’s with a flair.
Her view of him was already distorted by her perspective, but she should have known better. As his teacher, she had his records and she knew more about him than she wanted to admit. His records read like this:
First Grade – Teddy shows promise with his work and attitude, but he has a poor home situation.
Second Grade – Teddy could do better. Mother is seriously ill. He receives little help at home.
Third Grade – Teddy is a good boy but too serious. He is a slow learner. His mother died this year.
Fourth Grade – Teddy is very slow but well behaved. His father shows no interest.
At Christmas, her class all brought her presents in pretty wrappings and gathered around to watch her open them. She was surprised when she received a gift from Teddy. It was crudely wrapped in brown paper loosely held together with tape. When she opened it, out fell a gaudy rhinestone bracelet with half the stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume. The children began to giggle, but she had enough sense to put on the bracelet and apply some of the perfume on her wrist. She asked the class, "Doesn’t it smell lovely?"
When school was over and the children had left, Teddy had lingered behind. He slowly came over to her desk and said softly, "Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother. And her bracelet looks real pretty on you too. I’m glad you liked my presents." When Teddy left, Miss Thompson got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her.
The next day when the children came to school, they were welcomed by a new teacher. Miss Thompson had become a new person. She was no longer just a teacher; she had become an agent of God. She now had a changed perspective. She was now a person committed to loving her children and doing things for them that would live on after her. Because of Miss Thompson’s loving attention, by the end of that school year, Teddy showed dramatic improvement and had caught up with most of the students.
Miss Thompson did not hear from Teddy for a long time, after he left her class. Then one day she received a note that said:
"Dear Miss Thompson:
I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be graduating second in my high school class.
Love, Teddy Stallard."
Four years later, Miss Thompson received another note. It read:
"Dear Miss Thompson:
They just told me I would be graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be the first to know. The university has not been easy, but I liked it.
Love, Teddy Stallard."
Finally, Miss Thompson received another note:
"Dear Miss Thompson:
As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, MD. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. I am getting married next month, the 27th to be exact. I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were alive. You are the only family I have now; Dad died last year.
Love, Teddy Stallard."
Miss Thompson went to that wedding. In Teddy’s eyes she deserved to sit where his mother would have sat; she had earned that right. She had done something for Teddy that he could never forget. By a small act of love and kindness, she had changed the course of his life. She had exercised the power of love. She had become an agent of God.
(Reprint)
By his own admission he was an unattractive, unmotivated little boy. He was difficult to like, especially for a schoolteacher who all day long faced his deadpan, expressionless, unfocused stare. Although his fifth grade teacher said she loved all her students, Miss Thompson had to admit that deep down she wasn’t being honest. She didn’t like him, and she even received a certain perverse pleasure in marking his papers with red ink and writing the F’s with a flair.
Her view of him was already distorted by her perspective, but she should have known better. As his teacher, she had his records and she knew more about him than she wanted to admit. His records read like this:
First Grade – Teddy shows promise with his work and attitude, but he has a poor home situation.
Second Grade – Teddy could do better. Mother is seriously ill. He receives little help at home.
Third Grade – Teddy is a good boy but too serious. He is a slow learner. His mother died this year.
Fourth Grade – Teddy is very slow but well behaved. His father shows no interest.
At Christmas, her class all brought her presents in pretty wrappings and gathered around to watch her open them. She was surprised when she received a gift from Teddy. It was crudely wrapped in brown paper loosely held together with tape. When she opened it, out fell a gaudy rhinestone bracelet with half the stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume. The children began to giggle, but she had enough sense to put on the bracelet and apply some of the perfume on her wrist. She asked the class, "Doesn’t it smell lovely?"
When school was over and the children had left, Teddy had lingered behind. He slowly came over to her desk and said softly, "Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother. And her bracelet looks real pretty on you too. I’m glad you liked my presents." When Teddy left, Miss Thompson got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her.
The next day when the children came to school, they were welcomed by a new teacher. Miss Thompson had become a new person. She was no longer just a teacher; she had become an agent of God. She now had a changed perspective. She was now a person committed to loving her children and doing things for them that would live on after her. Because of Miss Thompson’s loving attention, by the end of that school year, Teddy showed dramatic improvement and had caught up with most of the students.
Miss Thompson did not hear from Teddy for a long time, after he left her class. Then one day she received a note that said:
"Dear Miss Thompson:
I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be graduating second in my high school class.
Love, Teddy Stallard."
Four years later, Miss Thompson received another note. It read:
"Dear Miss Thompson:
They just told me I would be graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be the first to know. The university has not been easy, but I liked it.
Love, Teddy Stallard."
Finally, Miss Thompson received another note:
"Dear Miss Thompson:
As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, MD. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. I am getting married next month, the 27th to be exact. I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were alive. You are the only family I have now; Dad died last year.
Love, Teddy Stallard."
