Friday, August 31, 2012

Have We Gotten Soft? Think David, Leonidas and YOU!

Maybe it was just where my thoughts went during my prayer time today or maybe it was the fact that I was working a commercial for our upcoming men's group using a scene from the movie 300 about Sparta but I'm thinking we're getting soft.

Here's how my prayer went, "...help us to work through things, instead of working around them."

It occurred to me that in our lives we often look for work-arounds.  You know, another way of doing something that isn't quite avoiding but certainly not a direct attack.  If you are into technology you may look for all kinds of work-arounds for your computer, iPhone, iPad or nook.  I have a nook and wanted to get some apps on it that were not available from Barnes and Noble and found a way to "root" the nook so I could add them.  there are financial work-arounds (ask Bernie Ma doff) and parents often look for discipline work-arounds.  This is actually a huge problem.  Parents who want to have a child and want to see that child grow up to be a good citizen or even a Christian but can't stomach the discipline it takes to discipline.  So they work-around the issue instead of tackling it directly.  We are a nation in love with getting around an obstacle instead of finding a way through it.

Consider a relationship, work or school, in your life and how often you deal directly with a problem or challenge when it arises.  Or do you "sit it out" and "wait for it to blow over."  Do you argue about something and then just not bring it up again until it comes up again?

If you're like most people I know (including myself) you enjoy the work-arounds.

I wonder what would have happened if young David would have sought a work-around?  Instead of frontal assault in the Name and power of God Almighty what would have happened if he walked instead of ran?  What if he tried to sneak up on Goliath instead being in plain view?  And given Clint Eastwood's speech at the RNC last night, what if Dirty Harry would have said, "Let me think about this for a minute..." instead of, "Go ahead.  Make my day."  Would it have had the same impact?

Perhaps we've just gotten soft.  We don't want the fight so we walk away from the battle.  Even if it means we are going to have to face it again tomorrow, or next week or next month.

I think I'm going to try the Leonidas approach and see how that goes.  When there is a problem, no matter how big or insurmountable it may be don't first look for away around it, determine to push right through it.  This will require strength and stamina (they ARE different) and a courage little seen in this day and age. But we might rid ourselves of many a recurring headache if we dealt with our problems and challenges head on instead of always looking for a back door.

Just sayin'.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

You Can't Do it on Your Own...

Just heard this sentiment again:  "his parents came to this country with $10 in their pocket and taught their child to rely on himself."  We've heard the now famous line, "if you've got a business, you didn't build that."  Let me speak some Truth into these sentiments.

No matter how much money you've got in your pocket God is the one who put it there.  He is the One who directs your steps, gives you opportunity, provides and protects.  You've got a $1,000 and I've got God - I'm gonna win. Look, you can rely on yourself all you want but in the end the measure of control you actually have over your life is insignificant to the events and situations you cannot control.

Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about.

"The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!' "Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?' "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God." Luke 12:16-21

When we rely on ourselves, our bank accounts, our smarts and strength we will eventually lose.  What is worth your very life?

As Americans we are probably the number one country in convincing ourselves that we are completely able, within ourselves, to accomplish anything we set our minds to.  The problem?  Our Declaration and Even our National Motto inescapably place our greatness on our God, not on ourselves.  Every nation that has left God and began to build on their own ingenuity and strength has eventually failed.

So the Truth is that if you have a business you should recognize that God has helped you get there.  If you have a strong marriage, God has blessed you.  If you have a good relationship with your children, family, a good job, a nice home or cars, God has been watching over you.

It's not that you haven't done anything, but what you have has come directly from God.  Because if God chose your life could be gone and all you've built will go to someone else.

Instead, we should build our lives and our judgement for success on God.  Build your relationship with God and He'll take care of your business.  Build your relationship with God and He'll watch over your family, He'll work through you to accomplish what you could never do on your own.

