THOUGHTS ON LIVING THE DREAM!

Many people spend their days trying to find real peace, true happiness, and complete rest. We often find ourselves chasing our shadow trying to grasp “the dream.”  The very first Psalm is a step by step process for receiving happiness, peace and rest from God.
Note: All scripture quoted from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, except where other wise noted.

    (1) How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers!
A truly happy person is quickly identified by the things he doesn’t do. That is to say, his life is NOT directed by the opinions, advice, or influence of unbelievers. True happiness is a result of being full of joy, not a shallow pretense that is created by a temporary event or experience. A major problem among our society is most people are intellectually constipated.  People often say, “I am an individual and want to express my individuality.” But in truth the expression that they cherish is determined by someone else.  It may be a fashion designer, a writer, a photographer, reporter, etc., but they allow others to determine their actions.  This problem is not limited to fashion, rather it extends into every area of our existence.  We seek, even follow advise without concern for the qualifications of the advisor. 
God paints a verbal picture of the life style He has appointed for us in the book of Jeremiah, “I never sat with the band of revelers, and I did not celebrate [with them]. Because Your hand was [on me], I sat alone, for You filled me with indignation.” (Jer.15:17). 

    (2) Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.
The Bible is God’s instruction book for our lives.  Have you ever noticed that everything the Bible tells us to not do is harmful for us?  Not only that, but everything the Bible tells us to do is beneficial for us.  What is equally amazing to me is that sooner or later secular science always ends up agreeing with the Bible (regarding healthy and unhealthy habits).  The reason why the happy person doesn’t take advise from the world is because the world is made up of amateurs!  We are a bunch of creatures trying to pretend that we are more than we are, that we know more than we do.  Most worry-some of all is we are creatures pretending that we have it all figured out.  God is the expert! He created us and wrote the instruction book for life (The Bible).  The real question here is “Which does it make more sense to follow an amateur or the expert?

    (3) He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
    Cyprus trees are known for strength and their resistance to rotting.  Ever thought about where they grow?  They grow next to the water. In searching for life on other planets, astronomers focus their search to find “water planets.” One thing that biologist agree on is water is the source of life!  Jesus speaking to the woman in John 4 used the term “living water” to illustrate it importance of our relationship with God.  The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “For My people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13) 
          The Bible is God’s instruction book for life, it connects us with the “streams of water” that God provides to us.  Streams which make us strong, that enable us to “bear fruit,” and keep us from withering away.    

    (4) The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
The Hebrew word translated into English here as “wicked” can also be translated into English as “criminal.”  Other translations use the word “ungodly” here. We may conclude that “the wicked” are those who disobey God’s law.  They are “wicked,” “ungodly,” “criminals,” in God’s eyes.  The same law that the “happy man” (see verse 1) delights in destroys those who violate it.   I have spend a lot of time counseling people regarding the dangers of certain substances or particular behaviors.  We need to be equally motivated to proclaim the truth about God’s ways and His mercy available for those who disobey His law.

    (5) Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.
The Bible makes it clear in multiple and varied ways and in numerous locations, that God is reserving a “day of judgement” for HIS creation.  As followers of Christ we must believe that!  Knowing that judgement is coming, our love for people should compel us to tell others about Jesus and the grace offered through His sacrifice.     
               
    (6) For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
This Psalm began with statements about people who are happy and those who are not. It closes with one of the pursuits coveted by people, the pursuit of protection. God promises His protection and also His guidance for those who obey His instructions. The Bible is our instruction book for life.  The better we know it, what it says to do and to avoid, the better our lives become.  It is so obvious and so simple.

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!

Did God Abandon Tim Tebow?

There was much made about Tim Tebow and the surprising success of the Denver Broncos under his leadership this season.  Tim’s outspoken faith has led many to theorize that his success is a result of God’s intervention in football games.  Yet, this past weekend the Broncos lost badly to the Patriots and the game stats reflected a poor performance by Tim and company.  Sports Illustrated online wrote, “Tebowmania had no chance against Tom Brady 's playoff pedigree. (See: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2012/01/14/4834)

Did God abandon Tim when he needed Him most?  Is this a case of David losing to Goliath?

A problem in Christianity is the false belief that God makes life wonderful for believers.  This problem has been perpetuated by the world and unfortunately also by the church.  We should expect a blurred view from unbelievers, most spend their days at the foot of the cross shouting . . .

"He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. "He trusts in God ; let God rescue Him now . . .' " Matthew 27:42-43 (NASB)

Believers should know better.  Life as a Christian is anything but easy.  God indeed blesses us, but not always in ways that the unbelieving world values.  God has blessed Tim Tebow in many ways, most noteably, He has given Tim a platform to proclaim his faith in The Lord.  Not a cheap faith that is only visible in success, but a rich faith which is equally visible in defeat.  To quote from Facing the Giants, “If we win, we will praise God, and if we lose we will praise Him, too.”

What people need in this world of temporary things, is to see something permanent.  They need to see faith by God’s people that shouts, “No matter what, I’ll keep trusting God.”