Miss Thompson went to that wedding. In Teddy’s eyes she deserved to sit where his mother would have sat; she had earned that right. She had done something for Teddy that he could never forget. By a small act of love and kindness, she had changed the course of his life. She had exercised the power of love. She had become an agent of God.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Christianity Lite
It seems that some of the most entertaining commercials are beer commercials! I didn't say I was happy about it, just that it seems that way. Most beer companies now have an ad selling their "lite" product. One of their selling points is that it is "less filling". They are saying that their lite product is just as satisfying but less filling. Well, I can't be the judge because I am not a beer drinker. However, evidently this commercial got into my head. Recently, while I was traveling I had one of those rare Sunday's when I wasn't preaching and I was on the road in my RV. Teresa and I didn't have a car with us and we were riding our mountain bikes everywhere. We were having a blast and decided to ride our bikes to a nearby church. I searched out the area churches with one of my favorite apps, "around me". I saw there was a non-denominational church with 800 yards according to my trusty iPhone. We found something to wear that was "bike worthy" and set out on this adventure. We pulled into the parking lot just as others were arriving in their cars. We dodged the traffic and found a place to chain up our bikes. We made our way in. You could tell folks were a little surprised to see these two strangers arrive on bikes but they took a deep breath and extended a warm welcome.
As we entered this small but comfortable church building, we were very much at ease. The service started right on time which impressed me. The service was exactly 63 minutes long including worship, special singing, announcements, sermon and communion. As the service ended, we were invited to have coffee and snacks in the lobby. Not to be elitist, we joined right in! Here comes the "lite" part. I kept thinking, "this is Christianity lite"! Everything is so condensed. Everyone from my "stream" of things knows that God can't show up in a 63 minute service! Or can He? As I am drinking my coffee, a racially mixed young woman made her way to speak to us. You could tell she was a little less fortunate than most of the congregants. She seemed a little worn and not as well groomed. Then she said, "this church has changed my life"! I was shocked! Changed your life? How could Christianity Lite change your life? Yet, I could see deep in her eyes this peace from what had been a great storm. She had found the Lord and the love of His Church here. Next, a crippled man in a wheel chair came to welcome us. I asked, "how long have you been a part of this church?" He said, "about 4-5 years". Then he said it too. "This church has changed my life and I don't know where I would be without this church".
As I left I kept pondering the service. It was very short by my standards. The music was good but not great. The teaching was adequate but not really dynamic. Two or three people were nervously lifting their hands about waist high. There even seemed to be this nerdy atmosphere which really bugs me. Yet...yet...Jesus was powerfully present! There was this genuine, simple and earnest seeking of the Lord that attracted Him to this seemingly unimpressive place. Bottom line? I plan to go back next time I am in the area.
It seems that some of the most entertaining commercials are beer commercials! I didn't say I was happy about it, just that it seems that way. Most beer companies now have an ad selling their "lite" product. One of their selling points is that it is "less filling". They are saying that their lite product is just as satisfying but less filling. Well, I can't be the judge because I am not a beer drinker. However, evidently this commercial got into my head. Recently, while I was traveling I had one of those rare Sunday's when I wasn't preaching and I was on the road in my RV. Teresa and I didn't have a car with us and we were riding our mountain bikes everywhere. We were having a blast and decided to ride our bikes to a nearby church. I searched out the area churches with one of my favorite apps, "around me". I saw there was a non-denominational church with 800 yards according to my trusty iPhone. We found something to wear that was "bike worthy" and set out on this adventure. We pulled into the parking lot just as others were arriving in their cars. We dodged the traffic and found a place to chain up our bikes. We made our way in. You could tell folks were a little surprised to see these two strangers arrive on bikes but they took a deep breath and extended a warm welcome.
As we entered this small but comfortable church building, we were very much at ease. The service started right on time which impressed me. The service was exactly 63 minutes long including worship, special singing, announcements, sermon and communion. As the service ended, we were invited to have coffee and snacks in the lobby. Not to be elitist, we joined right in! Here comes the "lite" part. I kept thinking, "this is Christianity lite"! Everything is so condensed. Everyone from my "stream" of things knows that God can't show up in a 63 minute service! Or can He? As I am drinking my coffee, a racially mixed young woman made her way to speak to us. You could tell she was a little less fortunate than most of the congregants. She seemed a little worn and not as well groomed. Then she said, "this church has changed my life"! I was shocked! Changed your life? How could Christianity Lite change your life? Yet, I could see deep in her eyes this peace from what had been a great storm. She had found the Lord and the love of His Church here. Next, a crippled man in a wheel chair came to welcome us. I asked, "how long have you been a part of this church?" He said, "about 4-5 years". Then he said it too. "This church has changed my life and I don't know where I would be without this church".