Two Sunday's Under our Belt at Real Life's Worship Center

Well, we made it.  Two Sundays under our belt at our new Worship Center, 201 E. Central - The El Dorado Civic Center.  We are so thrilled to have this wonderful space in which to worship.  The city of El Dorado certainly did a great job with this amazing space.  Okay, now that that is out of the way...

Two Sundays down!  We had a great time with a smaller more intimate crowd on the 19th as we remembered the last five years and looked forward to the coming years and God's continued blessing.  Then on the 26th we gathered again to kick off a new message series, had the full band rockin' the house again and was able share the day with 92 of our friends!

Moving forward let me in on what is happening.  We have made arrangements to have more chairs in the worship area so that you won't have to jockey for chairs next Sunday.  We've purchased some large banners to help you get around in the new space and we've stocked up on our guest bag fillers and are working on some children's guest bags!

So come and check out our new (temporary) home at the Civic Center this Sunday at 10am as we hit the second the message in the series Changed - on the book of Philemon.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Inspect Yourself

One of the life complaint I hear all the time as a preacher goes something like, "I just don't know what God wants to do with my life..."  Seems like the vast majority of Christians are just going through the motions waiting for God to dump some incredible, purposeful task in their laps.  I've heard, "I don't know what God is keeping me alive for."  and, "I'm just waiting for God to show me what He wants me to do."

People seem to think, since I'm a preacher, that there must have been this lighting strike moment when God parted the skies and spoke to me A la The Holy Grail.  But it didn't happen like that.  God had been preparing me for preaching my whole life.  I spent some time running from that but God always gets His way.

I think the difficult part is that we all want some great moment when we "know" what it is that God want's us to do with our lives.  But the reality is that what He really wants is you and I to live our lives like Christ, everyday.  Wherever we are and whatever we are doing.

Consider these verses from Galatians 6:4-5.  Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

What a great encouragement!

First, explore your life.  Chances are you are one of few people in your job or school who can reach the group you are with every day for Christ.  Or look at where you volunteer or the friends you hang out with.  These people are YOUR mission field.  Don't look for another job - look for opportunities to be Christ where you are NOW.  Make a careful (I would say that means prayerful) exploration of your life AND the work you HAVE BEEN GIVEN.  When was the last time you thought about your job as the work God had given you?  Have you ever looked at your co-workers as people God had uniquely placed in your path for you to reach?  Sink yourself into your job, your school, your classroom, your organization, your volunteer group, your neighborhood and look at it as your unique field of ministry.  Then be Jesus to those people.  Do your work as though you are doing it directly for God.  Be happy!  Be purposeful!  Be inspired!  Be loving!  Be at peace!  Be consistent!  Be Jesus!

And then work to avoid the pitfalls of working for God.  Don't be too impressed with yourself.  And don't compare yourself with others.  Both of these will lead to failure.  One a failure OF witness and the other a failure TO witness.  Both will keep you from experiencing God's best for you.

Instead, take responsibility for your life.  Be creative as you work, share, love, interact with others.  Don't wait for your preacher to counsel you into some wonderful God work.  Don't wait for God to part the clouds and lead you to your destiny with a pillar of fire.  Chances are, where you are standing in your life right now is exactly where God has placed you to reach people that no one else is quite as capable of reaching.

Inspect yourself, your life, your gifts and talents and then... get to work for God.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Real Life is a Free Life

I have really enjoyed reading in the book of Galatians the last few days as a part of my Bible reading plan for the year.  Especially since I'm reading in the Message version and getting a  fresh perspective on the old truths contained in Paul's letter to the church in Galatia.

Yesterday I was reading chapter five and in verse 16 I was struck by this line, "My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit."

Those who are not followers of Jesus often think that Christianity is the opposite of freedom.  They think that we believers are governed by this huge rule book that sits on the coffee table collecting dust and spells out every single thing that we can't do and then gives examples of what happens to people when they don't follow the rules.

But that couldn't be farther from the Truth.

