I received the most incredible Christmas present from my kids this year. It began as a scavenger hunt with many clues. Fortunately, my kids helped me figure out what the clues meant.
The final clue pointed me to my bookshelf in my study. It said to look for something bright blue. They were referring to a book on the top shelf.
When pulling the book off the shelf, I was a bit puzzled by what I saw. I had never seen the book before and it had the title of a sermon series that I had preached a little over a year ago – Prayer Biographies. I said, “What a coincidence.”
They told me to thumb through the book and look at it. I looked first at the table of contents. Another strange coincidence. The chapters looked a lot like the individual sermon titles I had used before. Hmm.
Finally, when my kids couldn’t stand it anymore…they blurted out that it was my book.
My three children and their three spouses had each taken a sermon and transcribed it as they listened to it. Then they personally edited the chapter and then passed it on to another sibling for more editing. Finally, they had the book published and secured some endorsements from some of my spiritual mentors and heroes.
I couldn’t believe it. They had been encouraging me to write for years and told me that this should give me a jump start.
Talk about a huge investment of time, energy, and creativity. I was overwhelmed by this amazing demonstration of love and sacrifice.
I just had to take this moment and share with all of you how proud I am to be the father of incredible kids.
Thanks for indulging me with this very personal blog entry.
And special thanks goes to my kids:
Jason and Amanda Landry
Steve and Beth Browning
Nathan and Michelle Schneider
Most people are briefly encouraged with the beginning of a new year. At least for a moment, it seems like you’re given a opportunity to start over again…and get it right this time. New Year’s resolutions are decisions to walk through the open door of a new beginning.
I mean, who doesn’t want to be more disciplined, more relational, more spiritual, more fun, more productive, more wise, and in better shape physically? The New Year seems like an open door to try again.
But the moment you mess up, again, you feel like it’s back to the “same-old, same-old.” It doesn’t matter that you were making progress and were actually more productive than you’ve been in a long time. At the moment we mess up, it just feels like nothing has changed. But, it did change…you were changing…and making progress.
May I make a suggestion? Don’t stop trying just because you hit another Resolution Speed Bump. Those interruptions and momentary lapses happen to every one of us.
In fact, I want to suggest you try something different this year that will help jump start your New Year and move you beyond the first Speed Bump.
Start on your New Year’s resolutions IMMEDIATELY…before the New Year. Go work out at the gym – TODAY. Call that old friend – THIS WEEK. Take 10 minutes and read your Bible TONIGHT. Refuse to order that piece of dessert TODAY. Start those piano lessons BEFORE the new year. Whatever you’ve been planning to start once the first of the year comes, start it a little earlier.
If you try starting now, before the New Year, you will make some progress. And, I can almost guarantee, that you will fail in at least one of those areas before the New Year. But you will have gotten a jump start on the New Year! When the New Year comes, it will give you just enough momentum to get over that Resolution Speed Bump and continue forward much further than ever before.
Come on. Try it. I know you’ve got excuses about why you should wait. But, do you really want to keep getting the same results you’ve gotten every other year? It’s time to jump start the New Year…before the New Year starts.
Sometimes Gratitude Just Requires Perspective
I heard a story about a young man named John who received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude and obnoxious. John tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying polite words and playing soft music. He tried everything he could think of to “clean up” the bird’s vocabulary.
Finally, John had enough. He was angry and yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back.
John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total silence. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.
Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arms and said, “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”
John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude. Just as he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, “May I ask what the turkey did?”
Oftentimes, an attitude of gratitude simply requires perspective. It’s easy to become preoccupied with self and absorbed with an entitlement mindset. Take a moment and consider how good you really have it. There are so many others who are far worse off than you and I are. Let’s make the most of this Thanksgiving Season by expressing our gratitude for what God has already done and look for ways to help those who are less fortunate that we are.
When you’re in the freezer, be sure to look at the turkey. ☺
A carpenter cannot build a house without a plumb line. It’s not good enough to try to line things up by sight. The house will end up crooked. The same principle applies to our lives.
To live a life worth living and one that is constructive and beneficial to others requires a plumb line. Our personal perspectives and experiences are much too limited and finite. A life lived with no regrets must be built with plumb lines that guide us and give us true readings.
I was reminded of this by a recent conversation I had with a fellow passenger on a flight home the other day. The young man thought it was wrong for others to be critical about the lifestyle of others. He believed that people should be able to live anyway they want to live as long as it doesn’t directly hurt an innocent party.
The problem with this kind of thinking is that it ignores the truth about human nature and assumes that we are omniscient. Human nature will always minimize the pain of others to justify our own personal pleasures. We are so prone to distort and misrepresent truth and reality in order to justify our current lifestyles. It’s hard for most people to admit that they are born bent with a disposition toward self-centeredness and selfishness.
But the truth is true whether we believe it or not. And, if our lifestyle denies the truth, it does not change the truth.
Think about it this way. Suppose an experienced carpenter tries to eyeball the line necessary for a perpendicular wall and builds the wall based upon what looks right to him. Afterwards, a rookie carpenter or apprentice to the carpenter uses a plumb line on the wall and discovers that the sight line was slightly off and that the wall is now crooked. Can you imagine how absurd it would be for the experienced carpenter to try and justify his crooked line based upon his sight and experience? It’s not about how much experience he has…it’s about the truth.
It is so important that we measure our lives with God’s plumb line. We dare not trust our experiences and sightlines as being precise measurements of truth to build on. We are so prone to be slightly off center because we were not designed as human plumb lines. Over time, building a life slightly off center will result in disaster and a life full of regrets.
