Vision

For many people, there comes a time when they have to get glasses. This happened to me about 2 years ago. I now need glasses to see clearly when I read. Glasses help to give me clearer vision. Without my glasses, I struggle to see what I need to see.
This is true in life as well. God has a vision for me, and for you. But we will struggle to see this vision clearly until we get spiritual glasses. Spiritual glasses in a sense are that which help us to focus on God's will for our lives. It is the ability to see God's preferable future for our lives.
The Bible tells us that without a vision, the people perish. Vision is what captures us and motivates us. Vision is what our heart yearns to see accomplished. It is not ambition.
There is a difference between ambition and vision. The difference is that ambition leads to drivenness and restlessness. Whereas, vision lived out leads us to peace, power and passion. Vision is the result of surrendering ourselves to God, and letting the dreams God has created in us be lived out.
So, what would you do for the glory of God, if you knew that you would not fail? What are you passionate about? What stirs your blood and bring you excitement? If you search these out, you will discover God's vision for your life. It will come to you as a word picture of what the future will look like when you partner with God. It will be motivating and dynamic. And even more, it will be something that you can only accomplish with God's help.
God has created you with a purpose and a vision (a way to carry out your calling). I encourage you to try to write out a statement that tells of this vision. And then commit it to God and pray each day that God will help you to carry this out.

What Do You Value?

What is it you value in life? Our values aren't something we buy at a store, they are the "assumptions and core convictions that shape our actions and decisions." Most often, they come from the lessons we have learned as we live our life. For example, let's say that you were in a relationship, and maybe you were selfish in that relationship. Through your actions, your relationship ended. You learn the lesson that you need to pay more attention to the other person. You can't just say that you care for that person, you have to show them you care.
Now, it is easy for us to say that we value certain things. Often times, what is at the top of our list for values are things like marriage, children, God, prayer, etc... If you were to make a list, what would be on your list of values? I encourage you, if you haven't done so in your life, to take a moment and make this list of values. Once you have this list, it is important to see if how you are living your life supports what you say that you value.
Let's take another example: You say that you value God in your life. You write this down as a value. Then you look at your life and your schedule to see if this is true. Do you spend time with God (in prayer, going to church, being in Bible study, reading God's word on your own, serving God)? To value our relationship with God, means to take time to nurture that relationship.
Prayer: Through prayer, we have the opportunity to connect with God and listen to the voice of God. Church: Going to church is important because it is the opportunity for us to be with God's people and worship God together as the family of God. (For more on this you can see my blogs "Do We Need to Go to Church?", 3-8-07, and "Can you not go to church and still be in God's will?" 4-29-07). Service: Through our serving God, we are able to fulfill the second great command that Jesus teaches us, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Service is also a way to use the gifts and talents that God has given us.
God has shaped you in a unique way. As you discover how you are shaped, and the passion you have in life, you discover what you value. To fulfill your God given purpose you need to not only understand what you value, but live out those values.
So I pose these questions to you: What do you value? Are you living those values out for God? How can you do a better job at this?
Let me know what you think by clicking on the "comment" button below. Blessings.

