KNOW THE WORD

We shouldn't let the fact that we can’t know everything about the Bible deter us from learning as much as we can about God’s Word!  By the same token, we shouldn't allow the thought that we can never know everything about God keep us from developing an intimate relationship with Him.

Theology teaches us about God.  Who He is, His attributes, His values, and His nature.  However, it is through personal interaction with God, primarily through His Word combined with prayer, that we get to know God.  That is to say, knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.

Granted, the Bible does speak of a “saving knowledge” (see Hebrews 10:26), however, it’s not the knowledge that saves rather it is hearing the message of available forgiveness.  A. W. Tozer addressed this very thought when he wrote:

The uncomprehending mind is unaffected by truth. The intellect of the hearer may grasp saving knowledge while yet the heart makes no moral response to it. (Born after Midnight, p.62)

The modern church, for the past 100 years, has communicated that the goal of the church is to convert unbelievers to believers.  Our efforts should not terminate with another’s salvation, instead we are to guide the unbeliever through salvation to holiness! Don’t get me wrong, salvation is important. But it’s the first step.  I am convinced that it’s our sanctification, that is to say, our holiness that is God’s goal for us.

We are indeed saved by grace and not by our intellect (or sight).  It is not how much we know, but rather it is who we know that counts.  However, our salvation is the beginning of our relationship with God.  We need to “mature in Christ” and that requires Bible study.

God provided the Scriptures as a way of displaying His nature and character to us.  He interacts with us through the Bible to guide us to understand Him (to some degree) and know how to please Him.

We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28 (HCSB)

Peter writes, “Be Holy . . .” (1 Pe. 1:16) and in doing so  quotes from three different texts in Leviticus (Lev. 11:44;  Lev 19:2;  Lev 20:7) all of which command us to do that very thing.  So holiness should be our goal and that will not be achieved without the work of the Holy Spirit accomplished through Bible study.

Holiness is often confused with perfection or sinlessness. To be holy is to be “set apart for God.”  To be sanctified.  Our path to holiness involves developing an intimate relationship with God.  Growing in our understanding of His nature and character.  The primary way of doing this is through Bible study.

There is among church attendees an epidemic of  biblical illiteracy.  The results of this biblical illiteracy is a shallow relationship with God.  This shallowness is displayed through apathy, marginal participation, diminished giving among believers.
 
Dr. Albert Mohler, Jr., the President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, wrote:

Christians who lack biblical knowledge are the products of churches that marginalize biblical knowledge. Bible teaching now often accounts for only a diminishing fraction of the local congregation's time and attention. (“The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It's Our Problem” www.christianity.com/print/1270946)

If we, as obedient followers of Christ, are to fulfill “The Great Commission” (Mt. 28:19-20), if we are to “make disciples”, then we have to know God’s Word.  More importantly, we need to know God!  Knowing about God isn't enough, we need to know Him like a child knows it’s father, like a loving wife knows her loving husband.  That is the only way we can function as obedient children of a loving Father.

AND the only way we can do that is by reading, studying, meditating on The Bible.

After all it’s not rocket science.

Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance  but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;  for it is written, "Be holy, because I am holy."  1 Peter 1:13-16 (HCSB)

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO START!

The second week of this year is not too late to have a new start for this year! The calendar year is still young and we can still commit to a new or renewed determination to grow in Christ!

 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.2 Peter 3:18 (HCSB)

Here are four things we can focus upon if we are desiring to mature as followers of Jesus Christ.

1. Grow in faith.
Most people I meet express that growing in faith is the most difficult thing for them to do in their life.  The truth is we can grow our faith the same way we would get to Carnegie Hall.  How does one get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice!  In short, we increase our faith by practicing faithful behaviors.

First, establish a daily time to spend in communion with God by reading His Word and reflecting on what it says.  Then be faithful with attending corporate worship service.  Then join and faithfully attend a Bible study.  Be sure to tithe from your time, talents, and possessions. Start with these things and watch what God will begin through your faithfulness!

2. Grow in love.
To grow in love, we should discipline ourselves to inspect every word before we speak it, manage every action before we do it, and evaluate every situation before we ignore it.  In every situation ask, “What is the most loving thing to do?”  Another way to grow in love is to question, “Am I pointing someone towards Christ or away from Christ, through my behavior?”

