Mike's Site

Food for thought...

2011-01-24T12:49:00.000-05:00

Here's something to think about today...

If I were in deep trouble, who would be there for me, for sure?!
If my trouble lasted for a long time, who would be there at the end?
If my net worth were measured in true friends, how rich would I be?
If I found myself in Heaven, what would I discover there that I took with me?

Relationships are what we were created for by our Maker. God hard wired us to live in community. We need each other.

However, in this busy stress filled world, we sometimes allow relationship building to drop down on our list of priorities.

There is nothing more important than the MOST important relationship, the one between us and God, made possible through Jesus.

After that relationship, there's nothing more important or lasting than relationships with others.

Interestingly, trouble in your life, (which WILL come), will let you know who your true friends are! It will also reaffirm that Jesus will never leave or forsake you!

Work on those relationships today!!!

My son, Michael, and I have a great, relationship oriented, business opportunity. Check out THIS POST on our other blog.

The Rest of My Life...

2011-01-19T12:14:00.000-05:00

Look at that face!!!

That is our grandson, Anthony. He turned 12 years old yesterday.

Robyn and I are so proud of our first grandchild! He is a respectful, well mannered, young man. He is a good student and reads a lot. He loves his video games too.

One of the things I have noticed is his sensitivity to others. He has a big heart. He babysits his younger brothers when needed.

I am bragging on him just because! Grandparents have that right.

The privilege of being a parent and grandparent is unsurpassed by nothing else in this life! We are thankful that God has allowed us that blessing.

We have been blessed with two other grandchildren as well... Joe and Makena. I will spare you further bragging today!

No matter what else I may do, I want to spend the rest of my life pouring into our children and grandchildren. When I get to Heaven, I want to do a roll call and find everyone of them present! Then, I want to spend the rest of eternity in sweet relationship with them!!!

Check out this blog post to read about something exciting that happened in my life this past Saturday!

Major Shifts You Should Know About...

2011-01-14T14:30:00.003-05:00

There are changes happening in our country that you may not be aware of...

Most of us are tuned in to the bad news. We know that there is a downhill slide happening in many sectors of our society. However, these changes are not negative...

According to this POST, two things are happening right now in America. First, the Baby Boomer generation lost it's place as the largest group in our country in 2010. The Millennial generation, ages 15 - 30, are now the largest group. Second, beginning January 2011, 10,000 Baby Boomers are turning 65 every single day!

Reading the above mentioned blog post will give you insight that may be helpful, particularly if you lead a church, an organization, or a business. Even if you don't, it will help you better understand the trends in our culture, which, in my opinion, is very important.

My observations about these shifts...

The 79 million Boomers should NOT be ignored as they age. They are the grandparents, wise leaders, larger donors, and potential volunteers that should be reached. This generation is a more active, risk taking group. They will not settle for riding off into the sunset or sitting on the front porch all day. There are so many implications to all of the above.
There is a HUGE opportunity to connect with the Millennials and to help shape their thinking, thus touching the future. We can make an impact far into this century and beyond by reaching out to Millennials.
I used the word "connect" in relationship to the Millennials. I did that on purpose. According to the already referenced blog post, 96% of Millennials have already connected to a social network! Wow! They are a connecting bunch!
As Christ followers, we can show the love of Christ to both the Boomers and the Millennials, as well as those in between, by recognizing each group, understanding their uniqueness, and caring about them all.

In conclusion, it is wise for us to do our best to understand the "times" in which we are living!

\Check out our other BLOG that deals with financial opportunity!\

One Year Later...

2011-01-12T11:26:00.002-05:00

Today marks the one year anniversary of a tragic event...

At 4:53 PM, on January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake hit the already ravaged island nation of Haiti. Somewhere around 220,000 people died and 300,000 were injured in that brief, but powerful quake.

For most of us in the U.S., the tragedy has long since left our radar. That is not meant to judge or condemn us. We all have lives that are challenging and demand our energy, resources, and attention.

However, I am asking you that read this to take a moment and pray for the leaders and the people of Haiti today. Also, I ask that you consider helping in some way, even if it is small.

If you would like to help, my non-profit organization, Hope International, Inc., is helping to rebuild a church school in Port-au-Prince. We have been working with that church school for over 16 years. There is genuine good happening there for the children and families that attend.

To donate, go to our Facebook page and become a friend. You can donate through our "Causes" page, a secure way of giving.

To get more insight into what is happening a year later, check out these blog posts... President Bill Clinton's good efforts in Haiti, and "Haiti, A Year Later".

Thanks for your interest!

For a look at a possible way to increase your personal income this year, check out our other blog.

How's it going?

2011-01-11T12:05:00.003-05:00

2011 is now 11 days old...

Did you make resolutions or set goals for this new year? Did you decide to break a bad habit or to establish a new one?

My question... how's it going?

NOW is the time to evaluate before we get too far into the year! If you have started slow or have "fallen off the wagon", it's still early. You can re-start NOW.

If you set goals or make resolutions, it is wise to check up on yourself daily. When that happens, you can celebrate victories and make course corrections before you go too far off course.

Don't let little daily failures add up over time and discourage you to the point of giving up! Resolutions and goals are kept day to day.

Taking it a day at a time will add up to a year, eventually! Re-start today and evaluate daily!

[Check out our new blog!]

A 2010 Experience I Want in 2011

2010-12-29T11:20:00.003-05:00

As I look back on 2010, I had an experience that I want to continue in 2011...

I started reading in a portion of the Bible that I had not read through in a long time. It happened to be in Joshua in the Old Testament. I started a pattern that continues until this day.

Each night, after I climb into bed, I read. Sometimes it's a chapter, sometimes multiple chapters. I read to enjoy and to better understand. As of today, I have progressed to Isaiah 8.

I have not been in a hurry to finish. There has been no goal other than to enjoy the Bible, get to know it better, and feed from it. It has been a beautiful experience.

Amazingly, God has spoken the right word at the right time along the way! Why would I or anyone be surprised by that?! Recently, I found myself reading through Job. That is a book that I have honestly wanted to avoid. No one wants to suffer or think about suffering. Yet, it was an awesome experience, reading and learning from Job's ordeal!

Here's what this Bible reading experience has produced...

I have established a habit, a very good one! Reading the Bible is a part of my daily routine, although it hasn't become routine in a boring way. Just as I have brushing my teeth built into my everyday schedule, I have this built in! My Bible is left on my bed and is there waiting for me when I crawl in at night. I also have a little flashlight to read by after I turn out the lights. Its easy and a no brainer. I have planned for it.
I get to close my day in a very positive way! What a better way to end the day, listening to God speak, through His inspired Word. No matter what has happened that day, God's Word has a way of encouraging and comforting. It also intrigues, inspires, and informs.
I have positioned myself to learn, to be changed for the better, and to be prepared for what life brings. There is no better, more reliable, source of truth, encouragement, guidance, and hope than God's Word. Why avoid it or make it a low priority?

So, my plan is to continue this awesome experience in 2011, as God allows. It is now a regular part of my daily routine!

I hope you will try it... you'll like it! :-)

[Check out my son, Michael's, and my new blog.]

Numbering in 2011

2010-12-27T18:43:00.002-05:00

As 2010 is coming to a close and 2011 is about to begin...

Here is a number that may interest you... 28, 470. That represents the sum total of the days of 78 years on planet Earth.

20, 126 = the number of days I have lived here, as of today! That means I have 8344 days left, IF I live until my 78th birthday! I have no guarantee of tomorrow! None of us do.

However, there is a great verse in Psalm 90:12 that we should all consider as we approach 2011. It is a prayer. " Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

In other words, make us aware that our time on Earth is limited and help us to use it wisely!

How can that be practically applied? Read Psalm 90 in it's entirety. As you read it, you will get the sense that dependence on Almighty God is the way to maximize our life and work.

As you evaluate 2010 and think about 2011, put this one at the top of your list! Determine that dependence on the Almighty, in everything, will be priority.

In dependence on Him, then set your goals and go forward with passion!

Happy New Year!

(Check out a brand new blog site that my son Michael, and I have started!)

What Happens In The Land Between...

2010-08-10T21:31:00.002-04:00

Are you in a place of uncertainty, discouragement, depression, or spiritual dryness?

Any of those can be The Land Between. Pastor Jeff Manion wrote a book by that title. In it, he compares the 40 years of wilderness wandering by Israel to those times in our lives I described above.

Pastor Manion says that five things can happen in The Land Between. I want to list them and take the next five posts after this one to expand on them.

1. Complaint: Israel complained, but not just over difficult conditions. It went way too far...

2. Meltdown: Emotional meltdown happened in The Land Between....

3. Provision: Even though it is a dry, barren, difficult place, there is provision in The Land Between...

4. Discipline: Here's one we don't like to think about and view it in the negative. Not necessarily...

5. Growth: Who would believe anything can grow in the desert wildernesses of our lives? You might be surprised...

The Land Between is NOT a pleasant place! I can attest to that. No one in their right mind wishes to pass through there. However, wherever our life journey takes us NEVER catches
God by surprise! He knows it is an unpleasant place.

Why does He allow His beloved children to go there? I believe the answer, at least in part, lies in those five things that I will talk about in future posts. Come on back and invite a friend.

The Land Between

2010-08-08T15:42:00.003-04:00

It could have happened in a few days, but it took 40 years!

The move from Egypt to Canaan was interrupted by The Land Between. The desert wilderness became the "temporary" home of 2 million Israelites. That wilderness was not a pleasant place. As a matter of fact, it was a very difficult place!

Many of us find ourselves in a personal wilderness... The Land Between. For some, we arrived there slowly and almost imperceptibly. For others, we got there suddenly when we received that awful phone call, made that surprise discovery, etc. No matter how it happened, here we are, in a dry, lonely, discouraging, trying, place.

Almost no one gets through life without one "wilderness" experience. If you haven't been there yet, there's a pretty good chance you will at some point. Some are in that place just briefly, others are there for "40 years"!

Pastor Jeff Manion, of the Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has authored a book entitled, The Land Between. In it he gives five things that happen while we are in that place. He draws on the account of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings to help us understand our own wilderness experience. I recently heard Pastor Manion bring a talk by that title. It was powerful and helpful.

I have not posted to this blog for nearly three months. I am experiencing my own "land between" time in life. I am not ready to write extensively about it yet because I am still very much there. I will make a couple of observations and comment on Pastor Manion's list of five in my next post.

Here are a few quick observations...

No doubt about it, the land between has been the hardest experience of my life! That's not whining, it's a fact.
I am learning afresh the truth that God is faithful and sufficient! Now that I am in a fire of trial and at the end of my resources, it is not another cliche, it is an awesome reality. God really has shown up in so many ways, at so many times. I am amazed at some of them!
I am discovering that I have a few real friends who love me for who I am, not just for what I believe or do. Those friends have persevered with me over time, have been consistent, and have been there in practical ways. They were there in the good times and now are there in the tough times.
God's Word has been a source of comfort and support. It is powerful!
The spiritual things that were in place in my life before the trial got hot have proven true in the trial. I am thankful.

I am not at the end of the land between, it is not even in sight at this point. However, I know that God will never leave or forsake me. I know that good things are happening in this desert. More about that in the next post...

Always On My Mind...

2010-05-17T13:32:00.002-04:00

My attitude, my feelings, and my actions, are all controlled by one thing...

My MIND! Ultimately, where I am today started in my mind.

(DISCLAIMER: I am not overlooking the sovereignty of God! I believe He governs my life. Even though God is in control, He allows me to make life decisions. This post is coming from the perspective of human responsibility.)

Proverbs 23:7 says that what a person thinks determines what that person is. The Bible, on more than one occasion, emphasizes the importance of the mind.

For example, Romans 12:2 talks about the renewing of the mind. It states that we are transformed by having our mind renewed. The word "transformed" is translated from a word that means to be changed from the inside out. It is like a caterpillar going through metamorphosis. In the process it goes from being a caterpillar, to a pupa inside a cocoon, to becoming a beautiful butterfly.

Our transformation process finds its start in our minds. What we allow in our minds is of extreme importance if we are what we think.

We absorb all kinds of "data" into our minds everyday. It comes through the five senses. Additionally, we have thousands of thoughts everyday. Those thoughts are affected by the "data" we absorb. That is why it is of extreme importance that we control what we allow into our minds.

Something is always on my mind. More on this in the next post...

Top Five Reasons...

2010-05-07T08:18:00.006-04:00

Here are my top five reasons to go to a church service this weekend...

#5 There will be an opportunity to interact with other Christ followers who will be encouraged
by you or will encourage you, in your walk with Christ.

#4 There will be an opportunity to praise your Lord with others as you participate in the
singing, praying, and giving to Him.

#3 There will be an opportunity to hear the Word of God taught, an opportunity many around
the world would love to have and don't.

#2 God can use something you see, hear, or experience to strengthen you and make you better
prepared to honor Him in your life!

#1 God commands us to do it! Hebrews 10:25

Find a good church and get there this weekend!!!

Moms

2010-05-06T12:12:00.003-04:00

I am thankful for the Moms in my life...

My wife, Robyn. She is the mother of our 5 adult children. She sacrificed, loved, homeschooled, took to the doctor many times, stayed in the hospital with them, took them to Tae Kwon Do workouts and competitions, was there for their soccer games, taught them lots of things about life, etc., etc., etc.! She was and is a good Mom.
My own dear Mom, Wilma. She just turned 73 years young on April 17. She is a bright woman who never ventured outside of the home environment. She has chosen to be a stay at home Mom and wife all her adult life. She was married to my Dad for over 53 years when he went to Heaven. Mom has been slowed a bit physically by arthritis and other complications, but she still goes and doesn't complain. She is an avid reader. She loves the Lord and her family.
My Mother-in-law, Esta. She is also a special woman. She raised four children, essentially by herself. She worked long hours to support those kids. She bid her oldest, Robyn, goodbye when she married me and I took her 1000 miles from home. She has put up with me through the years and is a person I love and respect.
My daughter-in-law, Casie. She is a brand new Mom, enjoying her first Mothers Day in that role. She has given us a beautiful granddaughter, Makena, who is the joy of our lives! Casie is a special daughter who will be a great Mom!
My future Moms, Allison & Amber! Even though our daughters aren't Moms yet, it could happen one day. I love those girls!
The Moms of our two grandsons, Tiffany and Laura. I am amazed at how well these young women parent those two precious boys! I am proud of both of them!

I am blessed to have all these dear women in my life!

Who are the Moms in your life?

She is VERY important!

2010-05-03T11:03:00.002-04:00

Here's a quick quiz...

Name two people who didn't have a mother. (Honestly!)

Mothers are important, not only because we need them to get us into this world, but for several other big reasons!

Here in the U.S. we started honoring them with a national holiday in 1914, when Congress passed a resolution setting aside the second Sunday in May each year for Mother's Day. Click HERE for the interesting history of this day.

God created mothers with a built in propensity for nurturing. From the first moment when the new baby arrives and is placed on her chest, Mom bonds with it and begins lovingly caring for it. She spends the next 18 or so years pouring her life into this child.

This week I will focus on Mom. I will highlight the important Moms in my life. There may even be a surprise or two!

Who are the two people that didn't have a mother? Adam and Eve, of course!

Life Perspective... Part Two

2010-04-28T09:38:00.004-04:00

There are only two ways of looking at life...

First, there is the world's point of view. It is man's best shot at how to do life.

Second, there is God's point of view. It is not always popular, and never politically correct! However, it is the only way to approach life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a favorite verse of mine. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

When we trust God's way instead of leaning on our own point of view, it makes a "straight path" for us in life. In other words, as hard or backwards as it may seem at times, God's way is always the best way! It produces good results in the end, while man's way produces heartache and trouble.

Here is an example of the two life perspectives in actual practice...

I hear it often, "I just want to be happy", "Do whatever makes you happy", etc. I am NOT against being happy!!! But, happiness at the moment is not the ultimate measure of life. Some things people do to be "happy" are very wrong! That is the world's way of looking at things and it is very temporary and short sighted!

God's way is different. Instead of happiness being the ultimate goal, becoming like Jesus is His goal for us. In the short run that may produce pain or unhappiness. In the long run it WILL produce joy, peace, and satisfaction! It will also produce happiness at times. (Don't be fooled, NO ONE IS EVER HAPPY ALL THE TIME!)

How do I gain God's point of view? How can I live life from His perspective?

Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...". "Fear" in this verse means to reverence, honor, or worship. In other words, to gain the "knowledge" of God, we must start by honoring Him in our heart. When our heart is opened to Him, we can receive His perspective.
Go to God's Word and seek wisdom. Proverbs 2 is a great chapter. Take a few minutes to click on it and read it.

Make it your goal to live your life from God's perspective! It is always the best way!

Perspective

2010-04-27T09:37:00.002-04:00

We all see life through a certain lense...

There are many different life philosophies out there. Yet, I believe they can be boiled down to only two...