Having Purpose

We all want to feel like we have purpose in life. I know that those people who don't feel like they have purpose feel incredibly lost in their life. Many struggle with having any motivation to accomplish anything in life. You probably know people who are like this. They get up each day and just go through the motions. Some struggle to even get out of bed.
The truth is, God created each one of us with a purpose. The challenge in life is to find this purpose God has for us. And yet, at this point, I want to give a little warning. When we think about our purpose, our initial thoughts probably go to what we are meant to "do."
We live in a world where we feel like we have to prove ourselves. This comes at an early age. When we do things as a little child (for example, take our first step) our parents applaud us for it. As we live our lives, we get accolades for doing things well. In one sense this is good, because we need affirmation. But in another sense, it causes us to feel like "we are what we do."
When I talk about purpose, I want us to understand first and foremost that our purpose is to be a child of God. In the Bible, in Genesis chapter 1, after God creates man and woman, He says: "It is good." God is pleased with Adam and Eve before they did anything. God was pleased with them just because they existed.
And God created us to be in relationship with God. In the Westminster (Shorter) Catechism, the first question asks: "What is the chief end of man?" The answer: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." Did you catch that? We are to glorify God with who we are and enjoy being in relationship with God.
If I were to have asked you to write a purpose statement for your life at the beginning of this blog, your statement probably would have included much about what you felt like you needed to do. But the important foundational truth, is that our purpose is to BE who God created us to be, and to worship God, be in relationship with God, and experience the joy of knowing God.
My purpose statement says: "Biblical Purpose: The purpose of my life is to know God intimately through my relationship with Christ, and let God’s Spirit work in and through me as I abandon myself to Him."
If we try to make our purpose based on what we do, we will never feel like we measure up. If we let our purpose be to discover God and be in relationship with God, then we can enjoy life for who God made us to be, and experience the joy of discovering life anew each day.
What do you think? Let me know your thoughts by clicking on the "comment" button below.

Imitation

They say that imitation is the highest compliment. I know that the other day when I went to my son's open house, I was very touched to read in his biography that the person he most wanted to be like was ME! He wanted to be like me because he said I was kind and I helped people. WOW!
And yet with this in mind, it is important for me to remember that I need to behave in ways that should be imitated. That means I need to talk right, and act right, and treat my wife and kids right. It also means that when I am wrong I need to say "I'm sorry," and when I fail I need to ask for forgiveness.
Just like our kids imitate us, so we choose others to imitate as well. Who is it that you imitate? If you don't know the answer to that question, you need to seek out the answer, because we all imitate someone, whether we realize it or not.
In Ephesians 5:1-2, the apostle Paul gives us a good challenge: "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." This is a good word, because if there is anyone we should imitate, it is God. And not only do we have the Bible to help us know what to imitate, but we have Jesus Christ, who is the representation of God. As Jesus said in John 14:8-9, "⁸Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." ⁹Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"
Why is it more people don't imitate God? I believe that we struggle in life because we don't. I especially think that we need to imitate God's love. Tell me what you think by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Shock Jocks

I don't know if you have noticed, but there are more and more "shock jocks" popping up. Probably the best known is Howard Stern. These "shock jocks" create shows that often go beyond what many people would think is acceptable. They do it to get ratings. Howard Stern's show got so racy, that he had to move to SIRIUS on satellite radio, so he wouldn't have to be bound by Federal regulations.
Not too long ago Jeff Vandergrift and Dan Lay lost their jobs, and now they're scrambling for work. The co-hosts of "The Dog House with JV and Elvis" were permanently pulled last weekend from WFNY-FM for an offensive prank phone call, replete with ethnic and sexual slurs, made to a Chinese restaurant. Their dismissal demonstrated how heightened awareness by advertisers and management, coupled with offended listeners no longer content with "slap on the wrist" punishments, has turned the DJ's chair into a hot seat in recent weeks."The Imus episode has launched a new chapter in our questioning of what's acceptable on the radio," said Tom Taylor, publisher of the trade publication "Inside Radio."
Morning radio has become highly competetive, and there seems to be pressure to push the barrier between acceptable, and not acceptable. This often includes stunts that are crazy or dangerous. Eric Logan (no relation), Vice President of programming at XM radio says: "In the process of balancing the ratings with what's right, performers are encouraged to entertain, and along the way, they offend or hurt people's feelings. "It happens all the time," he said. "And I don't see it changing."
But the question is, why won't it change? And I believe it is the listeners' fault. If the listerners of radio (including satellite) didn't approve of what these shock jocks are doing, then they wouldn't have an audience, and there would be no demand for this kind of radio. Have we really fallen so far as a society that we approve of dangerous, hurtful, mean-spirited radio shows? Is free speech really about being able to attack and demean others?
I believe we have completely lost the spirit of what Jesus said, when He said to "love your neighbor as yourself." There is a great lack of sharing love in our world. How can we begin to win back our world? Tell me what you think about all of this by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Out Of Our Mouths

