tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64180653281799356642024-02-19T18:47:09.255-06:00Proverbs 27:17Iron sharpens Iron. A friend sharpens a friend. This blog is for that very purpose, as we all fellowship in His grace.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-46946898606621143052012-04-27T05:59:00.002-05:002012-04-27T05:59:26.957-05:00Check out the new post on the new blog:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://hedesignedme.com/2012/04/27/gods-provision/">http://hedesignedme.com/2012/04/27/gods-provision/</a><br />
<br />
And, don't forget to subscribe to <a href="http://hedesignedme.com/">HeDesignedMe.com</a> for automatic updates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-8353056590776038492012-04-22T14:10:00.003-05:002012-04-22T14:10:27.235-05:00Moving Part II - Blogger glitchThe last post (and resulting email) had some HTML inserted by Blogger that will prevent you from reaching the new site by clicking on the link.
Here's the proper link:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hedesignedme.com/" target="_blank">www.HeDesignedMe.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-24930739296061063082012-04-22T14:07:00.000-05:002012-04-22T14:08:31.381-05:00Moving Time - please readWe've been meaning to move this site over to Wordpress for some time now and with Blogger's recent redesign, I figured instead of taking the time to learn all the nuances of the new Blogger dashboard, we might as well take the time to move the site.<br />
<br />
So, we'd love for you to check out:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hedesignedme.com/" target="_blank">www.HeDesignedMe.com</a><br />
<br />
the new home for my Proverbs Blog and eventually the home of the Man Up! ministry and other endeavors.<br />
<br />
For those of you who are subscribed to this blog by email, you'll need to navigate to the new site and re-subscribe. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.<br />
<br />
Thanks & God bless,<br />
MikeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-554260347628984222012-04-20T07:06:00.000-05:002012-04-20T07:22:26.891-05:00A Calling to Kids<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s really amazing to look back and see how God places all
the puzzle pieces in order throughout our lives to work His will in and through
us. Things we suffer through, God uses for the good. Physical, mental and
spiritual pain is all used by Him. The enemy attacks and causes harm, then God
uses that to do something wonderful, turning all bad to good as long as we get
out of the way and let Him work. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my life, there’s been a lot of pain revolving around my
childhood, parents, and living situations. Through all that, however, God has
raised up within me a huge love of children and a deep-seeded need to help
them. I’ve felt drawn to children and youth ministry for many years and can
thankfully say that God has used me to encourage more young lives than I can
count, in more ways than I’ll ever know. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I believe He
has in store.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In examining this “calling” through meditation, communion
and years of sub-surface contemplation, a few things have really come together
just in the last few weeks in my mind that I’d like to bring out into the open
and see what you think. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While these are in no specific order other than the way God
has laid them down in my thoughts, each point is a foundation stone to the
building of ministry. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) <b>Youth and
Children’s Ministry is not a stepping stone or a means to an end.</b> It’s not
a way station along the way or a pit stop on the road of a pastoral career. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This jumped out at me the other day when Angie and I were
watching a video clip from <a href="http://jamesmacdonald.com/blog/?p=11959" target="_blank">The Elephant Room about Young Pastors</a>. To paraphrase one of the Pastors, your calling is not necessarily your
career. I think when some view being a Pastor as a career path, they view it
through worldly eyes, as if it’s a corporate ladder to climb. First, you get a
job as a volunteer leader, “interning” as it were. Then, you move on to a
perceived lesser role as a Small Group Pastor, Child Pastor or Youth Pastor.
Then, if you work hard enough and pray for God’s blessings, you can get
“promoted” to adult teaching Pastor, and eventually CEO, err – I mean, Lead
Pastor.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Worse still, some Churches view Youth and Children’s
Ministries as not nearly as worthy as
the adult ministries, short funding it, marginalizing it, and in general <b>treating the kid and youth leaders and
pastors as if they’re second-class citizens. </b><br />
<br />
<b></b><br />
<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While many may disagree, I think the enemy is at work here
in many ways. Children and Youth are not a pit stop. This leads me to the
second point: <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) <b>Children’s eternal
souls are not less important that those of adults.</b> In fact, from what I’ve
come to understand in the bible, they’re MORE important than adults.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m guessing many of you don’t agree with that, but I’ll
stand by it to the end.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, <b>if you
don't understand how important the little ones are to God, you don't
understand God.</b><br />
<br />
<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="nowrap"><i><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mar&c=10&t=NIV#comm/14">Mark
10:14</a></i></span><i> When Jesus saw this,
he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.</i><br />
<br />
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In order to prove my point, I’ll try to disprove it first.
Consider this, if children were of lesser value than adults, would the enemy
make any effort whatsoever to harm them, derail them, battle for their very
souls to keep them from God? Of course not. But, the enemy knows better.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jam&c=2&t=NIV#19">James 2:19</a>
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the <span class="criteria">demons</span>
believe that--and shudder.</i><br />
<br />
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look around our world and see how children are under attack,
every single day. Abduction, abuse and neglect are the overt ways that seem to get
very little public attention. The food that’s marketed to them is harmful to
their physical health. The food they're given in public schools is even worse. The
toys and games marketed to them increasingly have a poor effect on their
spiritual lives. Adults routinely ignore their needs, leaving them dying of
starvation in third world nations, shriveling from neglect in second world
nations, and targeted with poor education, poor nutrition and billions in greed
driven advertising in first world nations. Meanwhile, the enemy does more and
more to distract adults from the needs of children, even in our churches!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>If kids weren’t important to God, the enemy wouldn’t care.
