This is something that I came across from a friend of mine. I hope you get something from it. I will be posting at a minmum of one time per month (maybe more) until I finish school! Too much stuff, not enough time! Have a great month.
1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love and trust them anyway.
“Father forgive them. They know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
“And Jesus told them, you are like children who don’t know what they want. John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, and you said he had a demon. The Son of Man comes eating and drinking and you say I a glutton, a friend of sinners.” Matthew 11:16-19
3. If you are successful you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
“The crowds who cheered Him on Sunday and called Him King were the same who on Friday cried, “Crucify Him!” Even the priests said, “We have no King but Caesar.”” Luke 19:36-40; John 10:1-6
4. The service you render today will be forgotten tomorrow. Serve people anyway.
“Were not ten lepers cleansed, and only one returned to give thanks? My words will bring division.” Luke 17:11-19
5. Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
“And Jesus said; Do not think I’ve come to bring peace to the world.” Luke 12:51; 13:5
6. The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest of men with the smallest ideas. Think big anyway.
“During the supper the Lord Jesus foretold that one of them would betray Him…the Disciples questioned which one it might be, and a dispute rose among them as to which was the greatest.” Luke 22:22-24
7. People pretend to love the “little people”, but sell their souls to the “big people”. Fight for the “little people” anyway.
“Let the little children come unto me, for as such is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:13-14
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed over night. Build anyway.
“Judas came, kissed him, and they took hold of Him…then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. Matthew 26:36-56
9. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help. Help people anyway.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to preach…but all who heard Him thrust Him out.
Luke 4:16-30
10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.
“Pilate said, “Who shall I give unto you…the murderer and robber, Barabbus, or Jesus, who is called Christ?” And they all cried, Give us Barabbus!” Matthew 27:15-27
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Proud of our humility?
"Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense." - C.S. Lewis
When our focus is on our behavior only, then we are setting up Pride as the Dictator of our life. If we do all the right things, then everything will be alright and if we do wrong things, then things will be bad. I think the book of Job may have something to say about that one.
If we are so focused on ourselves that we want others to notice our humility, we are the most prideful of all people. When we are proud of our humility, are we really being humble at all? Of course not! To be humble means that we are so unaware of ourselves that we have no clue that we are being humble and we could care less if anyone ever notices.
This all boils down to the fact of motive of the heart. In the Old Testament prophets, we learn of their warnings against the "ritualistic" worship (or so-called worship) of the people. Even then, we wanted a "four happy hops to heaven" formula for success in the Christian life! We need to hear those Old Testament messages just as strongly today. For some reason, we think that if we have the latest and greatest fad in our "mega" assebly that we are doing the very best work for God. (not that mega churches are bad in and of themselves) The fact is that He doesn't need us; We NEED Him! When we realize that we are the one in need of help in accomplishing the mission, then we can begin to grow in our humility. There is no ONE formula that we ALL can follow to accomplish the mission that God has laid out before us. We are all different and called to our own different ministries. That's why there are many different expressions of the body of Christ. We just need to be more concerned with the motive of our heart than the fame or notice we get from others. To be so unaware of our own self, is to be aware of God! Don't be proud of your humility. Be totally dependent on God; the source of all power and anything that we can be that is good. It's all HIS!
What do you think? Let me know of a time when you have been proud of your humility? (I don't have enough space to write about all of my experience in this)
When our focus is on our behavior only, then we are setting up Pride as the Dictator of our life. If we do all the right things, then everything will be alright and if we do wrong things, then things will be bad. I think the book of Job may have something to say about that one.
If we are so focused on ourselves that we want others to notice our humility, we are the most prideful of all people. When we are proud of our humility, are we really being humble at all? Of course not! To be humble means that we are so unaware of ourselves that we have no clue that we are being humble and we could care less if anyone ever notices.