As I left I kept pondering the service. It was very short by my standards. The music was good but not great. The teaching was adequate but not really dynamic. Two or three people were nervously lifting their hands about waist high. There even seemed to be this nerdy atmosphere which really bugs me. Yet...yet...Jesus was powerfully present! There was this genuine, simple and earnest seeking of the Lord that attracted Him to this seemingly unimpressive place. Bottom line? I plan to go back next time I am in the area.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
In Your Darkest Hour
A question I find myself asking those I counsel is: "what rattles around in your head in your darkest hour?" The reason I think this is such an important question is because the answer to that question represents their greatest and often most suppressed fear. On a good day it is very possible to get on top of life limiting fears and pretend they aren't there. The sun is shining, circumstances are good all around me and I convince myself that this is reality. Then, circumstances change, it is cloudy and cold and those fears rise to the surface and want to take over.
How do you handle that darkest hour? There are many ways to deal with fear and anxiety. Some people like to make life a constant celebration. They try to make believe life is a party. These people are often addicted to entertainment. They run from anything negative and try to surround themselves with people who only make them feel good about themselves and life in general. These folks actually create an atmosphere where they control other people around them and make others perform to keep things pleasant. The other people are the ones having to deal with anxiety, the anxiety cause by the one they are trying to keep happy.
As with all fear, the only healthy way to deal with fear is "head on". You can't imagine it away. Within fear and anxiety are roots that will poison every positive initiative within your life. Here's the really hard part: you can't deal with fear only on sunny days. Fear doesn't usually manifest on sunny days. Fear is like a mouse, he only comes out boldly in darkness. That is why fear must be confronted in darkness. It takes great courage to confront an enemy in darkness. However, as a Christian, you have the key to winning over this dark fear. You not only have fear with which you are dealing, you also have great light within you! You see darkness doesn't just run from light, darkness is destroyed by light. What is the light within you? It is the light of the Lord Jesus, the light of the Scripture and the illumination of the living Holy Spirit. Fear tries to lie to you and tell you that you cannot be free of fear and anxiety and that you need to try to cope with it. That is why fear tries to convince you that you cannot be at rest except on bright happy days. That is a lie.
You and I can win over fear! Learning to face our greatest fear and admit it is our first victory. Yes, as a Christian admit that this specific area of fear is real and needs to be confronted. If you find mouse droppings in the kitchen, you can't imagine it away. It doesn't mean that you fear mice, it means you really do have a mouse. Face your fear today. Bring it out in the open before the Lord in prayer. He will not be surprised. Then begin to find Scripture that relates to victory over fear and memorize those verses. Use them against fear over and over again. Now you are doing warfare in the middle of the night. In prayer ask the Holy Spirit to hunt down the causes of this fear at it's deepest level and reveal it to you. Invite Jesus to deal with these issues at the very root. Deny nothing He uncovers.
You will discover and unfolding deliverance and the day will come when you have less and less rattling in your head on dark days. You will learn to live in the sunshine even on cloudy days!
A question I find myself asking those I counsel is: "what rattles around in your head in your darkest hour?" The reason I think this is such an important question is because the answer to that question represents their greatest and often most suppressed fear. On a good day it is very possible to get on top of life limiting fears and pretend they aren't there. The sun is shining, circumstances are good all around me and I convince myself that this is reality. Then, circumstances change, it is cloudy and cold and those fears rise to the surface and want to take over.
How do you handle that darkest hour? There are many ways to deal with fear and anxiety. Some people like to make life a constant celebration. They try to make believe life is a party. These people are often addicted to entertainment. They run from anything negative and try to surround themselves with people who only make them feel good about themselves and life in general. These folks actually create an atmosphere where they control other people around them and make others perform to keep things pleasant. The other people are the ones having to deal with anxiety, the anxiety cause by the one they are trying to keep happy.
As with all fear, the only healthy way to deal with fear is "head on". You can't imagine it away. Within fear and anxiety are roots that will poison every positive initiative within your life. Here's the really hard part: you can't deal with fear only on sunny days. Fear doesn't usually manifest on sunny days. Fear is like a mouse, he only comes out boldly in darkness. That is why fear must be confronted in darkness. It takes great courage to confront an enemy in darkness. However, as a Christian, you have the key to winning over this dark fear. You not only have fear with which you are dealing, you also have great light within you! You see darkness doesn't just run from light, darkness is destroyed by light. What is the light within you? It is the light of the Lord Jesus, the light of the Scripture and the illumination of the living Holy Spirit. Fear tries to lie to you and tell you that you cannot be free of fear and anxiety and that you need to try to cope with it. That is why fear tries to convince you that you cannot be at rest except on bright happy days. That is a lie.
You and I can win over fear! Learning to face our greatest fear and admit it is our first victory. Yes, as a Christian admit that this specific area of fear is real and needs to be confronted. If you find mouse droppings in the kitchen, you can't imagine it away. It doesn't mean that you fear mice, it means you really do have a mouse. Face your fear today. Bring it out in the open before the Lord in prayer. He will not be surprised. Then begin to find Scripture that relates to victory over fear and memorize those verses. Use them against fear over and over again. Now you are doing warfare in the middle of the night. In prayer ask the Holy Spirit to hunt down the causes of this fear at it's deepest level and reveal it to you. Invite Jesus to deal with these issues at the very root. Deny nothing He uncovers.