</b>Cigarette companies wouldn’t have spent billions throughout history to market
cigarettes to children. McDonalds and many of the other fast food chains that
bring on obesity, diabetes and a whole world of physical harm wouldn’t aim
their products at kids. An entire industry of “energy drinks” that cause no end
of harm to growing bodies has sprung up recently and is being marketed almost
entirely at teenagers!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If God didn’t value them so much, there would be no child
abuse, no neglect, no starvation. Kids would simply sit on the sidelines in our
spiritual war until they came of age and entered the fray.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, Jesus never would have taught on how much He and the
Father value the little ones.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=18&t=NIV#6">Matthew 18:6</a>
But if anyone causes one of these <span class="criteria">little</span> <span class="criteria">ones</span> who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him
to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths
of the sea.</i><br />
<br />
Those are pretty strong words coming from the creator and
originator of love. For those of you who don’t know what a millstone is, check
out this picture: <br />
<br />
<br />
<i></i><br />
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.opus1.com/www/jmspics/summer99/image/990-jms-millstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://www.opus1.com/www/jmspics/summer99/image/990-jms-millstone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know from personal experience, but I’d guess if you
hung that around anyone’s neck and dumped them in the sea, they’d do nothing
but die painfully. Jesus must think a lot of kids for him to say it’d better to
die painfully than to be caught causing little ones to sin.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He also says those who do right by kids do right by Him:<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mar&c=9&t=NIV#37">Mark 9:37</a>
"Whoever welcomes one of these little <span class="criteria">children</span>
in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one
who sent me."</i><br />
<br />
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, for those of you considering youth or kid ministry,
please understand how important the work is, how much God values it, and know
this isn’t stepping stone or a career, it’s a calling.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="nowrap"><i><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mar&c=10&t=NIV#comm/16">Mark
10:16</a></i></span><i> And he took the
children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them<o:p></o:p></i></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11200101647259163147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-24792540421541032532012-04-18T06:40:00.001-05:002012-04-18T07:26:16.174-05:00Examining a Green Thumb, Part TwoIn my last post, I mentioned having some additional thoughts that jumped out at me while reading the list from Joe Sangl. I'm going to detail them here and would love to read your thoughts on it as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1. No Vision</b><br />
Communicate your vision to the congregation! No one wants to follow a leader who treats their mission like it's classified. I've seen one too many churches that play their cards close to the vest. It's hard to inspire people to follow you if they have no clue where you're going.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Never Asking People To Give</b><br />
I think this also rings true with serving, joining a small group and doing outreach. If the leader of the church doesn't communicate how important it is to give of your time, talents and treasures, people will be content to remain motionless. <br />
<br />
One underlying theme that jumps out at me as well is communication. <b>Transparent, sincere communication</b> is the universal salve to all relationships. If the congregation knows exactly where the church is headed, what the goals are, what everyone must do to achieve those goals, and they get regular updates of the triumphs and speed bumps, they'll take ownership. Everyone has a need God placed in us to be part of something larger than ourselves, but the enemy can quickly turn that need into a sensitive issue if people feel left in the dark. Great leaders don't keep secrets, intentionally or thoughtlessly. Doing so quickly opens the door for #7, breached trust. Don't open that door.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-73784889425617865682012-04-16T07:15:00.000-05:002012-04-16T07:26:29.331-05:00Examing a Green ThumbAfter taking my Pastoral Leadership 450 class at Liberty, my eyes were opened to all the myriad challenges of leading in a church, as well as growing one. Being a "people person" more than a "numbers person" I mainly focused on team building, praying for your staff, nourishing the congregation and those things that are imperative for relational leadership.<br />
<br />
Now that we're growing roots in the garden of <a href="http://www.uncommonaustin.com/#" target="_blank">Uncommon Church</a>, I'm learning more and more about the other areas, particularly fueling resources, which is something God has seriously laid on mine and Angie's hearts more and more over the past year.<br />
<br />
As no surprise to me (or anyone else who's seen God move) right as this topic really began to dominate our conversations, Pastor Perry Noble of <a href="http://newspring.cc/" target="_blank">New Spring Church</a> posted a great resource on <a href="http://www.perrynoble.com/" target="_blank">his blog</a> about Church finances written by <a href="http://www.josephsangl.com/" target="_blank">Joe Sangl.</a> While I'll never be a number crunching wizard, like <a href="http://angelabullock.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">my beautiful wife</a>, the theory behind Joe's words is something I believe anyone with a heart for growing a church can grasp.<br />
<br />
I have some additional thoughts I'd like to add, but before doing so, I'll let the post stand on its own. <br />
<br />
Here's Joe's list:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3 id="post-4696">
<a href="http://www.perrynoble.com/2012/04/12/top-ten-financial-mistakes-a-church-makes-part-one/" title="Top Ten Financial Mistakes A Church Makes – Part One" target="_blank">Top Ten Financial Mistakes A Church Makes</a> April 12, 2012 </h3>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>1. No Vision</b><br />
The Bible states in <a class="bibleref" href="http://biblegateway.com/bible?version=31&passage=Proverbs+29%3A18" target="_new" title="NIV Proverbs 29:18">Proverbs 29:18</a> that “Where there is no vision, the people perish …” This is absolute truth. Churches that lack clear direction and vision are poorly funded because attenders have no clarity on how their sacrificial giving dollars will be used to accomplish the vision and build the Kingdom. Dr. John C. Maxwell has shared this incredible wisdom regarding this subject – “Where there is no vision, the people perish. And where there are no financial resources, the vision perishes. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>2. </b><b>No Margin</b><br />
Churches that operate on the basis of “the miracle of the weekly offering” cannot prosper. The leadership must constantly have conversations focused on who is and who is not being paid and determining which projects can no longer be funded. Additionally, churches that operate with zero savings are highly susceptible to “God only knows” expenses. A church that operates with no margin can be completely derailed simply because the air conditional unit fails. Churches with a minimum of six week’s offerings in the bank will simply fix or replace the unit, and ministry efforts are unaffected <br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>3. </b><b>Too Many Designated Giving Options</b><br />
When churches offer the opportunity to contribute to fifteen different designated “buckets”, it can lead to confusion for members and frustration for the leaders. A church could have thousands of dollars available in one fund while another important ministry objective barely survives – and it all happens because of stringent guidelines. Remember this one fact – “In the presence of many options, the consumer will usually choose none.” <br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>4. </b><b>Never Asking People To Give</b><br />
Many people have been guilted into giving in the past or have attended a church where it was all about the money. As a result, many pastors choose to not ask for money at all. Neither approach is correct. Jesus spoke of money or possessions in almost half of the parables. He spoke of money via the subjects of giving, stewardship, and sacrifice. <br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>5. </b><b>Failing To Equip People To Win With Their Money</b><br />
Many leaders who are facing an under-funded vision do teach about money, but only from the perspective of giving. While it is extremely important to put God first, it is not the only key to winning with money God’s way. It is important to teach people that God is the owner (<a class="bibleref" href="http://biblegateway.com/bible?version=31&passage=Psalm+24%3A1" target="_new" title="NIV Psalm 24:1">Psalm 24:1</a>) and that we are managers (<a class="bibleref" href="http://biblegateway.com/bible?version=31&passage=Matthew+25%3A14-30" target="_new" title="NIV Matthew 25:14-30">Matthew 25:14-30</a>). Teach them that we are to have a plan for our money and diligently follow it (<a class="bibleref" href="http://biblegateway.com/bible?version=31&passage=Proverbs+21%3A5" target="_new" title="NIV Proverbs 21:5">Proverbs 21:5</a>), and that we are to aspire to leave an inheritance for our grandchildren (<a class="bibleref" href="http://biblegateway.com/bible?version=31&passage=Proverbs+13%3A22" target="_new" title="NIV Proverbs 13:22">Proverbs 13:22</a>). </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>6. Making Too Many Financial Asks</b><br />
Some churches provide the opportunity to give to 15 to 20 different initiatives each year. While all of these represent a great aspect of the ministry, it prevents maximum giving and limits ongoing giving to the general fund. Why not consolidate all of the ministry initiatives into a single major offering? This prevents “donor-fatigue” and leads to a more fully funded vision. <br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>7. Breaching Trust</b><br />