God’s Word is the plumb line. Don’t be surprised when you use God’s plumb line and it exposes your life as crooked and needing re-alignment. Also, don’t be surprised when you disagree with the findings of the plumb line on your life. Our desire for pleasure often blinds us to the truth.
So, what’s the take-away here? Trust God’s plumb line even when it doesn’t make sense or feel right. A plumb line is always straight and reliable…our perspective and experience is not. Invest time daily in the reading of and study of God’s Word. Ask yourself the hard question, “Does my life line up to the truth?” You won’t regret it…especially when you’re looking back at your life and asking the question, “Was it worth it?”
I’m in the Dayton airport awaiting my flight back home. I’ve been in Ohio for the last 8 days and had the privilege of renewing friendships with two pastor friends while speaking in their churches throughout the week. While here, I observed and was reminded of a number of things that contribute to the good health of a church. Both churches were very different but had so much in common. I thought I’d share some of the similarities with you.
1. These pastors genuinely loved the people in their church.
2. These congregations trusted and loved their pastors.
3. These pastors were not so scripted that they couldn’t be flexible and spontaneous.
4. These congregations demonstrated their concern for others with their “acts of kindness” and talked about it so others could learn how.
5. These pastors had a sense of humor and weren’t afraid to laugh at themselves.
6. These congregations were generous and didn’t wait for someone to ask before they demonstrate it.
7. These pastors measured effectiveness in ministry and direction for ministry with an evangelistic baseline.
8. These congregations were eager to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word and demonstrated it with their participation in special services and Bible Studies at the most inconvenient times.
9. These pastors were disciplined men and demonstrated it by prioritizing time for the study of God’s Word and prayer.
10. These congregations permitted and encouraged their pastors to spend large quantities of time with their families.
11. These pastors paid attention to their wives and kids and were quick to pull out pictures that demonstrated how much they valued and loved them.
12. These congregations and their pastors were passionate about their personal relationships with God and wanted others to know about it.
13. These pastors were committed to stick with their churches during difficult times and had weathered storms in the past that earned their congregation’s trust.
14. These churches had both been willing to follow their pastor’s lead even when their personal preferences had to be denied.
15. Both pastors regarded past victories as reason to celebrate but not as “sacred cows” to maintain or repeat.
16. Both pastors saw themselves as pastors to their communities as well as their congregations.
I could go on and on with many other observations but I’m afraid God will already hold me accountable for all that I’ve listed. J This has been a refreshing week and a reminder of many of the subtleties of effective ministry. I return to Sarasota with a renewed commitment to pastor, lead, and enjoy the wonderful people God has placed in my life.
Special thanks go to Pastors Greg Jackson and Dave Hill and their churches, First Southern Baptist Church in Camden and Northside Baptist Church in Springfield. You’re both making a huge difference and honoring God with your ministries.
I just finished a study of the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus found in chapters 5-7 in the Gospel of Matthew. It appears that the point of His message was to clarify what actually works when it comes to connecting personally with God and growing spiritually.
When seeing that Jesus wrapped up His sermon by emphasizing the long-term importance of applying all the things He had just spoken about (Matt 7:24-27), I looked for a way to summarize these truths and organize them in the form of a checklist. I’m now using this checklist to keep me on track and help me to evaluate my progress. I’m passing it on here just in case you’re looking for something similar.
The Ingredients of a Life that Lasts:
1. Humility – Come to God on His terms. Matt 5:3-6; 1 Pet 5:6
2. Love – Value people the way God does. Matt 5:7-11; John 3:16
3. Impact – Purposefully live a life of influence. Matt 5:13-16; 2 Tim 2:2
4. Overflow – Let your lifestyle reflect your devotion to God. Matt 5:17-32; Col 2:6-7
5. Predictable – Be consistent. Matt 5:33-48; Matt 18:21-22
6. Transparent – Don’t allow your devotion to become a performance. Matt 6:1-8; Matt 23:23-28
7. Dependence – Use prayer to develop intimacy with God. Matt 6:9-15; Ps 37:4
8. Discipline – Use fasting to demonstrate dependence upon and humility toward God. Matt 6:16-18; 1 Tim 4:7
9. Simplicity – Remove clutter from you commitment to Christ. Matt 6:19-24; Prov 3:5-6
10. Trust – Deal with worry before it destroys you. Matt 6:25-34; Phil 4:6-7
11. Compassion – Beware of a critical spirit. Matt 7:1-6; Gal 6:1-2
12. Patience – Graciously deal with difficult people. Matt 7:7-12; 1 Pet 4:7-9
13. Proactive – Be decisive, alert, and relational. Matt 7:13-23; Eph 5:15-16
For more information about each individual point, I invite you to listen to the individual message on each point on my church's website. The sermon series was entitled, "Living Inside Out."
How To Graciously Deal With Difficult People
Tomorrow I’ll preach a message entitled, “How To Graciously Deal With Difficult People.” I mentioned it in a tweet a couple days ago and have had some interesting responses.
“This is basically every day in the ER”Jesus began His “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt 5-7) by identifying the kinds of changes that are necessary within a person in order to live a “Kingdom” lifestyle. In fact, the whole point of chapter 5 is that a follower of Christ is one who has been so transformed within that it shows on the outside…in his or her lifestyle.
“This will be very useful, thank you for sharing a sneak peek at this Sunday’s Word.”
“My struggle is that most of my personal stories with difficult people involve the people I’m preaching to.”
“Post that one on YouTube. We all could use this one.”
“My pastor just asked us to deal with that in Women’s Ministries this year – conflict resolution and marriage.”