Do you ever have trouble with what you say? Most people don't think that they do. But no one is perfect in what they say. We are
told in James 3:9-10, "⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." In fact, whether we want to admit it or not, what is in our hearts and minds will come out of our mouths.
Jesus reminds us of this in Matthew 12:34, "...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." So if there is anger in our hearts, we will speak words of anger. If there is bitterness in our hearts, we will speak harshly. If there is envy in our hearts, we will speak with an attitude of discontent. If there is worldliness in our hearts, then we will not speak in ways that bring glory to God.
Ephesians 4:29 tells us, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Since God created us to be in relationship with each other, we should speak words that build up and bring love. As the old adage goes: "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all." It is amazing to me how harsh an unloving people's words are to each other. I am amazed at all the backbiting, and criticism, and gossip there is in our world. There is so much evil in people's hearts, that we see it come out in their words.
So I challenge you and me today to see if we can't give our mouths to the Lord, and seek to "not let any unwholesome talk" come out of our mouths. Let us see if we can be encouraging and loving with our words. Let us see if we can be positive and build each other up.
Tell me what you think by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Undistracted Prayer

Do you struggle to stay focused when you pray? I know for me I can have trouble with that. There are many things that can cause this to happen: noise around me; thinking about what I need to get done; the phone ringing; my worries; people around me; and on and on it goes. So I want to suggest some ways we can be more focused in our prayers.
The first important step is to be alone. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:6, "But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you..." Notice Jesus says "when you pray." If we aren't alone, then we will more easily get distracted. Find a time and a place where you can be alone to pray. This might not happen every day, but hopefully you can do it several times a week. Not only will this help you to focus in your prayer, but this spot and time will become a treasured place for you.
Second, read some scripture before you pray. Reading the Bible not only provides nourishment for our spirits, but prepares our heart and mind to spend time with God. When we read the word of God before we pray, we will be in a better place to receive what God wants to show us.
Third, use the psalms to help you pray. By praying the words of the psalms first, it will help you to move into your own words of prayer. The psalms also teach us how to pray, by helping us to see that we should share all of our thoughts and feelings with God. The prayers of the psalmist will help to excite us more about prayer as well.
Finally, don't dwell on the struggles of your life or unanswered prayer. This will only keep you from seeking God and being able to rest in God. The struggles of our lives are distractions enough, we don't need to bring them into our prayer life. Lift them to God, and then move on. Prayer should lead us to finding peace and rest with God, and should bring feelings of thanksgiving to us.
How do you get focused in your prayer life? Share your thoughts by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Excitement

What is exciting for you? For some it is going to a ball game and enjoying the atmosphere, and the competition, and the great athletic abilities. For others it is going to Disneyland, or some other amusement park and experiencing the fun rides. And still for others, it might be going to an action/adventure movie. We all have different thoughts of what is exciting.
I want to propose to you that church is exciting as well. Now I know for many, they think that church is boring. But often times this is because they don't understand everything that is going on, and/or because they don't allow themselves to experience church how God designed it.
So what makes church exciting?
First, there are the friendships that we build. This is called "fellowship." There is nothing more exciting than to have special friends in your life. Now I know that church is not the only place you build friendships, but it is an important place to not only establish friendships, but also nurture those friendships. Having good friends is exciting, and even more when we can experience God's presence with others.
Second, there is the giving of our money. You might want to say to me, "Hold on here, giving my money is not exciting." But the truth is, it should be. In the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:10, we are told: "For the love of money is the root of all evil..." Money has a tendency to control us. We desire it, hoard it, use it selfishly. But when we learn how to give money away, we are freed up to enjoy money. On top of this, we learn that our giving helps others. THIS IS EXCITING!
Third, church is a place where we learn how to help others. This is called "service" or "ministry." Life for so many is spent selfishly caring for themselves, and maybe a few others. So many people give so little of themselves to this world. It is really a travesty to see. But when you go to church, and connect with God in church, you begin to dream a bigger dream for your life, and for this world. You begin to taste what love is, and that is largely about caring for others. There is nothing more exciting than making a difference in somebody else's life.
Fourth, church is the place where we learn about the mysteries of God and connect with God. This is called "worship." As we are told in Colossians 1:25-27, ^"25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. ²⁷To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
How exciting it is to know that God wants to reveal to us the mysteries of God, and life, and heaven. Church is the place where this can happen. In church we experience who God is, and how God is present in our lives, and in our world. God designed for church to be that place where God's people love each other, work together, and feel His presence at work.
How is church for you, boring or exciting? Why? Let me know what you think by clicking on the "comment" button below and sharing your thoughts.