A breach of trust is created when money has been collected for an initiative, but then the money is used for something entirely different without that reason being clearly communicated to the church. Some churches have had multiple collections for the same project, yet there is no money in that account because it has been used for something different. Without trust, nothing can stand for long. If this has happened in your church ,be certain to clearly communicate WHY it happened. Apologize as necessary and move forward to establish a new foundation of trust. <br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>8. Failing To Have A Regular Financial Review/Audit</b><br />
Obviously, embezzlement is not helpful toward ensuring a fully funded vision! A regular financial review or audit can ensure that your church finances are being managed well and with full integrity. <br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>9. Acquiring Unmanageable Debt</b><br />
Over the past several years, many churches made the mistake of borrowing everything a bank was willing to lend them. As a result, many ministries are facing the strangling hold of lenders and interest payments. Seek to restructure the debt to obtain the lowest interest rates possible and resolve to never again borrow an amount of money that would jeopardize the ministry. <br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>10. Allowing the biggest giver to dictate what will and will not be funded</b><br />
Sometimes a large donor will attempt to abscond with the vision by threatening to withhold their giving unless their “pet project” is funded – event when the leader knows that the project is not part of the vision. When a leader has a clear vision from God, it will give them the confidence to “offend man rather than offend God.” <br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>BONUS: Asking for equal giving instead of equal sacrifice</b><br />
Some leaders have looked at a major project – say it costs $1,000,000 – and then looked at their 500 members and did the math. “If every family would give $2,000, we would have a fully funded project,” the leader will proclaim. The math is correct, but the approach is not. The leader is asking for equal <b>giving</b>, not equal <b>sacrifice</b>. Consider the individual who possesses the gift of giving who would willingly give $50,000. If they were asked to give only $2,000, they might make the decision to only give $2,000. Be sure to ask for equal sacrifice, not equal giving.</blockquote>
You can read these posts in their original form, as well as other great bits of wisdom here:<br />
<a href="http://www.perrynoble.com/2012/04/12/top-ten-financial-mistakes-a-church-makes-part-one/" target="_blank">http://www.perrynoble.com/2012/04/12/top-ten-financial-mistakes-a-church-makes-part-one/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.perrynoble.com/2012/04/13/top-ten-financial-mistakes-a-church-makes-part-two/" target="_blank">http://www.perrynoble.com/2012/04/13/top-ten-financial-mistakes-a-church-makes-part-two/</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br /></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-23896280123532116302012-04-15T07:00:00.000-05:002012-04-16T07:27:48.181-05:00Sunday's Here!Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. <br />
<br />
Sure you can say that about any day, but this isn't just any day. Today is the first Sunday in a long line of Sundays marked by services at <a href="http://www.uncommonaustin.com/" target="_blank">Uncommon Church</a>. It's not often you hear about the very first service at a church, but today is one of those days. <br />
<br />
And it's going to be dangerous, so beware.<br />
<br />
The enemy has tried to stop this church in so many ways I don't have the time to chronicle them all, but next time you see me ask and I'll give you enough stories to make the hair on the back of your neck salute. <br />
<br />
Through all the trials, God has turned it to the good. <br />
<br />
This church has already overcome things that would end most start up businesses, close the doors of most new restaurants and end the days of most neophyte organizations before they even began. The roadblocks and derailments quite possibly would have seemed impossible to overcome if brought up in foresight, making most decide never to try. <br />
<br />
<i>But with God all things are possible.</i><br />
<br />
Thanks to the prayers of so many, including you, God is planting this church on this day in history. <br />
<br />
Just as storm clouds swirled over the cross before our savior was overcome, today's forecast calls for severe thunderstorms. And, just like what happened that fateful day over 2000 years ago, God's light will shine through. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.betheuncommon.com/images/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://www.betheuncommon.com/images/logo.png" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-71603628660266892502012-04-10T05:51:00.000-05:002012-04-10T05:51:12.502-05:00Never ForgetHere's today's devotional from Pastor Bayless Conley:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Remember<br />
<br />
<b>Titus 3:1-7</b><br />
<i>Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.</i><br />
<br />
Paul tells us to remember where we have come from. Notice he said to show humility to all men and speak evil of no one. Why? Because we also used to be foolish and deceived and disobedient.<br />
<br />
I thank God I am a new creation in Christ, but I still blush when I think about some of the stuff I got involved in before I was saved! Disobedient? Been there. Serving various lusts and pleasures? Up to my eyeballs! Plus all the other things Paul mentions in this passage and a few more!<br />
<br />
It is amazing how people in the church forget what they were like before the grace of God came into their life. When that happens they tend to get very haughty and judgmental towards those still lost in their sin. A harsh, judgmental church that lacks humility while verbally lashing out at sinners is one of the ugliest garments you can dress the beautiful gospel in. </blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-58104428947266492832012-04-07T06:19:00.000-05:002012-04-07T08:51:10.596-05:00Under Attack! Praise God!<b>1Peter 4:12-13 </b> <i>Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.<br />
</i><br />
Our Pastor in Phoenix, <a href="http://gregrohlinger.com/" target="_blank">Greg Rohlinger</a> of <a href="http://www.palmvalley.org/" target="_blank">Palm Valley Church</a>, was often fond of reminding us that we should rejoice when trials and troubles came our way. If you live a carefree life, it’s simply because the enemy doesn’t view you as a threat. Why waste ammunition on someone sitting on the sidelines?<br />
<br />
But, our human nature makes us moan and groan when trials and tribulations befall us. We complain and grumble when things don’t go our way. All too often, we allow our circumstance to paint shadows on the canvas of our lives. <br />
<br />
Last week, on our way to the leadership meeting for Uncommon Church, we left the house late because Zach refused to get dressed. Then, we drove to the wrong location after I Googled the place and pulled the wrong address off the website. <br />
<br />
After that, we arrived twenty minutes late and couldn’t find the meeting in the large complex where it was held (the <a href="http://www.cedarparktx.us/cp/page27893550.aspx" target="_blank">Cedar Park Rec Center</a> for anyone in the area – come out next Sunday!). While walking around looking for it, Angie and I almost got into an argument, until I could literally feel something urging me to fight with her and pushed it aside. <br />
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Once inside the building and settled in, Zach pulled the fire alarm in the kid’s room, forcing the entire facility to be evacuated. Back outside, our prayer vigil was interrupted by fire engines and first responders coming to verify there was indeed no fire, just a mischievous little boy. <br />
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After the meeting, we were given some <a href="http://www.michaelrobison.tv/the-watches/" target="_blank">very neat watches</a> that work as a great way to open up- conversation about the church (you need one of these watches!). After wearing hers twice, Angie’s broke. It was as if the enemy was saying "You're not going to wear this or use it to tell anyone about Christ!"<br />
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In the midst of all this, our lead Pastor’s wife and son have had some health issues, a member of the board of directors has had to deal with some serious health concerns with a family member and, I’m sure, there’s way more “ammunition” being fired our way. <br />
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Praise God!<br />
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All this simply adds up to the fact that we’re all under attack, all seen as a threat to the enemy and all on a path to win souls for Christ, rise up those already won and do His work under the banner of Uncommon Church. <br />
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Praise God! <br />
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He is Risen!<br />
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Happy Easter everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-63341737757234965372012-04-06T13:43:00.001-05:002012-04-06T13:43:37.157-05:00Encouraging Word...<b>Ephesians 4:29 </b> <i>Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.</i><br />
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Back when I was in my mid-twenties, I think I might have had a Master’s Degree in unwholesome, discouraging talk. Not only was I very negative in most any opinion I shared, I enjoyed “verbal jousting”, and I also cursed like I was paid by the vowel. Sadly, I took some odd pleasure in seeing those I thought were too uptight get offended by things I said. <br />
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I’m really not sure why I was that way, but chances are a little psycho-analysis could figure it out pretty quickly. To make it even more strange, I craved hearing encouraging things from others, but seldom did; most likely at that point, due to my penchant for anti-social behavior. <br />
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I met my beautiful wife when I was thirty and quickly learned that people could be encouraging. In fact, life was a whole lot better when they were. While this lifted my waterline quite a bit, it wasn’t until we surrendered our “control issues” to Christ and dove into scripture that we really learned how important encouragement really is to us, and everyone else. <br />
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In a microcosm of insight, we can watch our son inflate or deflate based on our words, tone and body language. Speak negatively, his spirit falls, positively and it rises. He’s only three, but that trait is universal in just about everyone, no matter their age. <br />