You will discover and unfolding deliverance and the day will come when you have less and less rattling in your head on dark days. You will learn to live in the sunshine even on cloudy days!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Your Amazing Possibilities in God
Teresa and I were hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park a number of years ago. This turned out to be the longest climb we had ever made. Our goal was the summit where from the base of the mountain, you could see a faint water fall. We climbed for 5 hours on what would also be the most exhausting climb of our lives. Finally, we reached the origin of the water fall or what we had thought was the source. We sat down to have some water. As we were sitting there enjoying the moment we realized that we weren’t quite to the top! We looked at each other and said, “let’s see if we can get there.” We had to climb a steep rock face, exhausted at this point. When we finally came out of the top, we were amazed to see the real source of the water fall was a mountain top lake! It was unbelievably beautiful there, as we sat in what seemed like heaven.
I am so glad that we persevered that day. Mark Twain said, “in twenty years you will regret what you didn’t do as much as what you did do”. As a young person I was too cautious. Caution certainly has its place. There is a time to evaluate and hold back, or put off the challenge to a better day. However, to live a life settling for the easier way, the safe way, the way that promises no failure is a puny excuse for living. One of the primary places that people settle for mediocrity is in their spiritual lives. The problem here is that your spirit is “control central” of your life. Everything flows from your spirit. If you stop short in your spiritual life, you will stop short in all areas of life.
Most Christians became believers because of some crisis. They responded to the good news of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit entered them and a wonderful transformation was underway. Jesus was now the one in charge leading them to their true destiny for the first time ever. Bad habits were broken, relationships were mended and the path of a new direction was found. They attended Bible classes, asked someone to disciple them and loved church. Life was good. Is that it? Have you arrived? Not in the least. It would be like graduating for Middle School thinking it was the University. Yet, all too many if not most, stop near here. Rather than being on a journey to the summit they have proven they were simply trying to get out of a storm and get into a place of comfort. “It’s good enough!” I hate that phrase! The only thing good enough is finding the amazing possibilities that God has in store for you!
Stopping short is coping. We, as Christians cope when we experience salvation but stop short of experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We cope when we settle for relief rather than restoration. We cope when we settle for restoration rather than destiny. Today, be aware that you are fixated on the natural realm around you and before your eyes. Close your eyes and pray and ask the Lord to show you what He has intended for your future. I believe you will discover an amazing view and great expansion and fruitfulness ahead.
Teresa and I were hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park a number of years ago. This turned out to be the longest climb we had ever made. Our goal was the summit where from the base of the mountain, you could see a faint water fall. We climbed for 5 hours on what would also be the most exhausting climb of our lives. Finally, we reached the origin of the water fall or what we had thought was the source. We sat down to have some water. As we were sitting there enjoying the moment we realized that we weren’t quite to the top! We looked at each other and said, “let’s see if we can get there.” We had to climb a steep rock face, exhausted at this point. When we finally came out of the top, we were amazed to see the real source of the water fall was a mountain top lake! It was unbelievably beautiful there, as we sat in what seemed like heaven.
I am so glad that we persevered that day. Mark Twain said, “in twenty years you will regret what you didn’t do as much as what you did do”. As a young person I was too cautious. Caution certainly has its place. There is a time to evaluate and hold back, or put off the challenge to a better day. However, to live a life settling for the easier way, the safe way, the way that promises no failure is a puny excuse for living. One of the primary places that people settle for mediocrity is in their spiritual lives. The problem here is that your spirit is “control central” of your life. Everything flows from your spirit. If you stop short in your spiritual life, you will stop short in all areas of life.
Most Christians became believers because of some crisis. They responded to the good news of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit entered them and a wonderful transformation was underway. Jesus was now the one in charge leading them to their true destiny for the first time ever. Bad habits were broken, relationships were mended and the path of a new direction was found. They attended Bible classes, asked someone to disciple them and loved church. Life was good. Is that it? Have you arrived? Not in the least. It would be like graduating for Middle School thinking it was the University. Yet, all too many if not most, stop near here. Rather than being on a journey to the summit they have proven they were simply trying to get out of a storm and get into a place of comfort. “It’s good enough!” I hate that phrase! The only thing good enough is finding the amazing possibilities that God has in store for you!
Stopping short is coping. We, as Christians cope when we experience salvation but stop short of experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We cope when we settle for relief rather than restoration. We cope when we settle for restoration rather than destiny. Today, be aware that you are fixated on the natural realm around you and before your eyes. Close your eyes and pray and ask the Lord to show you what He has intended for your future. I believe you will discover an amazing view and great expansion and fruitfulness ahead.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
How Bad Do You Want it?
Well, I made it to 60 this year. Now that I'm here, it doesn't seem old. I remember school teachers that I thought were ancient and looking back they were probably 35! I have now lived in 7 decades counting the 1940's when I started this journey. Of course that was while I was still wearing diapers. For those of you younger people, that's what kids wore before pampers!