Did God Abandon Tim Tebow? No! Just the opposite! God turned up the volume on Tim’s message, “Jesus saves, and can be trusted.”

Psalm 12 for 2012

I’ve taken some time off from the blog to travel and enjoy the Christmas season.  However, with the changing of the wall calendar from 2011 (a date I could never imagine experiencing when I was a teen) to 2012, I thought it appropriate to fire up the ol’ brain cells and write another post.

During the past three calendar years, the media has tried to convince us that life in the U.S. holds very little promise of success and that our economic status has little hope of recovery. Some of those reports were exaggerated in order to gain viewers/listeners and to sell advertising.  Some reports were accurate.  I have no intention of trying to identify which were which. 

I found it humorous when in November the media suddenly began to report that the economy was “looking up.” Which incidentally was precisely 12 months prior to a major election.  Imagine that! As usual for any election year, those in power will be saying, “things are getting better because of us.” While those who want the power will be saying, “things are this bad because of them.”   What does all of this have to do with Psalm 12?  I thought you’d never ask. 

Psalm 12 while a short Psalm (it’s eight verses long) packs a lot of punch. It also fits our situation in 2012, because of a complaint, a comfort, and a confidence.  Some theologians claim it is messianic in nature prophesying the time of Christ’s birth.  Others associate it with apocalyptic  literature describing end times (see John Gill’s commentary, Introduction to Psalm 12).  Regardless of one’s view, it certainly fits where I see in our world today.

Complaint
The author begins with a complaint, very similar to the one made by Elijah (2 Ki 19:14), Micah (7:2), or by Habakkuk (1:1).  A complaint that, while somewhat exaggerated, could very easily be made by any of us today. In that complaint is a cry for help. 
Comfort
Then there is a very important part where David finds comfort in the sovereignty of God. He also takes note of God’s power but as well as His declaration to act against evil. The psalmist even points out the value and assurance of God’s words. 
Confidence
In the last two verses we read of God’s desire to be protector and provider to us. That while ungodly people may brag, and evil may appear to succeed, God will prevail according to His schedule. 

This period of time we call 2012 may be remembered many ways.  It may be an election year, a recovery year, a destruction year (according to the Mayans we have until Dec.), whatever year, but most of all it is a year for us to live what we say we believe.  During 2012, I’ll complain about things, but I’m going to bring my complaints to the one who can do something about it . . .  God!  Then I plan to take comfort in His power to address my complaints.  Finally, I will pray for a confidence that will help me to be patient and trust God’s timing in taking care of my problems. 

Happy New Year to all!                             

X-MAS SONGS

What is the deal with some of the songs that we label “Christmas Songs” or “Holiday Favorites”? I get songs like “White Christmas, Blue Christmas, Silver Bells, and even Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (colorful to say the least).  I get that people want to “Be Home for Christmas”, and we should wish each other “Feliz Navidad”, “because “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”!  Even songs like “Grandma Got Run-over by a Reindeer” and “Please Daddy Don’t Get Drunk this Christmas” make sense in a sick, weird, sort of way.

There are some songs that, when we look at the lyrics, really don’t have anything to do with Christmas!  For example a perennial favorite at Christmas is “Jingle Bells”.  It’s about snow, a horse, and a sleigh ride, (all common activities in Florida, Louisiana, and other southern states at Christmas). Nothing is said about Christmas at all (at least it’ sister song, “Jingle Bell Rock” talks about a Christmas Tree). How silly is it for people in Biloxi, MS to sing “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...” or “Winter Wonderland”, two songs clearly about weather and romance, but without any reference to Christmas.  Another example is “Frosty the Snowman,” again no mention of anything to do with Christmas (except of course snow).  My all-time favorite example of a mis-placed song at Christmas is Dean Martin crooning, “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” This song is better suited for “True Love Waits” than for Christmas.

MY POINT
The temptation here is to join those who every year proclaim the lost meaning of Christmas in our society.  After all, that is not a bad point to make and it is certainly a valid observation.  I do agree with Charlie Brown that Christmas has become commercialized. Rather than climb on a “soap box” and join the bashing bandwagon. I would prefer to ask a couple of questions.

How did we ever start to associate those “non-Christmas” songs with Christmas? Why do we do the things we do, sing the songs we sing, and watch the same old shows we watch at Christmas? Why is it that people who do not attend a church service any other time of the year will attend a Christmas Eve or Christmas day service? 

I don’t object to those things, in fact, we plan our Christmas serves to target those who might only attend once or twice (the other time being Easter) a year.  My concern is that we do too many things without reflecting on why we do them.  We stop at a red light because not to stop has a high probably of causing us pain.  We shop at a particular store or purchase a particular brand name for other reasons which may or may not be so cut and dry as obeying laws. These are things people do knowing why they do them.  The great danger in life and in our relationship with God is when we do things without knowing or understanding why we do them.  More importantly, once we understand the “why” of our actions, we can better identify which actions are beneficial and which are harmful.

So, “Good Christian Men Rejoice” and everyone “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”!