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Now, <a href="http://proverbs27seventeen.blogspot.com/2011/01/encourage-you-to-encourage-others.html">I’ve written about encouragement before on this blog</a> but it wasn’t until just this past week that the passage above from Ephesians really stuck out to me. <br />
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I’m ashamed to admit that when things don’t go my way, I often backslide a little into that dark place where I criticize things a little too fervently. Maybe it’s some sort of defense mechanism, maybe it’s some sort of spiritual sour grapes, who knows. But, this week I really caught the connection between being that way and failing to be encouraging. It hit me like a hammer. <br />
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If I’m letting coarse talk come out of my mouth, stuff that isn’t solely intended to build others up, which side of the battle am I on? <br />
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No one encourage and criticize at the same time. <br />
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No one can serve two masters…<br />
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With that in mind, I’m thankful to the Holy Spirit for making this verse jump out at me. I’ve read Ephesians at least a dozen times, yet 4:29 has slipped past my eyes and ears in every instance without really sinking in. Until now. <br />
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I remember the day after I was baptized vividly. I clearly knew I was no longer the same. It was evident in no uncertain terms that I had to strive to live more in line with His will. <br />
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Now this week, after answering the call to help plant a church, that same feeling is back. It’s time to take another step up, and I think it all starts with Ephesians 4:29. <br />
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We all live in a storm. Our jobs, bills, relationships, physical needs and wants all collide in our hearts and minds, making it easy to feel pulled under. <br />
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Unfortunately, the negatives can often carry far more weight than the positives. But, if we always remember to let the negative die with us and only release what is helpful and benefitting to others, the storm will clear and He will be honored.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-27530908215349421932012-04-03T07:20:00.000-05:002012-04-03T07:20:22.135-05:00Long Time, No See...Not only have I been absent from this blog for sometime, I've been absent from a lot of things due to my new job. Conversely, while I've not been seen around here, there are a lot of things I've not seen while I focused on the new occupation and more importantly, my family. <br />
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At the beginning of this year, I decided my family would be my ministry for the coming months. Obviously, God put this on my heart for a reason as our son has had a lot of health issues and we've spent a small fortune on Dr visits, co-pays and prescriptions. Thankfully, due to the advice of some good friends at <a href="http://www.gatewaychurch.com/" target="_blank">Gateway Church</a>, we found a new clinic to take him to and a solid, caring, attentive Dr who seems to have him on the mend.<br />
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Now that I have the hang of my new job, Zach seems to over the hump and we can start moving away from our introspective season, we started looking to the future and what God has in store for us.<br />
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For those of you who know the story, the Almighty had his hand all over getting us down here to Austin. Not only would we have never considered it if He hadn't put some puzzles pieces together, we couldn't have made it happen without a few minor miracles He brought our way, including the blessings from some awesome friends. <br />
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In the course of all that, we've been wondering exactly why He brought us down here. Thankfully, we're at a point in our walk where we're very open to whispers from the Holy Spirit. Just like a master landscaper, God has placed stepping stones in front of us along the way. We weren't sure where they were leading, but think we've finally figured it out.<br />
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This past Sunday we were invited to the first leadership meeting on campus of a Church plant. We had no idea we were going when we got up Sunday morning, but the invite came around 2:30pm and by 4:30 we were there.<br />
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The lead pastor, <a href="http://www.michaelrobison.tv/blog/2012/4/2/uncommon-church-update.html" target="_blank">Michael Robison</a>, has a great vision, great zeal and most importantly an unquenchable love of what Jesus loves. He reminds me in many ways of our first Pastor, <a href="http://gregrohlinger.com/" target="_blank">Greg Rohlinger</a> of <a href="http://www.palmvalley.org/" target="_blank">Palm Valley Church</a>.One of the puzzle pieces that struck me yesterday is how much we wished we'd been around to plant Palm Valley... <br />
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After leaving, Angie was very jazzed up while I was still processing it. After mulling it all over most of the day yesterday, then discussing it further with Angie last night, I went to sleep last night thinking this was why God had called us to Austin.<br />
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I woke up around 1:30am last night and laid in bed unable to go back to sleep until after 3. Once I realized I couldn't go back to sleep, I just started "chatting" with God. Praying, worshiping, honoring, asking and listening.<br />
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After well over an hour of communing with God, I recall feeling very peaceful about where He was leading us, then the next thing I knew it was 5:00am and time to get up. Upon climbing out of bed, I was as sure I'd finally "seen" what He has in store as I've ever been. <br />
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Something about being a writer really makes me appreciate God's master story telling skills. As I look back on what led us to this point, I feel flooded by waves of awe at God's craftsmanship. <br />
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For those who have been part of a Church plant, or anything else big that the Holy Spirit is guiding, I'm sure you can relate to what I'm feeling right now. For those who haven't, I encourage you to roll up your sleeves and get in the game. Nothing in this life compares to the feeling of doing something for the Kingdom.<br />
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If you're in the Austin area next Sunday, come check out the first ever service at <a href="http://www.uncommonaustin.com/" target="_blank">Uncommon Church</a>. We'd love to see you and for you to be seen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-35842717961285645682011-12-23T07:25:00.000-06:002011-12-23T07:25:42.460-06:00The Devil's Seeds of DoubtSometimes, God speaks to us through friends, through strangers, or through something we read or see. This week, I think he decided to speak to me through a devotional. Imagine that. ;)<br />
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This is from Pastor Bayless Conley's Answers for Each Day daily devotional series.<br />
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<blockquote>The Devil's Seeds of Doubt<br />
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As we saw yesterday, Satan will seek to attack when we are on the verge of a major breakthrough. I believe there are three distinct areas of attack in this battle. Today I want to cover the first with you. It is found in Matthew 4:3-4,<br />
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<i>Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"</i><br />
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The devil's first area of attack will be to try to get you to doubt your calling.<br />
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Notice that just prior to this encounter the voice of God the Father said to Jesus, "This is My beloved Son!" And that is the first thing the devil challenges, "Well, if you are the Son of God…." <br />
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He will do the same thing to you.<br />
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What is it that God has spoken to you about that He wants you to do with your life? Has He told you that He wants to use you to funnel vast resources into the gospel? Or maybe God said you are to be a teacher, or that you are going to impact the entertainment industry, or that you are going to be a prayer warrior and tip the spiritual scales in critical times.<br />
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Whatever it is, the devil will saddle up next to you and say, "Who do you think you are? What God has told you is just a pipe dream. It's just your own head speaking to you." He will try and get you to doubt what God has said to you and to doubt what God has called you to do.<br />
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When that happens, you need to go back to that word that God has spoken to you in order to keep your focus and direction right. </blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-26802247229535715822011-12-18T08:48:00.000-06:002011-12-18T08:48:47.735-06:00How Can I Help You? ~or~ Making Money Isn't About the Money<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marshu.com/articles/images-website/articles/presidents-on-us-paper-money/one-hundred-100-dollar-bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://www.marshu.com/articles/images-website/articles/presidents-on-us-paper-money/one-hundred-100-dollar-bill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Through a series of unforseen events, I've found myself having to re-enter a career field I'd happily placed in the rear-view mirror three years ago. While I was good at it, one of the best if you believe people who give out awards for such things, I pretty much despised every single hour spent in the last job I had in that field. To say I was relieved when I left that field would be an understatement. In fact, I literally felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders, pressure taken off my chest and within a few weeks, I felt healthier, happier and more alive than I had in years. If that doesn't show you what power stress and negativity has on us, nothing will…<br />