“Uh oh, looks like you got me again…Do you have ESP or what? Your messages seem to be directed at me specifically."
“I know that your message tomorrow is on dealing with difficult people. I hope that it also speaks the truth about what to do if you are the difficult person. I have been reading the proverbs lately and am very convicted...”
Chapter 6 then proceeds to identify the many ways we artificially substitute religious activities for the genuine marks of one who has a personal relationship with God. Jesus calls this well intentioned effort “hypocrisy.”
Then, Chapter 7 deals with our relationships with other people. As I’ve been studying Matthew 7:7-12 I was amazed at how easily I have taken a passage that deals with relationships and simply made it another passage on prayer. What a difference the passage on “asking…seeking…knocking” makes when it’s application has to do with our relationships with others…especially with Difficult People.
Without going into a lot of detail about tomorrow’s message (you can listen online) here’s a couple important biblical tips on dealing with difficult people that I’ll go into much more detail in my message.
1. It requires God’s grace to deal graciously with difficult people. John put it this way, “If we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12) You and I don’t have what it takes to love someone unconditionally without first allowing unconditional love to dwell within us.
2. It requires a denial of self to put up with and deal proactively, and redemptively, with difficult people. Matthew put it this way, “Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them-this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 7:12) Let me put it to you this way, “How do you want others to treat you when you are being difficult?” We tend to treat people the way they deserve to be treated, not the way we’d want to be treated when we are being difficult.
Apparently everybody is dealing with difficult people. Is it possible that we are the difficult people that others are complaining about? Sounds like the “log in your eye” and “speck in their eye” principle again. Ouch!
More later.
It's been a couple weeks since my last entry to this blog. Sorry about that if you're a regular reader. My plate has been a little fuller than normal. I've not had the time or the words to adequately describe the events up to this point. But none of the events have been so exciting, so fulfilling, so captivating, so life-changing as my daughter's wedding. My baby, Michelle, just got married over the weekend!
I'm a dad who has loved this season of life. There's nothing that Cindy and I have enjoyed more than spending time with our kids. Watching them grow up and develop into young adults who are so very different from each other has been amazing. Yet the variety and differences have added so much fun to the adventure; not to mention the stories that have become legendary to our family. An added blessing has been to see how each sibling has been a vital part of the development of each other’s progress. They actually seem to like each other and want to be vital part of each other’s future. Nothing has blessed Cindy’s heart and mine more than that.
But now, things are changing for us. Our kids have gotten married. Michelle was the last one to tie the knot. We knew it coming, but, for me, the thought of marrying off my daughter was not so easy.
I’ve had to entrust my girls to these “guys” who have not been part of our adventure up to this time. As my friend, Jay Strack, told me, “It’s like giving a Stradivarius Violin to an 800-pound gorilla.” I couldn’t agree more. I’ve always been the provider and protector of my girls. It’s tough thinking about passing that responsibility on to somebody else…much less, an 800-pound gorilla.
However, I’ve had a chance to get to know these “guys” very well and am amazed at how much they care for and love my daughters. In fact, it even appears that God made them for my girls. That’s really helped me to make it through this time of transition. To give my daughters away, I’m having to trust God. That should be easy…but it’s not.
But I did it; and was able to make it through the wedding. The hardest part of the wedding was saying, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” I knew the moment I did that, there was no turning back. It was one of the happiest moments for me, but also, one of the saddest. No turning back. My role was changing.
Now, I’ve got another son-in-law, Nathan Schneider. He’s a very good friend of my other son-in-law, Steve Browning. My son, Jason, is also a friend of theirs. It sounds like a conspiracy. But I’ve come to believe it’s a “conspiracy of grace.” The Lord knew what I needed. Instead of losing another daughter, I’ve gained another son. The adventure is not over, but rather continuing with 3 new pioneers (two “guys” and a daughter-in-law named Amanda) to share the excitement with.
I am blessed. My wife and I are extremely blessed. My three kids have now become six. And I’m being told by many that it may result in many more… called grandkids. Talk about scary. And I thought giving away a daughter was life-changing. ☺
"God said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness...For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12:9-10
Preventing Devotion From Morphing Into A Performance
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how often our sincere devotion to God easily morphs into simply a performance or an act. The practice of a spiritual discipline can easily become a mindless routine. Worship is often reduced to simply the singing of a song or listening to a sermon. It can become a matter of form rather than substance.
You’ve heard that our worship should be for an audience of One. Unfortunately, the performance may be for an audience of one – but which one? Spiritual leaders are especially susceptible to this temptation.
A couple millennia ago, the Greeks and the Romans were into drama. Often a drama would start with a character called the narrator. He would open the play with a monologue and then place a mask over his face and become an actor in the drama. The word that described this actor was, “Hypocrite.”
Spiritually devoted followers of Jesus must always be careful not to fall into the trap of simply going through the motions. It is so easy to put on the mask and act like everything is just fine between you and God. Literally, that’s called hypocrisy.
Devotion requires the heart. Spiritual growth cannot be manipulated simply by improving the “sound byte.” But it is so easy to merely reproduce what worked the first time and think that reproducing the form or sound is good enough.
I think you got the point. So here’s an overly simplistic solution that I’ve found helpful in taking off the mask. More details are to come in my Sunday Morning message on July 12 on Matthew 6:1-8. You can listen anytime after the 12th at www.SarasotaBaptist.com.
DEVOTION PREVENTION TIPS:
1. DEPENDENCY – Be alert to your desire for the approval and praise of others. Choose to live only for the approval and praise of Jesus Christ!