Frustration

Unfortunately the truth is that in life we are going to get frustrated. Maybe our computer isn't working right. Or maybe we can't learn something we want to learn. Or maybe someone is causing us to be frustrated. Do you allow yourself to get frustrated easily? Did you notice I used the phrase "allow yourself"? Because the truth is that we have control over whether or not we get frustrated. We usually don't have control over those things that frustrate us, but we can control how we react.
And in those times that we are frustrated, how do we act? Maybe we become impatient. Or maybe we become angry. Or maybe we get down on ourselves or on life. There is nothing good that comes from feelings of frustration.
So what are we to do when we get frustrated? I believe the best thing to do is to seek God. One of the best ways to overcome frustration, if you have the time, is to find a quiet place and just BE in the presence of God. Imagine God giving you words of comfort and encouragement. Imagine God telling you that He loves you in spite of what is going on around you. But also, ask God to help you to focus on what is important in life. If your computer crashes, maybe you can get the job done another way, or with another computer. Think about a solution to the problem, instead of letting the event cause you frustration.
In focusing on God, we remember that we have One who can help us get through these times of frustration. As Psalm 42:11 says, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."
But even more, we have to work on not allowing ourselves to get frustrated. Again, this is about focus. As Hebrews 12:2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we keep our focus on the goal of what God has us to do in life, and we don't let the things around us derail us.
How do you overcome your frustration? How do you keep from getting frustrated? Share your thoughts by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Where do you get your strength?

People don't ever want to be thought of as weak. Consequently, many people don't seek help when they need it. We picture strong people being those who can do it on their own. We are taught from a young age to be able to pull your own weight, and not to rely on others.
For many, they think that religion is a crutch for the weak. Those who can't live their life on their own need a "god" who can help them get through. In those times when you are struggling, then call on god and get the help you need.
But the truth is, even if you don't believe in God, we all need help at some time. There are things that we cannot do alone. For example, let's say that you are moving. There are many things you can move yourself, but what about the couch, or the entertainment center, or the refrigerator? You need help to move these things, so you call some friends to help you. Are you weak because your friends have to help you carry these items? Most people would say "no."
So why are you weak when you seek the help of others in emotional matters, or for advice, or for support? The truth is, our make-up is such that it is good to seek the help of others. We are designed in a way that we actually desire the connection of others.
The Bible let's us know this early on, when we are told in Genesis 2:20-23 ^"20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ²¹ So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. ²³ The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." We are created to be in partnership with others. This is not a sign of weaknesses, but adds to our strength.
On top of this, we are created to be in relationship with God. This too adds to our strength. We do not seek God because we are incapable of living life alone, but because this fulfills who we are. In that relationship, God walks with us and helps us. Joshua 1:9 tells us, ^"9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Just as a child is strengthened in their courage with the help and presence of their parents, so we are strengthened by the knowledge of God's help and presence.
Where do you get your strength? For me it is in my relationship with God, and knowing that God walks with me. Share your comments by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Can you be in God's will and not go to church?