The first one summarizes all but one. It is what I would call the world's point of view. By the world, I don't mean the actual earth. Rather, the "world" is the prevailing philosophy, attitude, way of going about things. It is, in essence, a human perspective apart from God. Every philosophy that exists could fall under this category, except one...

The second and final life philosophy is the Biblical one. It is God's point of view. It is the ONLY correct one. Everything we think and do should be able to find it's origin and basis here. The way we view and approach life should be guided by the Biblical perspective.

Think about it. Tell me what you think.

More on this on tomorrow's post...

YOU have influence!

2010-04-26T12:33:00.002-04:00

Try wrapping your mind around this one...

Who knows you? How many people do you come in contact with daily, weekly, monthly?

A few of them are your true friends. Most of them are associates and acquaintances. In addition, consider the new people you meet or interact with for some reason. The sum total of all the people that know you might surprise you!

What do those people see or get from you? Do you add value to them in some way? Do you leave them with a good impression, one that is genuine?

We ALL have influence! Influence is defined by dictionary.com as "the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others."

Influence can obviously be POSITIVE or NEGATIVE, GOOD or BAD. There really is no middle ground. What we say, how we act, and what attitude we possess, determines what kind of influence we have with people.

The ability to influence others is a gift from God. It is an opportunity to make a lasting impact for good. It is something for which we ALL will be accountable.

YOU have influence!!! Be certain that it is positive, producing a good effect on the actions, behavior, and opinions of others! Make sure it is God honoring! Your influence will long outlive you!

A Reminder...

2010-04-23T14:21:00.002-04:00

Recently, a young friend of mine spent a week in Haiti.

As I viewed his pictures on Facebook, taken that week, I was again reminded of the ongoing plight of the Haitian people. January 12, the day of the first fateful earthquake there, can easily slip off our life radar screen. In the midst of our own busy and sometimes stressful lives, that happens.

However, I want to give a shout out to anyone who may be reading this... please remember to pray for and perhaps even donate to help our neighbors to the south.

For those who aren't aware, their poverty and trouble is deeper than we can imagine! There is NOTHING to compare it to in the U.S.! It is horrendous.

Please go to Facebook and become a fan of our Hope For Haiti page. There you can get ongoing information and can donate. Your donations are will be used to help a group of people associated with a church we have been supporting for many years. They will be used wisely.

Thanks!

The MAIN THING

2010-04-22T13:51:00.004-04:00

I was thinking as I was driving along today...

When I read other blogs and articles, I see lots of controversy and division in the Body of Christ.

We divide over doctrinal differences. (I realize that doctrine definitely matters and am not trivializing the need to be careful and serious about it.) On the other hand, it seems we find more to divide over than to unite around. We take non-essential issues and make them reasons to choose sides and argue. Debating, in the right context, is a good, educational thing. Building movements around non-essentials is foolish and wasteful.

We divide over ministry philosophy and strategy. Even though there are many methods and approaches that God uses, many times we tend to believe that our way is the only one God really blesses.

It is time that the Church, particularly leaders in the Church, wise up and make the MAIN THING the MAIN THING! What is that? The last recorded words of Jesus, written in the four
Gospels and in the book of Acts, tell us what it is... the Great Commission!

Jesus left His Church with the responsibility of MAKING DISCIPLES. That is the MAIN THING. Making disciples involves evangelism and teaching.

No matter how we do it, we need to share the Gospel with those who are far from God. No matter how we do it, we need to teach Christ followers to obey the things He has commanded us!

If we put our energy into doing the two things that make disciples, we will be too busy to divide and fight over things that aren't essential to our existence.

I want to be a part of a church that is serious about making disciples! I want to avoid wasting energy fighting other believers, instead putting energy into the MAIN THING!

Hated stuff...

2010-04-21T11:04:00.006-04:00

I recently heard Joni Eareckson Tada say something in an interview that was profound!

She was being interviewed by Pastor Jonathan Falwell in a video played in a Thomas Road Church service.

Here is what she said... "God permits what He hates to accomplish that which He loves."

Wow! That resonated with me! There are things I know I hate when they happen in my life. But to hear this awesome woman of God, who has been through great suffering, say that about God is very encouraging.

God hates some things too. He hates evil in every form. So, the question is, why does He even tolerate it? Why does He allow these bad things to happen to us?

There is no simple answer to those questions. HOWEVER, there is at least one biblical encouragement that is reflected in Joni's quote. It is a familiar verse to many Christ followers, but one that is often misunderstood or trivialized. The verse... Romans 8:28! No matter what happens in our lives, as members of God's forever family, we know He is using it for our good. He is using it to draw us closer to Jesus and to make us more like Him!

So, remember what Joni said when you are hurting or even angry about the hated stuff in your life... "God permits what He hates to accomplish that which He loves."

Security & Hope

2010-04-19T11:16:00.003-04:00

Life sometimes takes unexpected twists and turns.

As a matter of fact, all of us are one event, notification, decision, away from a life changing twist or turn! It is not healthy to live in dread of that possibility, but it is wise to acknowledge it and be ready for it.

Life for most of us will probably be quite a bit different in a year or two from what it is now. There will be positive changes... seized opportunities, new children and grandchildren, financial advances, more experience and wisdom, etc. There may also be negative changes... economic setbacks, sickness or death for someone we love, betrayal, etc.

All of the above come with this gift we call life. It's a part of the package. The problem with many of us is that we expect the positive and are hugely surprised by the negative! It is a very immature view to think that we should or would never have any negative challenges in our lives.

It is wise to be prepared for the possibility of change, which will happen. It is wise to be prepared for negative change. It will happen at some level.

All of this can produce insecurity. I know that for a fact, personally! However, there is HOPE! Real hope does not rest in our circumstances! They WILL change! Circumstances for the most stable person are still very unstable. The person who seems to have it all together can suddenly contract a life altering disease. No one is immune from the instability of circumstances. Anyone who finds their security in current circumstances is unprepared for change that always happens!

REAL HOPE is found in a growing relationship with the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! When all else is changing around us, His love for us never changes. His purpose and plan for our lives remains the same. What He has started in us He will finish.

When I look beyond my circumstances to Jesus, I find security and hope. I realize that, whatever happens in my life, good or bad, I can rest in Him!

Be encouraged in that today!

I QUIT!!!

2010-04-16T13:34:00.006-04:00

Don't you get tired of losing the battle at times?!!!

I am talking about the battle for doing the right thing. So, I am quitting!

I QUIT...

relying on myself! I am powerless to do right in my own strength. In my weakness God's strength is perfected. I will rely on God. I will also rely on other godly people. I don't live on an island, isolated from others. I am actually a part of a Body, the Church of Jesus Christ. I need the members of that Church to help me in the battle!

letting "them" dictate my life! "They" are people who really don't have my best interest at heart. "They" have their own agenda. I have to remember the old saying... "You don't have to convince your friends and you'll never convince your enemies!". "They" don't care about me and never did. Why should I let "them" control me by worrying about what "they" think? My true friends matter and will have my back in the battle!

allowing the past to control my present and future! What has happened can't be changed. In many instances I wish it could. We all do! However, I can learn from the past, both from mistakes and successes, and move on from there. I am glad for God's forgiveness. I am glad for a new day and a fresh opportunity to do it right in the battle! I will live in the present and gladly anticipate what God wants to do in and through me in the future!

being stuck in the same old same old! I will NOT settle for status quo. I will NOT settle for the comfort zone. I will NOT live as if already dead, just waiting for the undertaker to make it official. I will accept new challenges, dream new dreams, move into new areas of life for me. I will deepen current relationships and look to add new ones. I will be willing to live with a certain amount of discomfort in order to stay fresh and forward moving in the battle.

yielding to negative thoughts instead of positive promises from God's Word! Those negative thoughts are always lurking around, just waiting to be welcomed and accepted. I will refuse them when they come knocking. Instead, I will turn to the tried and true promises, principles, and precepts of God's Word, allowing them to fill my mind and heart! As we think in our heart, so are we! I want to win in the battle to do right and honor God. It starts in my mind. I will allow my mind to be renewed by Him.

How about you? Will you quit also?!!!

Dealing With Life's Letdowns...

2010-04-15T09:22:00.002-04:00

We would all love to think that trouble never comes!

For many, the ultimate goal in life is to be happy all the time. I can't blame anyone for wanting to be happy. However, that is naive and unrealistic. Trouble does come into every life at one time or another. When it does, it does not bring happiness.

To deny that is to bury our heads in the sand and to deny reality. We only hurt ourselves when we refuse to face the fact that trouble is part of life.

The better thing to do is to acknowledge its possibility and be prepared for it WHEN it comes.

Here's a couple of things that will help us to deal with life's letdowns...

Remember that God is sovereign and is not caught off guard by anything that happens to us. He is working for our good as Christ followers, even when bad things happen.
Focus on the God of the circumstances instead of obsessing over the circumstances. Peter started sinking when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the waves. As a seasoned fisherman, he knew how dangerous the Sea of Galilee could be and allowed his fear to overcome him for a moment. However, the minute he looked back to Jesus and asked for help, he found it!
Learn from your troubles, even when they are not necessarily your "fault". Even when things happen to us that we had nothing to do with, God, in His goodness, wants to use those things to make us better. Ask God what He wants, NOT why in a questioning way.

Those three things really are associated with our attitude or perspective. When that is right, we can go from there. We will pray, find guidance in the Word of God, be comforted and helped by godly friends, etc. Those things are things we do to get through life's letdowns.

If you find yourself in the middle of one of life's letdowns right now, don't withdraw, get bitter, and give up. Check your attitude and reach out for help!

GOOD Attitude!

2010-04-12T11:33:00.004-04:00

The difference maker in life is attitude!

In professional football, the talent of the players is very close to being "equal" in most cases. Those who make it to that level and stay there are all highly skilled. Yet, some do better than others. Some teams obviously have winning records, while others struggle. While coaching and strategy have much to do with that, there is another HUGE factor in the recipe for winning. It is ATTITUDE!

That is also true in life in general. The old cliche, "attitude determines your altitude", has some merit. I believe that the Bible, the ultimate authority on life, is very clear about the importance of the right attitude.

Bear with my penchant for using acrostics! I have one that illustrates the kind of attitude God wants us to have... a GOOD attitude!

God wants us to be...

Grateful- I Thessalonians 5:18
Optimistic- Philippians 4:13
Others first- Philippians 2:3-5
Determined- Philippians 3:12-1

Click on each of the verses above to see what God has to say to us about attitude!

How does my attitude change? First and foremost, it is a choice I make moment by moment. I alone am responsible for my attitude! I can find the strength and wisdom to make the right attitude choices through the Word of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me, as a Christ follower. The right attitude can also be encouraged by reading or listening to other good sources. It can be encouraged by hanging out with people who are committed to a GOOD attitude. There is no excuse for a bad attitude!

How's your attitude today?

Persistent prayer...

2010-04-08T11:42:00.002-04:00

There is a great conditional promise given to us by Jesus, in Matthew 7:7-12, concerning prayer.

The English translation of verses seven and eight does not fully communicate the essence of the condition. There are three verbs used in those verses... "ask", "seek", and "knock".

The better translation would be "keep on asking, seeking, and knocking". The idea is to persistently pray. When we do we "receive, find, and have the door opened".

Jesus further drives the promise home in verse 12 by saying that if we sinful humans give good gifts to our children when they ask, how much more will our perfect heavenly Father give good things to those who ask!

Obviously, that assumes that we are asking according to His will, or in His name, not selfishly, or for the wrong motive. The way to check that is to run our requests by the Word of God. If they do not contradict God's stated will, or put another way, if they are in line with His stated will, we will receive them!

So, learn to pray without ceasing. Learn to be persistent in your prayers. Believe that an awesome, limitless, God hears and wants to answer! As we persist, God is shaping us and teaching us to trust Him.

FOCUS!!!

2010-04-07T14:20:00.002-04:00

Where's your focus today?!!!

It is easy to get off focus and get mired down in the details of life.

Here's a quick re-focus passage...

Romans 11:33-36.

Read it and re-direct!!!

Anxious thoughts...

2010-04-06T10:56:00.002-04:00

Someone is reading this who is struggling with anxious thoughts...

Truth is, many, if not most of us, have anxious thoughts at times. Some are overwhelmed and controlled by them.

(Some people need to seek professional help and perhaps be given medication.)

Here is what I have found to be EXTREMELY helpful and reliable in those moments. It is a passage of Scripture that I have memorized and repeated to myself many times...

" ⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Philippians 4:6-8

This passage gives us a process and a promise for dealing with anxiety...

The promise... God's peace will build an incomprehensible protective wall around our hearts and minds when we engage His process!!!

The process...

Earnestly offer up your specific requests to God in an attitude of gratitude. Do it as often as it comes up and do it with deep sincerity.
Choose to limit your thoughts to what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise! Don't allow bad thoughts to hang out in your mind. You are in control of what stays in your conscious thoughts. Keep the good stuff there!

My challenge to you... memorize this passage and use it extensively! God's Word is powerful!

Reflecting on this past weekend...

2010-04-05T12:06:00.003-04:00

This weekend was a significant one!

Even though the Church actually celebrates, (or should celebrate), the resurrection of our Lord Jesus every Sunday when it meets, this weekend was special. The rest of the world is in on the celebration!

Most of the rest of the world doesn't understand the true meaning of the celebration, but the fact that they even celebrate "Easter" is an opportunity to get the true message to them!

Many good local churches do everything they can to get the Good News of the Gospel to the masses on Easter weekend. One of those is the church I am associated with, LifeBridge Church. What a weekend for them!

I have been on a sabbatical and have not been active there for over four months. Our other two pastors, Pastor Bobby Rogers and Pastor Jeff Sellman, have been doing a GREAT job of leading the church. (Our style of church government is Elder led, or multiple pastor led). This weekend was a reflection of their good leadership and a reflection of the awesome servant volunteers of LifeBridge!

On Saturday we had a Spring Festival, which included games, food, music, and egg hunts. All of it was FREE! I was told that someone from the community tried to donate money, which was not accepted. That is because we want the community to know that we love them and want to serve them freely. God will supply through His Church!

That Festival attracted an estimated crowd from the community of between 1500 - 2000 people! I was there and believe it was closer to 2000. I am excited by the opportunity to continually serve and practically demonstrate the love of Christ in our area.

The desire of LifeBridge Church is to consistently reach out to our community, expressing the love of Christ in a genuine way, looking for opportunities to share the Good News of the Gospel of Christ along the way.

Thankfully, LifeBridge is not the only church doing that and we are glad about that! God is raising up other local churches that are serious about the mission. We need every one of them, working as a team together for the cause of Christ, NOT viewing each other as competition!!!

I am humbled and grateful by what I saw this weekend! To God be the glory!

It's Friday... Sunday's Coming!!!

2010-04-01T11:24:00.005-04:00

On this day we remember the death of our Savior on the cross. On that day, over 2000 years ago, all seemed lost to those close to Him. (Read to the end for the rest of the story!)

While hanging on the cross, Jesus uttered seven sentences that were VERY significant!

Luke 23:34 "...Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing..."
Forgiveness is what the cross is really all about!

Luke 23:43 "...Today you shall be with Me in Paradise."
This thief was forgiven and made part of God's forever family on his "deathbed"! There's hope while there's breath and the brain is working. Salvation is by grace through faith alone. This thief had no chance to be good, do good, be baptized, etc!

John 19:26-27 "...Woman behold your son... Behold your mother..."
Jesus cared about and was responsible for His mother. His respect shows through for her even in His death.

Matthew 27:46 "...My God, My God, why have You forsaken ME?"
In those moments when Jesus uttered this statement, He was experiencing separation from the Father because of our sin. He was paying for our sin in full. If we don't accept this gift, we will be separated from God for all eternity!

John 19:28 "...I am thirsty."
The humanity of Jesus shows through in this statement. He did get thirsty, tired, etc. While being fully God, He was also fully human.

John 19:30 "...It is finished..."
This one word exclamation was a cry of victory, not defeat! It meant that Jesus had completely fulfilled God's plan for our salvation in His suffering and death on the cross.

Luke 23:46 "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit..."
Jesus willingly laid down His life for us! No one took it. He was NOT a martyr! He was the God-Man who was following the sovereign plan of the Eternal God.

Although it seemed like the end on Friday, it was only the beginning! Sunday came and Jesus raised Himself from the dead! That sealed the redemptive plan of God. Sin, death, and the grave was once for all defeated.

Now we have the certain hope of eternal life, an eternal relationship with God, based on what Jesus did, NOT on what we do or don't do!

Making it real... Passion Week

2010-03-31T09:39:00.002-04:00

This week we commemorate events of over 2000 years ago.

How does it all relate to us, right now? There is a verse, that has stuck in the back of my mind, that answers that question clearly...

Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Without a doubt, Jesus loved us and gave Himself up for us. That means that He died for us, paying for our sin. We did the crime, He did the time!

True love does that. True love sacrifices and gives, wanting the best for the one that is loved. Jesus modeled true love.