This all boils down to the fact of motive of the heart. In the Old Testament prophets, we learn of their warnings against the "ritualistic" worship (or so-called worship) of the people. Even then, we wanted a "four happy hops to heaven" formula for success in the Christian life! We need to hear those Old Testament messages just as strongly today. For some reason, we think that if we have the latest and greatest fad in our "mega" assebly that we are doing the very best work for God. (not that mega churches are bad in and of themselves) The fact is that He doesn't need us; We NEED Him! When we realize that we are the one in need of help in accomplishing the mission, then we can begin to grow in our humility. There is no ONE formula that we ALL can follow to accomplish the mission that God has laid out before us. We are all different and called to our own different ministries. That's why there are many different expressions of the body of Christ. We just need to be more concerned with the motive of our heart than the fame or notice we get from others. To be so unaware of our own self, is to be aware of God! Don't be proud of your humility. Be totally dependent on God; the source of all power and anything that we can be that is good. It's all HIS!
What do you think? Let me know of a time when you have been proud of your humility? (I don't have enough space to write about all of my experience in this)
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Is the American Church choosing the Good or the Best?
Today I was reading in Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest" and he makes the statement that, "The good is always the enemy of the best." I think he was an incredibly insightful person who speaks to us today as much as he did to his audiences at the Bible Training School he taught many years ago.
Are we choosing the "good" over the "best" in today's church life? I think we may very well be doing just that. The programs that most churches do are good. The music that most churches use in their services is good. The sermons in most American pulpits is good. But the life of the average Christian in America is no different than that of the average person in America. Divorce rates are the same, attitudes are the same, disputes are common in both the church world and the outside world. So it would seem to me that for a majority of the churches in America, they are not very effective in empowering the average member to live the "FULL LIFE" talked about in the book of John. The "relationship" with Jesus that is the life-giving, life-transforming power of a Living, Holy God seems to be virtually non-existent in the American Church today. It would seem we have missed the BEST while chasing after the GOOD in our churches. The Best is being in the relationship with God to a point that it effects all other relationships in our life. It is expressed in every ounce of our life. People should be able to just watch your life and see Jesus in the way you treat others. Even (maybe especially) those with whom you disagree. How are we going to make a difference in other's lives until we get our own life in right relationship with God? It really can't be done in reverse; but that is exactly what our churches seem to have done over the last 10 years or so. We would rather have a "big" crowd and fancy buildings and HUGE ministries (remember, there is nothing wrong with those in and of themselves) which are just "good". What if we were to really read Acts and look at the early church and begin to live life the way the early church did. Everyone! ALL of them! Were in unity! The early church had power and I am convinced that they had this power because they were unified by a common goal and purpose of nothing more than LOVING GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEART, MIND, AND SOUL. THEN LOVING OTHERS AS THEMSELVES. That is what the Church is supposed to be doing.....Loving God and loving others! It is not that programs and buildings are bad, but remember it is not the bad that is the biggest enemy of the BEST.....it is the GOOD! I would welcome your thoughts on how you think the church in America has missed it and how we can get the unity and power of God back. Can we keep the same structures? Will new structures/forms of church really make a big difference unless we truly change our motives and focus on the RELATIONSHIP?
One thing is for sure, churches today have been given a choice...change or die! And to simply change from one "good" model of doing church to another will not be enough this time! We must REPENT (change our hearts)! The focus must come away from the "fame" and super-star status of Christianity, and get back to the CHRIST of Christianity...the RELATIONSHIP with that Christ!
Are we choosing the "good" over the "best" in today's church life? I think we may very well be doing just that. The programs that most churches do are good. The music that most churches use in their services is good. The sermons in most American pulpits is good. But the life of the average Christian in America is no different than that of the average person in America. Divorce rates are the same, attitudes are the same, disputes are common in both the church world and the outside world. So it would seem to me that for a majority of the churches in America, they are not very effective in empowering the average member to live the "FULL LIFE" talked about in the book of John. The "relationship" with Jesus that is the life-giving, life-transforming power of a Living, Holy God seems to be virtually non-existent in the American Church today. It would seem we have missed the BEST while chasing after the GOOD in our churches. The Best is being in the relationship with God to a point that it effects all other relationships in our life. It is expressed in every ounce of our life. People should be able to just watch your life and see Jesus in the way you treat others. Even (maybe especially) those with whom you disagree. How are we going to make a difference in other's lives until we get our own life in right relationship with God? It really can't be done in reverse; but that is exactly what our churches seem to have done over the last 10 years or so. We would rather have a "big" crowd and fancy buildings and HUGE ministries (remember, there is nothing wrong with those in and of themselves) which are just "good". What if we were to really read Acts and look at the early church and begin to live life the way the early church did. Everyone! ALL of them! Were in unity! The early church had power and I am convinced that they had this power because they were unified by a common goal and purpose of nothing more than LOVING GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEART, MIND, AND SOUL. THEN LOVING OTHERS AS THEMSELVES. That is what the Church is supposed to be doing.....Loving God and loving others! It is not that programs and buildings are bad, but remember it is not the bad that is the biggest enemy of the BEST.....it is the GOOD! I would welcome your thoughts on how you think the church in America has missed it and how we can get the unity and power of God back. Can we keep the same structures? Will new structures/forms of church really make a big difference unless we truly change our motives and focus on the RELATIONSHIP?