Can you be in God's will and not go to church? I think the answer to this has to be "NO." I say this, because you cannot be partly in God's will. I believe God has not only created us to be in relationship with Him, but to worship Him, and to serve Him. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, He is also to be our Lord. And to be our Lord, we must worship Him. Of course, it is possible to worship God individually, but God has also designed worship to be done together. There is something special and profound when we worship with other believers and interact with other believers that cannot be reproduced when we are alone.
Secondly, going to church helps us to be plugged in. When we accept Jesus Christ, we are filled with the Spirit of God. Jesus promised us this in John 16:7, when He said, "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." And having been filled with the Holy Spirit, we are given gifts of the Spirit, as told to us in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. But these gifts are not to be used for ourselves, or for just a few chosen people. The apostle Paul makes it clear that these gifts are given "for the common good." It is impossible to use them for the common good if you are not plugged into a church.
A third important factor about being connected to a church also relates to giving. Not only are we called to give of our gifts to the work of the body of Christ, but we are called to give of our money. In the Old Testament, Malachi 3:8-10, ⁸ "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." When we don't give back to God a tenth of what God gives to us, then we are in essence robbing God. We need to be giving our money to God's work through the church.
So my questions to you are: Are you regularly going to church? If not, why not? How can you give of yourself the way God desires if you are not connected to a church? Tell me what you think by clicking on the "comment" button below and sharing your thoughts.

Conforming

Our world can be a challenging place to live. We are surrounded by so many things that entice us. There are always new cars, new brands of clothes, new computers, new televisions. We see these things, and the desire is put in us so that we want them.
On top of this, we are challenged by others to believe a certain way and act a certain way. The company we keep will determine who we are, what we believe, and how we act. But in the Bible we are challenged to not let others create who we will be. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2, ^"1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
The problem is that we think our life belongs to us. And because of this, we think we can think any way and act any way. But if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, and your Lord, then you are under the authority of Christ. In another part of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul says, ^"19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." If we want to live like a Christian, we need to live in a way that pleases God, not people. We need to seek things of God, not of the world. We need to not allow ourselves to be conformed by the world's way of thinking. We need to love, even when it is hard to love. We need to forgive, because Christ forgives us. We need to not be materialistic, but seek to give away. And on and on it goes.
So I ask you: Where do you need to stop conforming? How do you need to change your attitude and behavior? How can you let Jesus be your Lord, instead of you trying to run your own life? Why is this so difficult for people to do?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. If you'd like to share, click on the "comments" button below.

Managing our Emotions

Not too long ago I was thinking about emotions. I was contemplating how our emotions are a big part of who we are. When you think about emotions you might think about love, anger, hate, or fear. We don't necessarily have an understanding of our emotions, but we know that they affect how we live our lives.
The word "emotion" comes from the latin word meaning 'to agitate or stir up.' Our emotions arouse in us perceptions and feelings about life. This is a good thing, because it is what keeps us from being robots. But the challenge is learning how to control our emotions.
It can be a challenge to control our emotions, because our emotions are often stirred up by situations that seem out of our control. EX. You are driving along, and someone rudely cuts you off. This stirs up anger in you before you even realize it is there. OR, someone smiles at you and opens the door for you, which stirs up feelings of happiness.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts..." We should contain our emotions through our will and our intellect, but this isn't always the case. We don't always think before we feel. We don't always try to control how we react to situations. But we should, because our emotions can get us into trouble. When we get angry at someone before we think, we might say something hurtful, and cause ourselves greater problems. If we let our love for someone get out of control, we could become obsessed with them.
Proverbs 25:28 tells us, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." In Galatians 5:23 we are told that self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit. In Titus, chapter 2, Titus is told by Paul that in his teaching, he is to teach the older men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:2), the women to be self-controlled (Titus 2:5), and the young men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:6). We need to control our emotions so that life is best experienced. If you are like me, and you react to situations, you know that it is very important to exercise self-control over your emotions. By being in control of our emotions, we will keep from making life more difficult and complicated, and we will be able to live the life God calls us to live.
If you have trouble with controlling your emotions, please e-mail me at pastorchrislogan@yahoo.com and I would love to pray for you in this area. If you would like to add your thoughts on this subject, please click the "comments" button below, and share your thought.
Note: Your comment goes to my e-mail address first. If you don't want it published, please let me know.