What strikes me about this verse is the fact that I have been crucified with Christ. I was somehow completely identified with Jesus in His crucifixion. As He hung on that cross, I hung there with Him. My sins were laid on Jesus, the One who NEVER sinned.

Beyond that, as a Christ follower, I have died to my old self and am raised to a new self in Him. Romans 6 beautifully describes that.

The crucifixion is not just a dusty old, irrelevant story. It is not a far removed religious event just for the "holy". It is a real historical happening that offers hope for all who will believe and receive the forgiveness it offers!

Predicted and Fulfilled! Passion Week

2010-03-30T10:25:00.004-04:00

Some seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet, Isaiah, predicted His suffering.

Of course, Isaiah's prediction was inspired by the Holy Spirit. His prophecy was fulfilled exactly, with no variation!

Isaiah 53 is one of the most powerful descriptions of Jesus' suffering in all the Bible. I believe verse 5 summarizes Passion Week's events...

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed."

That verse reminds us that Jesus came to earth to die, in our place, for our sins, so that we could be "healed" of sin's devastation!

The very first verse implies that the nation Israel, and according to Paul in Romans 10:16, most of the world at large, would reject Jesus. That happened and is happening now right before our eyes.

Verse two says that He would be "like a root out of parched ground" and would not have an "appearance that we should be attracted to Him". That was a prediction that He would come in lowly conditions, not carrying the normal trappings of royalty. His true identity would be recognized by only a few.

Verse ten predicts Jesus' resurrection. "...He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand."

Verse eleven is our assurance that Jesus' suffering for us satisfied the righteous demands of a just God, who must punish all sin. "...He will see it and be satisfied..."

One thing that is clearly communicated in this great passage... our Sovereign God did this! Notice the various statements...

Verse 4: "...Smitten of God..."
Verse 10: "But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief..."
Verse 12: "...He poured out Himself to death..."

Take some time today to read this awesome prophetic passage and let it's message lead you to thanksgiving for what God has done for you!

Passion Week: Take One

2010-03-29T14:00:00.002-04:00

This is the greatest week of the year!

That is a huge statement, considering Christmas week. However, the very reason Jesus was born as a man was for this week!

The events of this week define "Christianity". Take them away and it is non-existent. The story of Jesus would be just another story of a "good" man.

Romans 5:8 reminds us that God demonstrated His love for us by dying for us. In this week, over two thousand years ago, God actually died for us as a man.

This week began in the mind of a Sovereign God in eternity past. Long before the world was created, we were on His mind! He knew that we would sin and need His salvation. He pre-determined that His Son, Jesus, would make that possible.

This week was prophesied by prophets of old hundreds, even thousands, of years before it actually happened. Everything that was foretold came to pass, exactly as predicted.

This week started thirty three and a half years earlier, when, in basic obscurity, a baby boy was born to a carpenter and his young VIRGIN wife! He was no ordinary child. He was the Eternal God, wrapped in human flesh... fully God and fully man.

The four Gospels give us a glimpse of His life leading up to Passion Week. His three year public ministry comprises most of their content. In those Gospels we see a perfect man, serving imperfect and mostly rejecting humanity. That didn't stop Him. He was focused on the mission, given to Him by His Father. It was a mission that He fulfilled totally.

If we didn't have the VIRGIN birth, and we didn't have a PERFECT man, we wouldn't have this week. His miraculous birth reminds us that God became a man. His perfect life reminds us that He was the only worthy rescuer of our souls.

Come back to this blog for more on the Passion Week, this week. Let's take some time to think about the very HEART OF CHRISTIANITY!!!

Next Generation...

2010-03-26T10:13:00.002-04:00

I have been misunderstood at times about this subject. I'm not sure why, I can't judge the motives of people.

I believe that any church that is not fully focused on reaching the next generation is in trouble! The Word of God is very clear. Deuteronomy 4:9 and 6:4-7 are two passages that let us know the importance of reaching and teaching them.

That is NOT to the exclusion of other generations! We need to reach all that we can with the Good News of Jesus. Just yesterday I had a conversation with another pastor about the need for the Church to reach aging baby boomers. It is not a matter of ignoring any age group in order to reach another one.

To the contrary, I believe that "older" age groups should see it as their mission to understand and reach younger age groups. We have to "pass the baton". I have seen churches gasping for their last breath because they ignored the next generation. The older folks were dying off and there were no younger ones to take their place. Thankfully, that doesn't mean the end of THE Church, because God raises up other willing local churches to reach the younger crowd and lets those stubborn churches die!

In order to reach the next generation, churches have to be willing to be in a constant state of change. The one thing that doesn't change is the Message! However, everything else has to be open to change. It is happening all around us in every area of life. Many times the church is the last to change, when we should be on the forefront. We have something much better than any business, the eternity changing message of the Gospel!

I believe that some misunderstand me because they just don't fully get what I'm saying yet. That is giving them the benefit of the doubt. Others may resist what I am saying because it challenges their comfort zone. They like where they are and are unwilling to change.

God help us to reach all we can, no matter their age! However, may we not make the mistake of leaving planet earth without passing the baton on to the next generation!!!

The REAL Secret!

2010-03-25T10:48:00.003-04:00

There is a movie entitled "The Secret" which talks about the law of attraction. Millions of people have seen it and subscribe to it's basic premise.

However, in my Bible reading this morning I came across the REAL secret! Psalm 25:14a says that "The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him." What does that mean?

The word "secret" refers to intimacy. We are told here what it takes to have intimacy with God. By the way, we were created and exist for the purpose of having an eternal relationship with God. After we leave planet earth, Christ followers will forever be in direct relationship with Him. This life is the beginning of that, practice for that! So, intimacy with God is VERY important!

How do we have intimacy with God as Christ followers? By "fearing" Him! What in the world does that mean? How can we be intimate with someone we fear? In order to understand this, we have to know what the word "fear" means here. It does NOT mean being afraid of, in the way that we usually think of the word. You couldn't be intimate with someone of whom you are deathly afraid.

Instead, "fear" in this verse means to respect, honor, worship. It is a general concept that covers our entire perspective on God and life. It means that we so honor God that we do life the way He wants us to do it. How is that possible? It begins by knowing God through His Word, the Bible.

Read the first chapter of Proverbs for more insight. Wisdom is seeing things from God's point of view.

Come to know the REAL secret!

Don't let "them" steal it!

2010-03-24T09:40:00.004-04:00

"Little men with little minds and little imaginations go through life in little ruts, smugly resisting all changes which would jar their little worlds. "
Zig Ziglar

They are out there. People who have no direction, no ambition, no real life. They are just existing, waiting to be hauled off to the grave. Some of them aren't satisfied with just living that way themselves, they want you to join them in their walking death! They will do whatever they can to kill your dream.

Here's the deal... those same kind of people were around when Jesus walked the earth. They missed the fact that God Himself was walking among them. They ignored obvious Old Testament Scriptures, which they knew well, that told about the coming of a Messiah to this earth. They were too wrapped up in the status quo, the religious establishment, to allow themselves to believe in Jesus as Messiah.

They didn't stop with not believing in Him, they wanted to stop others from believing also. However, there were eleven men, those adventurous Apostles, who didn't allow "them" to steal their dream. They chose to believe anyhow! I am so glad they did! Later on, after Jesus ascended back to Heaven, those eleven men were used by Him to reach the world with His message. As a result, we have "Christianity" today! We have hope for eternity!

If you have a dream that has been inspired by God, pursue it! Don't allow the little minded people of this world steal it!

Check out the Apostle Paul's attitude!

Our BIG THREE... Three People We Need

2010-03-23T11:12:00.002-04:00

Dr. Howard Hendricks, author and professor, once said that we all need three people in our lives... Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy!

What in the world did he mean by that?

Just last night I was having a conversation with a young man who is serious about following God. As he questioned me, seeking insight, he mentioned someone else with whom he has been meeting. He was concerned about "bothering" this person with too many calls or questions. He knew that person has a lot of responsibility and didn't want to overload him. I know that person very well and told this young man that he wouldn't be bothering him. As a matter of fact, he is in ministry to make disciples! That's when I mentioned the three persons to this young man...

Everyone needs a Paul. The Apostle Paul was a mentor to numerous people. His wisdom, experience, and knowledge of the Word of God was being passed on to others. We all need one or more, (more is usually better), mentors. They may be people we know directly and meet with regularly. Or, they may be people to whom we listen from a distance or read their material. I have several of those.

Everyone needs a Barnabas. Barnabas was a team member with Paul. His very name means son of encouragement. He was a friend and co-worker who came alongside of Paul and encouraged him. We all need people with whom we can relate on a regular basis for accountability and encouragement.

Everyone needs a Timothy. Timothy was a disciple of Paul. He was being mentored. We need to do more than just receive, like a reservoir. We need to give out, to pass along what we are learning. We need to be mentored and, in turn, mentor others! That is part of fulfilling Jesus' mandate to make disciples.

Can you identify your BIG THREE?

Tears & Hope

2010-03-22T10:34:00.002-04:00

Tears are the drippings of our souls!

Whether they are tears of joy or tears of sorrow, the flow of water from our eyes originate in the deepest part of us, expressing our emotions.

Tears are actually a gift from God. The ability to release what we are feeling in our very core is a good thing, a blessing.

Many people are crying tears of sorrow today. For some reason their hearts are breaking. There are circumstances in their lives that are bringing sadness, fear, or a sense of hopelessness. The future looks uncertain and they are hurting.

You could be one of those many people. You need to know that you are NOT alone or unique. There are others, many others, who are hurting just like you. Part of living on this wonderful planet, and it is a wonderful place, is experiencing some sadness. Everyone does at some point, if they live here long enough.

You also need to know that God sees and cares. When all seems uncertain, the faithful, unchanging One is there. He has not lost His way or forgotten you. He wants you to seek Him, trust Him, and learn to lean on Him. Psalm 42 is a beautiful passage that encourages you in that direction.

If you find yourself crying tears of joy today, enjoy it to the fullest. The Psalmist says that those who sow in tears will reap in joy. Another Old Testament writer clearly says that there is a time to weep and a time to laugh.

Tears of sorrow can be changed, in time, to tears of joy because of the hope we find in our God!

A Very Special Community!

2010-03-19T11:21:00.004-04:00

There is a special "place" I want to invite you to "join" this weekend!

The "place" is a community of Christ followers, meeting in thousands of venues, all around the world. There will be meetings in large, stained glass cathedrals, small country church buildings, theaters, schools, huts, the outdoors, contemporary facilities, etc.

Where they gather is not so important. What happens when they gather is of HUGE importance!

In many different ways, in all kinds of styles, with beautiful variety, they will worship/praise the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ! They will hear and honor the Word of God. They will interact with one another, encouraging and strengthening each others' resolve to keep on keeping on. God will be honored.

There will be a community of Christ followers that will welcome you, a gathering where you will find a "home", if you don't yet have one. You may need to visit several of these gatherings before you find the "one" for you. But, don't stop until you've found it! It's worth the effort.

There is NO OTHER COMMUNITY that can compare to these communities! Don't miss out!!!

If you need some input on what to look for in such a community, feel free to ask!

Here's a link to the church to which I'm attached. I love that community with all my heart!

Enjoy your experience this weekend!

Wise up!!!

2010-03-18T11:24:00.003-04:00

Ever had anyone tell you to wise up?

Whether you know it or not, you have been told to wise up. Moses, in Psalm 90:12 asks God to teach us to do a certain thing in order that we could gain a heart of wisdom. Paul, in Ephesians 5:15-16 says essentially the same thing.

The thing Moses asks God to do... teach us to number our days! Paul encourages us to "make the most of our time" or season of life.

The bottom line... Wise up...

Realize this life is a gift from God, not to be wasted!
Realize this life is relatively short at best!
Understand that we can maximize the "days" we have been given.

In short, we fully realize our potential in our time on this earth only as we do it God's way! When we do it any other way, no matter whose way it is, we are selling ourselves short.

No one knows how long we have left here. It doesn't matter what age you are.

My long time friend, Pastor Brian Atwood, went to Heaven on March 9 at the age of 53 years. That is still relatively young. I had a friend drown when we were both 8 years old. On the other end of the age spectrum, a dear old man of God who was a part of the church I pastored, Emmit Brentlinger, died at age 96 a few years ago. Even 96 years is short in comparison to human history or eternity!

Whether you are 19 or 79, the time you have left on planet Earth is short. It is also very valuable. Number your days. Be aware of the brevity of life. Determine that you won't waste one day. Make it your life mission to know God and His will by reading, studying, and obeying His Word.

Wise up!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T10:26:00.002-04:00

People will be celebrating this day in many different ways for several different reasons... pride of heritage, national pride, or just an excuse to party!

There is a wonderful back story to this day. I read a good version of it on another blog. I thought it was worth sharing today. So, click HERE to read it. You will be glad you did!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Silent Killer...

2010-03-16T10:08:00.002-04:00

Some rightly call high blood pressure the silent killer. Every year, with no obvious symptoms, people die of strokes and heart attacks brought on by the destructive consequences of high blood pressure. But, there is also another "silent" killer on the loose...

The writer of the Old Testament book, Proverbs, puts it this way. "Pride goes before destruction,And a haughty spirit before stumbling." Pride is so subtle and subversive that it almost becomes "silent", in the same sense that high blood pressure is silent. It worms it's way into our lives and makes itself at home, causing destruction that we sometimes don't see right away.

Pride takes many forms. There is...

Intellectual pride.
Social class pride.
Economic pride.
Physical appearance pride.
Power pride.
And, possibly the most subtle of all... Spiritual pride!

Jesus addressed that with the Pharisees, the ruling religious class of His day. They were known for keeping all the external rules and making a good showing. But Jesus had this to say to them... "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness."

Again, the writer of the Proverbs tells us what God thinks of pride. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things God hates. The very first thing mentioned is "haughty eyes", another way of saying pride.

The best "pill" for this silent killer is to humble ourselves before Almighty God. When that happens He gives grace and lifts us up. As we submit to God and listen to His voice, (as He speaks to us through His Word and His Holy Spirit), we will become aware of the silent killer and the forms it is taking in us. God will definitely identify the pride in us. When we see the pride in our lives, we can then confess it to God, which means we agree with God about it's sinfulness. We can accept God's forgiveness and turn away from that attitude.

Don't let this "silent killer" destroy you and your relationships! Most importantly, don't allow it to bring dishonor to your God who loves you!

The Grace Place...

2010-03-15T11:34:00.003-04:00

The rat race of religious experience... performing to please!

Whether we realize it or not, many Christ followers have fallen into the trap of the "performance mentality". When we became a member of God's forever family, we realized it only happened by His grace. We couldn't do anything to merit forgiveness and acceptance by God. It had to come because of His undeserved favor. (No wonder the great hymn, Amazing Grace, is so popular!) Grace is amazing!

However, after becoming Christ followers by grace, we seem to forget the concept. We try to please God by our performance. (Please understand that I am NOT disparaging striving for excellence in our lives.) I am dealing with a misconception that is putting many of us in bondage! In our wrong thinking, we...

measure our standing with God on a daily basis by what we did right and how we failed.
compare ourselves to the wrong standard.
believe God is actually impressed by our accomplishments and moved to like us better.

The truth is this... we are not only saved by grace, we live and grow by grace! Grace does not end at the moment we become Christ followers. On the contrary, we desperately need it forever!

We are always "standing" in the grace of God. That means that we please Him and are accepted by Him based solely on His unearned favor! I can hear someone saying, "what keeps me from living any way I want if I have God's grace?". The answer is simple! God's grace always leads to righteous behavior. As a result of grace, we become righteous and manifest it in our lives. That is the opposite of performing to get grace or acceptance. Romans 6 deals with the effects of true grace on our daily walk.

We need to retool our thinking, allowing our minds to be renewed. We need to come to understand that, as Christ followers, we always live in the "Grace Place"!

None of us could ever measure up to the true standard... God Himself. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we should realize that we are compared to God by God. That's why we NEED His grace! If we look around, there is almost always someone we can find that is doing worse than we are in some area. (There is always someone who is doing better as well!) That may make us feel better or worse, but it doesn't impress God! Only as we depend on His grace alone, can we please Him and that has nothing to do with what we do or how well we do it! It has everything to do with what He has done for us and is doing in us!

It is the difference of the two small letters, "NE"! It is not about what we can DO, it is about what Jesus has DONE! When we grasp that concept and live that way, we are living in the "Grace Place"!

Position yourself!!!

2010-03-11T11:25:00.003-05:00

Too many Christ followers are struggling unnecessarily!!!

I am not saying that Christ followers should never experience troubles. That is a given if you live on this planet! All heartaches and stresses do NOT end when we begin to follow Christ.

However, much of our struggle is because of this reason... we are not plugged in to the right resources that give us strength and wisdom for living in a God honoring way.

In our physical lives, we eat to live. (Some of us live to eat!) We have to have the proper nourishment to be healthy and strong for life. We can't starve ourselves or eat all junk food and be healthy.