One thing is for sure, churches today have been given a choice...change or die! And to simply change from one "good" model of doing church to another will not be enough this time! We must REPENT (change our hearts)! The focus must come away from the "fame" and super-star status of Christianity, and get back to the CHRIST of Christianity...the RELATIONSHIP with that Christ!
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Well, we are back from the wedding and all is well. One of the most "story-book" weddings that I have ever seen. I pray that Charles & Lauren will have a wonderful marriage, and I have no doubts that they will.
Melissa and I are at a real breakthrough point in our lives and God has been showing us some incredible stuff lately. Today I read in Oswald Chambers that, "So often we impair God's designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful." How true is that!?! Sometimes, we selfish humans like to KNOW that God is using us or at least that we are of some use to others, but isn't that the most selfish way of looking at ministry? The focus is all on us; not on God where it belongs. If our focus were on Him to begin with then we would be so unaware of ourselves, we wouldn't even think to ask, "Am I being of a great use to God?" This only happens when our real motive for helping and ministering to others is to be the "super-hero" type of minister. I don't recall any of the great biblical characters thinking of themselves in that way. Look at Moses, he was so scared of going to Pharaoh, that he begged God to send someone else. (Exodus 4) That doesn't sound like the superstar model that most ministers seem to want to follow today. Let's not allow the thought that we are being useful to God enter into our thinking. We are being useful if we are following Him and faithfully doing the last thing He told us to do until He offers futher direction. That is the hardest thing to do in the Christian walk.....TRUST GOD FULLY (Matt. 6:26-33) and "seek HIM first", then let all the other things come as they may.
Have a great day everyone! I will post more later.
Pray for us as we seek to trust Him more!
Melissa and I are at a real breakthrough point in our lives and God has been showing us some incredible stuff lately. Today I read in Oswald Chambers that, "So often we impair God's designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful." How true is that!?! Sometimes, we selfish humans like to KNOW that God is using us or at least that we are of some use to others, but isn't that the most selfish way of looking at ministry? The focus is all on us; not on God where it belongs. If our focus were on Him to begin with then we would be so unaware of ourselves, we wouldn't even think to ask, "Am I being of a great use to God?" This only happens when our real motive for helping and ministering to others is to be the "super-hero" type of minister. I don't recall any of the great biblical characters thinking of themselves in that way. Look at Moses, he was so scared of going to Pharaoh, that he begged God to send someone else. (Exodus 4) That doesn't sound like the superstar model that most ministers seem to want to follow today. Let's not allow the thought that we are being useful to God enter into our thinking. We are being useful if we are following Him and faithfully doing the last thing He told us to do until He offers futher direction. That is the hardest thing to do in the Christian walk.....TRUST GOD FULLY (Matt. 6:26-33) and "seek HIM first", then let all the other things come as they may.
Have a great day everyone! I will post more later.
Pray for us as we seek to trust Him more!
Thursday, May 13, 2004
May 13, 2004
Today is a busy day and we are preparing for a trip to Virginia Beach, VA for a friend's wedding. Melissa and I love to travel together (maybe a forshadowing of our future???) It will be great to see friends that we haven't seen in a while as well as celebrate with one special couple on their "big day".
