davoux-ted

My bat Problems and Where We Are Going for the Fall

2010-08-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Yes I have had bats in our house. I have learned I would much rather deal with mice, snakes, bugs vs bats. I am not sure if God created their look or if they were especially cursed in the fall, but my encounters with them have not been favorable. The reality is, though, I failed to address several problems in my house that opened the door (no pun intended)for my eerey encounters with them. I knew there was a problem but I wasn’t doing anything to fix the problem (can you relate?).

This was the problem Nehemiah faced thousands of years ago. The walls and gates of protection around Jerusalem were down and unless something was done “bats” were going to get into Jerusalem. Everyone knew there was a problem but no one was taking initiative or responsibility for the problem.

We live in a day like Nehemiah. Huge challenges are before our nation (war, economy, poverty, etc). The church is in many ways asleep, statistics show very little difference between church goers and non church goers in regards to divorce, morality, areas of character, etc. For many churches the hot debate is whether to ordain homosexual clergy. Lastly families are struggling and marriages are teetering even to stay together.

There are two things we need to learn from Nehemiah.
1) He had a Holy ambition-Holy in the sense that he wanted God to be honored, and ambition in the sense of a passionate desire for long lasting fruit. If you had to rank your spiritual ambition level where would it be? 1- I solely care about myself and what is going on in my own little world that consists of three people: Me, Myself, and I… or…a 10-I passionately want to serve God and His agenda in this world.

2) He had a Dislocated heart. Here was Nehemiah hundreds of miles away with an executive job making big bucks, all the perks (our dream right?), and a busy schedule. Scripture says when he heard that the walls were down and the people of God weren’t doing well he sat down and wept (Neh. 1:3). Then he began to pray and fast. Why would a guy with such opulence and financial blessing care? He had a dislocated heart, he might have had a lot but his heart was somewhere else.

Jesus had a dislocated heart when it said that He being in the very nature God (worshipped, adored, served) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant…humbled himself, became obedient even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8). His love for us drove him to lay aside all the riches that He might gain us.

It is my prayer that we might take the same ownership of God’s agenda that Nehemiah did. We have an opportunity to help rebuild the walls of people and give hope to the hurting this fall. But it is going to take initiative or a Holy Ambition, and a heart that is dislocated that moves us out of our comfort zone.

Is faith safe or risky?

2010-07-01T15:29:00.001-07:00

Is faith just this safe, religious practice for you? A safety net in your life like the old hymn says “safe and secure from all alarm?” Is that faith?

Perhaps faith is more about risk then the elimination of it. I remember when I did a youth internship in 1994. I was still quite fearful of the whole “pasturing” thing, especially the thought of conducting funerals. The pastor I worked for worked with the funeral homes to conduct services for people not a part of a church. He would get a paper that would give information about the person and he used that to put the service together. The one I went to was for a guy who owned a strip club and liked to play pool and the family picked two songs: “Come Undone” by Duran Duran, and “Nights in White Satin” by the Moody Blues Brothers. At the time I couldn’t imagine how to do that funeral, I was nervous for him. I will always remember the words he challenged me with after the service…”Look for opportunities to be uncomfortable, to be stretched.”

Isn’t that what faith is all about? You don’t need faith if you can see everything visible and everything is covered. It’s about believing God not just believing in God. Hearing and doing. What faith risks is God asking you to take?

What if I lived dead to self?

2010-06-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

Jesus said “if a believer loses his life for me he will find it” (Matthew 16:25). If I understand what Jesus is saying, He’s saying when I come to that place of death in myself that is when I will truly find the life He longs to give us.

So just think if we died to ourselves (like physical death):

-That thing called offense, resentment, or grudges it doesn’t affect someone who is dead to self.

-The selfish bug that bites us so often and causes much of the conflict in relationships. When you are dead, you find yourself thinking more of others (your dead).

-The embarrassment we feel to step out for God, that fear of speaking up or stepping out in faith, the self consciousness of looking different; guess what when you are dead to self you think a whole lot more about what God wants and less about your comfort. (you are dead to self….right?)

Think about how liberating it would be to truly be dead to self. I am blown away by the amount of life, freedom, joy, and God moments that could be experienced where fear and self consciousness was put to rest. Apparently it became a way of life for Paul, he declared “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;” (Galatians 2:20). Can’t say I am there yet but striving to do the same.

I feel lead but not sure if it is God...

2010-05-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt led to do something but you wanted to make sure it was God and not you? I have had that happen to me more times than I can count; whether it was sharing my faith, offering encouragement or rebuke, going a certain direction. I think God wants me to do it but I am not sure (and scared). Can you relate?

In Matthew 14 when Jesus walked out on the water the disciples were like frightened children. They thought it might be Jesus but they didn’t rule out it being a ghost. After they settled down Peter says “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you by walking on the water.” And Jesus said, “Come.” Peter ended up taking a small step out of the boat and a giant leap toward Jesus. He is the only person (beside Jesus) to have literally walked on water. We learn, though, that when you step out in faith it doesn’t take long to start second guessing yourself. Peter saw the wind and waves and wonders “did I make a mistake getting out of the boat?” And when you do that spiritually you start to sink because you stop focusing on Jesus and start focusing on the wind and waves.

Andy Stanley in his book “The Next Generation Leader" writes “generally speaking, you are probably never going to be more than 80% certain. Waiting for great certainty may cause you to miss an opportunity.”

Most want absolute certainty before stepping out in faith. We love 100% money back guarantees but the problem with that reasoning in life is that it takes faith out of the equation. Maybe we are not suppose to be absolutely certain before we step out. As Mark Batterson says “there is no such thing as risk free faith….and you can’t experience success without risking failure.”

What steps of faith do I need to take today? (Thoughts inspired by the book “In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day” p. 114)

Are you a person of grace?

2010-04-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine if God extended conditional grace like insurance companies handle high risk people? Imagine Heaven sending a note like this…

Dear So and So
I’m writing in response to this morning’s request for forgiveness. I’m sorry to inform you that you have reached your quota of sins. Our records show that, since employing our services, you have erred seven times in the area of greed, and your prayer life is substandard when compared to others of like age and circumstance. Further review reveals that your understanding of doctrine is in the lower 20% and you have excessive tendencies to gossip. Because of your sins you are a high risk candidate for heaven. You understand that grace has its limits. Jesus sends his regrets and kindest regards and hopes that you will find some other form of coverage. (Max Lucado-Grip of Grace)

How about you, are you a person of grace?

Last week we looked at the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Really the story isn’t so much about the lost son who returned to the Father, it’s about the elder son that was with the Father the whole time. The shock of the story is that despite being with the Father, hardworking, and responsible, he had no qualities like his father.

His problem is ours, too often we can’t see sin in the mirror. While the father is able to forgive, love, and restore one who was lost. He is blinded by his own pride, self righteousness, and hate.
It's a Christianity that is not about helping others experience God's authentic grace that changes lives, it has an exclusive focus on three people...me, myself, and I. Grace can only change lives of people that know they need it.

Think about going to “The Church of the Elder Brother.” Can you feel the love, grace, restoring qualities of the Father?

Joseph Stowell, president of Moody Bible Institute, has said that the American Church is “long on mad, and short on grace.” We’re mad at politicians, we’re mad at the media, we’re mad at the President. We’re also mad at those who live their lives differently than we do. Lost people are going to sin because they’re lost. Christians are going to sin because they’re not perfect. We need grace so let’s refuse to be angry with people who sin differently than we do.

Worst of all the elder brother couldn’t enjoy God or his blessings. The father says to him “All I have is yours, you can enjoy it anytime”(Luke 15:31-32). Notice how it ends, everyone is celebrating in the home, thanking God over a changed life and the older brother is outside isolated, angry, and alone.

Hoping we strive to be people of grace.

Did You Miss First?