The same is true in our spiritual walk. We are truly what we eat!

Many of us wonder why we struggle so much when God's grace is supposed to be sufficient. Here is a quick answer we NEED to consider... God's grace, strength, and wisdom are always flowing and available. We just have to POSITION OURSELVES to receive it. God doesn't force feed us.

This may sound a bit legalistic but I do NOT mean it that way. I am not talking about doing something to get God to like us or keep us in His forever family. I am talking about putting ourselves in the right place to grow and be healthy spiritually.

Too many of us are listening to the wrong songs, reading the wrong material, following the wrong TV programs, picking up on the wrong philosophy of life as we constantly tune in to the world's menu. We position ourselves under the wrong faucet of information.

Songs that portray unfaithfulness, wild partying, do your own thing no matter what, etc., do affect us, whether we realize it or not.

God wants us to POSITION OURSELVES under His flow of resources. That happens as we read and study His Word regularly. We can do that through the multitude of materials available at bookstores, online, and through ministries. We can listen to Christian radio more often, letting those songs and sermons fill us up. We can involve ourselves in regular church services and in small groups. We can memorize Scripture and think about it. We can pray regularly and even many times a day.

The flow of God's grace is always happening... we just need to move over under it. POSITION YOURSELF!!!

Another warrior is home...

2010-03-10T16:00:00.003-05:00

I have a friend, Pastor Brian Atwood, who went home to Heaven yesterday suddenly.

He was a friend of mine since our youth group days in the 1970s. He graduated high school the same year as me and we went to the same college at the same time.

He was a good man... a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He was a good pastor. He loved the ministry. He enjoyed preaching and the other things that go along with pastoring.

At 53 years old, with no warning, he had a heart attack and went straight to Heaven! It must be such a hard thing for his wife and family. Please pray for the Atwood family.

I can only imagine... angels were sent to alert all his friends already in Heaven... "get ready, get to the Gate, Brian Atwood is about to arrive!" In that crowd would be his Mom, who has been there for years. His former pastor, John Hall, Jr., would be in that number. My Dad, Troy Hall, was a friend and would have been there to welcome him Home.

His battle is over. His life on earth has been lived. He is now in a different and better reality! I can envision his welcome Home as a joyous one. Now he will be waiting for the rest of us, ready to greet us as we arrive...

His benefits!

2010-03-09T15:47:00.005-05:00

He could hardly contain himself! King David, of Old Testament fame, bursts out in praise in Psalm 103. Here's what he said in verse one... "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name."

Why is King David so worked up? The answer is summarized in verse two... "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;" He is focused on God and the benefits He has given to His people.

We are familiar in the U.S. with benefits. Many jobs come with them. When the total financial value is added up, they can be worth a lot. But those benefits, no matter how great they are, can never measure up to God's that are mentioned in Psalm 103.

Notice some of the benefits mentioned in verses 3-6 alone. He...

Pardons all your iniquities.
Heals all your diseases.
Redeems your life from the pit.
Crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.
Satisfies your years with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed.

Beyond the above statements that begin with verbs, verse 8 uses adjectives to describe God's attitude towards us. "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness."

If you are feeling a bit discouraged, for whatever reason, take a moment to read the entire 103rd Psalm! Read it slowly, drinking it all in. Insert your name in the appropriate places. Allow the absolute truth of God's Word to fill you and encourage you! Enjoy your benefits!

Dominate(d)

2010-03-08T07:59:00.002-05:00

DOMINATE!!! Have you heard that one lately? Usually it is used in the context of sports or business. The idea is simply to be in control, to win, at all costs, legally.

Here is a different take... we are all dominated by something, be it a philosophy of life, opinions of others, a poor self image, a huge ego, or many other things .

What dominates us determines the outcome of our lives. There is a certain person I have known since he was 12 years old. He is approaching 40 now. Unfortunately, he was introduced to drugs in his teens. For the last 20 plus years they have dominated his life. The toll they have taken on him is immeasurable.

This person has great potential. He is very likeable, has talents that are obvious, and a heart to help others. Yet, the drugs have taken so much from him. He has truly been DOMINATED by them!

Here is one way to reach your full potential, to live life to its fullest... be DOMINATED by the Lord Jesus! Allow Him to control your life. Let Him be the Master, the Boss, the Director of your life.

In every decision ask, "What would Jesus do?" The old WWJD is a good thing! The way to know what Jesus would do is to read His Word, the Bible. Get to know Him there first and continue to get to know Him in life experience, as you apply what you learn in His Word.

When Jesus dominates our life, good always comes from it. That does not mean that we will never have trouble or problems. It does mean that, when He is in control of our life, we will make good decisions that have good consequences. It means that He will cause all things to work for our good, even the bad things that happen to us. (Bad things happen to everyone, no one is exempt!)

Who or what is dominating your life? Something definitely is! Turn it over to Jesus!

Draw near...

2010-03-05T11:50:00.003-05:00

Absolutely incredible!!! GOD, the Creator and Sustainer of this universe, the all knowing and all powerful, LORD of lords and King of kings, wants a close relationship with the humans He created.

In the various religions of the world, there is no comparable situation. Only the God of the Bible says this... "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...".

What does that mean? How does it happen? Do we have to give up everything in life and become recluses to be near to God?

A glimpse into the Old Testament helps us begin to understand. Dr. John MacArthur, in his book, Strength For Today, says this... "The expression "draw near" was originally associated with the priesthood in Israel. Under regulations of the Old Covenant, the priests represented the people before God. Prior to coming near God's presence, the priest had to be washed physically and be ceremonially clean. That meant he had to bathe, wear the proper garments, and offer sacrifices that made his own heart right with God. Then he could draw near to God on the people's behalf. Eventually the Hebrew word for drawing near meant anyone who approached the presence of God in worship and prayer."

"Drawing near" is associated, then, with worship. Worship is a much misunderstood word. It is much more than going to a building, singing certain kinds of songs, and going through certain rituals. All that can be worship, but by no means fully exhausts what it really is.

Worship is a whole life experience. It is being and doing everything to the glory and honor of God. It means that, as a Christ follower, I am a worshiper, all the time, in all I do! That includes my work, my recreation, my relationships, etc.

So, drawing near is simply recognizing God for who He is in our lives, living our lives always for Him, and expressing our true love for Him in our faithfulness and obedience.

It has nothing to do with getting away, being a monk, or stopping normal life activities. It has everything to do with the condition of our heart, reflected in the way we live.

Do you live in a way that honors God? Is your heart committed to Him? Or, are other things, philosophies, and people taking His place?

Millions Missing!!!

2010-03-03T20:42:00.003-05:00

As I was jogging this morning I had this thought...

Millions of people, suddenly and instantaneously beamed out of sight, off this planet! Not just a few, but a huge number, enough to get the attention of a dazed world.

I was not fantasizing a science fiction movie. I was thinking about an actual event, yet to happen, of course. That event is the snatching away of all the true Church. Every member of God's forever family will participate in it. Some call it the Rapture.

That term comes from a Latin word, which was translated from the original Greek text. The word used in the original text meant a sudden snatching away.

There are many who scoff at the idea of an event like this. The Bible predicted that as well. It has never happened and seems crazy. Yet, for those of us who believe the Bible to be the literal, inspired word of God, it makes all the sense in the world!

I realize that there are "crazies" in this world who do stupid and extreme things. Those who sell everything and move to a mountain top, or those who commit mass suicide to get to the "Promised Land", are not reflective of the truth found in the Bible, nor do they invalidate it!

Jesus Himself spoke of bringing us to His Father's house. On the day He ascended back to Heaven, two heavenly messengers said He would return in the same way He left, in the clouds.

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, described the return of Jesus to snatch away His Church.

No one knows when this will happen. No one can make it happen, it is in God's control.

Believing that it will happen does not paralyze us or cause us to isolate ourselves. Rather, it causes us to live in a way to be unashamed when Jesus does appear, living holy lives. It causes us to be active in serving Him as we serve humanity. It brings a sense of anticipation and hope.

The early Church really took this event seriously and expected it. I fear that the present day Church has lost some of that, particularly in the West. We have become so comfortable and distracted, and in some cases, so skeptical, that we downplay it or ignore it. That is our great loss!

Perhaps our "sensibility and practicality", along with our skepticism, should be injected with a fresh dose of belief and eager anticipation of the return of Jesus for His Church!

Still on your radar?

2010-03-02T19:09:00.002-05:00

It has been more than a month and half since the devastating earthquake hit Haiti. The media attention has decreased drastically.

However, the devastation still exists and there is much work to be done. This will be a very long term project.

My hope and prayer is that we will not forget or put it aside. I sincerely hope that we can partner and do something significant in that place.

Please take the time to read the following...

This article is a must read for those interested in what is happening in Haiti!

Let me know what you think!!!

Destiny!

2010-03-01T11:07:00.002-05:00

Check out last Friday's post before reading this one for part one of this subject.

Without a doubt, God has created each of us for a specific purpose. None of us are accidents or unimportant in God's economy!

That purpose, for which God designed us, is our destiny in life. As we discover our destiny, we realize why we are here and what we are to do, to God's glory.

In order to get there, we need to be delivered from the past and from the things that hold us back in the present. Again, read last Friday's post.

Just like the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian slavery and were led into the wilderness, so we can be delivered from our "bondage" and be led into our own "wilderness".

The wilderness was a place where God prepared the Israelites for their destiny. What was a 35 day journey turned into a 40 year camp out! Unfortunately, one generation never made it to their destiny because they did not trust and obey God! However, that generation's children did get there.

God allows "wilderness" experiences in our lives to get us ready for our destiny. Even Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt, had his own wilderness experience prior to leading them out. His destiny was to lead them out and God prepared him by moving him out of Pharoah's palace to the backside of a desert, where he was a shepherd for 40 years. So, Moses spent 40 years in Pharoah's palace and 40 years in the desert as a shepherd, being prepared to lead the nation Israel for 40 years! 80 years of preparation for 40 years of service!

When God is about to use someone in their destiny, it seems that He prepares them by uprooting, breaking, re-making, and molding them more into His image. The troubles you are going through today may be your "wilderness" preparation for entering your destiny!

Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, getting angry, or even bitter, thank God for His faithfulness to you and love for you. Thank Him that He does have a greater purpose for you. Ask Him to show you what your destiny is and then begin moving into it! Realize that He is lovingly preparing you, if you will respond to Him in faith, for your destiny.

Welcome!!!

2010-02-27T14:17:00.003-05:00

I am thrilled at a trend that has developed on this blog... lots of visits from around the world!

Welcome to all our international readers. Just this week this blog has been visited from...

Spain
Mexico
Mozambique
Canada
United Kingdom
Switzerland
Singapore
Germany
Sweden
Venezuela
South Africa
Thailand

I may have missed a couple of countries, if so I apologize. It is humbling and exciting to see the numbers of people who are reading. I would love to hear from the international readers!

I am also thankful for all those who read from many states around the nation. I hope I can say something that encourages in some way.

Reach Your Destiny!

2010-02-26T09:55:00.004-05:00

Dr. Tony Evans is a gifted communicator of Scriptures. Last night I listened as he talked about reaching your destiny. The thoughts in this post are a result of what I heard...

EVERY human being that ever lived is a special creation of Almighty God! And, as someone has said, "God don't make no junk!" Not good grammar, but very good truth! We were created on purpose, for a purpose. We all have a destiny.

The children of Israel had a destiny, but they were stuck in slavery in Egypt. For those who know the Old Testament story in the Bible, they were miraculously delivered from that awful situation.

However, they spent the next 40 years wandering in the wilderness. What should have been a 35 day walk became a 40 year camp out! God used that time to develop a group of people to go into the Promised Land, Canaan, to claim their destiny.

Notice the three "d" words in bold... Delivered, Develop, Destiny.

In order for us to reach our God ordained destiny, we first have to be delivered and developed! What does that mean?

Many of us are stuck where we are, in our own "Egyptian slavery"! We are enslaved to the past, to what Dr. Evans called "the good, the bad, and the ugly"...

Some of us are living on "the good"... memories of past victories or accomplishments. They were good, but that was then, this is now! What's happening now is the current question. Those who constantly refer back to what used to be are hindering themselves from receiving what God has for them now.

Some of us are not dealing with "the bad"... there are things we are holding onto that are holding us back. Wrong choices, bad habits, and poor attitudes dominate our lives.

Some of us are stuck in "the ugly"... We still refuse to let go of past hurts, of things that others have done against us. Joseph, in the Old Testament, had a very ugly thing happen to him. His own brothers sold him into Egyptian slavery. That is how the children of Israel ended up in Egypt. However, instead of holding onto that wrong, Joseph forgave. He told his brothers that what they meant for harm, God used for good. God used Joseph, whom He promoted to second in charge in Egypt, to save his family from starving to death during an awful famine. If we continue to hold grudges, harbor past hurts by others, we will never be delivered and never realize our destiny!

What do you need to be delivered from today in order to begin your journey to your God given destiny?

Next post... Developed for my destiny!

How to survive a crisis...

2010-02-25T11:09:00.002-05:00

People are the same, all over the world. We have the same desires and fears, even though our circumstances may be vastly different.

All of us face a crisis at some point in our lives. Some live in crisis constantly.

The big question... how do we survive and perhaps, even thrive in a crisis?

1. Do NOT waste valuable energy and time asking "why me?"! Trouble is a part of the human experience. That is not a negative view of life, it is realism. We should not be caught completely off guard when a crisis arises, rather we should understand that, in life, trouble comes. On the other hand, asking "why me?" is different from asking "why did this happen?" in order to discover what may have caused the crisis or to learn from it. The "why me?" question reflects a "feeling sorry for me" attitude, while the "why did this happen?" question shows a desire to deal with the crisis head on.

2. Turn to a few trusted friends for support. This assumes that we are building deep friendships with the few. Most of us have numerous acquaintances and several associates. Unfortunately, that's where it ends for some. Beyond the acquaintances and associates, there are no real close friends. There may be several reasons for that. We get too busy with other things to spend the necessary time and energy building friendships. Some of us are not willing to trust or to be transparent and vulnerable, ingredients that are absolutely vital in developing close friendships. Pitiful are those who find themselves in a crisis with no close friends to lean on! Don't get caught there! Make friendship building a life priority. Relationships are the only things we take out of this life to the next one!

3. Lean on God and His Word, praying constantly. When all else changes, falls apart, and fails, God is still the same. His Word, the Bible, is still true. God is still there, listening and caring. His desire is to have a relationship with us and to see that relationship deepen. Times of crisis can become great opportunities to know God better. We learn to lean on Him, not only in crisis, but in life. Again, we have to make relationship building with God a life habit. We can't just use God as a temporary crutch in a crisis! If we are walking with God on a daily basis, we won't be strangers when the crisis comes. It will feel natural to lean hard on Him. AND, you will be pleasantly surprised at the number of times God "shows up" and encourages you!!!

4. Seek professional help when appropriate. You may need to seek help from a qualified counselor, a medical professional, a legal advisor, or a pastor. Don't hesitate to reach out to these people who are trained to deal with what you may be going through.

I can honestly say that these four things work! As I walk through a crisis in my life, I am finding that these four things are not only helping me to survive, they are bringing me into a place where I can thrive, to God's glory!

If you are in crisis and feel you have no where to turn, post a comment to me and ask me to keep it private if you wish. I will be glad to try to help.

Front of the jersey...

2010-02-24T11:41:00.004-05:00

The 1980 Olympics brought a surprising upset. The underdog U.S. ice hockey team won a gold metal by defeating the powerhouse Russian team.

In a sermon I recently heard, the speaker reminded his listeners that it happened because a group of unknowns pulled together as a team, putting the name on the front of the jersey ahead of the name on the back of it. They were playing for the USA, not for their own selfish interests.

Our lives are much more fruitful and fulfilled when we are "playing" for a bigger cause! Our temptation is to live for ourselves when we are much better off living for others.

I am not just talking about nationalism. There are numerous people who read this blog from all over the world. Although we are all proud of and thankful for our country of origin and do all we can to serve it well, that is only one aspect of living beyond ourselves.

I am talking about serving humanity in general. There are many opportunities that come our way every week to reach out in some way to others. Many times it is as simple as a friendly smile. I cannot tell you how important a smile has been to me at times.

It could be helping a neighbor or a senior citizen with a project. Perhaps a family member needs a helping hand or a listening ear.

It can be as big as giving away part of our resources to a need or traveling to another location to aid in a crisis. Many good people have done that recently in the disaster in Haiti.

The Bible is very clear about this. We are instructed to love others, not just in word, but also in deed. We are told to put others' interest ahead of our own.

When we do put the name on the front of the jersey ahead of the one on the back, we find satisfaction that can't be felt any other way!

Try it!!!

Happy, proud, sneaky!

2010-02-23T15:00:00.004-05:00

I am in my glory in this picture! Makena Marie Hall, 6 months and 6 days old, is the joy of this Grandad's life!