2. DETERMINATION – Be committed to doing what the Bible terms as acts of devotion (or righteousness). i.e. giving to the poor, praying, fasting.
3. DIRECTION – Head in the right direction by daily denying your fleshy demands and live to honor and obey God by serving others.
4. DEDICATION – Make sure your prayers reflect your relationship with God. Don’t allow them to become magical incantations or simply expressions of your theological knowledge.
5. DESIRE – Pursue God, not His blessing.
Matthew 6:1-8 NASBLabels: devotion, hypocisy, spiritual disciplines
1“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Our Nation's Beginning - Christian Roots
I love this holiday - Independence Day. I've always been intrigued by our nation's beginning and have devoured many books related to the Revolutionary War and biographies of our Founding Fathers.
As a child, who wasn't raised in a Christian home, I tried to imagine what life would have been back then. It always puzzled me as I read about these heroes of mine and how they endured such hardship and risks. Their faith always seemed to sustain them and guide them. I couldn't relate to their beliefs but certainly couldn't deny them.
It's interesting that many, these days, would have us believe that our nation's early leaders were able to separate their personal spiritual views from their prescription for governmental policies. Our Forefathers are accused of approaching the beginning of our Republic, called the United States of America with a secular worldview. I've come to think that those who would make such claims are either uninformed, unread, or deliberately attempting to rewrite history.
To understand the Christian faith is to know that you cannot separate one's belief in God from his prescription for life, nor his lifestyle. In fact, the New Testament nails that truth when it says in James 2:14-17 that "faith without works is dead." One who can separate his prescription for life from his faith is at best a hypocrite.
Our most precious national documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and Constitution are saturated with references to God and the importance of faith. These documents affirmed and built on the timeless and eternal truths of God and revealed in Scripture. How else could one honestly interpret this phrase in the Declaration of Independence?
"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."Or how about George Washington's farewell speech on September 19, 1796:
"It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible. Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, our religion and morality are the indispensable supporters. Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that our national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."I thank God that our Forefathers were not ashamed to be known as men of faith. Their knowledge of the God of the Bible and His ways made a huge difference in the beginnings of our nation.
One more thing. For those who wonder or would debate whether our first President, George Washington, was a Christian, I encourage you to consider this entry from from his personal prayer book:
"Oh, eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the emaculate blood of the lamb and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of thy son, Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of thee and thy son, Jesus Christ."HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! Labels: christianity, constitution, George Washington, Independence Day, patriotism
As I’ve been preparing to speak at the Pastor’s Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention next week I’ve been learning a lot more about the importance of love when living “on mission.”
Most of us interpret “being on mission” in terms of being extremely focused and committed to accomplishing the God-given objective of “making disciples.” (Matt 28:19) If we’re not careful we can get so busy that we forget that the mission is ultimately about connecting people to Jesus Christ. I’m amazed at how easily I can get bogged down in the details of the mission and forget the main thing.
Well, this is nothing new to God and He actually introduced his chapter on love with this tendency of ours in mind. Thought I’d share it with you here along with a few of my thoughts since I won’t have time to share it in Louisville.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NASB) 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
1. Without love, the noises we make only drown out the message we try to share.
1 Corinthians 13:1 (NASB) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.CONFESSION - I've thought that my creativity and innovation in communication would be enough.
2. Without love, our theological understanding and faith is nothing more than a badge we wear that alienates us from lost people.
1 Corinthians 13:2 (NASB) If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.CONFESSION - I’ve thought that if I understood it and believed it, that it should make sense to everybody else.
3. Without love, our sacrifices can become short-term solutions to long-term problems.
1 Corinthians 13:3 (NASB) And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.CONFESSION - I’ve thought that the nobleness of my sacrifice could be a worthy substitute to an intimate and personal relationship with God.
Our mission is to connect people to the One who is love, Jesus Christ. That is why love must be included in our strategic thinking and purposeful living. May we never forget that the mission is about reconciliation. That is why the Father sent the Son. That is why the Gospel is called Good News. Labels: 1 Cor 13, Love, mission, missional, reconciliation
Every time I hear the words “forty days” I’m immediately struck with the thought that this may mean a little more than just another 960 hours. I think it’s because there are a number of occasions in the Scripture when that number is used.
The Bible says that it rained “forty days and forty nights” after Noah and his crew entered the ark. It also says that Jesus was fasting in the wilderness for forty days and nights just before Satan tempted Him. On another occasion, Moses was fasting and alone with God on Mt. Sinai for “forty days and forty nights” as he was receiving the Ten Commandments and instructions about the covenant from God.
So, why do I bring this up now? BECAUSE IN 40 DAYS MY DAUGHTER GETS MARRIED! There…now that that is off my chest I don’t feel like I need to shout anymore.
With 40 days until that special day, I’m flooded with many thoughts that perhaps you can identify with…that is, if you’re a Dad. Indulge me for a moment as I list these things therapeutically.
• I thank God that I am a father to two terrific daughters and a son. When I think of my childhood, I am amazed that God would entrust me with them…good thing I married an angel to help raise them.
• I thank God for the many things I have learned about myself and about God through my kids. His long-suffering, His mercy, His unconditional investments in my life, His love, etc. My impatience, my self-centeredness, my fears, and my conditional love.
• I thank God that I now know how to be cool because of the outspokenness of my kids. Of course, sometimes I choose not to be cool because that’s even cooler.
• I thank God for the many adventures that have been mine because I’m a dad. I think about how boring life would’ve been without them.
• I thank God for the different seasons of parenting…with their unique challenges…with their unique joys. I’m also reminded how unprepared and naïve I’ve been at each stage. I am so glad God has promised to give us parenting grace when we needed it.