2010-04-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

I recently read a story that makes a great point. (sorry I don't have the source)

Jacksonville Jaquers center Kevin Long, who played under Coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State University, said his college coach inspired the team with parables. Long recounted a favorite story:

"[Bowden] was playing college baseball, and he had never hit a home run. Finally he hit one down the right-field line, into the comer. He rounded first without touching the base and looked to the third base coach. He turned at second, was halfway to third and the coach was still waving him on. He got to home, and he hit the plate. He had his first home run, he was so excited and everybody was slapping him high fives. Then the pitcher took the ball, threw it to the first baseman, and the umpire called him out.

[Coach Bowden] said, "If you don't take care of first base, it doesn't matter what else you do.”

It is easy to let the urgent distract from the most important things. Life is so short, let’s remember we are not here to just pay bills, be busy, and survive but to live for God and His Kingdom priorities.

This year’s theme has been “God’s mission, My mission.” Let’s not talk about what is important to God, let’s DO what is important.

Breaking the 2 steps forward 3 steps back cycle

2010-03-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel like you are taking 2 steps forward financially then 3 steps back? You got money back from your taxes and finally a little cushion and then bam! The furnace quit, the car broke down, a bill came due and there you are again in an even worse condition. Perhaps you could find some help from the book of Haggai chapter 1.

The people had returned from being exiled in Babylon (a place of bondage). They experienced new freedom. They were given a new purpose to go and build the house of God. They began to do that, successfully laying the foundation, building an altar and were even offering sacrifices. They are on the right road but then struggle and problems and the work of God stalled. Soon they got distracted and lost their priorities. People had gradually turned from the doing the will of God to doing their own will.

Haggai comes and basically says let’s finish rebuilding God’s house.

The people say what we might when it comes to money… “It is not a good time to build, there is recession, drought, crop failure, and high inflation (doesn’t that sound like us).

Check out Haggai 1:4 he says “Is it then time for you to build your own paneled houses?” It could have the idea of luxury and ornamentation but the point he is making is that this economy thing "didn’t stop you finishing your stuff but somehow it has stopped you from doing God’s stuff."

v. 5 he tells them to consider their ways. Great word for us in regards to the money we are given. So often we are not slowed down funding our lifestyle but we make all kinds of excuses why we slack on what is important to God. Like them we get our priorities backwards.
Haggai says “you have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves but no one is warm, and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes” (v. 6).

Is that happening to your finances, working harder and seeing it fly away…consider your ways. What are you doing with what God has given you? Don’t make the mistake they did in assuming they were responsible for their growth and prosperity, and so they did it their own way. They were being disciplined by God (v. 9-11) so that they could get on the right track. If you are struggling financially, I am not saying you are being disciplined by God…but you might. Let’s get our heart set on things that are important to God and see if God will help us with the rest.

LO$T- Quit Pretending

2010-02-19T11:28:00.000-08:00

Are your finances a mess? Are you overwhelmed with debt? Do you keep getting yourself into financial trouble?

Lots of people in America are pretending to be rich. Many of us have chosen to have the nice homes, cars, and stuff and yet are in over our heads in debt and we have become what Solomon talks about “a slave to the lender.” It is often said there are two kinds of people “the have’s” and “the have not,” but the reality is there is a third group “the have not paid yet” people. Pretending to live a lifestyle they cannot afford. Proverbs 13:7 says “One man pretends to be rich, but in truth has nothing…”

Somehow we have bought the lie that debt is ok, when Proverbs tell us it is slavery (we are a slave to the lender). It is interesting to note that in 1929 only 2% of homes had a mortgage against them. Forty years later only 2% didn’t have a mortgage against them. What changed in our thinking?

We are asking wrong questions like:

“How much $ down is this going to take?”

“How much is it going to cost a month?”

“What is the most I can get for the least down?”

Instead we need to start asking ourselves the right questions. Is your marriage going to be stressed because you are fighting and worried about money? Are my kids going to miss out because we bought things we didn’t need, with money we didn’t have, to impress people we didn’t know. There is a hidden cost of unbiblical stewardship.

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)

Try doing this instead to reverse the consumption mentality and debt cycle. Next time you see that brand new coffee maker at Walmart and you think “my life has not been full without this coffee maker, and if I buy it today by opening up a new credit card I can save 10%.” Consider putting it back on the shelf (I know, I know…it’s hard but you will live). Then pray for three days and if you feel you still need it, buy it. As the amounts go up, give yourself some more time.

We have all heard the definition of insanity… “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting to get the same results.” We are trying new things over the month in our “LO$T- In Our Finances.” Hope you can come Sundays and also to our brand new small group series called “Finances God’s Way” through Crown Ministries…check the link out...

http://www.crown.org/Cart/Church/ManagingGodsWay.aspx

Are you lost financially?

2010-02-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

Have you ever asked yourself if you are lost financially…these statements should give you a good idea if you are (taken from Andy Stanley’s series “Lost).

1. If you spend more then you make you are lost
2. If you don’t know if you are spending more then you make- you are lost
3. If you don’t care whether you are spending more then you make- you are lost
4. If you are spending more on your car, then your car is worth you are lost.
5. If you don’t know how much you owe on the car you are lost.
6. If paying the minimum on your credit card is a way of life you are lost.
7. If you think that is good financial planning you are lost.
8. If you are not saving, or not sure if you are saving enough you may be lost.
9. If you don’t know how much you owe, you are lost
10. If you have no way of tracking where your money goes, you are lost.
11. If you got a financial dream but no plan you are lost. If we don’t plan, we plan to fail.
12. If you make over 75000 a year and you feel financial pressure you are lost. You are one of the wealthiest people in the world (top 1%). Everyone in the world would look at you and say “what???”. You have created an unrealistic lifestyle.
13. If you make decision that you hope your spouse never discovers, you are lost

No one plans to get lost but somewhere along the way you did.

Let me make a bold statement: “you can not wholeheartedly follow Christ and stay lost financially.” Why? Because Jesus simply said too much about money. He talked about it more then heaven, hell, salvation, faith, and prayer. What did he conclude?

1. Our heart follows our treasure (money) Matthew 6:21. If you are lost financially your heart will get wrapped up somewhere in it.

2. We can’t serve both God and money (Luke 16:13). If you asked God what is the #1 competition he faces for our heart, it is our money and our stuff that steals it.

3. Debt is bondage just as great as any addiction (ok Jesus doesn’t say this outright but Solomon did). Prov 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” How can you wholeheartedly serve Christ and be a slave to the lender (think about it). Let’s be honest most of us are in serious debt…random stats: Average 28 year old has $66,000 of debt, for every $1 we get we spend $1.22, our national budget this year had 3.8 trillion dollars of new debt.

Wouldn’t it be great to be free! It's possible. Instead of being in bondage to debt, not giving … don’t have money, not serving… don’t have time, not doing things you have dreamed of …can’t afford it. How about beginning to get “unlost.” To get there it has to start with you finding out where you are. You have to track where the money is going and determine where you want to be. Hopefully it will begin with you determining that debt is not ok, it is not God's best, and God has a better way. Come and join us for our new series "LO$T" and hopefully it will revolutionize your finances!

NOT NOT MY PROBLEM

2010-01-29T08:14:00.000-08:00

In America we have an epidemic of everyone blaming everyone else for their problems. Fast food restaurants are serving too much and too fatty food, causing obesity… Government is responsible for all our problems, and quite honestly should solve my social problems, my health problems, my financial problems, etc… or we blame are mom, dad, kids, spouse-their fault for why I am what I am. You get where I am going.

I think we do that in our spiritual life….I am not growing because there are too many hypocrites in church…the church is too materialistic…the church is so shallow. Why aren’t we reaching people for Christ, obviously the pastor’s sermons are too boring. The ministers aren’t reaching out to the lost. Why don’t they reach out to the poor? Start a ministry to youth, children, etc?

