Please be encouraged to take the poll at right under our pic - based on Friday's blog.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
PINK
Please be encouraged to take the poll at right under our pic - based on Friday's blog.
Friday, July 29, 2011
LEVITICUS
Feel free to take the poll under our pic at above right.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
LaLANNE
Monday, July 25, 2011
QUIT
Just quit. Admit defeat. Throw in the towel. Why keep at this if it’s wrecking your life?
That’s what the first century believers were asking themselves. For them, following Jesus was not a great career move. Following Jesus didn’t expand their friendships -- it didn’t enhance their reputations -- it didn’t help their opportunities -- it didn’t make anybody popular or more influential. In fact, it had the opposite effect. It turned them into outsiders - oddities - targets of ridicule and abuse. It strained their relationships with family members outside the faith -- it negatively impacted old friendships -- the government turned against them. They couldn’t keep jobs. Everywhere they looked, people were against them.
So why didn’t they just quit?
Here’s the weird thing about perseverance - it only works and it only makes sense if you’re heading in the right direction. If you’re not heading in the right direction, you’re a moron to keep going. But if you are heading in the right direction, you’re foolish to quit, no matter how hard the journey might seem or feel or be. If you’ve found the one road that leads to life, press in with true grit and stay the course.
If you’re walking toward nothing -- if you’re fighting for no clear purpose, then quit. But if the road leads home, never give up.
Over the years I have seen a lot of people who just wanted to give up. And if that happens to be you, I would say to you: ‘Where did you think this road you were on was leading?’ If it’s not leading to a place you ultimately want to be in the end, then by all means quit. Don’t let me talk you out of it. You would be right to quit.
But what if this is the only road home?
That’s really the main and only question: Do you believe you are on the right course or not? If you believe you are, stay the course. The only thing is: you’ll need to persevere -- because nothing matters if you don’t finish well.
Don’t give up; stay the course.
And be blessed.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
BAPTISM
Friday, July 22, 2011
PANDA
Based on the title, you probably think this is going to be about the cuddly black-and-white bears you find in National Geographic or at the zoo -- but no -- it's about the new restaurant in Kenosha, Panda Express, where free food was being given out from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m. yesterday.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
SPEAKING
One of the great self-revelations of entering into lead pastoring over the past six years is how much I have begun to enjoy speaking. I’m not saying I’m all that great at it, but I enjoy doing it.
That probably sounds high and mighty, but I don’t mean it to. I have just found an incredible joy studying the Scriptures and then helping people apply it to their lives. That has brought great personal joy and fulfillment.
I have consistently hammered the belief that our story is found on every page of the Bible - that when we read about Joseph and David and Peter and Paul and the others, we’re not really reading about them -- they’re all stories about us. You. Me.
I love receiving phone calls and e-mails on Wednesday or Thursday to find people are still chewing on the Scriptural message -- pondering it -- questioning it -- drilling down on it in their own private time. That kind of thing makes me want to get up the next day and do it all over again.
But something else has become clear to me. Nailing a sermon doesn’t mean anybody’s life will change. I used to think that was my goal. Just deliver an awesome sermon and voila!, you’ll have people on their knees repenting in a flash. No.
Or the opposite will happen ... somebody will utterly surrender everything to Christ but you realize it can’t be because of what you said because that was one of your - honestly - worst sermons ever. Not one thing that you did caused him/her to become a believer.
I cannot make someone fall in love with Jesus. He does that.
I am now convinced that a lot more of our work needs to involve prayer and trusting God. I could spend an extra ten hours on every message and make every sentence grammatically powerful, but my time would probably be far better spent praying and sharing the Gospel with people.
I know I’m always going to throw myself into every message like a madman, but I’m coming to realize even greater things will happen if I spend as much time praying for a move of the Holy Spirit as I do trying to craft a message.
It isn’t easy to lead a congregation into greater depth and truth and commitment, but it doesn’t have to be easy, because it’s really God’s doing -- and you have peace with that.