Happy are those

When I lived in Pueblo West, Colorado, we moved into a brand new house. Within the first couple of months, we had the front yard landscaped. But the back yard we left alone for the first year. Every week I would go out and pull the weeds. This wan't too difficult, because the weeds were small and pulled out easily. But I got lazy over a period of time, and pretty soon the weeds were tall. When I decided to go out one day and pull the weeds, I was astounded at how difficult they were to pull out. I had to dig and dig before they would come out!
In the book of Psalms, chapter 1, verses 1 - 3, it says:
¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
This psalm tells us that we are blessed, or happy, when we walk with the counsel of God; we are happy when we do not hang out with sinners; we are happy when we delight in the law of God, and not the ways of the world; we are happy when we plant ourselves by a water source (which in our case is the aforementioned actions).
When we plant ourselves in the world of those who love and seek God, and when we seek out God's word for our lives, then we will root ourselves firmly in God. Like the weeds I tried to pull out, we will be securely connected with God!

I want to suggest to you, that if you are not happy, it is probably because you haven't plantedd your self in the right place, and you are not seeking God the way you should. What do you think? Let me know by clicking on the "comments" button below.

Making an Eternal Difference

If you have ever been to Sea World, you would have seen a scene like this, where a dolphin performs and is rewarded with some food. In life, we often perform for the rewards we receive. Maybe the reward is friendship, or a promotion, or a kind word from another. But we often live for rewards.
Rewards can be nice, but the rewards we seek are usually very temporary. What if we could live our lives in a way that would make an eternal difference? If this could be true, then how amazing our lives could be. The truth is, it is true. The apostle Paul wrote in the bible, in 2 Corinthians 4:18, ¹⁸"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
In the Bible, we are told that we can make an eternal difference. But we have to understand that what is eternal is limited. What is it we can do to affect the eternal?
The most important thing that we can do is to tell people about Jesus. The Bible is clear that those who accept Jesus into their lives will have salvation; meaning they will live with God in heaven for eternity. How wonderful would it be to get to heaven and know that there are people there because of you?! We cannot just stand around and let people get lost in this world. Those of us who know about Jesus need to share Jesus with those who don't know Him.
A second way we affect the eternal is to help people live out their purpose. God created each one of us unique and with purpose. Too many people are going through life not being all that they were created to be. By helping people to discover and use the gifts God gave them can help give people the life they were meant to live. This life will be so much more exciting, meaningful, and effective.
A third way we affect the eternal is to love others. Love is the one emotion that will carry on into heaven. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us, "¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Since God is love (1 John 4:8), love is what heaven will be all about; loving God, God loving us, and us loving each other. When we learn how to love, and teach others to love, we experience a bit of heaven on earth.
Do you really want to settle for temporary rewards, or do you want to shoot for the eternal? Tell me what you think by clicking on the "comments" button below.

A Power Struggle

Have you ever felt like you are fighting a battle that is difficult to win? Have you ever wondered how there might be a power at odds with you?

What does every good story have? It has a villain. It is hard to think of a tale that doesn’t have a villain. The Big Bad Wolf, the Troll under the bridge, Darth Vadar in Star Wars, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz. And in the great story of J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, we come to dread the Dark Lord Sauron.

And just as every story has a villain, so does your story and my story. Though we don’t want to admit it, we don’t like it, it is a reality. There is evil cast around us. With war, famine, betrayal, and murder all around us, we surely know there is an evil force. Where did it come from? What is its motive? How are we to find refuge from it? We ask these questions.

The good news is that we are not alone in this battle. The battle is being fought for us in another realm. As the apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” God has created angels. Angels are powerful. That is why every time an angel shows up in the Bible, they have to say “Fear not…” They strike fear into humans by their presence.