At some point we (you, me) as individuals have to take responsibility. Nothing is going to change or get done if everyone is blaming everyone else for their problems or for what is not getting done. That is why I admire guys like Daniel who when he prayed in Daniel ch. 9 (read it please) he took responsibility for the sin in the land, he took responsibility for repenting when the reality was it wasn’t him committing all those transgressions. He owned it though.

Over this last month we have been doing a series called “God’s mission…MY mission.” It is time to own what is important to God…worship (loving God), evangelism (loving people), discipleship (being one and making one), and this week MISSIONS. The mission is far too important to pass off to someone else and the rewards and fruit are too amazing to not care about it. Everyone has a world they can impact for Christ….do it.

A great word for those in a constant mess

2010-01-08T14:29:00.000-08:00

Remember the commercial with the “easy” button. It was pushed in the midst of a mess and they could be taken away to something great. That is how many of us believers in Christ view life…it’s a mess but hey someday heaven, some day glory.

I was reading 2 Corinthians 3 and studying Rick Renner’s take on the Greek and was really encouraged and challenged.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty(freedom). 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

Notice the phrase we are being transformed into the same image (Christlikeness) from glory to glory….in other words from a current glorious place to another high glorious place. God is working to take your present life and present situations we are in and make them glorious.

If this is true need to ask some questions

-Am I living in a glorious stage even though it is challenging or am I living just stuck in an ugly mess with wrong attitudes and disobedient actions

-am I totally inattentive to God? Apathetic? Lazy?

Look at the first part of the verse- “but we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord." The Greek word for open means to unveil, uncover, to disclose. It is also continuous in action, in others words once opened remains open.

Rick Renner writes “We must be willing to permanently remove the veil from our eyes and to take an honest look in the mirror in order to truthfully acknowledge the condition of our present stage. Only after we have truthfully seen and acknowledged the condition of our present stage…only when we see what we are can we make a sincere decision to change, by removing the veil… it is the way the Lord can show us (ourselves) so we can receive correction, change us, transform us, and prepare us to move upward into the next glorious phase of our life.”

Notice Paul talks about the change that happens AFTER the veil is removed. We are transformed from the inside out, beginning in our thoughts and affecting our actions and even countenance. We can move not from mess to another mess but from glory to glory…

How does the process begin? It begins with us quit trying to pretend everything is glorious in our life as we stick our head in the sand. That denial just keeps us stuck. The Lord wants to lift the veil and get us to the place of openness. He says “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom,” freedom to deal with sin, deal with the mess. It may be hard to look at the mess of our finances, the mess of our relationships, the mess of our health..the mess of whatever it is that isn’t so glorious. As we allow the Spirit to lift that veil, God transforms our stuff into glory.

Be encouraged and open to Him.

Everyone knows it, few do it but it could change your life

2009-12-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

The secret to life, the secret to success, the secret to genuine contentment, the secret to making the most of life happens when we choose gratitude over complaining. Most know the importance of gratitude; however, few actually get to that place.

In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus has compassion on ten lepers and says go show yourself to the priests (who made the call of those healed). It says that as they went they were healed or cleansed. I imagine a discussion was happening, “hey look at you, your complexion is clearing up,” “guys these lesions have gone from me, color is returning.” Their greatest hope was becoming a reality and one of them returned to Jesus and it says loudly glorified God. This wasn’t some solemn “we thank thee, oh Lord,” it wasn’t some shallow “thanks” either. He was fired up, passionate gratitude was happening.

Jesus says “your faith has made you well.” All of them were healed physically, but this Samaritan was healed spiritually, emotionally, salvation had come to him (leprosy affected a lot more then just the physical).

Faith grows in the soil of gratitude. You want stronger faith, start thinking of all the things for which you could give thanks. We are not talking about a shallow thanks your parents made you give when people gave you a gift. Rather heartfelt praise to a gracious God who has done so much. Notice Jesus asks the question “where are the other nine? were there not ten healed.

“I would come back to give thanks,” or would we?

As I look at the generation of Israelites that saw the most dramatic miracles of God…the plagues, the fire by night, pillar of cloud by day, the parting of the red sea, the manna and how was their attitude? I can’t help think these people would be filled with the most gratitude, after all God had taken them out of the bondage of Egypt. I would think they would have the strongest faith because they clearly saw the hand of God. Yet we see a constant whining, complaining, mmmmuuuurrrrrmmmmuuuuurrrrring. Numbers 11:1 says they complained and God HEARD IT, and was displeased.

I am not sure we often think about the fact that God hears our complaining. Imagine your kids whining and complaining to you all the time, you wouldn’t like it….it would grate on you. Replace you, imperfect parent, with perfect God and it is all the more insulting. I heard one minister say the average person complains twenty times a day. The apostle Paul writes that in the last days there is going to be a prominent self centeredness and unthankfulness that will define that time, having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-7). That tells me that we may know we are to live with gratitude but most choose to not walk in it.

We choose our attitudes. As one said “gratitude is the attitude, that sets the altitude for living.” If we can get this truth in our hearts it could revolutionize our life. We could literally reach a greater depth of peace, joy, contentment, and intimacy with God we have yet to attain. Most aren’t going that direction, but how about you….want to make the trek?

I Want to invite you to Cornerstone over this Christmas, we are going to take a fresh look into the Christmas story. I know you are saying “I have heard it a thousand times already.” Like this dead, lifeless tradition we keep. This year is going to be different! Come and join us for our new series “Christmas Alive.” It is a powerful, life transforming story of good news….we need to hear.

How do I know when it is God speaking to me?

2009-11-19T20:01:00.000-08:00

I like the story I heard of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Apparently President Roosevelt got tired of smiling the expected presidential smile and saying the usual expected things at all those White House receptions. So, one evening he decided to find out whether anybody was really listening to what he was saying. As each person came up to him with extended hand, he flashed that big smile and said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." People would automatically respond with comments like "How lovely!" or "Just continue your great work!"Nobody listened to what he was actually saying, except for one foreign diplomat. When the president said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning," the diplomat responded softly, "I’m sure she had it coming."

Are you taking time to listen? Last week we talked how God gives us Holy Spirit impressions- John 14:26 "The Holy Spirit will be your teacher and will bring to your mind or remembrance [key word] all that I have said to you." "Bring to your mind" means He gives us impressions. He gives us ideas. He gives us these gut feelings.

I am not saying it is easy to always get what the almighty God is saying. It is hard for me to explain to my son why he shouldn’t eat stuff in the garbage or play in the toilet. So it must be hard for God to get through to us…but all I know is that He has done what He can to make a way by destroying the barrier of sin and given the Holy Spirit.

The question is “how do we know that impression is God or just some bad indigestion or something else?”

I gave many ways you can test (as 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirit) to determine if that thought, or message, or word is of God or not.

1. Is it biblical? Be assured God is consistent. You as a parent may not be or your parents may not have been, but what God says God’s Word is constant. If a message or word or thought doesn’t line up with scripture you can know that is not of God.

2. Does it make me more like Christ? (Phil 2:5) His goal is to make us more like Christ.
James 3:17 (NCV)
But the wisdom (defined as the best choice in any situation) that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial, sincere. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others.

The ideas that God gives are full of wisdom. Notice the description of what that includes it is peaceful, gentle, considerate, submissive, full of mercy. If you have ever been bowled over by someone speaking for God who demonstrated an arrogance or sense of bragging…this passage would tell you it wasn’t of God. God’s desire is that the quality of our message or the quality of our life point to Christ.

3. When I'm trying to figure out whether I've got this idea from God or not, I need to ask
“Does my church family confirm it?”
Ephesians 3:10 "God’s intent is that through the church the manifold wisdom of God is revealed."

We weren’t created to be island…we were adopted into his family. God speaks through his people. If you have something you believe may be of God, run it by some people of God.