Notice the hair on her head... I have threatened to sneak some gel in it, just to see what it looks like! Needless to say, Mom and Dad aren't too thrilled about the idea. :)

When she was born, she weighed 5 lbs, 15 oz. She was 16 lbs, 12 oz at her 6 month checkup. She has been eating well. (I have sneaked in a few little extras, don't tell!)

God has blessed Grandmom Robyn and I with this precious child and we are thankful. We are also thankful for our two grandsons, Anthony and Joe, and our two "adopted" grandsons, Kit and Gabe. We love the next generation and see an opportunity to impact the future as we fulfill our grandparent role. (I am fighting the temptation to be sneaky though! Grandmom, on the other hand, would never do that.)

I bet you are just as excited about your children and grandchildren... enjoy!!!

The Olympics

2010-02-18T10:56:00.002-05:00

I love the Olympics!

The competition is intense.
The result of great sacrifice, discipline, and determination is on display.
National pride, in a good way, is evident.
Young people are doing something good and beneficial.

The 2010 Winter Olympics have been interesting and news worthy. The tragic death of an athlete, the crazy weather, and the technical difficulties have provided negative news. On the other hand, the accomplishments of athletes in the host country, Canada, and the exciting metal winning performances of US athletes have made positive news.

The Apostle Paul seemed to be well informed concerning athletic competition. On more than one occasion he used language in his letters that was associated with competitive events. My opinion, and it's only an opinion, is that he enjoyed athletics.

One of those passages, I Corinthians 9:23-27, Paul is very clearly using an athletic metaphor...

²³I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

²⁴Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

²⁵Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

²⁶Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;

²⁷but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul is encouraging believers to exercise self discipline in their faith lives in order to honor God and to be effective in their Christian witness and service.

Sports and music are the two UNIVERSAL languages that almost everyone understands. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity to, not only enjoy them, but to also use them to communicate the greatest Message on earth... the Good News of Jesus Christ!

I am enjoying the Olympics! How about you? What are your favorite events there?

God's love...

2010-02-17T13:08:00.002-05:00

God's love is almost incomprehensible to us!

The word "love" in our society has been so corrupted and watered down, causing us to have a warped view of what true love really is. Love has become strongly associated with sex, usually outside the bonds of marriage.

Love in today's culture is conditional. I love "if" or "because". So, when the wife gets older and loses some youthfulness, husbands look elsewhere "because" she no longer meets their standard of "beauty".

When we see God's love it is the polar opposite of cultural love! Check out this passage in I John 4...

⁷Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

⁸The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

⁹By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

¹⁰In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

God loved us unconditionally. Even before we loved Him, He loved us and did something incredible for us... He became one of us, lived a perfect life, and died for our sins. He did that so that we could have a forever relationship with Him. We did nothing to deserve it, it was pure love on His part!

Now, God calls us to love each other in that same manner... unconditionally, selflessly, wanting the best for the other person.

Tough assignment? Absolutely, even impossible! EXCEPT, it becomes possible when His love is flowing in us and through us to others.

God's love amazes me!!! He loves you right now!

Consider it done!

2010-02-16T22:37:00.003-05:00

I read a passage this morning that made my day! I was reminded about an important fact about God. More on that, but first...

Our lives should be invested in getting to know God. When we first respond to His loving call and become a part of His Forever Family, the journey of knowing Him begins. We spend the rest of our lives learning Him, not just in an intellectual sense, (although that is fundamental and necessary), but also in an experiential way. God wants a relationship with us. He proved that when He came to earth and died to bring us into relationship with Him. He wants intimacy with us. He is not a God far removed!

The important fact I was reminded of this morning... Job 42:1-2

¹Then Job answered the LORD and said,
²"I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

God's purpose will be fulfilled, period!

I love the verse in Jeremiah 29:11... ¹¹'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

God's purpose for His children is good.

Rest in that!

Why?

2010-02-15T11:39:00.002-05:00

Why? That little three letter word carries a BIG punch!

Have you found yourself asking why in some personal circumstance?

Some get beyond their own personal issues to ask the bigger "why" questions... why do "good" people suffer, why do children get sick or die, why do huge natural disasters kill thousands of people in one fell swoop???

The truth is, no one knows the answers for certain. That is probably not what we like to hear. We like to get answers, wrapped in neat little packages. We like to bring things to a satisfactory close in our rationalizing.

From a theological perspective, (one that I am most familiar with as a pastor), we could say that this a world that has been stained by sin and all its consequences. Because of that, we all are vunerable to what happens in an imperfect world. From a biblical perspective, we know that one day God will make it all right... all wrong will be punished and God will make a new, unblemished world for the righteous. That brings hope in dark circumstances.

We also know that God brings good things out of bad circumstances. The recent earthquake in Haiti, where over 200,000 people died and untold thousands were injured, was a very bad, hard to understand, event. It was especially bad when we consider the fact that Haiti is already under the burden of being the poorest nation in the western hemisphere and has recently suffered other natural disasters. The "why" question in those circumstances is very understandable! Yet, in the midst of all that bad news comes some good news...

The attention, and to some degree, the resources of the world are coming to Haiti. There is now some hope that long neglected problems in that country will be addressed. Out of this terrible disaster could come some long term good.

In our personal lives, when trouble comes, God can and does use it to bring us closer to Him, learning to live long term in dependence on Him. When we respond to Him with a "what" rather than a "why" question, we can receive great benefit from trouble. WHAT do You want me to learn, to change, to do? That kind of an attitude sets us up for God's powerful work in us.

We may never fully know "WHY" on this earth, but we KNOW that we can trust a good God!

A GREAT Cause!

2010-02-12T12:50:00.003-05:00

On January 12 a major natural disaster occurred in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. The earthquake that hit Haiti killed 200,000 people and injured untold others. The devastation it left will take years to address completely.

Into the middle of this awful tragedy comes hope. Countries around the world are bringing aid. The USA is there is a pretty big way.

Many non-governmental aid organizations are there, as they have been for years, giving help. They are there for no political or economic strategic interest, but simply for compassionate reasons.

One of those is Hope International. I have been blessed to be a part of this since we founded it in 1993. We are working directly with a Haitian pastor, who has a church and school in Port-au-Prince. He has been faithfully working with his people for many years.

He lost one lady in his congregation and numerous other people he knew. His church and school building sustained some damage. His house also sustained a bit of damage. We are working with him to get emergency aid in, specifically food at this time. As time goes on, we will work on rebuilding as well.

I encourage you to go to our Facebook page and become a fan, if you haven't already. We have gone from 150 fans the day of the earthquake to nearly 6300 fans today.

You can also donate directly on that page through our Causes link. It is a secure way of getting funds to us quickly.

Thanks!

Set Your Sail!

2010-02-11T09:45:00.002-05:00

I was blessed by a pastor friend with a link to a talk given by Jim Rohn. I will put that link on at the bottom of this post. I encourage you to take approximately six minutes of your life to listen to it. It will definitely be worth it.

The title of the talk is the title of this post... Set Your Sail. Here is the basic concept... the winds of life blow on us all, but what happens to us doesn't determine where we are going or what we are becoming! How we respond to those winds determines those things! Hence, when the winds blow, set your sail!

The oft quoted verse in Romans 8:28 is the foundation of understanding for that philosophy of life. God is indeed working ALL things for my good. When I realize that, no matter what wind blows, I can respond, (set my sail), the right way. Instead of responding in bitterness, questioning, or rebellion, I will respond with submission and joy.

When I respond that way, God directs my path.

In this life, bad things happen to us all, to one degree or another. The wind blows on us all. Why do some do well and keep going in the right direction? They set their sail that way!!!

Check out this talk... 05_-_The_Set_of_the_Sail.mp3

Sabbaticals...

2010-02-10T10:46:00.004-05:00

I have been on a "sabbatical". For some, this term is completely foreign, while most others have at least heard it used.

The word obviously originates from the biblical term, "sabbath", which refers to the seventh day of the week, (Saturday), when God rested from His labor in creation. God established the day as a day of rest and worship for ancient Israel as well. Although we no longer follow the Law for a Sabbath of worship, because Jesus fulfilled what the Sabbath represented, there is still an overriding principle that should be followed...

That principle is one of regular rest. One out of seven days in a week should be given to rest in some form. Beyond that, there is a place for a prolonged sabbatical rest for certain people. Consider the following definitions of a sabbatical...

“A sabbatical year is a prolonged hiatus, typically one year, in the career of an otherwise successful individual taken in order to fulfill some dream, e.g. writing a book or travelling extensively. Some universities and other institutional employers of scientists, physicians, and/or academics offer a paid sabbatical as an employee benefit (Wikepedia, 2005).”

“It is estimated that 14-24% of corporations in America have established sabbatical programs…Leadership in the establishment of such programs has come from companies that by virtue of their product are particularly sensitive to the costs of employee burn-out. In high tech companies, law firms, consulting agencies and other high-stress industries, sabbaticals have been recognized as a useful management tool in countering burn-out. Teaching is a notoriously high burn-out profession…Many corporations consider the benefits of sabbaticals so self-evident that they forego the expense of documenting them (University of Illinois Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, 1996).”

One of the "professions" that has a serious need for sabbaticals is the pastoral ministry! Leaders of churches need to pull away from the demands of ministry at certain intervals to rest and address personal issues.

For me, this is a time of doing just that. I am BLESSED with awesome fellow pastors who understand the importance of this and recognize when there is a genuine need for a sabbatical. Because they care about me and my family, they insisted that I take this time away and did what was necessary to make it possible.

Lots of crazy rumors get generated when things like this happens. Believe very little of what you hear! Most of it is probably not true, and what is true is known by those who need to know!

I am thankful for a church like LifeBridge, a church that keeps going and moves forward when the Senior Pastor is away for an extended period of time. I love the people of that church and look forward to serving with them for a long time.

For those who attend LifeBridge, the pastors will be giving an update this Sunday about me and my sabbatical...

This Season...

2009-12-20T21:45:00.002-05:00

I like this time of year...

My favorite sport, pro football, is in full swing and headed towards the playoffs. It is especially fun when my team, the Baltimore Ravens, is in the playoff hunt.
Christmas time, in spite of the stress that sometimes comes with it, is a time of good will and opportunity to share the Gospel with people that might not otherwise be open. It is also a good time to reconnect with family.
As we approach the end of another year, it is a good time to look back. Looking back is good when it causes healthy evaluation, thanksgiving, and learning.
As we approach the beginning of another year, it is a great time to look forward. We can anticipate the opportunity to "start over" in a sense. We can set new goals for the coming year. We all need a fresh start from time to time.

In the coming days I plan to think out loud with you about some of the above items. I hope that my musings on this blog will be helpful, maybe encouraging, to you at this time of year. Come on back for some of my private thoughts...

Restart...

2009-12-15T10:21:00.000-05:00

Coming this Sunday evening, December 20th...

I will resume blogging. I look forward to sharing!

Joy...

2009-10-21T15:33:00.002-04:00

Happiness is wonderful, but fleeting...

Happiness is tied directly to our circumstances. As anyone who has been alive on planet Earth for any period of time knows, circumstances are fickle. They can change in an instant, for the better or the worse. If we live our lives looking just for happiness, we will live on an emotional roller coaster!

God has the answer! Instead of seeking happiness, live in JOY! Joy is a deep settled peace and sense of security, based in a relationship. That relationship is not just any old relationship, it is one with God. When we focus on becoming better acquainted with God, we will increase our joy factor.

The Apostle Paul, even though imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel at the close of his life and ministry, wrote a book in the New Testament that was filled with joy. It was written while he was going through some pretty terrible circumstances. Still, he had joy. The book is Philippians. I encourage you to read through that short, four chapter book. It will help to change your perspective on life.

Philippians 4:4 is a great little verse to memorize and live by! May God fill you with His joy!

Bear with me...

2009-10-19T21:52:00.003-04:00

I have recently, in the last week and a half, slowed way down on my blog posts...

I love to write, to share, to communicate. God has wired me to be a communicator of truth. It is His gift of grace. I don't claim to be a great one! There are many who far outshine my feeble efforts. However, I love to do it!

I am taking a brief, but important break, not completely stopping, but slowing down. I am focusing on a more important priority at this moment.

It has been a very difficult year. I am not whining, I am stating a fact. The church I pastor has taken a very hard hit. (It has been down, but is definitely NOT out though! As a matter of fact, it is coming back and will be even stronger and more effective!) My family has gone through a lot. We have been under great attack and strain. Our extended family has had it's share of challenges. To summarize, there have been multiple challenges and struggles.

I am taking some time to focus on my family more intensely. The bulk of my emotional energy is being redirected there. I will not allow them to be second fiddle to the ministry or to anything else. I have been guilty of that in the past.

So, as I slow down here for a brief time, bear with me. Keep coming back, I will still post, and please pray for the Halls.

Friday thoughts...

2009-10-16T09:46:00.003-04:00

On this Fall Friday...

Even though the forecast is for rain and to be in the 40's all weekend, it can be a good and productive one! Find a good book and read it! I recommend The Shack.

One of the joys of Saturday for me is the opportunity to babysit my beautiful granddaughter, Makena. She will be 9 weeks old on Sunday. Can't wait!

On Sunday at LifeBridge Church, we are in week 3 of our IGNITE! series. This week we are talking about generosity and passion in serving.

The Ravens are in Minneapolis to face Brett Farve and the Vikings. It will be an interesting game.

Matt Stover, long time kicker for the Ravens, has signed a deal to kick for the Colts this year. I say good for him! He is a class act, a real leader on and off the field, and a man of God! I heard him say in an interview with WRBS Shine FM that he plans to live in Baltimore for years to come.

Click HERE to check out this website when you get a chance. It is the Willow Creek Community Church, Senior Pastor and Founder, Bill Hybels. You can hear him preach at this site.

Have a great weekend! Go to church!

Serving our neighbors...

2009-10-15T11:29:00.003-04:00

There is no higher calling beyond serving others!

I can hear someone saying, "What about serving the Lord?". When we genuinely serve others, we ARE serving the Lord!

Serving others always costs us something. It doesn't always cost dollars and cents, but it does involve our time, energy, attention, talents, and yes, our resources.

The gift of time is valuable because it is irreplaceable, yet, when we give it away, Heaven takes note. Using our energy, devoting our attention, and giving our resources blesses others, but also brings us an awesome return. I have found that when I am down or distressed, and serve someone else during that time, I get picked up, encouraged!

We have a great opportunity to serve others on Saturday, October 31, Halloween night. LifeBridge Church is sponsoring a "Trunk or Treat" event at Eastern Tech High School from 6 - 8 PM. We are inviting people in our community to bring their entire family. It will be a safe, fun, place where children can trick or treat. There will be food, games, prizes, and music the whole family can enjoy.

Offering a service like this to our community is a practical way of showing the love of Christ! It is a bridge event... an event that bridges people who may be far from God or estranged from church, to our church family. It gives them an opportunity to meet us in a relaxed, friendly environment.

Not everyone that came to Jesus' "events" while He ministered here on this earth became His followers. That didn't stop Him from serving them. He still fed them, healed them, and taught them anyhow.

That's what we intend to do... serving our neighbors!

This weekend...

2009-10-09T21:27:00.002-04:00

This weekend we are doing something at LifeBridge Church that is a bit different. The sermon will be preached by five men. We have been preparing this one for quite a while. I am really looking forward to it. For those who aren't attenders of LBC, catch it on our website next week!

If you are looking for something really cool and inspiring, check out the Hubble website! Click HERE to go there. It's definitely worth your time!

The Baltimore Ravens face a tough opponent on Sunday... the Cincinnati Bengals. They are never an easy win. I love football!

Please pray for pastors and their families! Please pray... we all need it desperately! Satan does not like what God is doing through them and attacks viciously... often! Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

Missional Church...

2009-10-08T11:02:00.002-04:00

Someone has said, "It's not that God has a mission for his church in the world, but that God has a church for his mission in the world."

God is very serious about His mission and the Church is NOT the true Church apart from it. The two cannot be separated!

In recent times this two word phrase, "missional church", has become popular. I'm sure some good has come out of it's emergence. Perhaps God is using it to wake up some in the Church to the vital importance of God's mission in the world.

However, we have to understand that every church is a missional church. We don't have to carry the title or identify with a flavor of the moment, but, at our very core, we must BE missional in order to be the Church!

That means we realize God's heart is to reach out to a lost and hurting world. How could we ever think otherwise as we see God's love demonstrated by the mission of His Son over two thousand years ago!

It also means we realize that Christ followers have been left on this earth, in a special community called the Church, to be light and salt in the world. It is the one thing we cannot accomplish in Heaven!

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador is an emissary to a foreign country on behalf of their home country. Christ followers sometimes seem to lose sight of the fact that we are not home yet, that we have been "sent" to a foreign country to represent our King! That's missional! Anything less is not the real thing! If we are not living like we are on a mission, we are missing the whole point!

Churches that ignore that are missing the whole point. Carrying out the Great Commission constitutes the reason for the Church's existence in this world.