It is interesting to see how naïve so many people are about evil. Most people don’t take it seriously. They don’t live as if there is a villain in their story. They don’t believe that Satan is real. The truth is, life is very confusing if you don’t take into account that there is a villain. As C. S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity,

“One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament

seriousl,y was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe—a

mighty, evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death, disease, and

sin…Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was

good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees…this is

a universe at war.”
Today is Easter Sunday. Easter reminds us that we will see Christ again in heaven. Easter is about Jesus making all things new. No longer is Satan in charge. No longer does sin and death reign over us. Because Christ has died and been risen from the dead, the Evil One is cast down. I lift this blog up to you today to give your life over to the risen Christ, and receive the power and victory that Christ has for you. God bless. Tell me what you think by clicking on the button below and sharing your thoughts.

Uplifting

As a minister, much of
my day is spent
seeking to find ways
to teach, lead, and
help people. The nature
of the job is one of
giving myself away.
Because this is true,
I do know that for me
to do my job well, I
have to stay physically,
mentally, emotionally,
and spiritually healthy.
Consequently, having
people in my life who
give to me, who fill me
up, is vital. 

      
I thank God for my wife
(Tami)and my 2 children
(Tyler and Tiffany).
They bring great
happiness to my life.
They are great
supporters of what
I do, and their love
and encouragement helps
me to stay grounded.
Their faith and strength
increases my faith and
strength. Their desire
to know and love God
pushes me forward as
well.

I believe it is important to have encouraging and positive people around me. These people help to further the mission of the church, and remind me that I don’t walk alone in this journey. My elders are not only called to govern the church, but to pray for me, and the ministry as well. My Deacons are not only called to minister to those in need, but to pray for me, and the ministry as well. I am thankful for my prayer support team that regularly prays for me and brings me spiritual strength. My church overall is a great to support as we walk together to carry out God’s call for our church. And I am equally thankful to those in my life who mentor me and keep me on task and accountable. God has blessed me with many people who love me and support me; who pray for me and care for me; who want to see me succeed. God does not call us to do life alone.
Do you have people in your life who lift you up? Who keep you going when things are hard? Who are they?
Let me know your thoughts by clicking on the "comments" button below. Blessings.

Six Important Words

Old Faithful



If I were to ask you to what are the six most important word you would give a person to remember you by and why, what would you say? As we come to holy week, we remember how Jesus knew that His time was drawing near to when He would be crucified, die, and be resurrected. When He met with the disciples, He knew this would be the last time they would have together. What did Jesus do with them? He shared the Lord's Supper with them, so they would understand what He was going to do was for them. As I think about what I would want people to know about me, I think it would be: “I have faithfully served the Lord.” With these words I believe it explains who I am, what I have done, and why I have done it. As people, our lives are very complex. We have a job, a family, hobbies, and so on. Each part of my life is important in its unique way, but the one thing that connects it all for me is God. God is a part of all that I am.

So, when it comes to my family, “I have faithfully served the Lord.” I do my best to try and be a good and loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. If I seek to “faithfully serve the Lord” in regards to my family, then I will try and be there for them when they need me; I will try and balance my time appropriately with each part of my family (giving the most of my time to my wife and children). I will also seek to help them follow, serve, and love the Lord. I will seek to be a good example of what it means to love God with all of my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, and what it means to love my neighbor as myself.

But there is also my church and my ministry. In this I seek to continually “faithfully serve the Lord.” I write about this commitment second, because I believe that my role in my family comes first. If I do not have a healthy family, then I won’t be able to “faithfully serve the Lord” in ministry. I try and faithfully serve the Lord in ministry by teaching the Bible faithfully, sharing how Jesus makes a difference in my life as my Lord and Savior, and by helping others to know that they can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as well.

I hope when I die, and people are remembering me, they remember me as one who could say: "He has faithfully served the Lord." What do you want to be remembered by? Click on the comments button below and share your thoughts. Blessings.