I have learned a lot, and most of what I have learned came with a price. It has been said that we learn little from success but much from failure. I have had my share of both. I try not to dwell on failure but I do try to learn from it. I believe that is a part of the way wisdom comes from experience. Experience only produces wisdom if we learn from it and see it as a mentor. Yes, wisdom comes at a price. The older I get the more questions I am asked. I think wise young people ask a lot of questions, and the wiser they are in their youth, the wiser they will be in old age. It is something that must be pursued. I have seen some pretty dumb old people which makes me know that wisdom must be sought as Proverbs tell us.
What kind of price is attached to progress? Every thing that I have wanted to accomplish in life so far has cost way more than I first thought. Herein lies a problem. If we don't first, as Jesus taught us, "count the cost", we won't be able to pay the price of completion. Everything of any value is much more expensive than we thought when we started the pursuit. Building a house usually cost, on average, about 25% more than we first estimated. Repairing you car usually cost more than the estimate. I haven't had the mechanic come back many times to say, "well, I was wrong, it cost $500 less than I thought!"
In the Kingdom of God it is not any different. There is a price to be used by God. There is a cost of pioneering churches, becoming a senior leader, living a Godly life out in the workplace, or being a parent. My daughter gave me my first grandchild. They waited over 8 years before having their first child. It was a joyful and exciting season getting ready for the birth of the child. Then the cost came. The labor was about 28 hours and that was only the beginning. Recently they visited our house and I could see the price on my daughter. She is an excellent Mother. I am amazed at how the grace of God has changed her from the normal young woman pursuing a career to a Mother focused on her child and husband. It has required a selfless transformation and she has made the journey. There was no way she could have imagined 2 years ago the price for this progress.
Where do you stand in all this today? What have you set as a goal? What do you want to accomplish? I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first? The good news? Great, here it is. You will make it! You can, and I believe will, see your dream fulfilled! Here is the bad news. It will be tougher than you think! God will help you and you will have days you want to quit, but you can make it through to completion. The price and the struggle is a part of the journey. The little chick needs the challenge of the breaking out of the shell to prepare it for living the life it so desperately desires.
Count the cost now, knowing it will be more costly than you think, then press toward the goal with reckless abandon. It will be worth it in the end!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Forgiveness, Focus and Follow Through
One of the most difficult things to endure is restoration. It sounds like such a wonderful word, "restore- ation". Webster says it this way, "the act of returning to an original state or condition". Truth be told, we Christians are living in an ongoing constant process of restoration. We are all being returned to an original state or condition. Jesus through redemption paid the price for our restoration but even after salvation there is this ongoing "working out our salvation with fear and trembling". Just to show how difficult it is to submit to this restorative process, think how long and how hard we resisted even the first work of salvation. For the Christian, if he falls, the process back is no easier than was his first war of resistance against salvation.
As a Christian and even as a young minister, I found myself in great need of restoration. I went through the normal process of repentance, submitting to those over me and ongoing accountability. Yet, I have learned that the greatest enemy is fought within my own mind. God and others forgive me much quicker than I forgive myself. Then the battle rages far longer than any required process of man. I have learned some things about restoration that only a restored man could understand. I don't want to make light of such a serious topic but some golf thoughts have really helped me in life and especially in this realm. Let me give you three words that might help:
1. Forgiveness - Forgiveness is an intersection where we sit with options and we have to make the right directional decision. Too many sit there for long periods of time in great remorse and some never leave that spot. Yes there needs to be a sorrow about your sin, but restoration requires that we arise and move forward. Restoration is like fleeing a house fire and in time there is not even a hint of smoke on you. God's forgiveness and restoration is exactly like that.
2. Focus- There has to be a focus on a new direction. Your focus can't be behind you but before you. Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set "before him". There has to be an intense focus on the vision, the life purpose before you.
3. Follow through-Now the golf term. In golf everyone makes mistakes in every round of golf. Yes, the great Tiger Woods makes mistakes at every outing. Granted, his mistakes and my mistakes are on different planets, but he makes his share.
After a bad shot, a mistake, a player must forgive himself for the bad shot. Believe me many people ruin a complete day at the course over one bad shot, one mistake. Professionals do the same. Once he has forgiven himself for the mistake, he must now put it out of his head and focus on the next shot. He can't allow the last shot to destroy the next shot. Then, he must hit the ball with a good complete follow through. A follow through is really hard to understand. I used to stop my swing when I made contact with the ball. Then I learned the importance of making a complete swing. Once you hit the ball you continue your swing completing the arc. Once I started completing the follow through, I started hitting the ball straighter and farther.
In restoration these three things are critical. First, forgive yourself and release the past. Get back in the game and focus on your future and purpose. Then, go for it with purpose and determination wholeheartedly! Take a full swing at life. Don't try to live too tentative. Go for it!