Proverbs 11:9 "The wisdom of the righteous can save you." Save you what? Money, time,
reputation. Be open to council, correction, and guidance. If others mature believers are questioning it…you should too.

4. Is it convicting or condemning? Conviction comes from God and it is very specific and points the way to change. He points out an attitude, behavior, or something in your life that needs changing. You confess, repent, and feelings leave.

On the other hand, condemnation comes from the devil and is very general and just leaves you feeling bad. It is very vague and basically says something like, “You're bad. You're no good. You're worthless. You stink. God could never use you. Forget ever trying to be a Christian."

So if you have this very general sense of guilt that's condemnation and it is not from God.
Satan minimizes your sin before you do it, "It's no big deal!" and after you do it he goes
"Look at what you did!" He wants you to walk around in constant guilt because guilty Christians are worthless in serving God.

Sometimes we are mistaking our low self worth for God speaking…or substituting the past voices of parents that you could never please and put it on your heavenly Father. Need to get truth in you that believes Jesus paid the price for our sin so we could be forgiven and at peace with Him. We don’t need to live in condemnation any longer.

5. Do I sense God’s peace about it?
1 Corinthians 14:33 "God is not the author of confusion."
So if you're feeling confused it isn’t coming from God. If you feel pressured and overwhelmed and driven to make a hasty decision or a major decision fast, you need to question it. Not too many examples where God says “rush” to a major decision. I can think of Jesus talking about counting the cost of following me, that He is patient not wanting any to perish. He gives people time to make the right decision.

The only time you are going to feel stressed out and pressured is when He’s told you something to do and you don’t do it. It creates stress in your life but that is self imposed.

Colossians 3:1 "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts."
If God is genuinely speaking to you and you think this idea is from God, it's going to bring peace to your heart IF you follow it. God's Spirit produces a calm spirit.

May you learn to “test the spirit, to see if they may be of God” (1 John 4:1). These are just a few but using them will help you know if it is or isn’t of God.

Learning to Hear God

2009-11-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

One of the most basic claims of Christianity is that God speaks to people. All through the Bible
you see the phrase, "And God said..." This idea is used about 500 times. With the frequency you get the impression God wants to speak to people.

Yet most would say “I hardly ever to never hear God speaking to me.” Is it that He is not speaking or we are not listening or misunderstanding? Come to think of it I often misunderstand my wife, so why would I always “get” God. Apparently the disciples didn’t always get Jesus, in fact there were several places Jesus was saying one thing and the disciples were hearing something totally different.

How do we get to that place we really can begin to connect and dialogue with God? After all there is no relationship with people, even God, without communication.
In Luke 8:4-18 Jesus shares the Parable of the Sower. In a way these soils represent four mental attitudes. I would say from time to time we pass through all these soils. Sometimes we are very open to what God would say and sometimes we’re very closed. But hopefully if we stay in the process we can be those seed that falls on good soil.

The whole point of the parable is about HEARING. He concludes the parable by saying “Therefore, take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him (v. 18).” The word hear is used with every soil type (v.12,13,14,15); emphasizing Jesus point how are you hearing His word?

If you are truly going to hear and communicate you have to cultivate an open mind. One of the reasons I believe many do not hear God speak or sense His presence is that they have never been open to the possibility of it. Maybe you have heard “that was then, this is now…we don’t believe He will or wants to speak.” When you have a close mind, obviously God is not going to get through. We hold on to some pride, bitterness, and even fear and we harden up and the devil comes and takes that word from us.
The second soil reflects a shallow heart. The Middle East only had about 2-3 inches of top soil and during the heat of summer the plant withered. The emphasis is on a shallow hearing. They heard the word with joy but never got beyond that, you have to give time to listen. Try having a rushed conversation with someone, doesn’t work too well when you have a lot to share. The God of the universe longs for relationship, He has much to say and we are saying God I can give you five minutes. His word never gets beyond a nice initial feeling.

In the third soil Jesus shows us that if you are going to hear His Word you are going to have to eliminate or minimize distractions. The reason we can’t hear is because we are preoccupied with worries, acquiring wealth, or pleasure. Jesus says they are like weeds choking the word. My garden has been overridden with weeds the last 3 years. Weeds are a sign of neglect. You want to hear from God? Be proactive, make time to listen and let go of the weeds in your mind.

So how is your listening? The last soil reflects those that not only are listening but are willing to do what He says. Many want to hear and then decide whether they want to do it. We got to be willing to not only listen but also to cooperate with Him. May we be like Samuel as he struggle to understand God speaking simply said “speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening” (1 Samuel 3:10)

The hidden obvious struggle

2009-10-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

Ever been in one of those services where the message is just hitting you between the eyes? Last week my friend who is also a missionary was sharing a message that was doing that to me.

I believe God has given us stuff to enjoy, but sometimes I think that stuff becomes like a virus that takes over. Materialism is one of those sins we just kind of overlook (along with gluttony but let’s overlook that one…moving on). I have often heard it is not how much we posses but what posses us that matters…it is a great line and very true (Materialism penetrates all economic levels). It still seems hard to overlook that we have an insatiable desire for wealth and stuff.

PBS did a show called Affluenza.
-They said that the average American shops six hours a week
-by age 20 we have seen one million commercials
-recently more Americans declared bankruptcy then graduate
-90% of divorces, arguments about money play a primary role. (Treasure Principle-p. 52 Randy Alcott)

We are strapped in debt and it is no wonder our priorities seem to slowly suck the passion for God out of us. So when he shared the story of a youth service in Sudan where they were challenging the group in missions. They were casting the vision of raising money to send a team to share the Gospel to a Muslim village. He told of how little money they had over there and yet the challenge to give went out and one of the leaders came to the front took off his shoes and said “these have to be worth at least $8 if sold.” Then others came forward offering belts, shirts, jackets, going home selling furniture, etc. They indeed gave enough to send a team. That is passion for the kingdom of God… that’s generosity!

I was reading in the book of Acts 19:18-20 where the awe of God began to move on the people and it says “And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

One studied that and found that it was equivalent to perhaps six million dollars in today’s economy. The depth of transformation in the lives of the early Christians was most evident in the level of surrender of money and possessions.

Lord help us to do the same…

An Action that can change your Reactions, Feelings, and Relationships

2009-10-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

If there was one action that could change my feelings and my relationships that one action simply put would be to love. Lots of times I hear people say “I’m not feeling it,” or “I am not in love with them anymore.” The only problem with that is that love is not a feeling, it is a commitment. Jesus told His disciples to love as I have loved you…stay committed to love. If those disciples would have been our disciples we probably would have dumped them or given them the right boot of fellowship. Jesus demonstrates commitment by choosing to love even when it’s hard

George Crane, newspaper columnist and minister, tells of a wife who was full of hatred toward her husband. She came into his office saying, “I not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even.” She went on “before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has hurt me.”

Crane suggested an ingenious plan: “Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him.”

With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Beautiful! Beautiful! Will he ever be surprised?”

And she did it with enthusiasm, Acting “as if she loved him” for 2 months, she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing.

When she didn’t return, Crane called her. “Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?”

“Divorce!” she asked “Never! I discovered I really do love him.” (Leadership, 1983)

Her actions had changed her feelings. Motions resulted in emotion. Feelings won’t come back by doing nothing. Those feelings will never return until you start acting in a loving way.

1 Corinthians 13:8 simply says “Love never fails.” Think of the word never…he says choosing to love will work 100% of the time. How many products can give you that kind of guarantee? If you are finding it hard to love… I encourage you to reach out for His grace. He resists the proud, but He will give grace to the humble. As you lean on His power and not your own, He will help you to love even when it is so incredibly difficult.

Check this new story out on the power of prayer...amazing!!!