3.  Grow in humility.
Grow down in humility, by growing up in prayer.  Humility is seeing myself two ways: first, being honest about seeing myself as what I would be like without Christ; second, seeing myself as what I am with Christ.  Once I understand those two things it will be easier to become humble since I will begin understand that I am nothing without Christ. The more humble I become, the more dependent I will be upon God to provide the things I need to accomplish HIS will. Also the more devoted I will become to prayer and interaction with God.  Brother Lawrence spoke regarding the simplicity of developing a prayer life when he said,

    He [God] does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.
    -- Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 (HCSB)

4. Grow in knowledge.
Seek to know more about Jesus.  Study on the things that he said and the things that he did while on Earth.  Don’t be afraid to ask, “Why did Jesus say what he said and why did he say it that way?”  Observe his actions and flesh out ways to imitate Jesus day by day. 

Final note: We may never see how much we have grown, but those around us will.

WHY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FAIL

What is your New Year resolution?  A common question among Americans during the first two weeks of January.  Many people, in hopes of self improvement, at the start of a new calendar year, resolve to live, think, behave, differently than they did the previous year.  A noble cause to say the least, but equally common as making a resolution is the failure to achieve our goal.

I am convinced that the majority of resolutions fail because they are motivated by selfish ambition. They commonly have an inward focus. We choose our goal(s) because of a benefit we will receive.  We choose to get in shape because we will become more attractive.  We choose to be kinder because we will gain more friends.  We choose to donate more time or money because we want to feel less guilty.  I think you get my point. 

Just because a resolution is inwardly focused doesn’t mean it’s bad.

For example, among the top ten resolutions is “to lose weight” in the coming year. We may chose to do this for several reasons: for our own health; for comfort; for our appearance; or to encourage and motivate others to do the same.

When we look at these reasons we may notice that they mostly focus on the positive results enjoyed by ourselves. However we all have a responsibility to those who love us to maintain good health. We have a responsibility to God to be a good "care taker" of  the body that He has provided for us to use. Also we have a responsibility to those who are and will be in need of help, to be available to provide the help they need.

HOW TO MAKE A RESOLUTION WE CAN KEEP

First, realize we all have a natural human tendency to be selfish and prideful.  So begin to think of making others a priority over myself.

¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. ¹⁴ So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you. John 13:13-15 (HCSB)

Second, make a (short and realistic) list of ways I can make a difference this year in my church and community. Start with obvious areas where volunteers are needed.  Be aware that I may need to think in terms of which person or family, instead of an entire church or community.           

Third, pray about which single difference to get involved in and commit to playing a role in that activity for the entire year.

 ¹⁷ Pray constantly. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (HCSB)

¹²“ I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.¹³ Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.¹⁴ If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:12-14 (HCSB)

Finally,  avoid the "spot light", resist the desire to draw attention to how hard we are serving or the difference we may or may not be making.

 ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 1 Peter 4:9 (HCSB)

Remember, it's not us, it's about serving God and making a difference in SOMEONE ELSE'S life.

³⁴ “I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (HCSB)

PRESS ON OR MOVE ON

About ten years ago my family and I walked into our first worship service at Deltona Lakes Baptist Church.  Right away we could feel the warmth of Christian love among the congregation.  Since that day, my family has been blessed to know the feeling of Koinonia* that can only exist in the hearts of God’s people. Not only have I experience this special love, but I have been blessed to witness many of our church members demonstrate that same love to each other and even to strangers!

It is said that the average stay of a pastor is 2.7 years (I once interviewed at a church that was preparing to hire their 6th youth pastor in 5 years). Our senior pastor is beginning his 21st year and I my eleventh.  There have been many difficult times, times when either or both of us have wanted to run away, but we have held onto God’s calling on our lives and stayed faithful to His ministry assignment.

Mature Christians learn to persevere through hardships and persecution. In fact, endurance is a requirement for spiritual maturity!

But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:4 (HCSB)

Ministry leaders will never develop a deep trusting relationship with God as long as we “jump ship” every time the job becomes unpleasant or difficult. If strong human relationships require a strong commitment how much more will a strong spiritual relationship also require a strong commitment to God?

Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:32-36 (HCSB)

Note the key words the writer uses in this piece of scripture: hard struggle, sufferings, and sympathized with prisoners. Specifically, he uses the word endure three times once in past tense, once in present tense, and in the future tense.  The Bible seems to place a premium on endurance and perseverance.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-7 (HCSB)

Reflecting back on the past ten years, I am amazed at the many ways God has blessed our congregation.  When we had 3 hurricanes in 6 weeks (we jokingly refer to this as “40 days of hurricanes), God protected us.  When our backs were against the wall financially, God provided for us. When we sent teams to help other towns following tornadoes and hurricanes, God prepared us. Singer Andre’ Crouch expressed it this way, “If never had any problems, then I’d never know that God could solve them.”  There is no denying that the Spirit of God continues to be at work. 