And be blessed.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
BAILEY
Every Christmas - and sometimes in June or July - people watch the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life' with Jimmy Stewart. It's one of the sappiest films - with an ultra-sappy ending - we've ever seen and yet we keep watching it.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
GOAL
Monday, July 18, 2011
TWEET
An apparent addiction to Twitter among many leads me to encourage you to “Tweet the Bible” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It seems that Twitter can use a little love, so over the next year, join me in committing to letting God’s Word out every day, from Genesis to Revelation -- on Twitter.
The Bible is over 800,000 words within 31,000 verses - plenty to tweet and re-tweet about.
This is a way we can contextualize the Gospel in our day and age.
Tweet, Tweet.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter by clicking the link at right.
And be blessed.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
RENEW
Make no mistake about it, we are the products of the thinking in our hearts and minds. If you can find a way to get your ideas inside another person so he thinks the way you do, you gain that man. That’s what God is trying to do with you every day - get His ideas inside you. This is both the motivation of the Holy Spirit and the unholy spirit. Both are eager for control of your thoughts and mind every single day.
We live in a world that lies to us every single day. All our lives we have been told lies. It is a consequence of living in a world that has turned its back on the source of truth.
Every day women in our culture are told in a thousand different ways that in order to be lovable, they must be physically beautiful. And while few women would admit they buy in to that line of thinking, fewer still could deny that they have at some point acted on that philosophy. Most women are acting on that philosophy in some form or another even as you’re reading this --- probably wearing eye liner, rouge, mascara, blush ...
Every day, men in our culture are told their key to happiness is a newer model that requires less maintenance. Whether that means cars or women or something else, the lie is the same. We see the lie repeated every time we turn on the TV or open a magazine. I’ve never met a guy who would actually acknowledge thinking that way, but I know a lot of men who have made real-life decisions based on that lie.
The fact is, you cannot fill a mind with truth until you have identified and removed the lies that live there. Christianity is a life-long process of being transformed into Christ-likeness. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to believe that if our spiritual experience is real, it will produce instant change. And when it doesn’t, we are prone to believe the experience didn’t work. Or maybe we weren’t sincere enough about it. Or we didn’t have enough faith. But here’s a news flash: Being adopted into God’s family doesn’t instantly or automatically improve your character. Spiritual growth comes as a result of a process called renewal.
When we talk about renewal and transformation, we’re not merely talking about replacing a list of bad behaviors with a new list of better ones, because you can avoid all kinds of worldly behaviors and still not be transformed. You’re not transformed by re-dedicating your life - or by feeling extra sorry - or by repeating a nice long prayer. It happens by renewing your mind. This is the most significant thing you can do to develop Godly character.
Our mind is our biggest problem because when we just have a Biblical commandment without having a corresponding Biblical worldview, then the Bible just becomes a bunch of rules that aren’t supposed to be broken - and God’s commands end up not making sense to us - and that makes follow-thru very tough.
If you want to discover where renewal needs to happen in your life, all you need to do is examine your responses to some of God’s laws. Our natural tendency is to self-edit God’s laws to our personal lifestyles. A good rule-of-thumb to see where and if your mind needs renewed is to use the “But-Principle ... ”
‘I know I should put others first, but ... ‘
‘I know he or she isn’t good for me, but ... ‘
‘I know I don’t have any business going to that place, but ... ‘
‘I know I should forgive, but ... ‘
‘I know I shouldn’t have behaved that way, but ... ‘
‘I know I shouldn’t be living with him because we’re not married, but ... ‘
‘I know it isn’t good to take up that person’s offense, but ... ‘
‘I know about the divorce thing, but ... ‘
‘I know I shouldn’t talk about her behind her back, but ... ‘
When you know what to do but you are unclear about why to do it - when the ‘why’ amounts to nothing more than ‘because the Bible says’ - then you have revealed an area of your mind that needs renewal. You are not convinced that God’s way is the best way for you. You actually see God standing in the way of what is best for you - and when that begins to happen, you’re due for some mind renewal.