2009-10-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

Good Morning America on ABC News - ABC News

Talking About You

2009-10-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

I want to be known for being a selfish jerk.

I want to be known as a quiet, introverted, shy person that no one is let in to my world.

I want to be forgotten.

I want to be remembered for being greedy and ruthless.

I want to be remembered for being lazy.

Obviously no one wants to leave these kinds of legacy. We want to know that somehow our lives mattered, we made the world a better place, we made a difference. The question is how? It is an important question because I don’t know many that get a do over in life.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.”(Isaiah 40:8)

If you are going to leave a great and godly legacy, you have got to build godly convictions. I grimace at my hair style in high school, the clothes I wore back in the day, and why did we have that orange carpet anyways. Things change…God’s Word never does....cliché however it was true hundreds of years ago and it will be true thousands of years from now. This is what conviction is all about; they are core values that are unchanging and eternal. It is a strong belief that shows up in the way we act.

The problem is too many have what Craig Groeschel calls preferences and not convictions. He describes a preference as a strong desire that you will compromise when the cost becomes too high. It goes like this…

I prefer to be a virgin when I get married until the peer pressure is too much and the moment is just right and then I give away my preference.

I prefer to be generous until I see that new car and then you got to look out for number one.

I prefer to be generous, but it's not the way I always live.

Maybe you would say I prefer to go to church but football season starts next week. Church or football? You can't have both, you've got to make a choice. Football often wins out.

You prefer to be a tither until money gets tight.

You prefer family time; you want that to be important but people demands, work demands, etc.
We want these things but we give them up when the going gets tough.

To leave a great and godly legacy let’s attach convictions to God’s Word that cause us to live it out (James 1:22).

I like the way The Message says Jesus words in Matthew 7:26, “But if you just use My words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.” You don’t really believe something unless you live it out.

Often are convictions are misguided. Kids know that parents will flex on most things…but don’t move the remote control….

More concerned with the appearance of our kids then their character.

Who cares about commitment, you better not change the church service style.

We are giving off a message we don't want to leave because we have wrong convictions. A godly legacy is going to be directly tied to the convictions we are demonstrating. Remember there will be a day everyone will be gathered together and they will be talking about you, only you won’t be there…what will they say? Will there be awkward silence, a forced niceness to mask what was really true, or a pouring forth of gratitude for your life and the difference you made?

Lots of Facebook Friends, Few Real Relationships

2009-10-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Why are people so committed to growing their stuff, their money, their careers, and settling for average, shallow, even vanilla relationships? Having thousands of Facebook friends does not mean you excel in relationships. I can’t think of a better example of where many are at then John and Kate Gosselin whose shows intro always concluded with “we are in together, it is our life.” So why do we struggle to love others and grow high quality, deep relationships that can stand through time and challenges?

Honestly it isn’t always the big things that cause the biggest problems, sometimes it is the simplest things that cause the greatest annoyance and friction like:
-toothpaste tube squeezed incorrectly
-towels left on the floor
-hair clogging sinks or showers
-checks that did not get logged in the register
-claiming total control of the TV remote
-junk left in the car
-empty salt shakers
-milk container put back in the fridge that are empty

It is a dumb list but have you ever found yourself fussing at one another?

If we had 30 days to live, our priority would definitely be on building a lot more bridges then walls. There is only one place Jesus gives us a new command when he says in John 13:34-35, “I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.”(John 13:34-35)
I look at that and say what is new about it? Love one another is an Old Testament concept. The difference here is that it isn’t loving how “I want to be loved,” or “how I think you should love,” it is “love as I (Jesus) have loved you.” It is new in its level of sacrifice and other centered focus. The early church of Acts took it very seriously; they were radical in their response to love completely.

So why are we hanging out in the valley rather than climbing the summit by loving completely? There are many roadblocks but one of the biggest ones is misunderstandings. Things were going so smoothly then what happened? Opposites seem to attract, but then most of the time they attack (Kerry Shook). You reached out to help; they thought you were being nosy. You figured you would always understand each other, and now you are in separate corners of the ring. You must realize that differences of opinion are natural and inevitable parts of every relationship. We can’t read other people’s minds, no matter how much alike we may be. We’re all human, so miscommunication and misinterpretations are inevitable. It can spell the death of a relationship.

The roadblocks of selfishness are also just as large a hurdle to overcome. It is human nature to want to meet our own needs before we meet the needs of others. It creates a huge obstacle….my children in small issues parity life as adults. As we have had to set up systems in who gets the front seat in the car, what chair they get for supper, and who gets to play the video game at what time. Me-first attitude is an easy thought pattern to get into that creates a wall to love completely.

Perhaps the largest barricades to overcome are the offenses we have built up in our heart. All of us at one time or another have been hurt by someone’s comments, been cheated, or wronged. It is easy to build a wall. Proverbs tells us “A brother offended is harder to win then a walled city.” It can poison relationships forever. We must learn to channel our anger in the right way or we will find ourselves embittered and hard.

Good news we can overcome all that to love as Christ loved us, by beginning to learn to accept one another. Romans 15:7-8 (NCV) “Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.” The word accept has the idea of “strong action toward us” God literally came to us and took hold of us while we were yet sinners. By that act of acceptance, he released grace in us and it transforms us, bringing glory to God.

Acceptance by its very meaning means stop trying to change someone and start cherishing them. I can honestly say I spent my first years of marriage trying to change my wife and I can now say it was 100% ineffective. I can’t recommend it. We are not God nor are we the Holy Spirit; and when we try to be, we just don’t do a very good job at it. I have noticed the more I accept the differences, the more I am able to connect with those closest to me. Plus the greater the connection, the greater room we give God to work because we get out of the way.

So how about beginning right now from the heart ask God to help you truly accept those closest to you.

Down on Passion

2009-09-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

You have given me only a short life;
my lifetime is like nothing to you.
Everyone’s life is only a breath. (Psalm 39:5)

Are you living with the reality that life is short? Do you see yourself as a pilgrim passing through, or, do you see yourself as a permanent resident?

The psalmist says we have given only a short life…even 100 years in all of history is short. How are you going to use it?

One of the ways Jesus lived His life was by living passionately.

Passion is the driving force behind great art, great music, great business, great anything. It drives athletes to break records and scientists to find cures. Nothing great ever happens without passion.

In the Message version it says “Love the Lord your God with all your passion…” (Mark 12:30)

Later it says “Never be lacking in zeal or passion, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

Key word is keep. We have to work at it or we can lose it. And truthfully life’s worries, cares, and problems have a way of pouring water all over our passion.

Do you sometimes feel like the fire has dwindled? You can fire it up again….

Howard Thurman said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” If you are going to rediscover passion you are going to need to do some things.

Take a lesson from the friends trying to get the paralytic to Jesus:

” four men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven … But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....’ He said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’ ” Luke 5:18-20; 24-26 (NIV)

Randy Pausch in his book “The Last Lecture” writes about road blocks saying “The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people. They give us a chance to see how badly we want something.” It is one of the reasons scriptures teach “never be lacking in passion.”

These guys reflect passion by doing something drastic. The crowd was a road block so they went to the roof and tore a hole in it. This was perhaps their only opportunity to get their friend to Jesus and they weren’t going to be stopped. If we keep asking the question “how would I live if I just had 30 days,” we recognize what is most important. Material things just aren’t that important compared to relationships. These guys tore a hole and put their friend through it. They said it’s just a roof. You can replace a roof, but we’ve got to get our friend to Jesus. They realized what was important. They were passionate about it.

Secondly they created a God space. They set the man down in front of Jesus amidst the crowd. That is an amazing thought, because of their creativity and flexibility they were able to gain front row access to the King of Kings. They created God space. Jesus often modeled this; amidst the crowds and demands he created a God space in His life, by getting alone with Him. He stayed in connection with the Divine to “keep” passion.