It is True that the Bible spells out things that we should avoid, sexual immorality, gossip, slander, drunkenness, fighting, hate, murder, you know, everything that doesn't show love toward someone else.  But think of it this way.  Instead of a rule book listing things to be avoided, it's more like an instruction manual for getting the most out of this life.  The things the Bible says to avoid it says for OUR benefit.  God is not some random fun killer trying to keep us from enjoying life, He's a coach trying to get us to live to our greatest potential!

Think of it this way.  Let's say you just got selected for the 2016 Olympic team.  Your dream is to win the gold for yourself and your country.  A coach who drives you hard in practice but doesn't care about what you do when you leave the gym would not be your best choice if you wanted to win.  But a coach who pushed you hard in practice and then helped you understand what things you needed to avoid in your diet, in your leisure time, etc., would be of great benefit to you.  And although you may not enjoy the "rules" once you won the gold you would be so happy that your coach pushed you so hard.

Or how about this.  My family used to watch The Biggest Loser television show every week.  If the trainers killed the contestants for eight hours a day in the gym and then let them go back to the homes and eat whatever they wanted we would not see the dramatic results that show produced.  We would not see changed lives.  In fact, when Rulon Gardner was on the show he did not do as well as the others, even though he was at one time a world-class athlete, because he was making poor decisions outside the gym.

God has given us the Bible so that we might know how to wring the most out of this life.  When we decide that our "freedom" means we can do whatever we want we find ourselves, addicted, chained to repetition, miserable because of guilt, hopelessly stuck in a sexual vacuum or simply done trying to live beyond our current situation.  But when you are free, from those "freedoms" that actually confine you, life is so much better, hopeful, happy and you're able to enjoy the freedom you have instead of regretting what you've given up.  Would any athlete claim that their life is not free?  No.  Because they have willingly given up a little to gain what they really want.

I want to live freely - not addicted, confined, forever scraping and clawing to get ahead or stuck in an endless cycle of abuse.  But animated and motivated by God's Spirit, who is my personal life coach.  Helping me avoid the things that will keep me from reaching the goal of living this life to the fullest extent and having hope that when this life is over, real life begins.

Look at your own life without Christ.  Are you free?  Really?  Do you have money to have fun or are you spending it all on your addictions?  Are you healthy and happy in your life or are you strung out and waking up in strange places and can't remember how you got there?  If you don't shoot up or take another hit do you feel better or worse?  The fact is you're trapped - not free.

It's time to be free.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Getting Settled in the New Office Space

Well, thanks to the help of the great folks of Real Life we are up and running now at the new office space at 109 N. Main in El Dorado.  I've enclosed a couple pics so you can see the space.  And you'll also see my desk and stuff.  You can't see it but on the floor around my desk and behind those chairs in the background is blue tape on the floor so we'll know where the walls are going.  There's a blank space where the door is going so if you come over make sure you use it.

God is so good and we not only had a great morning of worship Sunday but we also had a 102 in worship and many stayed to help clean up and clean out our original space and get it all packed and moved over to the new space.



Test Yourself…


Two years ago while training for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon I followed the directions in a book called, Four Months to a Four Hour Marathon.  In the book were several benchmarks that were designed to help me gauge how well I was progressing in order to reach the goal of a four hour marathon.
 
Every month or so the book said I should be running such-and-such distance at such-and-such pace.  And I tried to keep up.  Having never been a runner it was not an easy task.  I was grateful for the tests spread out in the book to help me judge how well I was progressing and I was amazed at how fast and long I could run.  In the end I finished the Marathon at 5:17, but I was not too disappointed.  It was the worst conditions they had ever had (47 degrees and raining, including some hail) and, as I said before, I am not a runner.

In the book of 2 Corinthians Paul talks a lot about the Corinthian Christians faith.  The church in Corinth was having some problems.  This whole faith in Jesus thing was new to them.   They weren’t used to their new normal yet and were struggling to put their faith to practice in their daily lives.  In the 13th chapter Paul encourages them to “Test” themselves to make sure they were “solid in the faith.”  I think thought that was a good idea but was puzzled on what a good test for solid faith might look like.