One of the most difficult things to endure is restoration. It sounds like such a wonderful word, "restore- ation". Webster says it this way, "the act of returning to an original state or condition". Truth be told, we Christians are living in an ongoing constant process of restoration. We are all being returned to an original state or condition. Jesus through redemption paid the price for our restoration but even after salvation there is this ongoing "working out our salvation with fear and trembling". Just to show how difficult it is to submit to this restorative process, think how long and how hard we resisted even the first work of salvation. For the Christian, if he falls, the process back is no easier than was his first war of resistance against salvation.
As a Christian and even as a young minister, I found myself in great need of restoration. I went through the normal process of repentance, submitting to those over me and ongoing accountability. Yet, I have learned that the greatest enemy is fought within my own mind. God and others forgive me much quicker than I forgive myself. Then the battle rages far longer than any required process of man. I have learned some things about restoration that only a restored man could understand. I don't want to make light of such a serious topic but some golf thoughts have really helped me in life and especially in this realm. Let me give you three words that might help:
1. Forgiveness - Forgiveness is an intersection where we sit with options and we have to make the right directional decision. Too many sit there for long periods of time in great remorse and some never leave that spot. Yes there needs to be a sorrow about your sin, but restoration requires that we arise and move forward. Restoration is like fleeing a house fire and in time there is not even a hint of smoke on you. God's forgiveness and restoration is exactly like that.
2. Focus- There has to be a focus on a new direction. Your focus can't be behind you but before you. Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set "before him". There has to be an intense focus on the vision, the life purpose before you.
3. Follow through-Now the golf term. In golf everyone makes mistakes in every round of golf. Yes, the great Tiger Woods makes mistakes at every outing. Granted, his mistakes and my mistakes are on different planets, but he makes his share.
After a bad shot, a mistake, a player must forgive himself for the bad shot. Believe me many people ruin a complete day at the course over one bad shot, one mistake. Professionals do the same. Once he has forgiven himself for the mistake, he must now put it out of his head and focus on the next shot. He can't allow the last shot to destroy the next shot. Then, he must hit the ball with a good complete follow through. A follow through is really hard to understand. I used to stop my swing when I made contact with the ball. Then I learned the importance of making a complete swing. Once you hit the ball you continue your swing completing the arc. Once I started completing the follow through, I started hitting the ball straighter and farther.
In restoration these three things are critical. First, forgive yourself and release the past. Get back in the game and focus on your future and purpose. Then, go for it with purpose and determination wholeheartedly! Take a full swing at life. Don't try to live too tentative. Go for it!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Dealing With Problems
In Acts chapter 6 we see a problem arise in the middle of the great Pentecostal revival. Revival does not mean the absence of problems. As a matter of fact, when there is a living work of the Holy Spirit in a church or ministry, that work of revival itself will cause weaknesses and problems to surface. The key here is not to focus on the problem as if we are shocked by the presence of a problem. We must act swiftly and decisively to deal with the problem and get back to giving our energies to the vision.
Leaders who try to avoid a problem will only find that the problem will arise later much larger and with a much greater following than when it was first discovered. In Acts 6 the Apostles (church leadership) did several things that we need to observe:
1. They faced the problem. The didn't pretend it didn't exist.
2. They summoned the people together to address the problem.
Often leaders try to pretend a problem is not a problem. Often they try to hide the problem from the people when the people already know there is a problem and a lack of information leads them to become suspicious of leadership. It is better to just face it publicly. Obviously, this is on a need to know basis. This doesn't mean that leaders share things that are inappropriate. However, the primary problems needs to be acknowleged.
3. They didn't allow a problem to distract them from their primary vision and calling.
Just as in Nehemiah's day, they weren't coming down from the wall because the work they were doing was much too important. The stayed the course in ministry and allowed the people to be involved in the process of solving the problem. They gave the people instructions on what kind of servants should be involved in solving the problem, asked for names and then they set these deacons in to a place of solving the problem.
What was the result of facing the problem, involving the people and allowing the people to be a part in solving the problem? It "pleased the multitude"! What a miracle! The major result of dealing correctly with the problem was there was a great expansion of the Kingdom of God as "the number of disciples multiplied greatly".
Most leaders hate conflict and problems. They have a hard time dealing with confrontation. However, there is not a place in leadership apart from dealing with problems. So you don't like problems...deal with it!
In Acts chapter 6 we see a problem arise in the middle of the great Pentecostal revival. Revival does not mean the absence of problems. As a matter of fact, when there is a living work of the Holy Spirit in a church or ministry, that work of revival itself will cause weaknesses and problems to surface. The key here is not to focus on the problem as if we are shocked by the presence of a problem. We must act swiftly and decisively to deal with the problem and get back to giving our energies to the vision.
Leaders who try to avoid a problem will only find that the problem will arise later much larger and with a much greater following than when it was first discovered. In Acts 6 the Apostles (church leadership) did several things that we need to observe:
1. They faced the problem. The didn't pretend it didn't exist.
2. They summoned the people together to address the problem.
Often leaders try to pretend a problem is not a problem. Often they try to hide the problem from the people when the people already know there is a problem and a lack of information leads them to become suspicious of leadership. It is better to just face it publicly. Obviously, this is on a need to know basis. This doesn't mean that leaders share things that are inappropriate. However, the primary problems needs to be acknowleged.