Follow His example especially (and very intentionally) when you are overloaded, overstressed, and over-committed. Get alone and wait on Him. God will begin to clarify what is most important in that moment. Prov. 10:27 says “Whoever respects (or reverences) the Lord will have a long life,” God is able to multiply our time as we put Him first.

Lots of times we try to control everything and when things don’t work the way we want we lose passion. Learn to expect the unexpected. His friends are expecting to hear “you are healed.” Jesus instead says “your sins are forgiven,” it was unexpected. In those days physical disease and suffering was strongly linked to personal sin. Rabbis would see a man in his condition and assume he had been very sinful. Jesus saw the inner healing that was needed even before the physical healing. The guilt, shame, and condemnation were probably heavy on him. Jesus in His wisdom first healed him through forgiveness and then healed the physical.

God knows best what we need. I like what the late Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham, once said “God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man several times.” We assume we know what’s best….we plan, we prioritize, we control and then life interrupts and we get frustrated and lose passion. At that point we need to trust God and quit trying to control everything (which is just playing God anyways). We weren’t meant to control everything. Learn to expect the unexpected.

Let’s strive to be passionate for the things that matter most…loving God…loving people and living it full out.

30 Days left to live?

2009-08-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

Time is the one thing we can never have back…tick…tock…tick…tock. Morbid thought? It doesn’t have to be. In fact it can be a motivating force to really live. Let me ask you a question, how are you using your time? Some people say they are just “killing time,” others say “I am wasting time,” still others “I am dong my time (before promotion or retirement)”, or “I have no time,” or I am “out of time.” For too many this means they are just SPENDING their time with very little purpose or passion. They are living with bags full of regrets and failures and have found themselves camped in park. Others are living with the “someday” syndrome…some day I will do this or that.

In two weeks we are beginning a new series based on the New York Times Best-selling book “One Month To Live” by Kerry & Chris Shook. It poses the question “how would I live if I only had 30 days left to live.” What would you do? Make some relationships right, spend more time with your family and friends, spend more time with God, or even take a vacation. Just think how your perspective would change. You would move away from just spending your time to making every moment count. This is the thought in Ephesians 5:15-17:

“So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do” (New Living Translation)

Wisdom is thinking carefully about how you are living life, are you making the most of your time? You can.

Beginning Sunday, September 13th will you please join us as we take the 30 day challenge that thousands already have across the country? Even now begin to pray about what you would do with only 30 days. Let’s quit wasting our time and throw ourselves into becoming the person God intended you to be. There is a huge difference between SPENDING time and INVESTING time. Please come and INVEST your time in coming to this series at church and being a part of a One Month To Live small group. Please invite some friends as the material is so relevant, practical, and life changing. Let’s make the most of our time and really begin to live with no regrets.

No One Is Beyond The Reach Of God

2009-08-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever prayed for the most hardened atheist to become a Christian? Or looked at a politician or sports figure and thought what if they gave their life to Christ and then thought “like that will ever happen?” Or, perhaps, someone closer to you like a family member, child, or friend that is making a mess of their life and needs the Lord and thought it’s impossible?

Chances are they didn’t think about it, but if they ever did, it would have been impossible to get their head wrapped around the idea of the apostle Paul ever following Christ. After all he was chucking them in prison, having them tortured, even killed. His words and actions proclaimed a hatred for anything associated with Christ. Hard-nosed, stubborn, opinionated, extremely religious, and prideful; the cards were stacked against him for ever changing. Do you know people like that? Privately in your head you think there is no chance of them ever having a heart change.

There are some great encouragements we can learn from Paul’s conversion in Acts 9.

First, we can learn that no one anywhere is beyond the reach of the Gospel. The Gospel can reach anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances…period. It is just that powerful.

Secondly can learn no one is too lost for God. Even on the road going on his way to get those “in the way”. It says suddenly a light from heaven flashed (Acts 9:3). Isn’t that a great word, looks like that child or spouse will never turn to Christ…”suddenly” God steps in.

Imagine what Jesus is going to say to him, “I am Jesus you are persecuting prepare to die (rephrased reference from “the Princess Bride”). Quite the opposite there is a power and self control, even tenderness in His voice, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me? (v.4)”

Paul is like “what do you mean “you”? I was just throwing Christians in prison, my beef wasn’t with you. Yet how did Jesus see it? People that don’t think the church is that important or needs to be an important part of their life should consider how important it was to Jesus…Jesus refers to Paul’s persecution of the church as a personal attack of himself.

As only the Lord can do in breaking the stubbornness of a person, Paul realizes he deserves punishment. Instead God gives him this extravagant grace that totally transforms His life. Why? Because no one anywhere is too lost for God.

Third, we can learn that no one is too hard for the Gospel. If even this hardened man could be broken, be encouraged it is not impossible for those people that you love.

Forth, no one anywhere is too evil for God. Let’s be honest there are people that are so offensive and their ways are so evil that we are just repulsed by them. As Paul is blinded and headed to Damascus, the Lord begins to call the prophet Ananias to go there and meet him. The Lord gives Ananias very specific directions, can you imagine listening to the conversation

The Lord: ok go to the street called straight…

Ananias: great I am there, go to house of Judah…no problem,

The Lord: look for a man of tarsus named Saul…

Ananias: What? That is funny I thought you said Saul…
The Lord: I did

Ananias: He’s the guy doing all the harm to us and we have been hiding because that man was coming. We have been hoping he wouldn’t make it.

Can you relate to an Ananias? This man is so evil, look how much trouble he has caused. It was a pretty overwhelming obstacle, yet human obstacles are no barrier to God.

Ananias gives us a great picture of surrender, and God gives us a better picture of grace. “Arise go…he is a chosen instrument of mine. Take down the old label and help him put on the new.” All things are made new, Jesus doesn’t label him a murderer, persecutor, hater, or sinner; instead he is “my chosen instrument.” Thankfully we are not who are past says we are, a great picture of grace. No one is too evil for God.

What banners hang over your past that keeps you from growing in His grace? The cross eliminates our past, Paul said he was the chief of sinners but because of His grace I labor all the more (1 Corinthian 15:10).

What banner have you erected over other people? They can’t change, they are too gone, too evil, too hard, too…. But God sees them in a totally different way.

See the Gospel is not lacking power to transform. The Gospel is failing for lack of faith to believe it has total power to transform. Be renewed today that God’s power is limitless, and no one anywhere, under any circumstances is beyond His reach.

I don't need this??

2009-08-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

I want to be real candid with you. Do you ever say the church is not for “me”? "I love Jesus I just don’t need the church."

All we do is stand up, sit down, sing, listen to a sermon, give money, and shake a few hands anyways. Besides I can sleep in and get a dynamic message from Joel Olsteen, Stanley, Hayford or whatever your flavor is. In fact I can sit in my favorite rocking chair and turn on a good FM station of worship songs and reflect. I would rather connect with God in nature. So why bother with the church, they are just a bunch of hypocrites anyways. I still have my “personal” relationship with the Lord, my “own” spiritual journey. And so people are concluding it is not that relevant to my life and letting it go.

Let me ask you, is that biblical? Seriously is God ok with that thought process? To unplug, disengage, quit the church. Yes I know the church as a whole is to blame for doing some dumb things, however, two wrongs don’t make a right.

The church (as a whole) was not created by man, it was God’s idea. God is passionate about the church; He refers to it as His bride. Paul can’t talk about marriage without referring to the symbolism of Christ’s relationship to the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). The epistles which form a large part of the New Testament were written not to individuals but to the church. When people made Jesus the leader of their life they became a part of the church, and so we comprise His body “in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence (Ephesians 1:23).” If you believe you don’t need the church try this (I don’t recommend it but it will make the point) take your hand and chopped it off, then see how much life is in it on its own. In the same way God created this interconnected body that derives life and health from the head (Christ) as we live in community with His body.