You are the God who works wonders; You revealed Your strength among the peoples.
Psalm 77:14 (HCSB)

There must be many in ministry who are struggling with the tough question, “Do I stay or go?” or “Should I press on or should I move on?” Only God can correctly answer those questions.  Have the courage to pray “I will not let go of this work until You bless me.” (Genesis 32:26 paraphrased).

So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.  Galatians 6:9 (HCSB)

My point is to demonstrate the value of the blessings received from enduring in any God-given ministry assignment. The day will come when we will say “It is done.” and we will pass the leadership role on to another. But until that day comes lets all continue to fight the good fight, endure hardship, and finish the task God has appointed us to complete.


* For more on Koinonia see: my post “Back to Blogging” at: http://docfox09.blogspot.com/2012/10/back-to-blogging.html

THE PROBLEM WITH WEEDS

I hate weeds. They are ugly and stubborn.  Worse of all, weeds always seem to grow in places where they are lest wanted and the most visible.  For example, my weeds prefer to grow in my brick walk way and  the middle drive way.  They prefer to show up in places where they are glaringly obvious rather than among the other grass and plants where they might blend in. 

I wish I could get them to grow along the edge of my yard, along the lake or next to the vacant lot next door, there I can ignore them and can attribute them to the other properties.  But no!  My weeds want to grow where they are the most obnoxious and the most embarrassing to me.  I believe that my weeds hide until the most opportune moment, then they suddenly make themselves visible and apparant to even the most blind visitor.

Another problem with weeds is I can’t just pull them up or cut them off.  I’ve discovered that to really get rid of a weed I’ve got to get down in the dirt and get to the roots.  Some weeds are so bad that if only a small piece of root is left the plant will grow back from that little piece.  Not only that, but when I do dig them up and get all of the root it leaves a mark, kinda of a temporary scar of sorts.  Often, when I’m not careful, a different type of weed will take root and grow in the very spot where I just removed the original weed. I really hate that.

Hurricanes and tropical storms influence weeds too.  Just as soon as I begin to win my war with weeds a tropical storm or hurricane will blow across my property.  About two weeks later, up pops new weeds.  These are weeds like I’ve never seen before.  They are not common to this area and it takes a new and different type of treatment to get rid of them. 

Finally I have to treat the new weeds like I do with the old ones, get on my hands and knees and pull them out of the ground, one by one.  It is exhausting, dirty, miserable work.  But it is the only way to be sure I get the weeds and their roots out of my lawn.

Right now there are two groups of people reading this article. The first group is asking themselves, “Why are you talking about lawn maintenance?”  The second group is thinking, “OK, I see where you are going, so get on with it!”  So, OK, I will...

Our spiritual lives are much like our lawns. It takes work to keep them in good shape.  Just like our yards, no matter how much we try, the weeds seem to constantly pop up at the most inopportune times and in the most inappropriate places. No matter how much we try to keep the weeds out, they keep showing up.  It takes lots of work to get rid of the weeds we already have.  So much work that we just can’t seem to succeed.

God, however, has provided us with HIS own version of “weed and feed” for our spiritual lives.  The Christian community calls God’s weed removal plan “discipleship.”

Discipleship is “the process of following someone in such a way as to imitate” them.  In this case it is applied to following or imitating Jesus.  Jesus gave three strong commands in the New Testament.  First, He commanded us to love God fully.  Then He commanded us to love people as we love ourselves.  His third command was given right before He returned to Heaven, it is to make disciples.

To “make disciples” we must first become disciples.  Being a disciple involves developing the proper relationship with Jesus. Developing our relationship with Jesus involves spending time alone with him (quiet time), reading and studying the Bible, giving of ourselves, and meeting regularly with fellow believers for accountability. 

These things happen best in a small group Bible study. Each of us become like the people that we associate with and call friends.  Doesn’t it make sense that the best way to develop into a fully devoted follower of Jesus (i.e. a disciple), is to spend time with others who are pursuing the same goal?  Small group Bible studies are just that, a group of believers desiring to become disciples.

LEGACY

leg·a·cy – something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.

At some point in life each person has or will reflect on his or her impact in this world.  Perhaps the first time is at high school graduation.  We see the end of high school, a time best described as the best of time and the worst of time, approaching and begin to reflect on those years perhaps wondering what difference did it make. 

In the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”, the main character George Bailey gets a view of what the world had been like if he had never been born. George is given an opportunity to see the positive impact his young life has had on the people of an entire town.  There is one scene where George has discovered his brother Harry's tombstone:

Clarence: [explaining] Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine.
George Bailey: That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport!
Clarence: Every man on that transport died. Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry.