3. They didn't allow a problem to distract them from their primary vision and calling.
Just as in Nehemiah's day, they weren't coming down from the wall because the work they were doing was much too important. The stayed the course in ministry and allowed the people to be involved in the process of solving the problem. They gave the people instructions on what kind of servants should be involved in solving the problem, asked for names and then they set these deacons in to a place of solving the problem.
What was the result of facing the problem, involving the people and allowing the people to be a part in solving the problem? It "pleased the multitude"! What a miracle! The major result of dealing correctly with the problem was there was a great expansion of the Kingdom of God as "the number of disciples multiplied greatly".
Most leaders hate conflict and problems. They have a hard time dealing with confrontation. However, there is not a place in leadership apart from dealing with problems. So you don't like problems...deal with it!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Turning Leaders into Leaders
Jesus said, "the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few". When Jesus made this statement he was surrounded my thousands and pursued by a number that would have been considered as leaders. Yet to Jesus, the laborers were few. Still today, the greatest need in the church is leadership. Oh, there are many who want to preach or who want "their ministries" to be embraced by the church or who want the church to promote them. However, to find a true gifted leader who wants to be prepared and used for the Kingdom of God without a thought of self promotion is a rare find.
In my early days of ministry I had this idea that if you could find a leader, you could just plug them into the work and see their leadership gift work for good. You see, I truly believe that there is a gift of leadership as the Scripture says. What I learned was that discovering a gift of leadership in the heart of a man our woman of God was little different than finding a gifted athlete in elementary school. Their gift was of little use unless it was cultivated, tried, proven, tested and released slowly. As a matter of fact, there are many who are gifted leaders who faltered by putting them under the strain of leading depending only on a gift. Just because someone has an obvious gift of leadership only means we see where we must disciple them. Being faithful stewards over the flock of God is learning to take inventory of the flock, finding the undeveloped gifts of leadership and taking them through a process of maturing that gift so that it becomes fit for service to Jesus. An undeveloped leadership gift or one that has never been discipled under the oversight and discipline of a loving spiritual father is a dangerous and often destructive thing. Look at Jesus and how he dealt with Peter, the one upon whom would fall the greatest responsibility after the ascension. His dealings with him often seemed almost cruel or harsh. Yet, he was in preparation. He always had the leadership gift but it was only vanity until Jesus and the Holy Spirit gained access to it through the Lordship of Jesus.
It is time that we in the church start taking responsibility for the young eaglets in our congregations and make it our goal to see them fly!
Jesus said, "the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few". When Jesus made this statement he was surrounded my thousands and pursued by a number that would have been considered as leaders. Yet to Jesus, the laborers were few. Still today, the greatest need in the church is leadership. Oh, there are many who want to preach or who want "their ministries" to be embraced by the church or who want the church to promote them. However, to find a true gifted leader who wants to be prepared and used for the Kingdom of God without a thought of self promotion is a rare find.
In my early days of ministry I had this idea that if you could find a leader, you could just plug them into the work and see their leadership gift work for good. You see, I truly believe that there is a gift of leadership as the Scripture says. What I learned was that discovering a gift of leadership in the heart of a man our woman of God was little different than finding a gifted athlete in elementary school. Their gift was of little use unless it was cultivated, tried, proven, tested and released slowly. As a matter of fact, there are many who are gifted leaders who faltered by putting them under the strain of leading depending only on a gift. Just because someone has an obvious gift of leadership only means we see where we must disciple them. Being faithful stewards over the flock of God is learning to take inventory of the flock, finding the undeveloped gifts of leadership and taking them through a process of maturing that gift so that it becomes fit for service to Jesus. An undeveloped leadership gift or one that has never been discipled under the oversight and discipline of a loving spiritual father is a dangerous and often destructive thing. Look at Jesus and how he dealt with Peter, the one upon whom would fall the greatest responsibility after the ascension. His dealings with him often seemed almost cruel or harsh. Yet, he was in preparation. He always had the leadership gift but it was only vanity until Jesus and the Holy Spirit gained access to it through the Lordship of Jesus.
It is time that we in the church start taking responsibility for the young eaglets in our congregations and make it our goal to see them fly!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Remember the Basics
I have mentioned this before but I continue to see it overlooked. It is that truth that says, "get the fundamentals right". Over and over as I deal with challenging situations in ministries and ministers, almost always the problem came through an overlooking or an abandonment of some fundamental. Just as professional athletes who fail usually miss the mark over fundamentals, so do Christian leaders.
What kind of fundamentals? Here is a list of some little fundamentals that can cause serious problems:
1. Private Devotions - So many get so busy working for God that they forget to spend time alone with him. It's like going on a long trip and making all the preparation but filling the tank with gas. Even the biggest names have gotten into trouble over this critical basic.