If you are saying or you hear it said “I love Jesus I just don’t need the church….” Rick Warren said it is like standing next to your friend and saying “I like you but I can’t stand your wife, or I like you but can’t stand your body.” Jesus is in love with the church, He died for the church; His plans are unfolded through the church. How can we say we are growing in Christ but moving away from His passion. Too many are letting our fiercely independent culture steal the joy, satisfaction, and purpose He created you for in His body.

Resist the strong current of today’s culture that gives the excuse…
I am just too busy
It’s not worth the risk
I don’t really need anyone
I’ll get burned if I get too close
If I reach out, I will look foolish

Please join us as we continue a new series called “Church Refocused” and get refocused on what God’s purpose is for the church and what your part is.

The Lies We Continue To Believe...

2009-07-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever believed this…?

I have to be strong. I mean I have to be emotionally strong for a loved one that is emotionally weak. I have to be there for them, I can help them if I just stay strong.

Or

I have parents that their marriage is struggling and I have to be strong for them…if we work really hard we can help keep their marriage together.”

Or

Perhaps you have a struggling marriage but “you know we got to be strong for our kids.”

I have to be emotionally strong; even though on the inside you feel vulnerable there is no way you are going to let anyone know...why do it? Because we have bought the lie (Inspired by Craig Groeschel)

It could be the feeling you have to keep everything together in your finances, in your career. How about in your faith….I have to stay strong people are looking and I have to look strong to keep up the illusion.

It is a lie we often believe. I've been there; I can put the game face on as good as you can. Sometimes, although, you really can’t fake it….like when I took a weight lifting class in college with a bunch of football players. I put on way more weight than I could really lift (what they did many reps of I did a few of) and did the 1, 2, and then 10 when someone walked by, and would be puking after class. I got pride...I don't want them to see weakness even though it was pretty obvious.

The truth is that our strength is limited. God made us that way so that we might learn to depend more on Him and His unlimited power. It is pretty frustrating doing life out of our own limited strength like cutting with a dull saw. We get worn out, tired, hopeless.

Look deeper in Isaiah 40:30-31- Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Notice it says “even youth” get faith, young men "utterly fall," in the original language the point is made that these are the best of best. As opposed to those who are past their prime; they are in the strongest part of life and even they get tired and stumble and fall.

However those who wait on the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles. I learned that eagles even though about 12 pounds in weight can carry well over its own body weight even carrying baby lambs. They are able to spot rabbits two miles away and with their 7 foot wing span they reach speeds of over 150 mph and have the ability to dive at speeds of 200 mph. Eagles have been seen almost motionless in hurricane force winds. What amazing strength…God’s Word says we can have that strength but it doesn’t come from us.

The apostle Paul learned this. It wasn’t about him being stronger, trying harder, being better, caring more. At one point he was bothered so much by something he begged God to take it away, yet God did not. Instead God told him “My grace is sufficient for you” and then he learned “my power is made perfect in (can you believe it) weakness.” Paul learned when he is weak, broken, vulnerable, and dependent then he is strong.

He even makes a crazy statement “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” He goes on to say he delights in them (2 Corinthians 12:10), the language has the idea of thinking well of it or embracing the weakness. Paul embraced his weakness because he learned that when he did that a powerful strength from God would begin to work in him.

Are you embracing the weakness? Truth is “I don’t have to be strong” rather “when I am weak then I am strong.”

I have heard it said that lifeguards are trained to wait to rescue the drowning person until they quit trying to save themselves and just surrender otherwise they will be resisting the lifeguards help. When they surrender then they are able to give them the help they need. What a great picture of the power we can find as we learn to surrender. Some things you can’t fix, only God is going to be able to do it. His grace is sufficient, it’s exactly enough. His power specifically His explosive miraculous power is made perfect when we quit trying to do it on our own and become broken before Him. Let go of the façade of looking strong and embrace the weakness through brokenness. Reach out for His solutions and see if you won’t be finding a new strength that is not your own (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Lies we believe

2009-07-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel trapped? Feel like there are things in your life pulling you down that you just can’t overcome? Emotions that are hard to control? Money issues that keep recurring no matter how much you make? Relational struggles you see over and over? Addictions that have you bound? Spiritual walls that keep you from developing a closer walk with the Lord?

Craig Groeschel (lifechurchtv) says if we continually believe a lie is true it will affect us as if it were true. Take an elephant it can pick up a one ton load with his huge trunk, but if you have been to a circus it stands quietly tied to a small wooden stake. How does this happen? As a young elephant, they are tied to a heavy chain chained to an immovable iron stake. The young elephant tries to break free but is not able to do it. As the elephant grows, no matter how strong he becomes he continues to believe he can’t move it. It is a great picture of the strongholds that can form in our minds keeping us stuck.

One of the lies of the enemy we so often believe is this, “This is just the way I am…I can’t change.” “I’ve tried it before and it didn’t work out, and so that proves that I can never ever change in this area of my life.”

We think…
“I have always had a bad marriage, I will always have one.” “I will never be able to trust people.”

“I am just not good with money…always in debt no matter how much I make, I have tried budgeting doesn’t work…tried saving, tried giving...always be that way.”

“I gamble all the time..can’t stop, I can’t stop drinking, smoking, watching the tube, eating that food, etc.”

“I have a bad attitude, always have, always will. My parents had one I guess I do to. I am just more of a critical person, negative.”

“Spiritually I get up but then I go back down..I see sincerity in other’s faith but I guess it will not be me”

And the lies go on and on and on….

God’s Word says:
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

A stronghold is a castle, fortress or something on which one relies. The person even uses arguments and reasonings to fortify and defend their opinions or conclusion no matter how off based it is. Rick Renner writes that in the original language it came to be the very same Greek word used to describe a prison. In other words strongholds keep people or truth out (a fortress) or it’s like a prison that keeps insiders from getting out.

See in all cases the enemy is ringing out a lie- “this is just the way you are, you can’t change…and after believing it long enough- you are saying basically “God even you can’t change me… it is just the way I am.” What kind of bigger insult could we ever give to the one who made us than to say, “You don’t have the power to change me.” I have become a prisoner, locked by deception.

Good news is that the weapons we fight with are so powerful they are able to completely obliterate all these strongholds we often have. However, we have to build a strategy (the word warfare..actually means strategy). Before armies go out to battle they build a strategy for how they are going to win. The devil certainly has a strategy for deceiving people. So what is your strategy to win the war of chronic strongholds we battle?

Let me give you a cheesy acronym (but hopefully you can remember) to help you W.I.N.

W- Wallop the thoughts-

Remember the video game where you took a mallot and beat all the critters that popped up randomly.

He says you got to take every thought, thoughts you know that are inconsistent with God’s Word got to take it captive… beat it… wallop it. Anything not of God- we demolish it. See thoughts we allow will form the actions or choices we make.

So whenever your mind says, “I cannot overcome this addiction,” capture this thought. “I can’t stop this new habit. I’ve tried before, and I can’t do it, can’t stick with it…” Wallop or beat that thought. “Well, this is just the way …” Capture this thought. Make it obedient to Christ.

“I can do all things through Him, who gives me strength. I’m more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. I am an over comer. Not by my own power, but by the blood of the lamb and by the words of my testimony. “

We capture every wrong thought. Philippians 4:8, Paul was great at this. From a prison, waiting possible execution, do you think strongholds of discouragement, pessimism, anger might come. He said, “Whatever is true and noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,” what do you do? You think about, you think about such things. We capture all the wrong thoughts. We make them obedient to Christ.

I-Implement right words-

The tongue is powerful. Proverbs 18:21- “The tongue has the power of life and death…”

I am not advocating a name it, claim it or positive confession thing that is built on speaking right words to get what you want and not on the foundations of God’s Word. However, there is a powerful principle of life that can come from the tongue. Self fulfilling prophecies do often happen.