Separating mission from the Church is like trying to separate liquid from water or light from day. It's impossible to be the real thing if separated.

So, my prayer is that we Christ followers will BE the Church in the world, that we will be on God's mission!

Philanthropic capitalism?

2009-10-06T12:12:00.006-04:00

I recently read a very interesting article in the November 2009 issue of Success Magazine...

The story was about Blake Mycoskie, best known for his 2002 stint on the reality show, The Amazing Race. After a trip to Argentina in January 2006, Blake got an idea that may change the way many companies do business.

While playing polo in that country, Blake noticed many poor children who did not have shoes. Previously he had successfully started half a dozen other businesses, but they didn't inspire him, or keep him interested. Now, here in Argentina, he had a moment of inspiration... why not put together a company that sells shoes and gives away a pair to shoeless children for every pair sold.

TOMS Shoes was born as the result of that epiphany. According to the article, 140,000 shoes have been given away to children in Argentina, Ethiopia, and South Africa since it started. They plan to give away 300,000 pairs in 2009!

I love the idea! This is a "for profit" company that has a mission bigger than just making a profit! It is making a real difference in the lives of under privileged children! While Blake is obviously making a profit, (nothing at all wrong with that!), he is spending 50% of his profit on helping others! Can you imagine buying a pair of shoes that you "need", knowing that you are also providing a pair for a child somewhere at the same time!

From a business standpoint, it is a genius idea. If I buy a pair of shoes for myself or my family, I feel good about what I am doing, knowing I am helping someone else. I then spread the word to others, who are highly likely to do the same. I am accomplishing two things in one act... filling a need I have and filling a child's need also.

I wonder if there are entrepreneurial Christ followers who could catch this vision and start businesses using the model Blake uses. Perhaps they could sow into ministries that are making a difference in the Kingdom, while making a profit for themselves.

Just a thought...

Yesterday...

2009-10-05T09:21:00.002-04:00

We have been looking forward to Sunday, October 4, for quite a while! For several months the leaders at LifeBridge have been re-evaluating our ministry, focusing particularly on our vision. Yesterday was the day to reveal the newly updated Vision Statement.

Here are a few thoughts from yesterday...

The new Vision Statement... "We envision a church in Eastern Baltimore County that is going into the community to show the love of Christ by serving people."

That is not a "rocket science" type sentence! Sometimes simple is better. For the last 8 years we have focused on becoming a "come as you are" church for the unchurched. That does not mean we have watered down or dumbed down our church. It means we have worked to create an environment that says to our guests, "we were expecting you and welcome you!". It has worked. Our people have brought people to our services. Many have become Christ followers and have been baptized over those years.

We, however, are NOT satisfied to remain a "come as you are" church only! About three years ago we began thinking and praying about how to be a "go to where they are" church. It takes both tracks to move the "train" of reaching people!

Our heart has been to reach the 300, 000 plus unchurched people in our region. That's a BIG elephant to eat and it can't be done in one bite!

Our new vision statement gives us a start on the first few bites out of that "elephant"! Let's begin making an impact out in our community! So, we have drawn a two and a half mile radius around Eastern Tech High School, where we meet on Sundays, and plan to start inside that 5 mile in diameter circle. We will corporately, as a church, do one major serving event per month, in that circle, over the next 12-14 months! As we serve, with NO strings attached, we are trusting that two things will happen...

First, the area will be impacted by the love of Christ we show them! (Perhaps some will allow us to share the Gospel verbally, maybe even becoming Christ followers!) Second, these events will provide a training ground for our congregation... a hands on opportunity to, through serving, learn from other more experienced Christ followers. These events will be used by God to help us "stimulate one another to love and good deeds".

This will be the beginning of "going to where they are"! We will do simple events that reach as many people in each event as possible... giving away cold water on hot days at a busy intersection, raking 10 or more lawns in a particular neighborhood, cleaning up a stretch of highway or a neighborhood, hosting a block party, etc. A book I recommend to further understand this is by Steve Sjogren, called, "101 Ways To Reach Your Community".

Our first major serving event will take place at Eastern Tech High School on Saturday, October 31 from 6 - 8 PM. It will be Trunk or Treat. We will be reaching out to thousands of homes through invitations sent out to elementary school children in several schools in our region. We are involving our entire church in this event. We see it as a service offered to families on Halloween. We are anticipating many hundreds of visitors that evening. We are praying that God will use it to show His love through us as we serve these families.

Yesterday we had our 8th Believers Baptism of 2009! Four adults were baptized. It was a celebration atmosphere!

Our LifeGroup leaders met yesterday after the church service. That is a dedicated bunch of people! I am always energized by them! We are planning for our Trunk or Treat service event, which, like all the service events in the future, will be directed through the LifeGroups! LifeGroups are small groups that make up LifeBridge Church. It is the place that people "do life together".

We also introduced our newly updated church website. Click HERE to check it out! When you get to the home page, scroll down and click on IGNITE to read this week's daily devotions.

Have a God honoring week!

T.G.I.F.

2009-10-02T11:08:00.004-04:00

How has your week been? Just like real life, mine has been a mixed bag... I know this... God is good!!!

A few thoughts as we head into another weekend...

I like to watch or attend other church services on the internet. It is there I get nourished, encouraged, and informed. I learn a lot by doing that. One of the several churches I "attend" is the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. Go to the website and click on Watch/Listen online. Charles Billingsley is the worship leader and the music is off the charts! Jonathan Falwell is the Senior Pastor. Enjoy!

Here are four others you can go to a live service in progress... Saddleback Church, Flamingo Road Church, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, NewSpring Church. Check their schedules. I find that their services do not conflict with mine.

Of course, those services can never take the place of being in your own local church! They are good for additional encouragement for those of us who are active in a local church, or for those who are unable to attend, or for those who are checking out the claims of Christ.

If you are going through the fire at this moment in your life, know that God has not been caught off guard by it! He is aware and He cares. As a matter of fact, He is using it for your good! Stay connected! Stay connected to God through His Word, prayer, and meditation. Stay connected to other Christ followers, allowing them to know your struggles and to help where possible.

Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots in New England! Sunday at 1 PM. Can't wait!

Check out these beautiful pictures of Makena Marie Hall!

Finally, this is a big weekend for LifeBridge Church! Scroll down to the next post for more info...

Have an enjoyable weekend!

Top Five Reasons...

2009-10-01T10:00:00.002-04:00

If you are in the Baltimore area, and are not committed to another church, I urge you to be at LifeBridge Church this Sunday because of...

#5- The celebration of our eighth Believer's Baptism this year! One sign of a healthy church is seeing people, who have trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord, getting baptized. It is always a celebration at LifeBridge!

#4- The many prayers for this week's service which are preparing us for a very special day! This will not be just another ritual service we muddle through to fulfill an obligation. We are believing God for something great.

#3- The start of IGNITE!, a powerful, month long, campaign in October! This campaign includes a sermon series that will help us grow in an area that will absolutely, radically, positively, change our lives for the rest of our lives, IF we grab hold of it. It includes 4 weeks of LifeGroup sessions, (take a test drive in a LifeGroup in October if you are not already in one!), and four weeks of daily devotions, Monday through Friday. It concludes with a powerful event that involves the entire church family.

#2- The introduction of our new, updated, church website! It is the best we have ever had! It will be more interactive than ever and has an awesome look. I believe that God will use it to reach more people and to serve the people in our ministry. It goes online Sunday and will be previewed at the service.

#1- The unveiling of our brand new vision statement for LifeBridge Church! This will mark the beginning of a whole new era in this ministry, and I believe will be used of God to take LifeBridge to another level of ministry, over time! I believe this will be one of those rare moments we will look back on and say, "that was a key turning point for LifeBridge". We have had very few of those over the years.

If you live outside of this area, or, already attend another local church, please go to your church and support it with all your heart! In the meantime, pray for us! Thanks!!

Good posts!

2009-09-30T19:52:00.001-04:00

I love to read other blogs, especially from other pastors!

Today, I am providing a link to two good posts. Take the time to read them.

This one is from Pastor Mark Batterson. He pastors National Community Church in Washington, DC.

This one is from Pastor Perry Noble. He pastors NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina.

Even if you are not a pastor, those posts still apply to anyone who wants to lead with excellence.

Let me know what you think about them!

BIG, IMPORTANT Sunday coming...

2009-09-28T21:46:00.003-04:00

I am not exaggerating the importance of what is about to happen this coming Sunday!

For several months the pastors have been prayerfully and carefully looking at where we are and where we believe God is leading us as a church.

This Sunday we begin a series/campaign entitled, IGNITE! I will be bringing a message introducing it and will be revealing our new vision statement.

I believe this is one of those rare moments in our journey as a church...

Over that last several years there have been a few times, I could count them on one hand, that something has happened to change our direction or to take our ministry to another level.

This will be one of those moments!

I am asking two things of everyone that reads this blog...

PRAY for LifeBridge Church, even if you don't attend. Pray that God will use this campaign to impact us in a way that will honor Him. We are fasting and praying over the next 5 Wednesdays, if you would like to join us.

Starting next Monday, our NEWLY updated website will be up. Click on the IGNITE! banner and follow along by reading the daily devotions, Monday thru Friday during October, joining us in this campaign!

Can't wait for Sunday!!!

Sunday night wrap...

2009-09-27T21:46:00.002-04:00

Another good weekend...

Some of our ladies and daughters attended "Revolve", a meeting for mothers and daughters.

I had a productive day on Saturday... getting some needed tasks accomplished around home, such as closing the pool for the winter.

Friday evening I treated myself to one of my favorite eating spots, Don Pablos. I love Mexican cuisine! The desert at the end, a chocolate volcano, sealed the deal! There will definitely be tacos and burritos in Heaven!

This was another good day at LifeBridge. We started the day off at 6:30 AM, setting up for the service at the school. Something special happened there... a pastor from another church in the area came to help us set up early this morning! Pastor David Livergood of the Baltimore Seventh Day Adventist Church blessed us today with his help!

The band did a beautiful acoustic set today.

The message focused on how Jesus serves us. He is the ultimate servant!

I love meeting first time guests and had the opportunity to do that again today.

Again, I am very thankful for the location God has given us to meet! Eastern Tech High School is an awesome place to meet.

We are highly anticipating this coming Sunday as we kick off our IGNITE! campaign and series. We are trusting God for a great month and for a ministry impacting event.

This Sunday morning we are celebrating Believers Baptism. If you have trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but have not been baptized since then, do it this week! Let us know by emailing me or by calling the church office at 410-391-2778.

Baltimore Ravens 34 - Cleveland Browns 3!!! We are 3 - 0! Next Sunday... the New England Patriots.

Have a great and godly week!

Friday thoughts...

2009-09-25T11:38:00.004-04:00

T.G.I.F.! I just wanted to echo the sentiments of lots of people! :-)

By the way, Thank God I'm Forgiven! I know it's Friday and we are glad the weekend is upon us, but I also know that we are thankful that God, in His great mercy, has forgiven our sins! Romans 8:1 assures us that no condemnation is hanging over our heads! PTL!

This has been a productive week. We had a very good Pastors Meeting on Monday at 6 PM, as we do every week. We are excited about what God is in the process of doing at LifeBridge! We also had a good meeting at 7:30 with key people of LBC, talking about the upcoming IGNITE! campaign and what it means. There was some real upbeat energy in the room on Monday night.

I'm looking forward to talking about how Jesus serves us this Sunday. It is incredible to think that Almighty God serves His creation. If you are in need of an uplifting word, this one is for you. It is also a word that should lead us all to a place of praise and gratitude! If you don't attend LifeBridge, check out our website and click on Sermons/Media to hear the message and get the notes next week.

I read a great post about and for pastors today. Click here to read it. I encourage you to pray for and support your pastor or pastors. Please understand the unique and challenging responsibility they hold. They are there because God has called them, but it is a difficult place. Read all you can to understand, then act accordingly!

IGNITE! is coming next Sunday! During the entire month of October we will focus on asking God to ignite our hearts and hands to serving our communities! This is going to be a deal changer for LifeBridge Church! We have had a few serious change points along our journey in the last 27 and a half years. This WILL be one of them!

Again, if you aren't an attender at LifeBridge, you can follow along on our website. You can also follow the daily devotionals, 20 of them, throughout the month of October. Stay tuned for how to do that.

The campaign IGNITE! will culminate in a super serving opportunity, which will involve our entire congregation, on Saturday, October 31. More about that soon...

I have been thinking about this phrase this week... "intelligent stupidity". That may sound strange, but it is a summary of this verse. For all the great progress the human race is making on many fronts, for all we are learning, most are still far away from the Truth! The smarter we get the dumber we get, as a race of humans! It hasn't caught God by surprise though! Click on the verse above and read it.

Have a beautiful weekend! See you on Sunday evening for the wrap up.

God's blessing when we give...

2009-09-24T10:15:00.002-04:00

When we give, we get the blessing of God on our lives!!!

Right up front, I acknowledge that some abuse and twist this truth! However, just because that happens, it does not negate the truth! God blesses those who give according to His guidelines!

Start here with the promise of Jesus, right from His own lips! "Give and it shall be given to you", He said. The question is, what will be given?

I believe there are several ways we may experience God's blessings when we give. I will list some below...

Our basic life needs are met. Matthew 6:24-34 & Philippians 4:15-19 express that truth.

Protection from economic devastation. Malachi 3:10-11

We will be a testimony to those far from God. Malachi 3:12

We will be given the ability, by God, to bless others. II Corinthians 9:8-10a

We will enjoy an increase in the harvest of our righteousness... the fruit of our labors. II Corinthians 9:10-13

There is more, but you get the general idea. It is not about giving to get for our own greedy reasons. It is about what God wants to do in and through us for His glory!

Everything I acquire while on this earth will be left on this earth when I leave. In the end, my possessions will not matter. What will matter is what I have done to advance the Kingdom of God. My genuine, generous giving is used by God to do just that!

When we get to Heaven and stand before God to give an account of our life, we will also be rewarded eternally for our giving. That really matters and is another blessing from God!

Biblical guidelines for giving

2009-09-23T10:40:00.002-04:00

God WANTS to bless His children!!!

We sometimes limit or eliminate His blessing from our lives. I talked about that in yesterday's post. If you haven't read it, scroll down and do so before you continue in this one.

When we give God's way, we experience God's blessing. That is a promise from God. I will talk about how God blesses on tomorrow's post.

How do we give God's way? Here are some biblical guidelines...

First, give yourself to God! II Corinthians 8:1-5 God wants our love, our heart, soul, mind, strength! He doesn't want us fulfilling an "obligation". He wants us, all of us, dedicated wholly to Him. If that is the case, EVERYTHING else will follow!

Second, give off the top! Proverbs 3:9-10 clearly states that God wants the first of our increase. That means that we don't give God the leftovers, after we have taken care of everything else! It means that we get our paycheck, and write the first check to Him, every time! If we love God first and most, He will come first in our giving. After all, everything we have IS His and He gave it to us. He just asks us to give some of it back to Him, first. When we live this way, God promises to take care of us!

Third, give voluntarily, according to your ability. II Corinthians 9:7 tells us we must give as we have purposed in our hearts, not under compulsion. II Corinthians 8:3 tells us that the Macedonian churches gave according to their ability and even beyond their ability. When we study Israel in the Old Testament, we discover that they gave voluntary offerings, over and above their 23% tithes, which were essentially taxes. God wants heart felt, voluntary giving from His people. For pastors, that might be a little scary, not demanding 10%, but it works! Do it God's way!

Fourth, give faithfully! In I Corinthians 16:1-2, the people were told to give every first day of the week when the church assembled. We don't pay our mortgages or rent on a hit or miss basis. We shouldn't treat God that way! Be regular and systematic in your giving to God. Take it seriously... He does!

Fifth, give primarily at your local church! II Corinthians 8:1 speaks of the giving that happened in the churches of Macedonia. Jesus is building His Church, which finds it's expression in local assemblies. It is there that people's lives are changed. It is there that the bulk of our giving should happen.

When we follow these guidelines, we will give in a biblical manner and we WILL experience God's blessing! More on His blessing tomorrow...

God's blessing...

2009-09-22T15:33:00.003-04:00

Are you living in blessing or under a curse?

That's a tough question, but a valid one. In Malachi 3:8-12, God spoke to ancient Israel through the prophet. He rebuked them for the sin of robbing Him in their tithes and offerings.

God then challenged Israel to test Him... "Bring all your tithes, (essentially taxes), and offerings, (voluntary giving), into the storehouse, (the Temple treasury) and see if I will pour out an overflowing blessing from the windows of Heaven!"

God told them that because they were currently robbing Him, they were cursed with a curse. Their lack of giving brought them to a place they didn't want to occupy... a place devoid of God's blessing!

What does a word to ancient Israel have to do with us? EVERYTHING! The principle remains the same! When we fail to give to God according to His guidelines, we lose His blessing and we live under a "curse"! I am not making this up or twisting it in any way. It is biblical truth.