George's life even impacted people that he didn't know and had never met.

What a great gift it would be for each of us to see the positive impact our life has had so far.  At the same time, it might be a bit of a curse.  After all there are those of us who’s impact would have to be an established series.  Unfortunately, there are others of us whose impact would barley fill a commercial.  

I have an aunt who will celebrate her 89th birthday this Saturday, unfortunately I can’t be there.  She has and is continuing to build her legacy.  When my father was ten, his father died.  Circumstances required my father to live with several relatives.  Soon after my Aunt Gladys married my father went to live with her. Later after my brother, sister and I were born, my parents would not only take us to visit Aunt Gladys, but we were allowed to visit for a week or two every summer. 

There are so many wonderful stories that testify to the faith in God that anchored the lives of my aunt and uncle that they cannot all be told in one sitting.  My personal favorite is every night Aunt Gladys would gather all of us together and we would read from the Bible. After finishing the chapter or story she would then help us to understand the thing(s) God was teaching us through this piece of Scripture.

I am convinced that a big part of my being a Christian, even becoming a pastor, comes from the Godly influence Aunt Gladys has had and is presently having on my life!  Through me she is impacting people she doesn't know and will most probably never meet on this side of Heaven.

Here’s the short of all of this.  Aunt Gladys passed on her faith to her children, who then passed it on to their spouses and their children.  Those children (Aunt Gladys’ great grand children in case you are having trouble keeping up) are passing that same faith on to their spouses and to their children also.  But that’s not all!  Aunt Gladys passed her faith on to my father, my siblings and myself.  We in turn are passing that same faith and influence on to our children.  There is still more!  There were ten children in the Foxworth clan. That makes for a lot of cousins.  To my knowledge every one of those cousins spent time with Aunt Gladys and her faith in God was passed on to each of them too!  What a legacy!

So, take time to day to reflect on your legacy?
Ask: “Am I living a life that points people to Jesus or away from Him?”
“What will be my legacy?”
Hopefully my legacy will be more than a statue in a park, a name on the side of a building, or the dash between two dates on a grave marker. 

In the words of Clarence from “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”

HELPING PEOPLE DEVELOP A MEANINGFUL LIFE

NUMBER 5: 

PEOPLE ARE MADE FOR A MISSION (final part, AMEN)

Do you think any one of the people you know would be encouraged to know that God created him or her for a specific mission here on Earth? It’s true! God’s fifth reason for creating us is for a mission.  Jesus is quoted in the Gospel of John as saying,

 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”  John 17:18 (NASB)

Every believer has two missions, one to fellow believers, the other to unbelievers. Actually it is more like a MINISTRY to believers, and a MISSION to unbelievers. It is not hard for us to do both, serving believers and helping unbelievers. The truth is most people are far more receptive to hearing the gospel from a friend than a stranger. That means our relationship with an unbeliever caries more value than our fame in this world. Put simply, “People don’t care how much you know.  They want to know how much you care.” This gives the average Christian an incredible opportunity for ministry and mission.

Each of us play a crucial role in helping the people around us to develop this sense of mission in their lives. One thing we can do is to help others see what mission God has planned for their lives. This doesn’t mean we have to be able to read tea leaves or someone’s palm, then declare to them the specific plan God has for their life.  Indeed not!  Rather, our role is to encourage and guide others around us.  God says this very activity (performing our ministry and mission) is one of the reasons why HE gives us the Bible.

God uses it [the Bible] to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:17 (NLT)

The hardest thing is for us to be living examples of what we say we believe.  What does it say to the world when we endorse one thing, but never use it.  For example, what are we saying to the world when we say, I believe in eating healthy as I’m chewing on a chocolate candy?  Get my point. Here is what the Apostle Paul had to say about this:

let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. Philippians 3:16-17 (NASB)

We need to begin by asking God to grow each of us in all of these areas.  At the same time we should be building into the lives of the people around us, a strong sense of how God created each of them to experience a meaningful life. The great lie is that we have to be perfect, or really, really good to help others.  Again, NOT SO! Not all of us are called to be leaders, but we are all called to be followers of Jesus Christ.  Don’t be afraid to say to the people around you,  “Walk with me as I try to walk with God.”  You'll be amazed at what God will do!