Judgment

In the gospel of Matthew, chapter7, we are told in verses 1-5,
"¹"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." We love to be so quick to judge, and yet we forget that we ourselves are not blameless. God gives us forgiveness, and second chances, and calls us to do this with others.
The other day I came across a poem called "The Dusty Old Shoe." It is fairly long, but a good read: My alarm went off...It was Sunday again. I was sleepy and tired, My one day to sleep in.
But the guilt I would feel So I'd go and I'd pray. I got there and sat In a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer As I closed my eyes, I saw the shoe of the man next to me Touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side, I thought, "Why must our soles touch?" It bothered me, his shoe touching mine,But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: "Our Father" I thought, "This man with the shoes has no pride. They're dusty, worn, and scratched Even worse, there are holes on the side!"
"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet "Amen." I tried to focus on the prayer,
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
"Aren't we supposed to look our best When walking through that door? Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer was ended And the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly loud, Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters, His hands were raised high, The Lord could surely hear The shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering And what I threw in was steep. I watched as the shoe man reached Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out, What the shoe man put in, Then I heard a soft "clink" As when silver hits tin...
The sermon really bored me To tears, and that's no lie. It was the same for the shoe man, For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service, As is the custom here, We must greet new visitors And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow And wanted to meet shoe man. So after the closing prayer, I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark, And his hair was truly a mess But I thanked him for coming, For being our guest.
He said, "My name's Charlie, I'm glad to meet you, my friend." There were tears in his eyes
But he had a large, wide grin.
"Let me explain," he said Wiping tears from his eyes. "I've been coming here for months, And you're the first to say 'Hi.'"
"I know that my appearance Is not like all the rest, But I really do try To always look my best."
"I always clean and polish my shoes Before my very long walk But by the time I get here, They're dirty and dusty, like chalk."
My heart filled with pain and I swallowed to hide my tears As he continued to apologize For daring to sit so near.
He said, "When I get here, I know I must look a sight. But I thought if I could touch you, Then maybe our souls might unite"
I was silent for a moment, Knowing whatever was said Would pale in comparison. I spoke from my heart, not my head.
"Oh, you've touched me," I said, "And taught me, in part, That the best of any man Is what is found in his heart."
The rest, I thought, This shoe man will never know. Like just how thankful I really am That his dirty old shoe touched my soul...
I pray that today we would seek to love and learn from others instead of judging. Wouldn't our world be such a better place if we did this.
Tell me your thoughts by clicking on the "comments" button below. Blessings

Sacrifice

Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

We are called to sacrifice ourselves for God. But what does that mean? Obviously, it doesn't mean to lay down on a stone table and give our lives for God. But there is a call from God to us to find ways to give of ourselves freely and fully.
Especially here in the United States, most people do not know what it means to sacrifice. We have everything we could want and need; AND USUALLY MORE! Actually, the people who show sacrifice the best are mothers. Most mothers, after they have a child, give up their needs and wants, and focus on the needs of their child. They give up their time, their sleep, their money, and their freedom to care for their child. This is a beautiful picture of sacrifice.
So, how can we turn this picture to us, as God's children? The truth is, we should be more concerned with what we can do for God and the kingdom of God than we can do for ourselves. As the Bible tells us in Matthew 6:33- "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." We don't need to worry about our own lives. When we give ourselves to God, God will take care of us. We need to give generously of our time, our money, our energy, and our resources to God's work. Could you imagine what kind of work we could do if people sacrificed in this way?
So why is it so hard to give? The fundamental reason is because of sin and selfishness. We are very selfish people. We are more concerned with what we can gain and what we can possess. Consequently, we struggle to give of ourselves in a way that we could call "sacrifice." So my challenge to you is this; FIND WAYS THAT YOU CAN SACRIFICE FOR GOD. What could you do that would be a sacrifice for you, but would benefit God's kingdom? Are you willing to do it? When will you start?
Click on the "comments" button below to add to this discussion. Blessings