I can hear some saying, that's the Old Testament, not for us today. Since when? There were obvious things that applied only to Israel, such civil law, but moral law and principles extend to all of us! The tithe for Israel amounted to about 23% and was a kind of taxation, since they were a theocracy. We aren't bound to that. We pay taxes today, somewhere in that range, or more, to the government. However, Israel, and people like Abraham who lived before the nation of Israel existed, gave voluntarily, as God wanted. That extends to us today!

There are several Scriptural guidelines for giving. There are also promises to those who give, not only in the Old Testament, but also in the New. Tomorrow, I will give some Biblical guidelines for giving. On Thursday I will talk about what happens when we give.

When we fail to give, we are still robbing God and hurting ourselves. It is a lack of trusting Him. It is keeping a closed hand around what we have. People with closed hands have closed hearts. When we have closed hands and hearts, we can't receive what God wants to pour into us! That's definitely living under a curse! No one wants to be there!

The question is, am I willing to trust God and be a willing, generous, giver?

Sunday night wrap...

2009-09-20T21:23:00.004-04:00

Our weekend was a beautiful one...

The weather was a little preview of Fall, which comes officially on Tuesday. The days were sunny and pleasant, the nights brisk.

The service today at LifeBridge was another good one. The worship team led us in worship to our great God. The prayers that went upwere encouraging.

My sermon today was about giving... sermons on money can be tense. However, Jesus spoke a whole lot about it!

My plan to begin a two week mini-series changed. I felt the need to address this subject head on. I prayed about this message all week.

I sensed a very focused audience this morning! I was blessed by the response of a good number of people after the service. It is never easy to lay it on the line in a very direct way, but I knew it was what I had to do. God blessed it and I believe we will see Him use it in lives. When we give ourselves to God and decide to live by His principles on giving, we grow and are blessed.

I reminded the church today that God blesses those who give and when we rob Him, we live under a curse. Malachi 3 lays that out. Even though Israel is being addressed, the principles apply to the Church today!

We do not give to get, in a greedy way, but we can't outgive God! He blesses the generous generously! Luke 6:38 makes that clear!

I look forward to next Sunday, to talking about being "Served" by Jesus! He came to serve and He did!

I also look forward to our Campaign/Sermon series in October entitled, "IGNITE!". We will be introducing our new updated vision statement. I'm pumped about it!

How about those Ravens! Way to win! To make the day even better... the Steelers lost!!!

As I said in the message today, we are fanatics for the Ravens and those games ultimately mean NOTHING! I am praying for some "fanatics" for Jesus at LifeBridge, people who are excited to see the mission of Jesus accomplished in our region!

As a matter of fact, I did say that I asked God if He is going to raise up a region, impacting church in this area! I don't pre-suppose on God that it will be LifeBridge, but I hope it will be!

I am looking forward to a good week on this blog... come on back and invite some friends along!

Friday thoughts...

2009-09-18T10:32:00.003-04:00

Just a few thoughts to end a work week for most people...

"HE WHO willfully separates and estranges himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment." Proverbs 18:1 (Amplified) Don't isolate yourself from godly counsel and authority!

As I read Proverbs 18 this morning, I was struck again by verse 21... "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]." (Amplified)

I'm thankful to be a resident of the land of freedom... the USA! How about you?

I was challenged today by something I read from Pastor John MacArthur... God takes our gratitude seriously! It is a mark of living a Spirit filled life. Live gratefully today!

I ran 5 miles this morning and felt it. My legs were a bit heavy today. As I ran, I was thinking and praying about the sermon this Sunday...

I had planned to begin a two week mini-series, but decided to put it back one week. I feel compelled to share something with our church this Sunday that NEEDS to be said. I am praying that God will break through with His Word and Spirit. If we are to move forward in His vision, we need God's blessing. I will be speaking on "Living In God's Blessing" and talking about living without His blessing as well. PRAY FOR THE MESSAGE THIS SUNDAY!

In a couple of weeks we will be sharing our updated vision for LifeBridge Church. That vision will lay out what we must become and do to reach the 300,000 plus unchurched people in our area with the life changing Gospel of Christ. I can hardly wait! It has been several months in coming.

God has BIG plans for this region, but Satan doesn't like it! I have never felt more opposition from the enemy... something good is about to happen!

On a lighter note... the Ravens go for win number 2 this Sunday at 4 PM. San Diego will probably be a tougher challenge than Kansas City. The real test begins... will we be a championship caliber team? I love football... especially Baltimore style!

Have a great and godly weekend! Go to church! Give and serve! Come back here Sunday evening for a weekend wrap up...

A special day...

2009-09-17T11:52:00.004-04:00

HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY CASIE HALL!

Casie, our only daughter-in-law, is a special woman who is a faithful wife and will be a very good mom! She has given us a beautiful granddaughter, Makena, who turned one month yesterday. Casie has enriched our family with her love for Michael, her gentle care for animals, and her sensitive spirit. (Michael and I have had a few laughs when we caught her crying over a Hallmark Card commercial on TV.) That was very mean of us!
Robyn and I look forward to many more birthday celebrations with Casie! By the way, one of the extra treats we received when we got Casie... she brought a great family along. Her parents are wonderful people, fun to be around!

The choices I make...

2009-09-16T17:56:00.003-04:00

"Where you are in life right now is a result of all the choices you have made!"

This past weekend that sentence jumped out at me as I was listening to Chris Weidner speak. With just a few exceptions, that is absolutely true. The exceptions are things that come at us over which we have no control... things like disease, traumatic events, etc. People get cancer for no obvious reason due to their choices, and cars cross lines driven by drunk drivers. Having acknowledged the "exceptions", we should realize the truth in the opening statement.

Everyday I make hundreds of choices. Some are small and relatively insignificant. Others have life impacting power. As I have said in previous sermons, our lives are the sum total of all our choices.

When I understand and accept that premise, I take full responsibility for where I am in life. It eliminates the "victim" mentality. It takes away the blame game. It makes excuses obsolete.

If I like where I am in life, it reaffirms the choices I am making. If not, it means that I need to re-evaluate my decisions.

There is good news here... If I don't like where I am, it can change. I just need to make different choices.

The Scriptures are clear about making wise choices. They are also clear that our choices have results. What we sow, we reap. If we sow bad seed, we reap a bad harvest. If we sow good seed, a good harvest follows.

So... where are you in life and what do you need to do about it?

Understanding forgiveness...

2009-09-15T14:05:00.003-04:00

There is a serious misunderstanding about forgiveness among Christ followers...

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing to experience! We all need forgiveness, from God and from others at times. When forgiveness is extended, the relief and hope it brings is indescribable.

Because God has forgiven Christ followers, we should be willing to forgive others. HOWEVER, here is where it gets a little complicated! It is definitely misunderstood by the untaught.

Forgiveness is NOT meant to be something that is extended universally without repentance! To illustrate what I mean, I do not have to go any further than the example set by God Himself. More on that in a moment...

There are two aspects or sides of forgiveness...

The willingness to forgive: this is a matter of the heart. It is what happens between the offended or hurt person and God. It is that persons willingness to let go of a need to retaliate or to hold a grudge. The willingness to forgive has absolutely nothing to do with anything the offender has said or done to bring forgiveness on. Again, it is solely a matter of forgiving in the heart.

Extending forgiveness to the offender: this is a matter of the offender ASKING for forgiveness. Forgiveness CANNOT be extended to an unrepentant offender! Being forgiven REQUIRES repentance. That means that the offender humbles himself, admits his wrong, and asks to be forgiven. Then and ONLY then, can forgiveness be extended to that person. This is different than being willing to forgive.

I said that we can look at the example set by God to illustrate this. God is willing to forgive us... He sent His Son to die for us! However, we are not forgiven just because He is willing to forgive! We have to ask for forgiveness with a repentant heart.

The same holds true in our interpersonal relationships. Again, the offended must be willing to forgive in their heart, even if they are never asked to forgive. However, they cannot actually extend forgiveness until repentance has taken place.

When Christ followers understand this, they will not expect unsought forgiveness! They will do the right thing, humble themselves, repent, and seek forgiveness from the offended!

God's possibilities!

2009-09-14T09:31:00.003-04:00

I had one of those moments this morning...

As I was praying for my family, I found myself saying these words about one of our five children...

"Lord, help me to focus on the possibilities, not the limitations!"

I honestly don't know where that came from! I was not thinking about it beforehand, it just came out! It must have been a God moment.

Perhaps that should be a prayer on all our lips for ourselves and our families.

The truth is this... we humans tend to fixate on what we cannot do, on our "limits". We allow them to keep us from being all that God wants us to be, and from doing all that He wants us to do.

THIS IS NOT A SAPPY, MINDLESS, NAIVE, POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE PEP TALK!
(Not that there is anything wrong with a little PMA talking in our sometimes, negative lives!)

We ARE limited human beings. I am NOT saying that we should not recognize our limitations. Not to do so would be foolish. What I AM saying is that we should not allow those limitations to become a limiting factor in what God wants to do!

God has a beautiful plan for our lives. Part of that plan is to reveal Himself, in all His glory and power, to us. Where we are limited, He is unlimited!

As we understand our limitations, we need to trust Him to unlock our potential, working in us and through us. This is where we differ from many of the stupid philosophical views of the world. Our potential is not inherently in us. Our potential, as Christ followers, is in the power of Christ through His Holy Spirit who lives in us!

Ephesians 3:14-21 is a prayer that the Apostle Paul prays to that very end. God wants to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think! That's possibility!

So, as you pray and go along life's way today, focus on God's possibilities for your life!

Sunday night wrap...

2009-09-13T20:45:00.002-04:00

What a beautiful weekend! I had a very good one...

I have been in Detroit, Michigan since Friday morning. We have had great weather. Michael, our oldest son, and I have been attending a business convention with about 17,000 other people. We travel to four different cities per year to attend this convention and love doing it. Next stop... Anaheim., California in December! Warm weather... yes!!!

I am excited about the reports I received about the service at LifeBridge Church this morning! Thank you Pastor Bob Rogers for the timely message! It touched the lives of those who heard it.

It is good to be able to go away and know that it does NOT depend on me, the Senior Pastor. As a matter of fact, it goes very well in my absence. May our church NEVER be built around my personality! I am thankful for a strong and united pastoral leadership team.

I am really looking forward to the next two Sundays... a mini-series entitled, "Served!". Jesus came to serve and because of that, we have been SERVED! We will find out how, from Romans 5 & 8 those two Sundays. Read those chapters... they are awesome!

Great opening day!!! Ravens win! I hope this was a preview of the way the season will go.

I am missing Robyn... she flew to St. Louis, Missouri on Friday morning with Michael and me. She stayed there and we flew on to Detroit. Robyn is visiting her family for a few days. She is enjoying being with them.

I am also pumped about meeting with a group of men that we are mentoring on Monday evening. They have committed a whole year to this process. Our heart is to help men develop into more effective leaders at some level. We learn more in the process ourselves!

I hope your weekend was good. Come on back here this week and invite some friends to check it out!

Pastors in danger!

2009-09-10T10:08:00.003-04:00

As I said in my blog post on Tuesday, I love pastors! I have a heart for these servants of God.

Pastors are hurting, all over these United States. Consider the following, taken from the Schaeffer Institute website...

"Here is research that we distilled from Barna, Focus on the Family, and Fuller Seminary, all of which backed up our findings, and additional information from reviewing others’ research:

Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.

Fifty percent of pastors' marriages will end in divorce.

Eighty percent of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastor.

Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.

Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.

Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.

Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons (This is Key).

Most statistics say that 60% to 80% of those who enter the ministry will not still be in it 10 years later, and only a fraction will stay in it as a lifetime career. Many pastors—I believe over 90 percent—start off right with a true call and the enthusiasm and the endurance of faith to make it, but something happens to derail their train of passion and love for the call.

Focus on the Family has reported (http://www.parsonage.org/) that we in the United States lose a pastor a day because he seeks an immoral path instead of God’s, seeking intimacy where it must not be found. F.O.F. statistics state that 70% of pastors do not have close personal friends, and no one in whom to confide. They also said about 35% of pastors personally deal with sexual sin. In addition, that 25% of pastors are divorced."

These statistics are staggering! Pastors are in danger.

Here's some challenges they face...

The direct attack of the enemy... he knows that when a leader falls, more people are adversely affected.

Living in a "glass house", with unrealistic expectations laid on them, along with the magnification of their normal life problems.

Isolation and loneliness... Where do pastors and families go to find help, support, understanding? Pastors understandably do not feel comfortable with sharing their struggles with the congregation.

Feelings of inadequacy for the job, for performance. Pastors are NOT superhuman. Most want to do a good job, and are harder on themselves than is realized.

Here's what all of us can do to help...

Pray for pastors and their families! Go to them and let them know that you are regularly doing that. Ask them for specific prayer needs. Realize that they may not always feel free, especially right away, to give intensely personal requests. Keep praying. Pray for them in their presence occasionally.

Express encouragement in various ways. Offer to make a night out with their spouse or family possible. Give them a card with a note that tells them how they have blessed you. Notes like that have really helped me along the way! There are many creative ways to say we appreciate you!

Be faithful in your service to God! There are few things that encourage a pastor like seeing people who lovingly, joyfully, and willingly serve and keep serving!

My heart is to see more ministries that directly care for pastors and families. In the meantime, I want to do anything I can to bless them.

On my mind...

2009-09-08T10:27:00.003-04:00

I have had several, not necessarily related, thoughts rattling around in my mind recently...

ONLY as we submit to God ordained earthly authority are we truly submitted to God! That includes submitting to husbands, fathers, pastors, governing authorities, policemen, etc. Of course that also includes submitting to one another in daily living. By the way, I know that none of this is politically correct, but so what, it's biblically correct!

Wisdom is seeing things from God's perspective. It is the ability to discern between good and bad, good and best, etc. Read the book of Proverbs, one chapter a day, over and over, for help with wisdom! I am currently enjoying a fresh monthly journey through that book.

I regularly read two pastors' blogs who challenge and bless me. Today's posts on both blogs are very good! Take time to read Perry Noble's post about leaders and Steven Furtick's post about redefining trust.

The upcoming sermon series and campaign at LifeBridge Church in October is very much on my mind. I am preparing four sermons, four LifeGroup sessions, and writing 20 devotionals for that time. I am praying that God will use this to further mold and shape the lives and culture of LBC. The pastors have further refined our vision and we will be sharing it in this series. Pray for me as I study and write. My desire is that God will use this time to ignite a fire in us for His vision for this ministry!

I will be bringing a two week, pre-campaign, sermon series the last two Sundays in September. It is entitled, "Served!". We will be looking at Romans 5 & 8 on those two Sundays as we focus on how we have been and are being Served by Jesus!

I love other pastors! Because I am one and because I have seen the statistics, I have a deep concern for my fellow servants of Christ Jesus. In short, pastors have the same day to day challenges as everyone else. However, they are magnified by the fact that pastors live in glass houses, under greater expectations, and tend to be or feel isolated. I have recently been aware of several situations where pastors are either struggling or under great strain. PRAY FOR AND SUPPORT YOUR PASTORS AND THEIR FAMILIES!!! That is not intended to be self serving... I do get lots of prayer support and have people who love and bless me and my family. Pray for me as I find ways to bless other pastors.

What's on your mind?

Sunday night wrap...

2009-09-06T20:29:00.002-04:00

Thank you Jesus! Another great weekend...

I enjoyed a busy and beautiful weekend. Not only did I do a wedding, I got to spend some good time with some friends I love.

Today at LifeBridge was amazing! I have been looking forward to this for quite a while. Our focus was on "How Great Is Our God!".

I did not preach today. Instead, we played a message on DVD by Lou Giglio. Click here to check out this YouTube clip of the first part of it.

Click here to hear the latter part of his sermon about laminin.

This message was powerful and impacting. Our crowd today was really touched.

Following the message, we did Communion in a way we have never done it in the 27 and a half year history of this church. We placed tables in the front and back of the worship center and asked people to come and serve themselves. We made several people available around the room for prayer at the same time.

After a very trying 10 months, I sense something new in the air! There is a fresh spirit in the house. We are looking forward. There is an optimistic spirit and a sweet sense of fellowship that is hard to quantify.

Our attendance has rebounded quite a bit, there are more new people coming, and we are beginning to see some new volunteers come on board.

Last week we baptized three people also.

After today's service I met with our LifeGroup leaders. I was very encouraged by the spirit in that room! They are a faithful bunch of people! We are fully committed to becoming a church OF small groups, not a church with small groups. There is a difference! We believe that in order to really "do" church, we need to be connected to others, doing life together!

I was surprised a little to learn that most of our existing LifeGroups are close to full! We are probably going to start some more groups shortly! I love those challenges!

It is not an easy thing to move in and out of a high school every week, setting up and taking down for service. HOWEVER, I am convinced that God has us in a VERY strategic place at a very strategic time! Eastern Tech High School is a beautiful location! We are blessed with a great relationship with the key people there. I am thankful, in spite of the work it demands, for the opportunity to be where we are now!