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So, as you can imagine, I'm not overly excited to go back into that field. In fact, I almost feel the same way you would if you were about to put your hand onto a hot stove, after having been burned badly once before. <br />
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Regardless of my feelings on the matter, it is what it is and I have to do what I have to do to take care of my family. <br />
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<blockquote><b>1 Timothy 5:8</b> <i>If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.</i></blockquote><br />
Now, I may have just gone through a rather shameful crisis of faith, but at no point would I ever relish the idea of being an unbeliever, much less worse than one. And, regardless of that, God has wired me to take care of my family, so this is what I have to do. <br />
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In thinking about it last night, the idea struck me that no one who does a job strictly for the money derives any real pleasure from it. In fact, studies prove the opposite, regardless of what the world might tell us. Money cannot buy happiness, so working only for money is a sure path to unhappiness. <br />
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That was most likely the trouble with my last job in this field. I ended up disliking it so much, that it just became about the money and nothing else. Once that happened, the door closed and there was no hope of ever enjoying it again. Don't get me wrong, there were times when I did enjoy that field, and there was a reason I got into it in the first place that wasn't just about the money. <br />
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Back then, it was exciting. I never expected to arrive at a place where I was spiritually exhausted, emotionally calloused and mentally jaded. <br />
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But, thanks to adverse circumstances (and my own poor way of dealing with them) I ended up there. <br />
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Going forward, I want to strive to not focus on the money, but instead to strictly concern myself with helping people. The phrase "how can I help you?" is uttered billions of times a day, all over the world, but how many people truly mean it? Well, I want to be one of those few who do. <br />
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If I focus on that and strive to do nothing more than help people, the money will certainly come as a by-product.<br />
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On top of that (and the foundation of it at the same time), is the idea that we're all called to be servants. "How Can I Help?" should be the most uttered phrase in the Christian life. Therefore, if I strive to help people first and foremost, I'll honor God's wishes and God will honor that effort. <br />
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And, by focusing on what God wants, I won't have time to focus on what I don't want…<br />
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I pray that each and every one of you has a very blessed and Merry Christmas! <br />
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<i>Father God,<br />
Please place your hand of protection on each and every one that we all know this Holiday Season. Get us all safely through this hectic time, and please heap extra blessings on those who need them most. I would like to ask that you remind each and every one of us that celebrating your Son's birthday isn't about material gain or overeating or any of that, but about learning to serve one another as Jesus served all of us. Please don't let any of us forget that. <br />
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In Jesus' name I pray,<br />
Amen</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-72932494777117427712011-12-07T07:31:00.000-06:002011-12-07T07:31:44.837-06:00Diss(ed)connected?If this blog is for nothing else, let it be for accountability. You have helped me remain accountable and for that, I'm forever grateful. <br />
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But, the one linchpin to that is I need to remain transparent with you. Well, in the interests of that, I need to get something off my chest. I've been very unhappy with God lately. I won't call it 'mad' as I think that's a bit too strong. I haven't turned my back on him, or written him off or anything so dramatic as all that, but I have slowly disconnected from Him. <br />
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Many of you may recall I posted a while back about a certain career problem I'm having. Well, since asking for prayers on it, the situation has gone from bad to worse. I kept taking for granted the fact that God would show up and fix it, but as far as I know, He has yet to do so. The problem has become a very significant financial strain on my family and at this point has undone about seven years of my hard work. <br />
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I didn't realize it was happening, but over the course of the last month or so, I've slowly been pulling further and further away from God. While doing some introspective thought recently, I came to the realization this was due to my unhappiness that God is allowing this business nightmare to continue. <br />
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Now, before you jump to the same conclusions I did about how I need to have faith and how God does things in His time, not ours, rest assured I've been there already. But, to deny the fact that I've disconnected, even when I know it shouldn't have, is hardly being transparent. So, I'm admitting my sin, right here and right now. I unplugged from God. <br />
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As things have slowly come to a head over the last few days, and I realized this was happening, I've decided the only acceptable course of action is to reconnect. So, please, help me remain accountable in reconnecting. <br />
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For those who like to leave comments here on the Proverbs blog, please do so every few days, asking me if I'm staying connected. If you're the email type, please shoot me an email every once in awhile and check up on me. <br />
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No one's faith should ever be so weak that watching evil prevail in the short term can sever their connection with God. Admittedly, that's exactly what's been happening to me. <br />
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Thankfully, God always knows how to bring us back. Today, I sat down to get caught up on my daily reading and this devotional was waiting for me:<br />
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<blockquote>By Janet Conley<br />
How to Stay Connected<br />
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Yesterday we discovered the second key to effective prayer is to stay connected to God. The critical question is: How do we do that?<br />
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While there are many things we can do, I want to focus on two things. First of all, if you want to have a close relationship with God, it is important to realize just how much He desires to have a close relationship with you.<br />
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This is an amazing truth when you stop to think about it. He is Almighty God, and yet He wants to have a close relationship with you.<br />
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Romans 5:11 in the New Living Translation says, Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.<br />
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Through Jesus, God made us to be His friends! So connecting with God starts with remembering He desires to be your closest friend.<br />
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Second, you need to practice His presence. Right now God is with you. He is everywhere you go. He is at your job; He is at your home; He is with you wherever you might be, even in the hardest time of your life.<br />
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The last part of Hebrews 13:5 says, For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."<br />
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There was a monk in the seventeenth century named Brother Lawrence who wrote a book called The Practice of the Presence of God. In the monastery there were chimes that rang every hour, and Brother Lawrence would use that as a reminder to connect with God.<br />
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If you have a PDA or a wristwatch or a cell phone, you might consider setting it to go off throughout the day to remind you that God is with you. Each time it goes off, spend a few moments communing with Him. Practice His presence. That will help you stay connected to God.</blockquote><br />
Thanks for walking with me. I appreciate it more than you know and deserve it less than you might think. Pastor Perry Noble of NewSpring Church said in <a href="http://newspring.cc/series/upgrade/" target="_blank">a recent sermon</a> that we're not designed to shoulder our burdens alone and that we should take them to other Christ followers for help. On that note, thank you for helping me shoulder this one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-36485815273441715852011-11-18T07:50:00.002-06:002011-11-18T07:50:19.122-06:00Wisdom, Wishes and Doubt...James 1: 5-8<br />
<i>If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.</i><br />
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Most scripture I read is either something I take to heart, that lightens my load and gives me peace or simply goes over my head due to the fact I'm certainly no bible scholar. <br />
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But, a very small percentage twist me a bit, like a sapling in a strong storm. The passage above is one of those. I often find myself asking for God's wisdom when I'm in doubt or faced with circumstances I don't know how to handle. I feel very confident that God will give me that wisdom, but the real twist hits when I come to the part where it says "you must believe and not doubt." <br />
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What if God simply doesn't want me to know something yet? What if He intends for me to endure a circumstance in order that a future glory might arise from the contemporary pain? What if He's simply disciplining me for doing something stupid? <br />
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I know most of those thoughts come from the cracks the evil one slips in through, as he's always prowling around, looking for a chink in the armor. But, I wonder if by letting those doubts in, I'm failing to embrace and employ the full power of the Holy Spirit that resides within me…<br />