• I thank God for children who have tried their best to understand this dad. I am unpredictable and very flawed and they have met the challenge with their flexibility, love, creativity, forgiveness, and loyalty.
• I thank God for an incredible wife who has taught and modeled for my kids how to live life graciously, joyfully, deliberately, and relationally. She doesn’t know it but I was learning from her too.
As a dad…I am so very blessed!
We were made by God. We were created with His purposes in mind. There were NO mistakes made. God never makes a mistake. And when you are living out His purpose, you’ll know it. There’s no greater joy than knowing you are living the life you were created for.
In fact, when we are living out the life we were created for, it always produces within us a satisfaction about life that cannot simply be described or measured by productivity or accomplishment. This deeply rooted resonance within us comes from the presence of God resulting from a redeemed relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That’s MAKARIOS.
MAKARIOS is the first word used before each of the 9 beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12) and is not merely an adjective used to describe positive feelings associated with a life in God – even though it’s usually translated “Happy” or “Blessed”. It is a word that describes one who has entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and is also acutely aware of His presence and current activity. It is a word that cannot be defined without God's presence associated with or characterizing it.
So, what can we do to experience MAKARIOS? I've been learning a lot about this in my personal study of the beatitudes. Here’s a brief outline. Hope they help you move forward with God and taste MAKARIOS.
1. Know your limitations.
“MAKARIOS are the poor in spirit.”
Admitting you are bankrupt spiritually is the starting point.
2. Confess your sin and need for change.
“MAKARIOS are those who mourn”
Grieving over how sin affects our relationship with God is necessary.
3. Yield to Lordship of Jesus Christ.
“MAKARIOS are the gentle”
God wants us to surrender our will, our resources, our life to His leadership.
4. Focus your ambition on righteousness.
“MAKARIOS are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”
We must pursue Him over all other options.
5. Choose to value people.
“MAKARIOS are the merciful”
We need to become GIVERS and stop living like TAKERS.
6. Live transparently.
“MAKARIOS are the pure in heart”
A clear conscience is so critical to our ability to notice God's presence.
7. Tell others how to connect with Jesus Christ.
“MAKARIOS are the peacemakers”
The greatest act of peacemaking is helping another to have peace with God.
8. Don’t give up when opposed for doing what is right.
“MAKARIOS are those who are persecuted for righteousness”
Be willing to die for a life worth living.
9. Expect to be criticized because of your association with Jesus Christ.
“MAKARIOS are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me”
Don't be shocked when people reject you because of your association with Jesus.
If you want to hear more, listen to my two messages on MAKARIOS on May 31st and June 7th. You can find them online at http://www.sarasotabaptist.com/resources/archived-sermons.html?view=studieslist.
The Christian life is not simply an improvement of your former way of life. As a former atheist, I used to wonder what the hype was all about. My lifestyle (except for not attending church on Sundays), seemed to be similar to those who claimed to be Christians. And yet they would say being a Christian was so much better. Why didn’t they look like it was any better?
After becoming a Christian I can now understand how Christians can get bogged down in the details of living life and forget the real source of their new life. In fact, if one is not careful, you can easily miss out on that which distinguishes a Christian from one who is not.
The difference is not the lifestyle, because even an atheist can be kind, generous, and benevolent. The difference is the presence of God in your life. A Christian is one who has tasted of a life not previously accessible to men or women. The great promise of Jesus was that it was a good thing that He would leave because of the One who would come after Him…the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life makes all the difference.
When Jesus preached his famous “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5-7, He introduced the sermon with a series of beatitudes. The beatitudes frame the rest of the Sermon with a very important concept. Kingdom living is impossible to experience or live out apart from the supernatural presence of God in your life.
“Makarios” is the greek word used over and over again in the Beatitudes. It is translated either “blessed” or “happy” but means so much more. William Barclay notes that during the time when this was written, the word “makarios” (from the root “makar”) was used in greek literature to describe the bliss that could only belong to and be experienced by the gods.
Jesus now uses the word to introduce Kingdom Living as supernatural living. In other words, it is not the kind of life that can simply be accomplished as a spiritual to-do list that you try to live out in your own strength. It is the kind of life that requires the evidence of and presence of God in your life. The Sermon on the Mount becomes a legalistic document that is destined to cause one great frustration without this understanding.
I encourage you to re-read the beatitudes now with this in mind…as well as the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. I believe it will free you up to live a different kind of life. The power of God is accessible to you when you, by faith, enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. “Makarios” is the kind of life available to you when that happens. If you want to hear more, listen to my message on May 31, 2009 online at our church website.
Nobody likes to be rejected. Consider this example of a lady in our church who received an employment rejection letter from a Public Utilities Company that she never applied to. The Company apparently got her name from the list of references of another person who did apply. I want you to especially notice the last sentence.
Dear Ms W,
We thank you for the interest you have expressed in the General Manager position we advertised. We have received applications from potential candidates who appear to more nearly meet our requirements. We are looking for a strong financial manager from a regulated industry. Finance and accounting experience and education are essential.
If we do not find a suitable candidate to actually employ, we may get back in touch with you, but that seems unlikely at this point.
Cordially, A.N., President
Can you believe it! A rejection letter from a company you never applied to AND being told that you will be considered for the job only if a suitable candidate cannot be found. NOW THAT’S REJECTION.
How is a person to deal with rejection? It’s going to happen many times in your lifetime. You will be rejected. How will you deal with it? Unfortunately, most people let rejection skew their personal measure of their self worth. When that happens, you tend to make “pleasing everybody else” your mantra for life. Talk about pressure. You then set yourself up for major misery.