If you were going to make a test to help someone determine if they were on solid ground in their faith walk what would you include?  Would you want to see a lack of sin in their lives?  Do you see a lack of sin in your own?  Would you consider an addiction a disqualification for faith?  What about language?  Would you put church attendance or volunteerism on the list?  What about Scripture memory?  How would you gauge the Holy Spirit’s presence in a life?  Before you consider writing such a test it would be beneficial to honestly look at your own life and consider where you might fall on your own test.  My guess is that you and I would probably fail our own solid faith tests.
 
It just occurred to me that the church Paul was addressing didn’t even have “Scriptures” to memorize!
 
How hard must it have been to maintain faith in the first century?  No Bible.  You couldn’t turn the TV on at any hour of the night or day and watch a Sunday sermon or teaching.  They didn’t have the Bible on CD or dramatic readings.  They didn’t have denominations so it was difficult to know who was from where.  And no Bible colleges or seminaries existed to pump out indoctrinated students of their particular brand of theology.
 
Here’s what they did have, every once in a while, an Apostle would come to town.  In between those visits other disciples like Titus or Timothy might stop by.  And they even got a letter once or twice a year from someone important.  But in the case of Corinth (and probably every other place except Jerusalem) they had false teachers and faith abusers who infiltrated their church and tried to stir up trouble or take advantage of grace.

So what would YOUR faith test look like?

Here’s some ideas I’ve come up with…
Can you say honestly that you believe Jesus is the Son of God and your Savior?
Would you say that you are improving in the areas of:  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control?
Are you attempting to be in prayer-contact with your Father on a daily and continual basis?
Are you able to recognize your own sin and seek repentance?
Would those who don’t know you figure out that you are a Christian if you spent 30min talking with them?

How are you doing?

Friday, August 10, 2012

Moving Is Underway!

Hey folks, we're moving and things are getting put away, thrown away and stowed away in preparation.  I thought I'd upload a few pics of the progress so far - gonna look pretty bare in here Sunday for our last two worship services in our original location.  God is working out the details through His faithful and we are on track and on budget to make this move in just nine days we'll be worship in our new temporary home, the El Dorado Civic Center!

Keep praying and be ready to serve where needed as we take this historic step to see more people find real life through a relationship with Jesus Christ!

I hope that you can make our last worship service at 2405 W. Central at either 9 or 11 but REALLY hope you can join us at our Civic Center launch August 26th!  See you soon!




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

It Happens on the Inside

Had to be reminded today that God is at work whether we can tell it or not.  I find myself thinking and praying, "God, you promised, why aren't you..." In the midst of working to accomplish what He's called us  to do if He's not working fast enough I tend to get frustrated.  And frustration often leads to asking yourself, "did I misunderstand what God wanted me to do?"  "If you're not going to provide here God I may just give up."

And it feels like our enemy, The Devil has launched a full-on attack.  Personality conflicts, threats, difficult questions, difficult people, difficult situations and there's no easy answer for any of it.  Like Satan has built a wall around us and is only letting that which has destructive possibilities through his blockade.  Whatever God has already planned for us seems to have been hijacked and taken in a different direction.

On the outside it appears that very little is working like it needs to.  And that means that on the inside I am terrified.  Worried.  Second guessing every decision and seeking a way to compensate for God's apparent lack of involvement.

But I came across this little encouragement in my Bible reading this morning, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

We see that even when everything on the outside seems to be falling apart God is always at work!  If it's not visible it's invisible because God's promise is that He will never sleep, so He's always working.  And that work He does is making new life, unfolding grace within us so that we will be able to weather any storm because the troubles and difficulties of this life are insignificant when compared to His abundance.  Good times are coming.  There is hope, even in the midst of trouble so I will NEVER give up and what is unseen now will be what lasts forever.

Here's to hope in the midst of trouble, do you have it?
Only Jesus can provide it.