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So, to add another blanket onto the bed of over thinking, I pray for wisdom to discern what God's will is in any particular circumstance. Surely he doesn't want me to be confused, helpless, blown and tossed by the wind. <br />
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No. Our Father wants the best for us. This I know is a fact. But, how do I overcome my unbelief? How do I always remain confident that He will show up, in even the darkest of circumstances? <br />
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Faith. <br />
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Maybe, I just need to add that to my request for wisdom, that no matter what, He will guide me where He wants me to be and regardless of my foresight into how I hope the future will go, His will is what's best.<br />
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What do you think? Are you ever confronted by doubt when asking God for something?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-61758534341177409592011-10-04T08:46:00.000-05:002011-10-04T08:46:39.321-05:00Paul's Love Transcends 2000 Years<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you<b><sup> </sup></b>to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In Paul's letter to the church at Colossae, he was speaking to mostly converted gentiles who were being blown about in the spiritual winds, as the true teachings of Christ that was their foundation, was under attack by the heretical teachings of others (allegedly the precursors to the Gnostic beliefs) that sought to undermine the truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In reading the beginning of Paul's letter to them, I love how he starts by leaving no doubt whatsoever that he's not only praying for all within that church, but praying that they would climb the spiritual ladder and become more Christ-like and less worldly. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The closer we are to God, the harder it is for the enemy to distance us from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In his prayers, Paul asks God to fill them with knowledge of His will. He asks that they are able to bear fruit. He asks that they're strengthened so they have patience and endurance. And, he asks all these things because he knows they've been called to share in the inheritance Jesus died for. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">While Paul penned this letter from a Roman prison nearly 2,000 years ago, it seems more than obvious these prayers apply to you and me, today, right now. Most of us attend or are members in churches that are made up primarily of gentiles, with a large contingent of new believers and those who are "born again." Most of us are under daily attack from worldly beliefs that seek to undermine our faith in Christ, just like those who lived in Colossae 1950 year ago. All of us need to remain focused that we are to bear fruit while remaining part of the vine. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2015:4&version=NIV">John 15:4</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">So, today, I'd like to pray alongside Paul. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Father God,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">You are the almighty God and your love for us exceeds any human ability to contain or restrain it. Today, we ask that you fill us all with the knowledge of your will, through the wisdom and understanding the spirit gives, so that we may live a life that is worthy and pleasing to you. Please nurture our hearts so that we may bear fruit in our homes, work places, communities and the world and do so with the strength that comes from patience and endurance as we know, without a doubt, that your Son has made a place for us in your Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I ask all these things in Jesus' holy name,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amen<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-52041603088025595882011-10-03T16:21:00.000-05:002011-10-03T16:24:06.792-05:005G?Verizon just rolled out 4G cellular service. Now, Pastor James McDonald is calling for 5G service, from all of us, not a phone company or international media corporation. You and I are a far greater network than anything employing iPhones, Androids or Blackberries to spread the message.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://jamesmacdonald.com/blog/?p=8853&utm_source=Vertical+Church+RSS+Feed&utm_campaign=8a05e29478-Wanted_5G_Disciples_10_3_2011&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">Click here to read just what 5G service looks like.</a><br />
<br />
No matter if you were baptized yesterday or 75 years ago, you need to be 5G. Just like cell phones that came in briefcases and pagers the size of a 'Droid, anything other than 5G is yesterday's news and just won't cut it today... or tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-30355168871881734262011-10-03T06:38:00.002-05:002011-10-03T06:38:30.989-05:00To Fear or Fear Not?<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jeremiah 1:6-8 <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The more things change, the more they stay the same. Thousands of years ago, when finding ways to speak to vast groups of people wasn't easy, God sent people out on his behalf. As we see in the verse above, the initial response to this leading was fear. "I don't know how…" <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">These days, with social media, blogs, etc., we have the ability to quickly and easily reach a multitude of folks, but all too often when God calls us to do just that, we respond with "I can't… I don't know how…" <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">But just like then, the answer remains the same. "Do not be afraid… for I am with you," declares the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fear, like anything else, is best used in moderation. Fear can stop us from getting injured, prevent us from accidentally putting others in harm's way and save our lives. But, like anything else, too much fear is extremely harmful. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It stops us from reaching out to the lost, helping those in need, serving others and doing what God put us here to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The key there is to be able to discern when the fear is healthy or unhealthy, just enough or too much. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What I'm striving to do, is consider the outcome of the circumstance. If the possible outcome honors God and does his work, the fear is an obstacle I need to overcome. If the only outcomes are either selfish or hurtful, then obviously the fear is there to protect me. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Father God,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">You gave us fear for self preservation, but all too often we misuse it and allow it to become a hindrance to what you put us here to do. Please grant us the wisdom to overcome fear, to not be afraid when you call us to something and to rest assured that you are always with us. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In Jesus' name I pray,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amen<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-22986805206849902162011-10-02T08:28:00.000-05:002011-10-02T08:28:44.956-05:00One C or Two?We had a great gathering at Gateway Church yesterday for <a href="http://www.gatewaychurch.com/advance">Advance Weekend</a>, the annual gathering of Church leaders and others committed to Christ.<br />
<br />
While praying during the services, the concept struck me that most Church-goers I've encountered over the years fall into one of two camps, with few exceptions. People are either Committed Christians, who are striving to be the body, or they're consumers, simply asking "What can the Church do for me?"<br />
<br />
While many fall into the shades of grey between these two extremes, I would posit that there is a line that divides the two mindsets and just about everyone is on one side of that line or the other.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, it's easy to draw the conclusion that Two C folks are true followers of Christ, imbued with the Holy Spirit and striving to do His work.<br />
<br />
The one C's are not.<br />
<br />
Sure, they may call themselves Christians and declare that they have great faith, but if they're taking the consumer approach by simply drawing on the Church's resources, without contributing to them, they're really missing the mark… bigtime. And don't have the Holy Spirit within them or are simply very adept at ignoring it.<br />
<br />
<i>Proverbs 24:15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place</i><br />
<br />
If we are the children of God and the church is God's house, it's logical to say our church is <b>our</b> house. Who among you waits for someone else to pay the electric bill in your own house? Who waits for someone else to put groceries in your 'fridge? Who expects someone else to play host to your house guests? Who ignores your children, assuming someone else will feed them, clothe them and otherwise meet their needs?<br />
<br />
If you came to my house and I told you I wasn't paying the heating bill in the winter because I expected someone else to take care of it, you'd think I was out of my mind.<br />
<br />
So, why then is it perfectly acceptable for people to go to church and not serve? Not give an offering? Not take ownership in what is essentially their house?<br />
<br />
The answer is simple: It's not.<br />
<br />
Ever. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(With the caveat that those "checking out Christ" are more than welcome to simply consume until such a time as they cross the line and accept Christ into their hearts as their own personal savior)</span><br />
<br />
So, while I assume all of you who are reading this are <b>C</b>ommitted <b>C</b>hristians, full-on two C types who take ownership of your church with your time, talents and treasures, I know we all know one C people who don't. To that end, I would ask that you all join me in praying for them. Pray that they take the step from simply consuming what the Church offers to helping to provide what the Church offers. Pray that God will give them an epiphany and help them realize the Church is THEIR house as much as His. And they need to help keep the house in order, not simply sit on the couch waiting for someone else to pass the nachos…<br />
<br />
God blesses us so we can bless others, not so we can soak up the blessings of others.<br />