HELPING PEOPLE DEVELOP A MEANINGFUL LIFE (part 4)

People Are Shaped for Service
God created each of us to serve him, and in the church, we call that ministry. The Bible teaches that one of the reasons we were created is to serve God by serving others.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)

Every Christian is created to serve, and that means we are called to ministry, created for ministry, saved for ministry, and uniquely gifted for ministry. The Bible makes it very clear that every Christian is a minister, regardless of age.

This series of posts began with the declaration that people are looking for meaning in life.  People who volunteer, when asked why they volunteer, often say that volunteering (serving) is meaningful to them.  In short, it helps them to find the answer to the question, “Why am I here?”

Our desperate need to have a life with meaning is demonstrated in a fictional character on a popular TV show.  In the third season of the TV show House MD, a homeless old guy (played by Geoffrey Lewis) who has come to the hospital to die says:

 “If I die in peace, then I'm just another patient. But if I die suffering... I just need to die, knowing that something is different because I was here.”  

This man was willing to die in extreme pain because he believed it would cause the doctor, the only person with any type of relationship with him, to remember him.

To develop a meaningful life, people need opportunities where they can serve and have a sense of success. We can help people find meaning in life by guiding them to volunteer in various areas of ministry.  Create meaningful events where people can volunteer.  

As caring Christians we need to remember that ministry is not limited to the property where the church meets.  The most effective ministries most often take place away from the church building.
                                  
The God of the universe shaped each of us to serve, and we can start right now.  The earlier people start to serve, the sooner they will begin to experience Christ-like service.  This type of service will develop within each of us a sense of meaning to our life.

HELPING PEOPLE DEVELOP A MEANINGFUL LIFE (part 2)

NUMBER 2:
We Were Created to Communicate the Truth.

The second thing that gives a person’s life meaning is to have a mission.  In the Star Trek series, the Enterprise was on a mission “to go where no one had gone before.” In Swamp people the mission is about catching ‘gators.  Even the Blues Brothers were “On a mission from God.”  Someone might think or even say, “Well, that’s just entertainment.”  Perhaps, but even in history there are examples of the importance of having a mission.  Phrases like “No taxation without representation” and “Remember the Alamo” were rallying cries calling people to a common mission.  Having a mission gives meaning to our lives.  God’s second reason for creating us is for mission.  

We all have a mission.  Like the Mission Impossible task force we can choose to accept it or not.  The difference is the mission we have is one that gives our lives meaning.  Our mission is to tell unbelievers about God and to encourage believers in God.  

 

God said to Moses,

and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." Exodus 19:6 (NASB)

and Jesus said to the disciples,

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (HCSB)

Every believer should have a ministry to believers, and a mission to unbelievers. It is not hard for  people to do both. One possible way to accomplish both is to involve the entire family by going on a mission trip together. 

Studies show most people who come to Christ -- at least in the United States -- come to him before they turn eighteen . Other studies show people are far more receptive to hearing the gospel from a friend than a stranger. This combination gives Christian families an incredible opportunity for ministry and mission.

We all play a crucial role -- if not the most critical -- in helping people develop this sense of mission in their lives.  We have the power, more than that, we have the mission to begin building into the lives of people a strong sense of how God created each of them for a mission. 

TEEN CRISIS INTERVENTION (part 2)

Three Reasons to Help a Teen in Crisis

Now when Job’s three friends...heard about all this adversity that had happened to him, each of them came from his home. They met together to go and offer sympathy and comfort to him. Job 2:11 (HCSB)

1. When I was hurting God provided someone to help me.

Everyone of us has gone through or is presently going through a time of crisis.  (Personally my teen and college years were one crisis after another.)  Each time we experience a crisis God puts not only one, but usually several people, in our lives to be there for us.  This includes the Holy Spirit!

While I do not recommend the movie Pay it Forward (because of the excessive foul language) I do recommend the philosophy.  Someone was there for me, so I should be there for someone else.

Ignoring a person in crisis is equal to ignoring a person drowning in a pool.  Most people describe their crisis as feeling like they are drowning.  Job was in a crisis greater than most of us can imagine, he lost his property, his children, and his health.  But he still had three good friends who were there for him. 

2. When I needed someone no one but God helped me.

This reason is the opposing cause with the same result as the reason above.  Perhaps you experienced a life crisis alone (this never happens for believers because the Holy Spirit is always with us).  You know how hard it is to survive a crisis.  Surviving a crisis, either alone or with friends, highlights the importance of having a friend(s) to lean on and to provide that extra help to those in crisis.

Choose to be that person for someone else.  Job’s friends weren’t there by accident, even Jesus sought comfort and support from his friends while he was experiencing his crisis in the garden the night before his death (Mt. 26:38).