2. Get rid of bitterness- Leaders tell people to forgive and get rid of bitterness all day, all the while carrying bitterness in their own hearts.
3. Take a sabbath rest- anyone who gets so busy working for God that they believe the Kingdom can't afford for them to have a day off is in idolatry. They have made their ministries an idol.
4. Enjoy the ministry- while the ministry can be a crucible at times, it still should be enjoyed as the calling that it is. When ministry turns into something you and your family endures, you are in trouble.
5. See God as your source- the moment you begin to see paychecks, leadership teams, or individuals as controlling your provision, you are no longer seeing God as your source. There is a place in faith where, while receiving a paycheck, God is still your source. This posture will open the windows of heaven for provision far beyond your "seen" source.
6. Never counsel, spend time with or talk on the phone too much with the opposite sex other than your mate. People are still doing it!!! Stop it!
7. Keep your mate as the love of your life!
I have mentioned this before but I continue to see it overlooked. It is that truth that says, "get the fundamentals right". Over and over as I deal with challenging situations in ministries and ministers, almost always the problem came through an overlooking or an abandonment of some fundamental. Just as professional athletes who fail usually miss the mark over fundamentals, so do Christian leaders.
What kind of fundamentals? Here is a list of some little fundamentals that can cause serious problems:
1. Private Devotions - So many get so busy working for God that they forget to spend time alone with him. It's like going on a long trip and making all the preparation but filling the tank with gas. Even the biggest names have gotten into trouble over this critical basic.
2. Get rid of bitterness- Leaders tell people to forgive and get rid of bitterness all day, all the while carrying bitterness in their own hearts.
3. Take a sabbath rest- anyone who gets so busy working for God that they believe the Kingdom can't afford for them to have a day off is in idolatry. They have made their ministries an idol.
4. Enjoy the ministry- while the ministry can be a crucible at times, it still should be enjoyed as the calling that it is. When ministry turns into something you and your family endures, you are in trouble.
5. See God as your source- the moment you begin to see paychecks, leadership teams, or individuals as controlling your provision, you are no longer seeing God as your source. There is a place in faith where, while receiving a paycheck, God is still your source. This posture will open the windows of heaven for provision far beyond your "seen" source.
6. Never counsel, spend time with or talk on the phone too much with the opposite sex other than your mate. People are still doing it!!! Stop it!
7. Keep your mate as the love of your life!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Converting Pessimism
As believers, and especially if you are a part of a leadership team, we tend to be an optimistic bunch. If not by nature, we learn it out of survival. You cannot last long in leadership if you are not basically a positive person. Yes, you have to deal with a lot of negative situations but therein lies the evidence that you are optimistic. If you have been in a leadership role for over 10 years and still standing, you are pretty optimistic. Otherwise, you wouldn't still be here!
Now, let me challenge you to look around you, determine your area of responsibility and make a quality decision to teach those around you to be optimistic as well. Right now the world and much of the church is screaming "the sky is falling"! Negativity is the present state of the world. The great disaster here is that this type of atmosphere reproduces itself manifold. How do you teach those around you to be optimistic? You do it first by living in the realm of faith. Faith is the most positive force on earth. As Christians we should be moving in and extending faith everywhere and in every situation.
There is an old much used slogan that says, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going". We can turn around any situation through faith and the activity of faith. The atmosphere of faith is never pessimistic. Faith always sees a way out. Faith always sees improvement. Faith always sees the hand of God intervening in every negative situation. It's not a matter of if God will turn things around, it's just a matter of when.
Today, let one of your main goals be to change the atmosphere around you and start training others to be faith filled people. Go ahead and put it on your calendar for the next week as a reminder and email me after you finish the week and let me hear how things have changed for you.
As believers, and especially if you are a part of a leadership team, we tend to be an optimistic bunch. If not by nature, we learn it out of survival. You cannot last long in leadership if you are not basically a positive person. Yes, you have to deal with a lot of negative situations but therein lies the evidence that you are optimistic. If you have been in a leadership role for over 10 years and still standing, you are pretty optimistic. Otherwise, you wouldn't still be here!
Now, let me challenge you to look around you, determine your area of responsibility and make a quality decision to teach those around you to be optimistic as well. Right now the world and much of the church is screaming "the sky is falling"! Negativity is the present state of the world. The great disaster here is that this type of atmosphere reproduces itself manifold. How do you teach those around you to be optimistic? You do it first by living in the realm of faith. Faith is the most positive force on earth. As Christians we should be moving in and extending faith everywhere and in every situation.
There is an old much used slogan that says, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going". We can turn around any situation through faith and the activity of faith. The atmosphere of faith is never pessimistic. Faith always sees a way out. Faith always sees improvement. Faith always sees the hand of God intervening in every negative situation. It's not a matter of if God will turn things around, it's just a matter of when.
Today, let one of your main goals be to change the atmosphere around you and start training others to be faith filled people. Go ahead and put it on your calendar for the next week as a reminder and email me after you finish the week and let me hear how things have changed for you.
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