Let me make another suggestion. Whatever you do, don’t base you self-worth on the opinions of others. It will eventually destroy you. Let you self-worth be based exclusively on your worth in the sight of the One who created you. The Bible very clearly states that you are a person of worth and uniquely designed by God to be productive. In fact, once you enter into a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, it frees you up to live up to your God-given potential. Consider a few of the facts from the Scripture:
- You are accepted by God. Rom 15:7; Eph 1:6; Ps 27:10
- You are valuable to God. Luke 12:24; Isa 43:4
- You are loved by God. Is 54:10; Ps 103:17
- You are a child of God. John 1:12
- You are a friend of God. John 15:15
- You are an heir to what belongs to God. Eph 1:17-18
- You are the light of the world. Matt 5:14
- You are more than a conqueror in Him. Rom 8:37; 2Cor 2:14
- You have the Holy Spirit of God living in you. Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 6:19
- You are God’s handiwork. Eph 2:10
- You have the mind of Christ. 1Cor 2:16
- You are a partaker of the Divine nature. 2Pet 1:4
- You have been chosen of God to represent Him. John 15:16; 2 Cor 5:20
- You are an expression of the life of Christ. Col 3:4
You are SOMEBODY. This doesn’t change just because you experience rejection.
The next time you experience rejection, remind yourself who you are in Christ. Then respond to your rejection by refusing to assume the role of a rejecter yourself and embrace God’s agenda for your life….which includes serving others in spite of their rejection. Try it and see how God begins to heal the wound caused by rejection.
If interested in more, listen to the message I delivered to the Sarasota Baptist Church on May 24, 2009 entitled “Getting Off the Road Called Rejection”. Labels: jobs, rejection, self-worth
Anger is such a complicated emotion. Some anger can be a good thing. Anger over an injustice may be just what is required to prompt you to right a wrong. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) is a great example of this. But notice, anger is simply an internal signal (an emotion) that begs for action. It still doesn’t guarantee that our response will be honorable or productive.
In fact, our anger over an injustice may actually result in a behavior that is also wrong. Take for example the person who is outraged over the permissive stance of our government when it comes to abortion rights. Bombing an abortion clinic or shooting a medical professional who provides abortion services is not the right response, but certainly one provoked by anger over an injustice.
Anger over an injustice like the abuse of child or the death of a spouse who has been killed by a drunk driver is to be expected and certainly justifiable. But what are we to do when we get mad about those kinds of things? How can we keep from being burned from a response to anger. As someone who has been angry before and responded both appropriately and inappropriately, I’d like to offer a few tips that have helped me to move forward and break free from the acid called anger. I shared a lot more in my morning message on May 18, 2009 at church. You can listen online for free at www.sarasotabaptist.com
HOW TO KEEP FROM BEING BURNED BY YOUR ANGER.
1. Thank God that you can feel anger.
Anger is one emotion of many that comes with our being created in the image of God. Unfortunately, you can’t always trust your emotions because they have been distorted by our sinful nature. But that’s no reason to ignore your feelings. Love, compassion, sacrifice, loyalty are all intricately tied to your emotions. Give yourself permission to feel and thank God for that gift.
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Genesis 1:26 (HCSB)
2. Think of anger as a secondary emotion.
The reason you are angry is because something else is going on. Your fear may have prompted your anger. Your pride may have prompted your anger. Your greed may have prompted your anger. Your pain may have prompted your anger. Let your anger be a signal that prompts you to ask another question, “What’s really wrong here? Why am I angry?” Then take steps to deal with the root problem.
“A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man who schemes is hated.” Proverbs 14:17 (HCSB)
3. Limit your exposure to angry people.
Angry people are contagious people. Spending time with them will result in your adopting some of their attitudes and embracing some of their actions.
“Don’t make friends with an angry man, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.” Proverbs 22:24-25 (HCSB)
4. Remind yourself that you are not God and cannot know everything.
To prevent an inappropriate knee-jerk reaction you must take a step back and try to see the bigger picture. Some hills are not worth fighting over. Sometimes a delay will give perspective.
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (HCSB)
5. Refuse to get even.
Revenge always leaves you feeling empty and dirty. It may feel good immediately but produces long term regrets. You want to always take the high road. A clear conscience is like gold. Don’t give it up for a moment of pleasure. Plus, you can count on God to deal appropriately and judge effectively every injustice.
“Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.”Romans 12:19 (HCSB)
Fear is such a crippler. Psychologists tell us that our immediate and natural response to fear is usually to “flee from it” or “fight it.” We either run for our lives or resist it. Either way, these responses don’t deal with that which triggers our fears. We simply postpone the remedy until the next time…or the next…or the next time.
Fear has a way of seductively robbing us of confidence, love, purpose, and the ability to trust God. We can’t afford to allow fear to rob us of the life we were created by God to live. Time is too short!
I suggest we look at the emotion of fear as an alarm that is telling us we are in the middle of a test. This test is intended to stretch us, mature us, and strengthen us. In fact, when we are afraid, it’s time to get excited. We are about to take a giant step forward…if we pass the test.
The New Testament puts it this way,
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith reduces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4 HCSB)Unfortunately, because these kinds of tests require endurance, change, and risk, we often allow our fears to short-circuit any progress with a knee-jerk response to run or fight. We’ve got to add some time between the feeling of fear and the knee-jerk response.