<br />
<i>Philippians 3:7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.</i><br />
<br />
Father God,<br />
Thank you so much for the hearts of those who read these words, the Committed Christians who know that the only hope this world has is in You. Please shine a light on those who are over the line with only one C in the game, those who simply want to consume what the Church offers and not contribute to it. Help the Church feed those consumers till they've had their fill, thus turning their appetite from that of a starving consumer to the heart of one who hungers to share Your love with everyone in the Church, in the community and in the world.<br />
<br />
We ask all these things in Your Son's blessed and holy name.<br />
<br />
Amen.<br />
<div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-10308096797521615532011-09-19T07:54:00.001-05:002011-09-20T08:09:22.176-05:00<b>Soul Storming</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/616LytCzizL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/616LytCzizL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div>I joined a Men's Group through our church last weekend with a standup bunch of fellas. At first, I thought we were going to follow through a study series created by the church that they're encouraging all the small groups to go through at the same time. But, when I dug in, I was pleased to find out the group would instead be studying the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Storming-guidebook-Discovering-Community/dp/1463534175/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316436112&sr=8-1">Soul Storming curriculum</a> authored by Jason Heriford. <br />
<br />
The back of the book blurb is summarized with this:<br />
<br />
"God has placed a dream in your heart and he wants to equip you to live it completely."<br />
<br />
If that isn't right up my alley, I'm not sure what is. <br />
<br />
In essence, the study helps us strip away the mess piled on our true selves by living a life in the world, then helps us identify what God has placed on our heart to do for His Kingdom. Once that's done, the other men (or women) in the group come alongside to help you achieve that goal. <br />
<br />
The book was published in 2011, and already has over a dozen successful ministries launched from the study. <br />
<br />
While all that is just plain excellent sounding, the two real hooks for me come twofold. Jason Heriford is in this men's group with me and he relied heavily on Pastor Gary Foran in writing the book. Gary happens to be the leader of our couple's small group. <br />
<br />
So, if you're fully cognizant of the fact that God has far bigger plans for you and your life than this world might have you believe, pick up a copy of Soul Storming and get into a group of like-minded folks who can come alongside you and take the study from beginning to glorious end. <br />
<br />
In other news, my dear friend and spiritual brother Gary Hughes is currently up for a pastor's position at a church near his home. This is an answer to a lot of prayer and could quite possibly be the culmination of a lot of soil tilling God has done in Gary's life. Please pray that God uses this experience to draw Gary closer to him and that if it's His will, that Gary lands the job. <br />
<br />
God bless!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-15949443745569444662011-08-30T07:17:00.000-05:002011-08-30T07:17:13.422-05:00A Ram is on The WayAs a storyteller, I always marvel at how God works, weaving the sub-plots of our trials in and out of the tapestry of this life. After yesterday's post, I prayed earnestly that God would provide, guide, grant wisdom and take care of us. <br />
<br />
Today, Angie got this devotional in her daily reading emails. <br />
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<blockquote> <br />
<br />
August 30, 2011<br />
<br />
A Ram is on the Way<br />
Glynnis Whitwer<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>"So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.'" Genesis 22:14 (NIV)</i><br />
<br />
Have you ever been in a situation so desperate that it looked hopeless?<br />
<br />
Have you ever sat at the kitchen table wondering how you were going to pay the electric bill? Have you ever stood at a door that's been slammed in your face by an angry teenager and despaired at having a relationship with him again? Have you ever had your heart broken so deeply that you wondered if you would feel whole again?<br />
<br />
Sadly, we live in a broken world where desperate situations happen every day. I know someone reading this devotion is wondering how she will make it through the day because her situation looks hopeless. If that is you, I encourage you to keep reading. I believe God has a message of hope for you today.<br />
<br />
That message is found in the Bible, in the story of a man who was dealing with his own desperate situation. His name was Abraham and he faced the greatest testing of his life. After longing for a son for many years, God finally gave Abraham a boy, whom he named Isaac. Abraham never imagined God would test his faith by asking him to sacrifice his son. But it happened.<br />
<br />
It had to have been the darkest day of Abraham's life as he trudged up the mountain, with firewood strapped to his son's back. Every step took Abraham closer to what he believed to be the sad ending of a hopeless situation—the death of his son. Yet in spite of his sorrow, Abraham trusted God. His heart wasn't soaring with joy. He wasn't dancing up the mountain. But he put one foot in front of the other. Walking through the darkness of the situation; obeying His God's commands.<br />
<br />
Unbeknownst to Abraham, something else was walking up that mountain. Quietly. Out of sight. On the other side of the mountain. Something else was putting one foot in front of the other. Only Abraham couldn't see it.<br />
<br />
For every step Abraham took, a ram on the other side of the mountain took a step.<br />
<br />
All Abraham saw that day was his solitary journey of pain. As he got closer to the top of the mountain, his dread must have increased. I wonder if he asked himself any questions. I would have. I would have wondered why hadn't God intervened? Why hadn't God stopped this testing? Couldn't God see that Abraham was a man of faith? Why test him in this way?<br />
<br />
But there was no answer. There was no voice from heaven. And so Abraham kept obeying his God's command. He put Isaac on an altar and prepared to sacrifice his one and only son.<br />
<br />
And just at that very moment, at the very last second, when it looked like the end had come, God spoke, stopping the sacrifice. Abraham looked up and there caught in the thicket was a ram. Abraham took his son off the altar, replaced him with the ram, and offered the sacrifice to God.<br />
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Abraham named that place "Yahweh-Yireh" or "The Lord Will Provide." And the story was written down for generations of God-followers to read. It was written so that you and I today would read it as we face our own hopeless situations. It was captured in print so that you and I would know that God is already planning for our provision. We don't see it. We don't hear it. But we can trust that our God is at work. On your behalf, and on mine.<br />
<br />
I choose to trust God today. A ram is on the way.<br />
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<i>Dear Lord, You know how desperate I am today. You know that my faith has wavered. Although I want to trust You, I'm having trouble doing so. I ask for Your intervention in my situation, and for an increase of my faith while I wait. In Jesus' Name, Amen.</i><br />
</blockquote><br />
God is not only <i>a</i> master storyteller, He's <i>the</i> master storyteller and it's a delight to watch Him work.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-72058527517162218892011-08-29T15:43:00.000-05:002011-08-29T15:43:29.178-05:00Need God? Read God.It's always interesting how when I find myself feeling out of touch with God, all I need to do is take a quick inventory of my daily pursuits to see I'm not spending enough time reading the bible or engaging in heartfelt prayer. <br />
<br />
There are certainly seasons where I feel closer to or further from Him, like I exist in some elliptical orbit around the Throne. But, more often than not, when I feel unplugged, I can look down and see the power cord in my hand, recently pulled from the socket by that guy I see in the mirror. Even though this isn't news to me, I still learn it regularly. Just like I did about ten minutes ago when I started catching up on some devotionals from the past several days; things that might have brightened my outlook last week had I bothered to read them when I should have. <br />
<br />
I've been going through some pretty stressful business stuff lately that seems to get worse each day. I know God will take care of me, and I count my blessings regularly that I have such an amazing wife and awesome son: the family that's far better than I could ever deserve. But, the business stuff is really dragging me down. <br />
<br />
Those who know me well know I fall more into the "everything's great!" camp than the "yes, I need to open up and let my Brothers and Sisters in Christ help me shoulder this" camp. But, lately, I've sought the fellowship of two good friends to discuss these things in-depth and it's helped greatly. I've also admitted flat out that fixing these troubles is beyond my ability and I'm now 100% reliant on God to take care of the situation. <br />
<br />
But, while I'm sitting here hoping He'll fix things, like most sons hope their fathers will, I'm neglecting what He wants from me. I'm neglecting my time in the word and my prayer time. I've replaced that time with some really great stuff though, like worry, stress, fear and frustration. Sounds like a good deal, right? <br />
<br />
Right? <br />
<br />
Well, my troubles certainly aren't going away overnight, but the other things that come along with them disappear like mist in a windstorm as soon as I open my heart to prayer and when I read God's word. <br />
<br />
So, even though my problems seem impossible for me to repair and have resisted my every effort to fix them, I'm good. Because:<br />
<br />
<i>Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26</i><br />