YOU GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY

A couple of years ago the following article came to my attention:

Maine Fisherman Reels In Drowning Man

Hollowelle, ME (AHN) -- A man who jumped of a bridge into a frigid Maine river was rescued by a fisherman who hooked his shirt and reeled him in.
    Bob Greene, 42, told the Portland Press Herald that he was having his morning coffee and reading the paper at 4:30 a.m. Thursday when he heard a noise he thought must've been a bird. About twenty minutes later, he saw what he thought was a log floating down the Kennebec River. Soon, he realized it was actually a man and could barely hear a call of "help."
    Michael Gibbs, 25, told police he had jumped from the Cushnoc Crossing bridge in Augusta, known locally as the third bridge. While the 114-foot drop did not kill him, Gibbs did sustain injuries.
    By the time the men's paths crossed, Gibbs was faintly calling for help. Greene told reporters his first instinct was to jump in the water, but a 911 operator told him to try to throw something to Gibbs instead and pull him to shore. Since Greene was getting ready to go fishing, he used his fishing pole.
    Greene was able to hook Gibbs by the shirt, and though he said it was difficult to pull him in against the river's current, he was an experienced fisherman and maker of fishing rods, so he knew how to be ginger with the line so it wouldn't snap.

THE POINT

    What Bob Green did was meet a need.  Notice what he did not do.  He didn’t stop to question if he was qualified to help.  He didn’t wait thinking that someone else will take care of it.  Mr. Green didn’t even ask, “Do I know enough about this man to help him?” or “Do I know enough about rescue?”  He didn’t make excuses. He saw a need and acted with the tools and the talent that he had at the moment.
    Just recently I completed scuba certification as a “rescue diver.”  Part of that training involved CPR certification.  One of the things emphasized in CPR training is “doing something is always better than doing nothing.”
    The point of all of this is: GOD CALLS US TO SERVE. Sometimes it is for a moment, sometimes longer, but HE calls us to serve here and now.  No matter where a believer is in life, there is a place where he can participate in God's activities. Granted some areas require specialized training, but most areas require simply require devoted participation. 
    Not only does God direct us to serve Him by serving each other, but HE promises in the Bible that HE will provide what we need to accomplish what HE wants us to do.

But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.” Exodus 3:11-12 (HCSB)

    Additionally, God promises that HE will bless us for being obedient in serving.    
“If you follow My statutes and faithfully observe My commands, I will give you rain at the right time, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.
Leviticus 26:3-4 (HCSB)
    Also. . .
And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (NIV)

    I have discovered that two types of churches exist, those who are serving God and growing and those who are serving themselves and not growing.  Churches that are growing are constantly seeking volunteers, because the need for workers is increasing exponentially with the growth. There are areas of need in every church, too many to list here, these are not things that require prayer about our level of involvement, they require participation.  Growing in Christ always involves going with Christ to serve. Get in on what God is doing, start serving. 
So, grab the fishing pole and cast out there.  Remember: WE ARE SAVED TO SERVE! 

LIVING A BIBLE DRIVEN LIFE

    The most fundamental question every person will ever wrestle with is "Why am I here?"  Unlike past generations, teens today aren’t looking for the meaning of life. Instead they’re searching for meaning in life, a purpose for living, something that makes their life worth living. For instance, in Colossians we’re told, "… for everything -- absolutely everything -- above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him” (Colossians 1:16, Msg).

    The Bible teaches that God had five purposes in mind when he made each one of us. Discovering and living these purposes is the single most important thing any of us can ever do.  Teaching these five purposes to our children is foundational to truly training them in the ways of the Lord.

WE ARE CREATED BY GOD TO FULFILL FIVE PURPOSES:

Number 1: WE are planned for God’s pleasure –WORSHIP
Revelation 4:11 (NLT) says, "You, God, created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” Yet, most teenagers struggle with love and acceptance. We need to build into their lives the precious knowledge that they were created as an object of God’s love. The Bible says "God IS love (1 John 4:16).” It doesn’t say "He has love,” it says "He IS love.”
In addition, teens need to know that there is absolutely nothing that can stop God from loving them.

Number 2: WE are made for reaching out to others–OUTREACH
Jesus said in John 17:18 (Msg), “[Father], in the same way you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” Every believer needs a ministry to believers, and a mission to unbelievers.  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 teenagers an incredible opportunity for ministry and mission.

Number 3: WE are formed for God’s family–RELATIONSHIPS
He gave us this longing because his second purpose in creating us was for us to become a member of his family. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) teaches us, “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family.” We need to teach our teens that the Christian life is not just a matter of believing; it’s also about belonging. God didn’t create us just to be believers; we’re also made to be belongers to the family of God.

Number 4: WE are created to be like Christ–DISCIPLESHIP
He created each one of us to be like Christ, and we call that discipleship. God made us to transform us into the likeness of his Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Romans 8:29 (Msg), “God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.”

Number 5: WE are shaped for saintly service–SERVICE
God created each of us to serve him, and in the church, we call that ministry. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) teaches, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  Every Christian is created to serve, and that means each teen is 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.