3. God is giving me an opportunity to participate in HIS work.

Each one of us has been commanded by God to love God and love people (Mt. .  Part of loving God is to love the things HE loves, that includes people.  Part of loving people is helping each other through various crises we experience in life.  There is a word we use for this, it’s discipleship.

God not only directs us, but HE also empowers us to help each other.  THIS DOESN’T MEAN WE ARE TO BECOME "THE SPIRITUAL ANSWER MAN."   I am convinced the best answer to helping those in crisis is, “I don’t know, but lets find out together.” 

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3 (NASB)

TEEN CRISIS INTERVENTION (pt. 1)

 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"   Genesis 4:9 (NASB)

(note: For the purposes of this series of posts, the terms parent and step-parent are interchangeable)

    I am convinced the correct answer to Cane’s question is a resounding “YES!”  If we take time to reason out the complete meaning of “Loving God and Loving People” then we conclude that loving God means caring for (Gen. 2:15) God’s creation and loving the things HE loves.  Loving people, means we take an active role in helping and protecting each other.  This brings us to Cane’s question and my response to that question.  When people are in crisis, either physical, spiritual, or emotional, the loving response is to intervene. 

The age group at greatest risk today is that group between the ages of 11 to 25.  The key ingredient in crisis intervention for this age group is loving parents.

Intervention (or in Cane’s words, “becoming my brother’s keeper”) cannot be left up to parents alone.  There are too many angles of attack for parents to handle the battle alone.  A battle that often overwhelms single parents.  The battle against self destruction requires other adults to work along side of parents toward protecting students from the messages of self-destruction that appear to be bombarding teens daily.  In short, crisis intervention involves Christian adults battling the cultural forces that make destructive solutions attractive to troubled teens.

Teens in crisis will only get the intervention they need when adults acknowledge that a crisis exists.

H.A.B.I.T.S. (part 2)

This is part 2 of  "Six HABITS that will build a great life."  Part one contained the letters H. A. B. part two has I. T. S.

I.  = Involvement in a ministry of the Church
There are a multitude of ways to be involved in the church. One of the most important ways is to be involved in a small group Bible study.  A person will never connect with the church by attending Sunday services alone.  Small group Bible studies (some call this Sunday School or home groups) is the place where people connect, it is the place where true community happens.

Additionally, we need to become involved in the things of the church.  Things like being a hall monitor for children's or student ministry. Watching the parking lot during and following the mid-week services.  Spending one Sunday a month as a greeter or at the welcome center.  Volunteering to help put up decorations for a church member or at the church once a year.  Showing up for one or more of the "work days"  at the church.  These are only a few of the simple ways that every church has to be involved.  There are way too many to name them all here.

T. = Tithing to the church
Why is money the second biggest reason people give for not attending a worship service (the biggest reason is hypocrites in the church)?  It takes money to pay the electric, water, insurance, building repairs, paper, Bible study materials, copy machines, office supplies, cleaning supplies, building maintenance supplies, alarm system and monitoring, various licenses for audio and video, wages for nursery workers, maintenance/custodial staff, office staff, and pastors.  In addition to that a % of each offering goes to support missionaries all over the world.  The main reason to tithe is BECAUSE GOD COMMANDS IT!

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)

Before someone says, “That’s an Old Testament idea.” check this out...

“Well then,” he [Jesus] said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Luke 20:25 (NLT)


S. = Serve others through God’s Love
Jesus was in the HABIT of S-serving.  Since we are called to be imitators of Jesus we too should serve.  We serve God by serving His creation, people.

Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (HCSB)

Why is serving so important? Because, it demonstrates our love for God.

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you. John 13:14-15 (HCSB)    

When we start developing the first five parts of HABITS, the S. naturally begins to happen.  After all God wants EVERYONE to know HIM and love HIM.

This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6 (HCSB)

Developing these H.A.B.I.T.S doesn’t happen over night or even in the course of a year.  It takes a lifetime.  So get started right-a-way.  The sooner we commit ourselves to developing good H.A.B.I.T.S. the sooner we will begin GROW-ing in Christ!

H.A.B.I.T.S. (part 1)

There are six habits that produce a GREAT life! Today I'm posting the first three of those habits (some have suggested that my posts are too long) and I'll post the other three later this week (so keep checking back, or just join and follow for automatic updates).

 Some time back Stephen R. Covey wrote a book titled, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The book identifies 7 habits that will make the reader more effective in his personal and public life. Additionally, Covey claims that “this is powerful advice that will help you live a happier and more fulfilled life.”
    These six HABITS will produce perseverance, joy, and fulfillment in life no matter how good or bad things get!  The only cost is the time to read this post and the effort to implement the habits. WHAT A GREAT DEAL!