Read the truth. Do we spend as much time in the Word as we do in the allurements of the world? When something happens in your life, is your involuntary response a Biblical one? If it IS, that’s a renewed mind. If it ISN’T, that’s an area that needs renewal.
Speak the truth out loud. It worked for Jesus, when the devil was tempting Him: ‘It is written.’ Volume isn’t the issue, but something powerful happens when we verbalize truth and Scripture.
Listen to the truth. Biblical CDs and DVDs and online things. Ponder the writings of great, spiritual men and women.
Personalize the truth. This is the same as ‘SPEAK THE TRUTH,’ only you do it in first person.
“There is no weapon formed against ME that can prosper.”
“Greater is He who is in ME than He who is in the world.”
“All things work together for good for ME - because I love You, God - because I am called according to Your purposes.”
“I will be strong and courageous. God will be with ME wherever I go.”
Pray the truth.
“GOD, thank you that there is no weapon formed against ME that can prosper.”
“GOD, I praise You that You are greater inside ME.”
“I am blessed, because I know all things work together for good to those who love You, God -- and I love you -- and to those who are called according to Your purposes -- and I am called by Your purposes.”
“God, make me a man who is strong and courageous. I know You are always with me.”
Journal and meditate on the truth.
These aren’t meant to be ‘Six Easy Steps To Successful Christian Living.’ They are HABITS to develop in your life that will serve to renew your mind - and that’s a process.
And in it all ---- pray, pray, pray, pray that the Holy Spirit will renew your mind ---- because you cannot become the person God created you to be by remaining who you are.
And be blessed.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
GOOD
1. Please Forgive Me
It's better than "I'm sorry," which can often be followed with an "if" or a "but." These words indicate a humble heart.
2. You're Right
Good pastors know they're not always/usually the smartest, most "spiritual" person in the room. They are zealous to give credit and acknowledge, achievement and intelligence, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it encourages and empowers others.
3. You're Wrong
Bad pastors chicken out when it comes to calling out people on sin or Biblical ignorance. Good pastors brave conflict and hurt feelings and say, "You're wrong," in gentle but firm ways, when necessary.
4. Jesus Loves You
Why did we stop saying this? I think because it became cliché. I'd love to see a recovery of the art of "Jesus loves you."
5. I Love You
I think one reason we stopped saying "Jesus loves you" to people is because we don't really love them ourselves. Telling people you love them is a reminder to them and to you that sacrificial love is your calling.
6. Me Too
These might be the most important words in pastoral counseling. Bad pastors trade regularly in "Not me." In the pulpit and in the office, bad pastors set themselves apart from their congregations with tales of adventure, spirituality, and personal holiness. In the pulpit and in the office, good pastors talk of sin and trials and utter ineptitude and say, "Me too." I have seen entire countenances change when I've said some variation of "Me too."
7. Any Time
Of course you don't mean it literally. But you kind of do. Good pastors are available.
8. Thank You
Bad pastors think they're owed. Good pastors know everything is a gift.
9. Grace is True
Good pastors take the opportunity to glorify God by talking up His amazing grace every chance they get. Bad pastors may say grace is true but the context of their teaching and the expectations in their leadership say, "Your works must be this high to ride this ride."
10. You're Approved
Be a good news pastor. Bad pastors beat their people up with their failures. Bad pastors are always disappointed. Good pastors know grace is true and Jesus is Lord, so they are ready to challenge every self-despairing soul with the wonderful truth that in Christ we are approved by God.
I think I'm pretty good at #1, 2, 3, 6 & 8 -- but I could be a whole lot better at #4, 5 & 10.
What about you?
And be blessed.
Friday, July 15, 2011
PEOPLE
Biblically, the word 'church' does not refer to a building or a ministry or any of the other stuff we've come to attach it to. It never has.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
THIRD
We need to continually remember what a life lived for God is all about and who it is for. I won't beat around the bush. It's not about you, and it's not for you.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
BARBIE
We tend to listen to the world over listening to God. If somebody continually calls you a loser, you may soon begin to wonder if it might be true, even though you don't really think it's true, and even though you know God doesn't call you that.