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So, if you're going through some tough stuff, and let's face it, we all do whether we want to admit it or not, always remember we need God, so we should pray often and we need to read God's word regularly. The rest is just details that He'll sort out. <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-71927580023609245472011-08-15T08:39:00.000-05:002011-08-15T08:39:43.781-05:00Through the Flames...After further thinking on <a href="http://proverbs27seventeen.blogspot.com/2011/08/worldly-church-it-seems-to-me-main.html">my last post</a>, the idea that quarrelsome people are very worldy confirmed the fact that I'm very worldly. While I try continually to tone that down and master it, it seems God would have me grow through that flaw by continually presenting me with test opportunities on the business side of my career to be quarrelsome. Sadly, I keep failing. <br />
<br />
Looking back at the initial angle of the post, I found this of further interest on the subject:<br />
<br />
<i>1 Corinthians 3:10-15<br />
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.</i><br />
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While I may have no concrete idea of exactly what happens when we get to Heaven, I think I'm pretty assured of the fact that any works that in any way fall under the heading of "worldly" will certainly burn up. Hopefully, all of us find a reward that is far more than merely "escaping through the flames."<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-49742601250037088862011-08-12T13:31:00.000-05:002011-08-12T13:31:37.967-05:00Worldly Church?<br />
<br />
It seems to me, the main purpose of a Church organization is to<br />
A) seek and save the lost<br />
and<br />
B) nurture the growth of the saved so that they might live a Spirit filled life.<br />
<br />
While your mileage and opinion may vary, it seems most healthy Christian church organizations (at least on the outside) focus on the Great Commission and/or "being the body," which seems to jive with my two points above.<br />
<br />
However, one thing that's struck me more and more lately is the litany of denominations and factions who insist their way is right and others are wrong. I've actually heard that some churches argue over how people are baptized, how prayers are sent heavenward and, the one that shocks me the most, some church leaders actually tell their congregations not to read the bible as they're ill-equipped to process the information for themselves. <br />
<br />
While I have my own opinions on each of these topics, <i>especially</i> the last one, I wonder where the line is drawn when engaging someone over this from a countering point of view? I've heard the logic espoused that those who make such statements are false teachers and their word should be combated at all costs. But, who is to say which side is right and which wrong when it comes to something such as the method of praying? Or how new believers are baptized?<br />
<br />
Well, with that in mind, it's no wonder this passage jumped out at me today when I was doing some study (bolding by me for emphasis).<br />
<br />
<i>1 Corinthians 3<br />
The Church and Its Leaders<br />
1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For <b>since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?</b> Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?</i><br />
<br />
When one church denounces another across the street in those cute little marquee wars we've all seen in chain emails (you know the ones, where church on the east side of the street says "All dogs go to heaven" and the west side church says "No they don't, read your bible"), are they not simply showing the rest of the world how unspiritual they really are? Are we not doing the same when we denounce the practices of another denomination, another behavior of faith? When we speak ill of another church?<br />
<br />
At what point are we doing more harm than good by letting the unsaved see that we cannot even agree on how to worship or how to declare your faith?<br />
<br />
I recently read a long, laborious blog post from a gentleman declaring that any true Christ followers should avoid Texas Governor Rick Perry's giant Day of Prayer in Houston that occurred a few weeks ago. In the posting, the man reasoned that no true believer should attend the festival due to Perry's affiliation with a Church group from Kansas founded years ago. That doesn't make much sense, does it? Well, the poster went on to cite all his reasons for denouncing this group, most of which read like the Pharisees presenting their case against Jesus… a lot of ins and outs regarding the law and how we should worship. If the man had a concise point of logic to back his insistence that we all avoid the meeting, I failed to find it.<br />
<br />
While I'm certainly not siding with Perry or passing judgment on the poster for that matter, the fact that there were tens of thousands of people gathered together on US soil to worship our God seems to have far more potential positives than negatives. Urging people to avoid it, the very people who might instill the event with the true Spirit, hardly seems Christ-like. On the contrary, it seems like behavior rooted in fear and manifesting in reactionary mistrust. Not everything is a nefarious plot to steal your soul. And, even if it is, no thief can open the hand of Jesus. So, why act out of fear? Jesus tells us not to fear over and over again in the bible. Aren't we listening?<br />
<br />
I have no illusions the entirety of Christian believers will ever unite and set aside the worldly behaviors such as those mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1, and evidenced all around us every moment of every day, but, it does give me pause and make me question what thoughts I'll entertain and allow to pass my lips regarding how others worship.<br />
<br />
What do you think?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418065328179935664.post-32335860921665319632011-08-07T07:20:00.002-05:002011-08-07T08:18:26.704-05:00New Day - New Way of Understanding<i><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Rom&c=12&v=1&t=NIV" target="_blank">Romans 12:1</a> Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.</i><br />
<br />
My admiration of Paul - and particularly the Book of Romans - is no secret to anyone paying attention to my spiritual journey - that means both of you [wink]. I think, to date, I've read this book at least ten times, and pieces of it far more. So, I've obviously read the above passage enough times that I should completely comprehend it by now. <br />
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Here's where that "Living Word of God" kicks in though, proving once again that passages take on new meanings depending on where we are in our walk. <br />
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A few days ago, I read this and emailed it over to Angie, stating we needed to print it out and put it on the refrigerator, so that every time one of us felt a tug to indulge in food we really didn't need to eat, we might read it and think twice. Then, last night, I was at the 'fridge door, getting water, and sat and read it again. <br />
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We had bolded the portion of the passage that says "offer your bodies as living sacrifices" to reinforce the concept of not overindulging in food, something she and I have struggled with for a long time, but thankfully, a struggle she's been winning more and more lately (as recorded on <a href="http://angelabullock.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">her site</a>). <br />
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As the water filled my bottle, the entire concept of making sacrifices ran through my mind, in one of those flash slideshows like you see in the movies. I pictured families bringing livestock to the Temple for sacrifice, people making offerings to God and even a few random images of fictional, dramatized sacrifices of fair maidens over volcanoes (yes my imagination is that overactive). <br />
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After all the images were done, I was left with a realization that these cravings for food were something I should be sacrificing to God. These times when I'd rather lay on the couch than go be active are moments where I can live sacrificially for Him. It struck me like a lightning bolt of inspiration that this must be what Paul meant by being a "living sacrifice." <br />
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"Living for God" can just be three empty words if I'm not actually living sacrificially. Sure, we tithe, we donate time, we help our church, our friends and family. But, if we give these cravings and other times where we're drawn to gluttony, sloth and other sins of the flesh over to God, instead of indulging them, we're offering our bodies as a living sacrifice. <br />
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To that end, I'm joining a gym tomorrow. I will also enact a strict diet to speed my physical recovery from "fat, old guy" to a man who truly looks fit, trim and young for his age. I might be turning 43 next month, but that doesn't mean I have to look like it. <br />
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For those of you who call me friend, I beg you to ask me about this frequently. Speak the truth in love and keep me accountable. As a writer, I'm forced to spend long hours every day sitting in a chair staring at this computer, which does nothing for my physical well-being. But, you can reach out to me through it and encourage me to work out and avoid unnecessary trips to the fridge.<br />
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If I truly want to be full-grown spiritually, I must also have a sharp mind and fit body. The three are symbiotic and if one falters, the other two are pulled down with it. It's like a three-legged table, if one leg falters the table will surely tip over and fall.<br />
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I'm praying that by toning my body, I'll sharpen my mind, strengthen my spirit and, by default, find myself able to achieve far more for God. <br />
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As the cliché goes, tomorrow is the "first day of the rest of my life." Pray with me that it's also the first day of a new life of physical fitness instead of sedentary fatness. <br />
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<i>Father God,</i><br />
<i>You gave me this body, free of disease and major defects, yet I've seldom worked to maintain it, please forgive me. You amaze me by keeping me as healthy as I am and for that I'm very thankful. Please accept my cravings and laziness as a living sacrifice to you, Father, as I deny those things and give them to you. Please remind me hourly that I am Your son, blessed with the power of the Holy Spirit to be a good and faithful servant. But to be that, I must offer these things to You, each and every time. </i><br />
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<i>In Jesus Name I Pray,</i><br />
<i>Amen</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3