Here are the first three HABITS!
H. =  Hang Out with God
The most important habit we can develop is to spend time with God daily. The more the better, but remember God values quality above quantity.  Choose a place and a time where there is the least chance of being interrupted. I have a place on my porch that I use.  Praying or singing is allowed, but also listening.  It may feel awkward at first but stay with it!  It takes a little time to learn to “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 49:10)

A. = Accountability with another believer(s)
Last year we emphasized every attendee being a part of an accountability group.  Here is the problem, many people have stopped their accountability groups.  Just because the banner is down, doesn’t mean the practice of accountability should end.  Strong Christians have trustworthy accountability partners (note more than one).  Begin today to gather a group of 3-5 devoted believers as accountability partners. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)

B. = Bible Study regularly
To love God, we must first know God.  We get to know God through reading the Bible.  There are two ways we need to study the Bible. Alone (during our “hang time”) and together in a small group (accountability thing).  The Bible describes God’s personality, it helps us to experience Him, it describes His attributes, most importantly is repeatedly affirms His love for us.  There are more than 7,000 promises God makes to us in the Bible.  How many of them can you name? But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 (NIV)

Take time this week to begin to develop these first three HABITS!  They will serve you well in working on the next three.  If you need some help with H & B I suggest "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.  It's a 366 day devotional book that only takes about 8-10 minutes per day to do, but it is rich enough that you can also spend 30 or more minutes in deep study.  In short, it's very adaptable.

DREW BREES, TIM TEBOW, AND HEALTHY CHURCHES

 Drew and Tim while two very different people who have different playing styles have a very important commonality.  With all of the success and media attention these two quarterbacks have received, it is not surprising that they consistently deflect praise towards their teammates.

They understand that no matter how accurate or how smart they may be, a quarterback is nothing if the receivers constantly drop the ball.  These two men understand what many people in our churches today fail to embrace.  It takes a team to win!  As great as any quarterback may be, he needs a team around him to block, run, and to catch.  He also needs a good defense to keep others from “outscoring” your team. Drew Brees, Tim Tebow, and other quarterbacks understand that it takes a great team to make a great quarterback!
 

    What football teams and churches have in common is that both require members to make huge sacrifices and work hard with little hope of fame or even public recognition. It takes eleven guys on special teams, eleven guys on defense, and ten guys on offense to make Drew Brees and Tim Tebow look good.  In the same way, it takes a lot of people in a church to make the church healthy and successful.

HEALTHY CHURCHES HAVE A STRONG TEAM SPIRIT

    Team spirit can be identified using the following criteria:

1.  there is a common goal;
2. there is a willingness to do whatever it takes to accomplish the goal;  
3. the team expresses a greater concern for team success, than personal attention or fame; 
4. they demonstrate an understanding that every position on the team is important; 
5. every member has a desire for excellence.

    What I’ve noticed in ministry is that healthy churches exhibit two things.  First and foremost, they have a deep love for God.  Secondly, they have a strong team spirit. For any church to grow into a healthy body of believers, it needs to make sure both of these elements are present.

   We need to understand that the church is designed by God to be a living,  functioning body.
  Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. Romans 12:4-5 (HCSB)

   Essentially, God designed it so that we all need each other to have a fully functioning healthy church. The very fact that the church is a body and not a business means that teamwork is more important to those of us in ministry than it is to people in a normal business relationship.

    I think we all agree that no single person has cornered the market on all the gifts it takes to make a church successful. The problem that I see with a lot of Christians, and I’m being blunt here, is that too many of us are afraid to admit to being able to do some of the things we can do. We push back against many service opportunities because we see them as insignificant or because we are afraid of being “trapped” in a role we view as unpleasant for one reason or another.

    The success of the early church was really about the many people who worked together toward a common goal. There was an attitude that everyone was important, but noone more important that the message and mission of the church. They realized that a single strand of hair is as important as a tooth or even an eye.  Today, we need the same attitude, just like every cell is important to a healthy body, every member’s role is equally as important to a successful church.

    We also need to remember that teams accomplish more together than individuals accomplish working separately.  This principle is taught all through Scripture. When there are more hands working, more can be accomplished. One example of this is found in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, where we’re told that two are better than one, and a rope of three cords is hard to break.

Another example of teams accomplishing more than individuals is in Nehemiah, where people worked by groups or families. In the New Testament, Jesus sent people out by two to minister (Mark 6:7). Luke, in Acts 18, specifically mentions four people who were part of Paul's ministry team.  This mutual encouragement is vital to our ministry because we are NOT just working on well-meaning projects: we are in a spiritual battle -- carrying the most important message the lost world will ever hear!