So, what are we to do? That’s where faith comes in. Faith is not another feeling to replace our fears with. Faith is a commitment to know the truth and act on it. The truth will disarm most of our fears and empower us to successfully live out and pass the test. The secret to dealing with our fears boils down to making time to identify the truth and then move in that direction. This is a strong argument for spending time daily meditating on and reading the Scriptures. A regular diet of Scripture saturates your mind with truth that can be tapped into when fears appear.
As long as we realize that fear is a feeling and not a master that must be obeyed, we can move forward. Knowing the truth will set you free!
One more thing, there is a fear that is healthy. It’s called the “fear of God.” Actually, the Bible says,
“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)
“It is the most natural thing in the world to be scared, and the clearest evidence that God’s grace is at work in our hearts is when we do not get into panic-mode…The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.” Oswald ChambersI learned a lot about fear in a recent study on the emotions and shared more in a message entitled, “How to Combat Your Fears with Faith” on May 10, 2009 at the church I serve. I encourage you to listen to it by listening online at http://www.sarasotabaptist.com/resources/archived-sermons.html?view=studieslist
Labels: faith, fear, fear of God, Test
How to talk to God when you're depressed
I picked up a number of tips on how to deal with depression as I studied the life of Elijah in chapters 17-20 of the Old Testament book of 1Kings. I also preached about the results of my study on May 3rd in the church I pastor. I thought I’d pass on some of the highlights to you. You may know somebody who could use the encouragement.
HOW TO FALL IN THE HOLE CALLED DEPRESSION:
1. Having unrealistic expectations. (1Kings 18)
2. Living like you are invincible. (1Kings 18)
3. Obsess over criticism. (1Kings 19:1-3)
4. Isolate yourself. (1Kings 19:3)
5. Push yourself to the point of exhaustion. (1Kings 19:4)
6. Keep comparing yourself to others. (1 Kings 19:4)
7. See yourself as a martyr. (1Kings 19:10, 14)
8. Neglect your physical condition. (1Kings 19:5-8)
9. Make poor choices.
HOW TO CLIMB OUT OF THE HOLE CALLED DEPRESSION
1. Take care of your body (eat right, sleep enough, get a physical) (1Kings 19:5-8)
2. Talk to God about your frustrations. (1Kings 19:9-10)
3. Pay attention to what God has to say. (1Kings 19:11-12)
4. Allow your encounter with God to change you. (1Kings 19:13)
5. Begin filtering your thoughts with the truth. (1Kings 19:14, 18)
6. Live proactively with purpose. (1Kings 19:15-16)
7. Cultivate relationships with godly companions. (1Kings 19:21)
HOW TO TALK TO GOD ABOUT YOUR DEPRESSION
“Dear God, You have said that my body belongs to You and that I need to take good care of it. Please help me to balance my schedule so that I get enough rest and eat right. Also, place medical professionals in my life who will help me to thoroughly care for the body that You have so intricately made.
I commit myself to being brutally honest with You. I know that You won’t condemn me for having awful thoughts or feelings. I also commit myself to listening to what ever You have to say and I plan to adjust my thinking and actions to fit in with what You say is true.
I also commit myself to living a proactive, rather than reactive life that includes learning from others who also want to please You. I will now look to you to adjust the way I feel to match my love, commitment, and trust in You.”
I just read Andy Andrews new book, The Noticer, and want to recommend it to you. It's a short and fast read that will compel you to look again at your current relationships and circumstances. In brief, it's a message on how not to waste or miss a great well-planned life tutorial intended to maximize your potential. You'll find it will help you in taking a step back (or I prefer to say "take a step forward") and gain perspective in whatever challenging circumstance you are facing.
In typical Andrews style, he creates fictional characters that you can easily identify with. Throughout the story you'll read lines that will not only resonate within you as true but you'll want to spend time thinking about them.
The main character in this story is a man called Jones who continually shows up at just the right time to help others who are facing a crisis. Jones happens to "notice" them and help them by pointing out what they have not yet noticed about their crippling situation.
I highlighted a few of Jones' priceless quotes in my copy of the book to occasionally review and have listed a few below for you.
"If you are still here, then you have not completed your life's purpose." "Worry is just imagination used in an unproductive way." "Wisdom is the ability to see the future consequences of our choices."
It's been my experience that perspective (or wisdom) changes everything. It motivates. It gives courage. It births hope. It can unlock the chains that so confine and trap us. I believe this story will at least move you a step forward toward perspective.
My seminary evangelism professor, Oscar Thompson, said the most important word in the English language is “RELATIONSHIP.” I couldn’t agree more.
Unfortunately, relationships are so very fragile and so often taken for granted. And we let the little things that bother us in a relationship become the poison that ultimately can destroy the very relationships we have cherished.
I recently did some research and spoke on the devious and destructive nature of jealousy and how it kills relationships. I talked about the subtleties of how a jealous heart is developed. It was illustrated by the relationship between King Saul and David, the Goliath killer (1 Samuel 17:31-19:1).
I thought some of you who read this blog would be interested in the bottom line of my message – the cure for jealousy.
Rather than go into the dirty details of how jealousy destroys a relationship (you can always go to our church website and listen to the message if you want that), I thought I’d pass on in this blog the prescriptive cure for jealousy. Be sure to notice how the cure has nothing to do with others until you first deal with your own heart and God’s plan for your life.
The Cure for a Jealous Heart
1. Admit you are jealous. Stop pretending you’re not.
James 3:14 (TLB) “And by all means don’t brag about being wise and good if you are bitter and jealous and selfish; that is the worst sort of lie.”
2. Stop comparing yourself to others. You’ve been uniquely designed by God. Start acting like it.
Galatians 6:4 (MSG) “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others.”