We have something awesome planned for a serving, outreach event in October! It will actually happen at the school. Stay tuned for more details soon!

Have a good Labor Day holiday! I look forward to some time with friends and family and to closing out the day doing a labor I love... meeting with my fellow pastors!

Friday thoughts...

2009-09-04T12:40:00.004-04:00

It has been a good week! I hope yours is going well. A few thoughts to end the week...

God has graciously answered a personal prayer this week. Sometime in the future I may tell the story... it's still developing.

I am cautiously optimistic, but very pumped about the Ravens' chances this year! I know that 4-0 in the pre-season is not necessarily an indicator, but I like what I see in the team. If they stay healthy and play like like they have been playing... play-offs could be coming!

I have a busy weekend coming... wedding rehearsal tonight, wedding Saturday at 6 PM, Sunday service, a meeting with the LifeGroup leaders after service, a dinner cruise Sunday evening! (And a few other odds and ends between those!) Looking forward to Labor Day "break", :-) followed by a Pastors meeting in the evening!

I am serious! This Sunday is going to be unique! I am almost like a kid on Christmas Eve! The anticipation I am feeling about what I know is coming is making me impatient for Sunday to get here.

I believe that God wants to break through into our busy, distracted, and hectic lives. He wants to give us a fresh vision of who He is. When we truly get that vision, it will change our lives! "How Great Is Our God" is the topic of the day this Sunday. It will be presented in a powerful and effective way.

One of the things we are doing Sunday is Communion. It will be celebrated in a very special way, a way that we have never before done. Great stuff!

I like the last post I did yesterday about Setbacks. I have experienced several in life, a couple recently, but, by God's grace, am coming through and beginning to see forward progress. Scroll down to read it, particularly if you are in the middle of a setback.

Have a great holiday weekend! I will post the Sunday Night Wrap Up after the dinner cruise...

Setbacks...

2009-09-03T14:25:00.003-04:00

I heard a man named Greg Provenzano say something several times that has stuck with me...

"Setbacks are God's setups for our success!"

When you think about it, God does allow us to face challenges and even failure at times, but never wastes one of them! I just read a passage in Proverbs 3:11-18 that clearly states what God is up to in those times!

God is using them to "discipline" or correct those He loves! When we think of discipline we tend to equate it with punishment. That is NOT how God views it! It is about making us better, because He loves us and He has a beautiful plan for our life. I did this post on June 2 of this year that deals more fully with the idea of chastisement or discipline.

There is no doubt... setbacks are painful! They come in all shapes and sizes... some personal, some business, some family, some big, some smaller, etc. No matter what they are or what size they are, none are fun.

Those who see them as a part of life and understand that God does use them in a positive way, are the ones who benefit from them. No one in their right mind hopes for a setback so they can benefit! However, WHEN they come, and they will, we can benefit from them if we have...

the right perspective- setbacks are part of life and can be used by God for good.

the right attitude- setbacks are no fun, but I will not become fearful or bitter, rather I will look for what God is doing, believing He has my best interest at heart.

the right response- learn from setbacks, resist fearful inactivity, move forward in God's plan!

I have experienced setbacks in the past year. Some have been pretty painful, especially those that included a loss of personal relationships. That is never easy.

However, I am discovering that God is indeed at work in me and around me. I am finding that He is using these tough times to further His cause in me and through me.

By His grace, I will not become a fearful, bitter person. I will look to the future and trust Him for bigger and better things. It will only be by His strength though, not by my determination or plan.

If you are in the middle of a setback, ride it out and keep your eyes on Jesus! Keep the right perspective, attitude, and response! It will pass and you will move forward again!

Next for LifeBridge

2009-09-02T11:03:00.005-04:00

God is such a gracious God! He lovingly and wisely leads us along!

My mind goes back to Sunday morning, August 5, 2001. That morning I preached a sermon entitled, "Get Ready, Company's Coming!" It was the beginning of a major turning point for our church.

The big idea in the message... we must do whatever it takes to become a welcoming, "come as you are" assembly of Christ followers! We must develop and keep an attitude that says, we are expecting company. We are NOT a closed, unwelcoming community. That does NOT mean that we bring non-believers into membership. It means that membership welcomes the presence of any and all, with open hearts and arms, into our meetings. It means that we realize our mission is to reach the unchurched, not make the already "churched" comfortable with the status quo.

I believe that Grace Church, now LifeBridge Church, over a period of time, became a pretty good "come as you are" church. We have invited, brought, and kept lots of unchurched people over the last 8 years since that sermon. We have seen MANY lives changed for eternity, to GOD be the glory!

HOWEVER... that is only one rail of the track God wants LifeBridge Church to run on! As everyone knows, a train needs two rails to form a track. God is moving us to lay down the second rail. We have thought about it, talked about it and prayed about it for over two years now. It is the next step in our journey as a missional church. If the first rail is being a "come as you are" church, the second rail is being a...

"GO TO WHERE THEY ARE" church!

It is one thing to prepare a welcoming environment in our services and invite people to come. That is a powerful and effective approach! But, it is quite another thing to literally go outside the environment of our worship service, find people in THEIR environment, and bring the love of Christ and the Good News TO them!

Over the past several months, the pastors of LifeBridge have been prayerfully re-evaluating where we are, including our vision and strategy. We believe we have been led by God to the next phase of our journey as a church. We are excited about what God is doing and about to do!

In October, we will be doing a sermon series and campaign that will introduce our updated vision statement and our strategy for moving forward in our mission, for becoming a "go to where they are" church also.

Bottom line: It is about fulfilling the Great Commission and obeying the Great Commandment!

Bottom, Bottom line: It is about bringing honor to our God!

Our sincere desire is to do all that! That is why we are moving forward to what is NEXT.

This Sunday...

2009-09-01T13:04:00.004-04:00

This Sunday... WOW! Read to the end to find out a little more.

I just read a statement by Pastor Perry Noble... "You Can’t Plan A Move Of God…But You Must Be Prepared For One!"

God is sovereign and He decides where and how He moves! None of us dictate that to Him. However, we can welcome Him to move powerfully in our midst. We can be prepared for His awesome work in us and through us!

We prepare ourselves as we...

become aware of His presence among us and focus on Him.

yield to Him, humbly surrendering ourselves completely to His will for us.

repent of sin in our lives, turning from sinful attitudes and practices, to obey Him.

This coming Sunday at LifeBridge Church, our service will be one of the most unique and moving ones we have experienced!

Entitled, "How Great Is Our God!", the entire morning will make us aware of God's presence and invite us to prepare ourselves for His powerful move in us and through us.

There are TWO very special things we have planned. I am not going to give them away now, but I am going to say that they are worth doing whatever you can to be there to experience them! As I was preparing for ONE of them yesterday, I was so pumped about it I could hardly stand it!

I will give a couple of hints:

The first special thing that will happen is going to grab and keep your attention! It will give you a unique perspective of God, one that you may have never seen quite that way before. You will not go to sleep on this one! You will NEVER look at God in the same way again!!!

The second special thing in our service will be a different way of doing something we regularly do. It will be fresh, worshipful, encouraging, etc.

I genuinely believe, based on what I am seeing, hearing, and experiencing myself, that God is at work and that a movement of His Spirit has already begun among us!

If God moves, it will not be because we deserve it, it will be because of His grace and mercy. It will not be to lift us up, it will be to bring Him glory! It will not be to make us comfortable, it will be to make us useful for His purpose!

Get ready!!! (If you are in another church, believe God and prepare for His move in your assembly!)

On tomorrow's post... the next step in LifeBridge Church's journey!!!

19,643!

2009-08-31T10:27:00.003-04:00

Today is a pretty big number for me!

This is my 19, 643rd day on planet Earth.

I arrived here, via Troy and Wilma Hall, on November 6, 1955. Mom told me yesterday that at birth I was 7lbs, 14 oz, and 21 inches long. (No, I did not grow a whole lot after that!)

The Bible states that our lives contain 70 years, or if due to strength, 80. That means we have somewhere between 25, 550 and 29, 200 days on Earth, generally speaking. It could be more or less, but on average, that's realistic. There is definitely a time to be born and a time to die.

I am NOT trying to be morbid or negative. That is not how I am wired. However, I do want to emphasize another verse of Scripture that put's things in perspective! Psalm 90:12 is a prayer from the heart of the psalmist. It is made because he understands the brevity and significance of his life.

That prayer asks God to teach us to number our days so that we can present Him a heart of wisdom. In other words, "Help us to be aware that our time on Earth is limited and precious, so that we can live to it's fullest, God honoring, potential!"

Put in the negative, "Help us not to waste any of the precious time You have given us on this Earth!"

Our life is a gift from God. We didn't give ourselves life, nor are we keeping ourselves alive. My dear Dad and Mom didn't give me life, although God used them to get me here.

God never does anything randomly or by accident. The life He gave me was given for a purpose. The ultimate purpose is that I will bring honor to Him with it, and that I can enjoy fellowship with Him forever! That is accomplished as I...

Love God with all my being.

Obey God with a willing and sincere heart.

Wisely use the talents and gifts God has given me.

So, on this 19, 643rd day of my life, I am asking God again... "Teach me to number my days!"

Sunday night wrap...

2009-08-30T22:25:00.002-04:00

It was a very good weekend!

Our church picnic on Saturday was right on! God blessed us with some of the best weather I have ever seen for our picnics. The turnout was really good. There were plenty of people at their first ever LifeBridge picnic. We had a real good pick up football game. There was LOTS of good food, lots of good fellowship, and lots of good swimming in the pool.

The whole picnic was topped off with a baptism. Three people were baptized. The next one is on the calendar for Sunday, October 4.

The Ravens won their third pre-season game Saturday evening! Our quarterback, Joe Flacco, is looking sharp. The offense is cooking and the defense is still awesome! Can't wait for the regular season. Can't wait to play the Steelers!

Sunday at LifeBridge was awesome today! The highlight was having Pastor Jim Gurganus and his wife, Robin with us. Robin sang a beautiful and fitting song just before Pastor Jim spoke. His message about joy was right on time. It should be posted on our church website shortly. I heard numerous comments afterward about how it blessed and met the need of the hour.

I believe that we are getting ready to have one of our best Fall seasons of ministry! I sense a movement of God stirring in our midst. God is calling a number of people to prayer and some to fasting. There are new people coming through our doors. (I heard a very cool story about one adult that came for the first time today! It was a God-thing!) There is a fresh excitement that is brewing.

Next Sunday is going to be one of the most unusual and powerful days we have had in a long time at LifeBridge. The message of the day... "How Great Is Our God". We are doing two things that will be different and moving. Make your plans to be there, letting nothing hinder you! Bring an unchurched friend along!

Coming soon... the launch of a brand new series and campaign, with two weeks of pre-campaign sermons that will absolutely encourage any Christ follower and draw the unchurched to Christ. Those pre-campaign sermons start on September 20.

Only as we rely on God's power and resources, can we accomplish anything worthwhile for the Kingdom. I believe that, when we depend God, great things can happen.

Have a godly week! Come on back to this blog and tell a friend... thanks!!!

Friday thoughts...

2009-08-28T13:53:00.002-04:00

On this last Friday in August...

I read Proverbs 28 today. Verse one jumped off the page to me! The righteous are as bold as a lion! On the other hand, the wicked flee when no one is pursuing! That's almost funny! It means that those who aren't Christ followers live lives based on fear. Those who belong to the family of God are bold, confident in Jesus. Hebrews 4:16 talks about the confidence we can have through Jesus' finished work. I want to live a life that is bold, not in self assurance, but in Christ assurance!

As I write this, I am sitting here watching the sun peak through the clouds one minute and a downpour the next. Our churchwide picnic is scheduled for tomorrow. It is on, rain or shine. I hope for sunshine! Either way, we will be eating, under the pavilion, enjoying some good fellowship! Come on out! If you live across or out of the country, hurry, hop on a plane!

Want to attend a great church in Lynchburg, VA while sitting in front of your computer? Click on this link and then click on Watch/Listen Online. I really enjoy watching the Sunday morning service there.

I am really looking forward to having Pastor Jim Gurganus and his wife, Robin, with us in service on Sunday. Pastor Jim will be preaching and Robin will be singing. We are blessed to have good friends in area churches. We are cooperating team members, not competitors!

Have a great weekend!

Everybody wants to go to Heaven...

2009-08-27T10:51:00.002-04:00

but nobody wants to die!

We just witnessed another celebrity death. Senator Ted Kennedy passed away after a year long battle with brain cancer. He died only weeks after his sister, Eunice, was buried.

It seems that we have seen more high profile people die this year, but that is not really true. They die every year. Death is no respecter of persons. It comes to everyone, regardless of station in life!

I read Proverbs 27 today. The first verse is a warning against boasting about tomorrow. James, the half brother of Jesus, reminds us that life is passing by very quickly. And of course, the writer of the Hebrews tells us about an appointment that no one will miss.

Death is a subject that most of us want to avoid. We all realize, down deep, that it is inevitable. But, we push it out of our mind, trying not to think about it. When I think about planning for my funeral, burial, and other things associated with my passing, it feels weird. I feel like it is so far away and don't want to rush it.

However, no matter how I feel, the facts are the facts. I need to think about it, plan for it, and accept it! I am going to die if Jesus doesn't come first!

I, like you and everyone else I know, hope it isn't imminent! I want to live as long as I can with physical and mental health. I want to enjoy life to it's fullest. I would like to see my grandchildren born and watch them grow up. (It used to be my children, but they have all grown up!) I want to try to accomplish more in the last quarter of my life than in the previous 3 quarters.

I don't know if that is God's plan for me. I DO know this... whether I live or I die, it will be ok! I echo the words of the Apostle Paul... "to live is Christ, to die is gain".

There is life after death. For Christ followers, it is much better... an upgrade, NOT a downgrade!

Here's the BIG question... Are you prepared for your appointment? Do you have a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ?

Beyond that question, are there others you love who aren't yet prepared? Are you praying for them, and doing all you can to reach them with the Gospel?

Makena means...

2009-08-26T11:19:00.004-04:00

Our first granddaughter has a name that means... read to the end of this post to find out!

Last evening Robyn and I paid a visit to Michael, Casie and Makena.

I am thankful for our oldest son, and his beautiful wife! I am CRAZY about our first granddaughter!

If it seems that I am just a little overboard about it, consider this...

Family is a gift from God! (As a side note, that also includes the wayward ones!)

Being privileged to hold in your arms the 2nd generation, grandchildren, is a gift from God!

Having the opportunity to literally touch the future, beyond your own lifetime, is HUGE!

I don't know what the future holds for that precious little girl. At just over five and a half pounds, she is getting a "small" start. But I believe that she could leave a BIG footprint in history.

Among all her potential personal accomplishments, perhaps she will bare a son, (my great grandson), who will pastor a church. I do believe that she will one day, early in her life, become a Christ follower and live a life for Jesus. I do believe that she will have a godly affect on her offspring.

I am excited for the chance to have a little part in contributing to her spiritual development. I can see beyond today, to what can be one day. I look forward to giving her things, spending time with her, but most importantly, to pouring into her the things of Jesus!

That's definitely the HIGH privilege of being a grandparent... coming alongside the parents, serving them by encouraging and assisting them, getting to spend time with their children, having a positive and godly affect on them.

As I held her in my arms last night, feeding her, changing her diaper, waking her up, putting her to sleep, cuddling her close, I cannot describe the unbelievable happiness and peace it brought me! Just thinking about it now gets me! But here's the kicker...

I just looked her name up on a couple of internet "name meaning" sites... Makena is an eastern African name meaning, "Happy One"! She's not the only one!!!

Change or die...

2009-08-25T10:34:00.002-04:00

You have to change or you WILL die!

That statement is rather radical! However, at some level, it is absolutely true.

There are lots of people walking around dead, just biding their time until they are buried. Actually, they live their lives in a grave with two open ends... they are stuck in a RUT.

If we are not changing and growing on a personal level, we really are dying inside. What happens inside affects us on the "outside" as well. It affects our behavior, our personal relationships, and our effectiveness in what we do. If we are dying on the inside and living in a rut on the outside, we are just waiting to die physically. That's no way to live!

If it seems that I am overstating the case, just think about it for a moment! Who do you know that never changes for the better? What is their life like? What are they doing with that one and only life God has given them? Who are they POSITIVELY impacting?

We are challenged by Scripture to constantly be renewed in our minds! We are reminded that we are being conformed to the image of Jesus. That is an ongoing process of change.

Change can be painful initially. However, it's benefits far outweigh it's pain!

What is true on a personal level is also true for organizations, including the church! Churches that don't change die. They may not get buried for awhile, but they do die. They become stagnate, cold, uncaring, irrelevant, and unfruitful. (The Truth they possess never changes and is never irrelevant, but unfortunately, they don't grow with that Truth!)

God help us all to realize the importance of change! God help us to NOT resist change when it is for the good!