HOLIDAY ADS ASK, 'WHY BELIEVE IN A GOD'?

You better watch out. There is a new enemy in the Christmas wars.
    A couple of years ago, signs proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," were visible on Washington, D.C., buses. The American Humanist Association was sponsoring the ads that ran through the end of December. Fred Edwards, spokesman for the Humanist group, was quoted saying, "We are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people's minds." The humanist group believes that “many people imagine that the only way to be good in this world is through belief in a god.”  Humanists use reason and the tools of science to better understand our world and the best way to live in it. Humanists understand that compassion for fellow human beings, as well as an acknowledgment of their inherent dignity and worth, must form the basis of our interactions with each other.  They offer the question, “Does religious faith offer the only lens through which to judge life’s events?”
    Several problems in our society exist as a result of a humanist philosophy. 
    The first problem is foundational to community and order within any community.  Humanists ask, “Why believe in a god?  Just be good for goodness sake.”  There is no such thing as existence without a god.  Voltaire was partially right when he said, “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.”  People who refuse to worship or even acknowledge the One True GOD, always choose to worship a false god, most often themselves.  Whatever a person chooses to be their god becomes the basis for their values.  Who or what we worship, determines our view of what is right and what is wrong.  Without the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, there are no absolutes, therefore each person chooses what is right or wrong based upon their own desires. 
    A second problem is exposed in the statement, “Just be good for goodness sake” (after all isn’t that why Santa Clause is coming to town?)  Why should we be concerned with goodness? If there is no god or no heaven, then why should anyone be good?  This attitude is demonstrated in society through the “just don’t get caught” philosophy of life.  The trend is to view our actions not as what is right or what is wrong, but rather by asking, “What are my chances of getting caught?”  Case in point: right now ask yourself, “When I’m driving, do I obey the speed limit because it is the law or do I disobey the speed limit because they never run radar on this road.” 
    So here are only two of the problems that result from a humanist philosophy, I assure you there are others that presently exist and more still to come. 
    There is a solution to these and other problems. As followers of Christ we can begin to share God’s love through our actions.  We can live out the promise in our lives.  It only takes 3 things:
PRAYING
Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  Luke 5:16 (NIV)
They [Christians] devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NIV)
The story is told of two church leaders discussing a major problem.  Having exhausted every possible solution, one of the leaders said to the other, “All there is left to do is to pray.”  To this the other replied, “Do you really think it is that bad? Has it finally come to that?” 
What a sad commentary on our faith when we view prayer as a “last resort” or “act of desperation” when it is instead our primary means of hearing from God.  Think of all the time wasted by praying after we exhausted all other options. Lets begin today praying first and then acting.

GIVING
" Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Malachi 3:10 (NASB)
Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"  Mark 10:28 (NIV)
And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. Luke 5:28 (NASB)
    Right now reflect on how you reacted to the word “Giving.”  There seems to be very few verbs that cause a consistently negative reaction or thought as the word give.  Why is that? And why do we almost always associate the word give with another word, money? 
    Perhaps the problem is we start with our possessions rather than starting with our own lives.  I don’t believe for a second that God needs our money or possessions.  In fact, it is the opposite!  WE NEED God to give us money and possessions.  Our society has gotten to a place where our possessions possess us!  Instead of giving our lives over to God, we have given our lives over to our stuff. 
    Tithing involves more than stuff, it also involves our thoughts, energy, talents, skills, words, in short, everything we think, say, and do.  We commit our whole lives to following Jesus’ example and then giving a tithe of what God already has becomes easy.  Instead of giving 10%, God gives to me 90%!

SERVING
For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. Galatians 5:13 (HCSB)
Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. 1 Peter 4:9-10 (HCSB) 
    Our world, in particular the United States, has lost something of great value.  We have lost the concern for others.  We are slowly losing the desire to serve without thought of compensation.  Evidence of this can be found in shows like “Survivor” where the hero, the winner, is the person who is the most “cut-throat” or ruthless.  There seems to be a growing trend in professional sports where the needs (or wants) of the player is greater than those of the team.  A good example is the epidemic of selfish acts on the football field and basketball court.
    Serving is not one of the hardest things God tells us to do, rather, it is perhaps one of the easiest areas for us to become obedient. Yes, serving might mean going to the farthest reaches of the earth and live under a bush eating bugs. More often it means being kind to the cashier as we check out or helping a neighbor. God tells us to serve one another because we need one another to get along in this world.