Pause and Reflect

I celebrated my birthday this week. Kind of a big one for me, as a Christian minister that is. I’m 33. For some that may not seem significant but it is an age that has me very contemplative. Just this past week we celebrated “Holy Week” and Sunday was Easter. Jesus was 33 at the time of His crucifixion. So, here I am, 33.

Jesus’ earthly ministry (from baptism to crucifixion) lasted 3 years. He changed the world by making an impact on those around Him. While I’m not Jesus, I do serve the same God. So here I am reflecting. What have I done for the Kingdom, what kind of impact have I made on those around me?

As I have begun to do this, I would ask you do the same. Reflect on your own life, just for a moment. In what ways have you made an impact on those around you?

all about Christ,
David

Reality is better than truth...

Reality is better than than truth, here is why...

As a kid growing up in the 80's the commercials and hype about the original Nintendo NES, the 8 bit video game system that would change your life was truth. But it wasn't reality until you become a plumber and saved a princess, shot ducks and the dog that laughed at you, or found out why Zelda was a legend, using a controller with only an A and B button.

All games a side, reality is better than truth.

We read and hear the staggering statics of how many people are starving in the world, we even see pictures and videos showing this devastation. It's truth, it's fact, it's happening and we know it. But it's not reality till you have walked into a village in another country, or came in contact with someone across town and seen  it first hand, it's real and now is a reality.

It's truth that we are supposed to love our neighbor. Love your neighbor is directly after the golden rule, so it's the silver rule then right? It's part of our mission statement, a tag line in many churches, and something we seek to do . It's truth, love your neighbor.  But it's not reality, it's not real, till you actually do it.  It's not real till you have been wronged, and gossiped about yet you continue to love and forgive. It's not real until you love, those who curse, mistreat, and can't even repay you. Luke 6:32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners" love those who love them." Real love is loving without expecting an thank you, a reward, or maybe eve a smile.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. That's truth, that is the Gospel. But the reality is much better than the truth, I was once lost and was found, and Jesus saved me.

How Ya Feeling?

I'm sitting in the doctors office right now. Waiting. Thankfully, I'm not sick. The reason I'm here is for a check up.

I began thinking about how we fool ourselves. I'm ok on the outside, so everything must be okay on the inside. Then you hear things like high blood pressure, high sugar, cancer. You say, not me, I'm healthy. It's a medical denial. Chances are you have seen it too.

There is a temptation in Christianity to do the same. Look at the outside only. At church you are all smiles and you look like nothing ever goes wrong. Someone says how are you? You say fine or maybe something like too blessed to be depressed! We both know the truth though. Life isn't perfect. Are you blessed? Yes. Should we complain? Probably not. But a lie? I hope not!

The truth is things have gotten out of sync. Our Spiritual blood pressure is out of whack. We are struggling with a spiritual cancer we haven't addressed yet. Why? The sooner you address it, the higher the survival rate, the more effective the treatment will be.

If it is important that we not skip our check ups and physical examines, it is more important that we not forgo doing a spiritual checkup. Maybe instead of opening up our mouth and saying "ah" so much, we need to open up the scriptures and say "oh".

all about Christ,
David

Truth or Consequences

In studying leadership many times we study the triumphs, success stories, and the good to great moments . But I think we can also learn from the pitfalls, train wrecks and mistakes leaders make. One I have seen this past week is that leaders must strive for honesty and truth. 

Two high profile collegiate coaches at high profile colleges have either been suspended for several games or fired completely because of honesty. They have great records, won more games than their predecessor, and taken their teams from good to great, but they came up against the powerhouse in the division, truth, and they were defeated.   

Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Lying leaders last only a moment as well. 

Once a leader's words and actions can no longer be trusted, the consequences are costly.

Your Movie Watching Has Been Adjusted

Really looking forward to seeing the movie "The Adjustment Bureau" for a few reasons... I think Matt Damon is great actor, he's really moving into being one of Hollywood's elite actors. Secondly, it looks like a great way to bring up some theology and truth into conversation and everyday life...Check out the taglines from the movie...

• Fight For Your Fate.
• Your Fate Has Been Adjusted.
• Your Future Has Been Adjusted.
• Your World Has Been Adjusted.

Predestination vs. Free Will...Classic argument, one that people love to debate and talk about.  I'm not sure to which side the movie leans, but I know it will spark talk about God, His will and His plans. 


Movies in some sense are modern day pulpits...people gather together, to listen, engage and are told a worldview. Granted most of the time it's not a Biblical worldview, but let's redeem the screen to see truth in it, leveraging it for the Kingdom. 


Your Movie Watching Has Just Been Adjusted.  

Listen

There is so much noise in our lives today...so many people and items begging us to listen and gain our attention.

Cell phones don't leave our reach...we talk, text, surf and even video chat.

Facebook "friends" tell us the status of everyone we know and some tell everything they do. Oh, you're doing laundry, thanks for the update.

Blogs we listen to opinions, strategies, gazing at peoples lives and hearing their views...

Twitter we listen to people we will never meet yet we must follow...

Advertisers scream to get our attention through billboards, ads, mailers and commercials...

Books speak to us quietly to train, teach and sometimes even change us.

These are all great things to listen to, but they may crowd out the most important voice. God's voice. Don't get so busy listening to the noise that you miss the voice.  

Beware the Know It All

Following up with last week I wanted to talk briefly about thinking and theology.

Again, we all have our beliefs and our convictions, but how sure are you that you are right? Are you 100% right?

I once heard Dr. Elmer Towns say something to the effect that behind every theology is a bit of mystery, a bit of God still yet unrevealed. I loved the wisdom and humility in that statement.

I can't speak for all of us, but I know I want answers. I always want to learn everything I can about as much as I can (maybe one day destroying Ken Jennings record on Jeopardy…mwhahahahaha…sorry). The truth is, I don't know it all, and neither do you. I like to think I have the answers for every turn of life, for every theological question. From "at what point are we saved", to "does God really answer prayers or were they predestined to be answered", to "if a tree falls in the woods…"

My point is this, my dependence should not be on my own finite knowledge or contrived wisdom. My dependence should be on God. Period. I don't need all the answers. I need God. After all, if I had all the answers, I wouldn't need faith, would I?

While it is important that we all seek to know God in every possible way, don't think you, me or anyone has all the answers. Our goal with this blog is simply to encourage you to live Hebrews 10:24. Think about ways you can spur one another on to love and good deeds (or more love as it were).

Let me add to that one thing. In the realm of theological bickering (as seen with the discussion of the theology of Hell recently) remember Philippians 4:8-9. The context of Philippians 4 is some type of disagreement or falling out between to members of the church. We are not to feed the hate, but rather focus on doing what we are supposed to do.

all about Christ,
David