I am thinking of all that we are studying in the Old Testament class that I am now taking, and I seem to be attracted to the recurring theme of our purpose as believers. It seems that Jesus talks of the two greatest commandments, which we read last night come from the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy. He said that the great commandment was to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (matt 22.37) and "love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments." (22:39)
The more that I look at these verses, I find that our real purpose in life as Christians is to Love God and the Love Others. I realize that this is in the simplest form, but I really think that with all our institutionalization (is that a word?) of The Body we could use some simplification! It's not about the programs and meetings and everything religious, rather it is about the RELATIONSHIP! If we are in a true relationship with Jesus we will Love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind and we will love others as ourselves. Relationships are the key to life! If that is the case, then why do we not put more emphasis on them than on money, material things, the "American dream"...Etc. If we really believe that relationships are the key to life, then we will place more priority on relationships than anything else. Our actions in America speak far more than our words could ever say. We are a selfish greedy society and we want our "rights" more than we want to obey God. It is easy to make converts.....it is very time consuming and difficult to make disciples, however that is what we have been called to do. Unfortunately today's churches, for the most part, are more into making knotches in their spiritual gunbelts than into getting involved in someone's life to the point that we make a difference. It is about life transformation, not about how many people we "converted" this year. Our focus in the organized church is way off, and if something is not done to radically change that focus back to the RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, we are in big trouble in the American church!
Whew!!!!! Now we can pass the offering plate. Sermon #1 is over. Sorry I got on the soapbox today, but it's just the way I am feeling. I will post again later and let you know about the wedding. In the meantime, please pray for the job situation for me. I am really feeling led to just get a job in business and work on developing the consulting/coaching thing on the side as I can. God is working and opening doors, so just keep praying for us. I would love for Melissa to be able to quit if she wants, so pray for God's will in that situation. Until next time...
I am thinking of all that we are studying in the Old Testament class that I am now taking, and I seem to be attracted to the recurring theme of our purpose as believers. It seems that Jesus talks of the two greatest commandments, which we read last night come from the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy. He said that the great commandment was to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (matt 22.37) and "love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments." (22:39)
The more that I look at these verses, I find that our real purpose in life as Christians is to Love God and the Love Others. I realize that this is in the simplest form, but I really think that with all our institutionalization (is that a word?) of The Body we could use some simplification! It's not about the programs and meetings and everything religious, rather it is about the RELATIONSHIP! If we are in a true relationship with Jesus we will Love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind and we will love others as ourselves. Relationships are the key to life! If that is the case, then why do we not put more emphasis on them than on money, material things, the "American dream"...Etc. If we really believe that relationships are the key to life, then we will place more priority on relationships than anything else. Our actions in America speak far more than our words could ever say. We are a selfish greedy society and we want our "rights" more than we want to obey God. It is easy to make converts.....it is very time consuming and difficult to make disciples, however that is what we have been called to do. Unfortunately today's churches, for the most part, are more into making knotches in their spiritual gunbelts than into getting involved in someone's life to the point that we make a difference. It is about life transformation, not about how many people we "converted" this year. Our focus in the organized church is way off, and if something is not done to radically change that focus back to the RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, we are in big trouble in the American church!
Whew!!!!! Now we can pass the offering plate. Sermon #1 is over. Sorry I got on the soapbox today, but it's just the way I am feeling. I will post again later and let you know about the wedding. In the meantime, please pray for the job situation for me. I am really feeling led to just get a job in business and work on developing the consulting/coaching thing on the side as I can. God is working and opening doors, so just keep praying for us. I would love for Melissa to be able to quit if she wants, so pray for God's will in that situation. Until next time...
Monday, May 10, 2004
My first Blog
Hello everyone! I am posting my first blog and I am excited to be recording my journey on the blog. My friend saint alford got me interested in this blogging stuff and I am learning as I go along. I will be back later for more, but for now, I must finish my homework.....will it ever end??? Yes, but not soon enough for my wife!
My next post will tell about what my wife and I are up to in the month of May 2004. Also, you can check out the website at www.connectionpoint.org if you like. May God bless you and keep you.
My next post will tell about what my wife and I are up to in the month of May 2004. Also, you can check out the website at www.connectionpoint.org if you like. May God bless you and keep you.
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