3. Thank God for what you already have. Get specific in your gratitude.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (HCSB) “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
4. Recommit yourself to God’s plan for YOUR life.
Romans 12:1 (HCSB) “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.”
5. Let God to use you to help others succeed. This forces you to reject the goals of a jealous heart.
Galatians 5:13-15 (HCSB) “For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.”
6. Trust God with the results. Even if it means someone else gets what you were wanting.
Romans 8:28 (HCSB) “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”
How to talk to God about your jealousy:
“Dear God, You have told me that I am uniquely made by you and precious in your sight. I am unworthy to be loved by you but You have chosen to love me anyway. Plus, you proved it by sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for me even when I didn’t care about You. Help me to stop comparing myself to others who are also loved by You. Help me to appreciate their role in teaching me to trust You and to hold all I have with an open hand. Please forgive me for being so possessive of what I have and transform my jealous passions into a willingness to serve others. Also, please teach me to trust You with the results.”
I read a recent study that offered some practical tips on how to best relieve stress. I thought you’d be interested in the findings like I was. At the top of the list was simply to read a book.
On March 29, 2009, the Telegraph (UK) reported,
“researchers found that stress levels and heart rate showed a 68% reduction in measurable stress after reading from a book. After achieving a high stress level through exercise and mental tests, just six minutes of reading slowed the heart rate and decreased other measures of physical stress in the muscles. Reading reduced stress to levels even lower than the baseline before the high stress was reached.”That’s amazing! But I have to admit that I think they’re on to something. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve curled up with a good book after a stressful day and come up refreshed. Reading a book has a way of distracting me from the things that stress me. In fact, reading renews my perspective and often births in my mind creative options in dealing with the things that cause me stress.
I read all kinds of books - Fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, biographies, histories, self-help, and theological ones. But my favorite book is the Bible. It has a way of burrowing down deep in me and rooting out those things that stress me out. Maybe that’s why the Bible says,
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb 4:12 HCSB)
I don’t need any other studies to tell me that reading, especially reading the Scripture, is a healthy habit. I just need to keep on doing it. If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a shot…you won’t regret it. Wondering where to start? Read through the four gospel accounts in the New Testament. Those four books will introduce you to a character that you won't ever forget.
Oh, by the way, the study also listed some other things that weren’t quite as effective in reducing stress levels but were worth noting:
- Listening to music reduced levels by 61 per cent.
- Having a cup of tea or coffee reduced levels by 54 percent.
- Taking a walk reduced levels by 42 percent
- Playing video games reduced levels by 21 percent but still left the volunteers with heart rates above their starting point.
HE IS ALIVE!
"When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our sins. He canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14 (NCV)
"For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." Romans 6:10-11 (HCSB)
GO TELL SOMEBODY!
The day after. What looked to be a journey of new hopes and dreams have now been destroyed. Everybody is gone. There’s no more laughter. You just can’t feel any worse than this.
The day after Good Friday has no semblance of being good. Jesus has been murdered. He’s gone! His followers are now in hiding and wallowing in a great deep funk. Now what are they suppose to do? Is life even worth living without Him? Those were just a few of the questions being asked. And it made them even more depressed the more they thought about it.
Some were saying that He still might come back…you know, like be raised from the dead. Those who said that were just living in denial of what had happened – right? But didn’t Jesus even say he would be killed and raised from the dead in 3 days? Ahhh, he couldn’t have meant that…or could he?
Think about it – Good Friday is associated with the day that Jesus Christ was falsely accused, tortured, and condemned and executed on a Cross. What in the world could be so GOOD about that?
While you’re thinking, let me give you three reasons.
1. Good Friday is the day God shouts out, “You are extremely valuable to Me.”
Jesus said that the reason He came to earth was to die for us and rescue us from our sin. (Mark 10:32-34) The Psalmist said, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) Good Friday is GOOD because it is the day when God demonstrates how valuable we are to Him by paying the supreme sacrifice to redeem us.
2. Good Friday is the day God shouts out, “I love you.”
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave is only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Good Friday is GOOD because it demonstrates the depth of God’s love for us.
3. Good Friday is the day God shouts, “Enough is enough.”
The reason Jesus had to die was because of our sin and how it separates us from God. Death is the mandatory sentence for sin. When Jesus hung on the cross, He said “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Literally those words mean, “It is now paid in full.” Good Friday is GOOD because it is the day when the debt was fully paid for our sin. All that’s left is for us to accept the payment that was made on our behalf.
GOOD FRIDAY was really a GOOD FRIDAY!
I just received an emergency email from a good friend of mine in Moldova requesting prayer. Valeriu Ghiletchi was just elected to the Parliament of Moldova. He is an evangelical Christian and former president of the Moldovan Baptist Union. This is miraculous in and of itself since the country’s leaders are predominantly communist.
Valeriu desires to use his influence as a follower of Christ among those who are the most influential in Moldova. The recent developments are alarming but could also prove to open doors that would never open under other circumstances. Please pray! Below is the email I received
Dear friends, Street protests erupted today in Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova. The demonstrations are a result of the huge disappointment that many people felt after the announcement of the final election results. The President and Parliament buildings have been vandalized. At this moment the Parliament building is under fire. The situation is out of control. Police withdrew from these buildings. Political leaders of the opposition met with the power, but so far the conflict has not been resolved. I addressed the protesters a public message in which I invited them to pray, have peace and faith in Christ. Our churches are engaged in prayer today. Toma Magda, the European Baptist Federation President, who is in Moldova these days, and myself urge you to pray for peace and stopping of violence. Pray also for me, so I can play a peace making role and be a witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these crucial days for our nation. Valeriu Ghiletchi
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