We got to capture the wrong thoughts, but we also need to implement right words built on His Word.

Psalm 19:14- Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you (acceptable in your sight) O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

The idea in this passage is consistency. Is what I am speaking consistent with what is on the inside? Or do I say one thing but on the inside it is totally different? Jesus said out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

“but, I just can’t change.” You are a prisoner locked in by deception. Jesus Christ came to set us free. He has unlocked the door and he wants to open it up to you. Meditate on the verses that empower- “I can do all through Christ…I am more than a conqueror…etc.”

Lastly…

N-No longer a victim.

Jesus didn’t pay the price so we are just stuck in these old fleshly patterns. He didn’t go through just some of the cross, just some of the suffering. He took all of it and overcame it. He destroyed the power of sin and death.

Often we make a truce with sin or partially deal with it…not Jesus He destroyed it. And the truth is….we are no longer victims, we can overcome strongholds through Christ…period.

David Wilkenson shares the story of a book from Thomas Costain’s history, The Three Edwards, described the life of Raynald III, a fourteenth-century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means “fat.” After a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”

Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year. . . a prisoner of his own appetite.
Paul says “to this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

Paul experienced a power that was beyond him. Avoid two extremes though. The first says “it is all about me…I got to try harder, be better, work harder.” The second is “I prayed about it, now God’s gotta do it.” No effort or labor or struggle on my part. Paul says it is His power working through us. I am doing my part and His strength is doing what I don’t have the ability to do.

I hope today you will refuse to except that you are just a victim. That your issues are impossible to deal with or experience victory. I pray you will draw near to Him and get His truth in you and overcome the lie “it’s just the way I am…can’t do anything about it.”

Time to build this

2009-06-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

How is your faith? Do you have great faith? What does great faith look like? What if your life was like a multiple choice test on faith, would you ace it? Get average grade? Bomb it?
In Matthew 15:21-28 we get a picture of great faith contrasted with not so great faith…who do identify with as you read the passage?

"Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:21-28)

First read of that passage and you think, “Wow! Jesus was a racist.” After all He uses the term “dog” to describe a woman. I haven’t recalled that term being ever used positively and back then it wasn’t… at first read.

At second read we see Jesus as the master teacher who creates experiences for people. Jesus deliberately induces frustration to teach a lesson that the disciples and this woman and hopefully you will never forget.

This is only one of the two times Jesus tells someone they have “great faith.” What makes her faith great and what do the disciples and often times us need to learn?

First, great faith is not indifferent. Can you picture this lady coming to Jesus crying and yelling and Jesus did not respond? Many men do this to their wives; it still doesn’t make it right. To the disciples though it made sense after all she was a Canaanite. The disciples could recall detailed battles Israel had with Canaan coming into the Promised Land. Ignore her, understandable…get her out of here; absolutely…she is not worth their time.

Yet the master teacher Jesus knew this was a fantastic teaching moment, you can feel Him play their game. The disciples fed up finally ask “send her away, she keeps crying out for us." Actually she is crying out for Jesus but they include themselves. They want some “me” time. And even though it seems so cruel Jesus is acting this way not for her sake but for theirs. Notice Jesus doesn’t speak to her until the disciples speak what they are thinking. He is exposing this attitude of indifference. Not one of them pulled her aside and said “we will pray for you, let me see what we can do to get you to Jesus”…pure indifference.

Thank God we are not indifferent to the needs around us. Thank God we don’t get focused on our little world, our clique, our family, our friends, etc. You want to sink a ship, you want to drop a team, you want to let a family just slide apart… just be indifferent. Let’s kick into apathy mode and turn our minds, hearts, and actions into neutral.

Put yourself in the story- would you have reached out to her or been a liaison between her and Jesus? Or would you have shrunk back and hope someone else would take care of it or just get her out of here?

As so often is the case the one you least expect is set up to be the hero in the passage. Her GREAT faith is set as a back drop for the disciple’s indifference.

Contrary to indifference, she knew something had to be done. Rather than just thinking about the problem, her great faith moved her out of apathy, sympathy, and neutrality and moved her to Jesus.

She shows great faith because she is so stinkin’ (used in a good way) persistent. Here she is crying out for Jesus to come heal her daughter and even though He can clearly hear her He ignores her (I guess I do sometimes ignore my kids that cry out to me for this and that but I think my motive may be quite different then Jesus). Ignored by Jesus and rejected by the disciples. With caller id’s we are gracefully able to do it but she was flat out rejected. Most would walk away…leave it alone, but not her. She refuses to be discouraged or quit but keeps on crying out all the more.

Ignored by Jesus but then resisted “I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel.” Notice the woman persists, “Lord help me.” I wonder if He hoped the disciples would disagree with Him. They still had much to learn.

"But He answered and said, ’It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs." Matthew 15:26. The Greek word employed by Jesus was “kynarion” which is best translated “little dogs” (household pets). What might at first appear as highly derogatory was, in reality, tenderly uttered by our Lord.

With humility and submission she continues, like she knows Jesus is going to honor her request.
Today, people would say that unanswered prayer is a sign of a lack of faith but that is not always true. Faith is not proven true by answered prayer but by unanswered prayer that does not make us waver or give up on God.

See her example points to one thing that Jesus knew all along, but now He makes very public for the disciples to see, "Woman, you have great faith."

I like what one football coach said, “Press on, nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are important.” (Living Above Mediocrity, Charles Swindol)

So who do you relate to in the story? Perhaps some of both. Hope you will continue to pursue a great faith….

2009-06-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

To be a Christian means we have incredible purpose. Unfortunately, many aren't embracing it and instead are finding themselves wandering or pursuing "lesser things". Jesus tells a crowd of ordinary disciples that they were the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that also applies to us. He doesn't make a suggestion or give an option, rather He tells us this is what you are (if we are in Christ).

Like many verses in the Bible it is easy to read things and blow it off or pass the buck thinking "hey I will let those zealous Christians be that, or the super saints, or the government, etc." But Jesus point is clear- You are the salt and the light to the world. He says let your good works shine for all to see....the word good used here in the Greek means winsome, attractive, beautiful works be seen.

This is interesting because as you look forward to chapter six Jesus says:

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

How do we reconcile that…

I think it challenges us to ask the question why do we do good works?

Some do good works rooted in insecurity….

"I need to do these things to keep the people loving me,"

"to keep people happy," "to win approval"

The religious people in that day did this, whatever would earn them praise.

We do it too. We work extra hard to please that demanding boss. We do those good works to please that unsatisfied spouse.

The problem is when we do good works out of insecurity, we are looking to people to fill a need. We think, "when will that spouse finally give me what I need, when I do all this for them." "That friend I am constantly calling, writing, reaching out to, all they do is take, when are they going to appreciate me." "When is the boss going to finally give me what I deserve."

In the end it is really rooted in selfishness and lots of people are doing good works with this motivation.

Others do good works to feel better about themselves, some do good works to help them earn God’s approval….instead Jesus says do it quietly so your Father will see them.

However, Jesus says we can know we are doing good, winsome, beautiful, attractive works if the work that is done brings glory to God...draws people to Him (Matthew 5:16).

End the wandering and embrace and pursue who you are....the salt of the earth (the flavor, creating spiritual thirst, preservative from the onslaught of wickedness) and the light of the world(reflecting the glory of the Lord).

The blog no one will read

2008-07-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog. I do not have it linked anywhere yet so there is not much chance anyone is going to read this. This is my first chance at launching out and testing the new wave. This is my test run. As musicians have practices before they perform, so am I with this blog. If you happen to be some poor sap that actually gets to read this- remember it is my test run. There is absolutely nothing of substance in this blog. I did that intentionally because it is my test run at blogging. Down the road I am hoping I can be witty, candid, engaging, thought provoking but not this time. Why? Because it is my test run. Thank you- have a great day