Most of you have heard in the news of the report that Houston mayor, Annise Parker, has subpoenaed the sermons of local Houston pastors that mention her name or that mention a local city ordinance which many pastors and churches aren't in favor of. This event has caused much public outcry over the government's relationship to faith based institutions and how far is too far in government reach into religion?
There are lots of issues surrounding these actions, and I will not for once ever admit to being an expert in the realm of politics, law, or even most times at religion. However, there are quite a few things to look at in the case of Annise Parker.
1) Always look at the big picture. When I first heard this my proverbial claws came out. I uttered phrases such as, "How dare she?" "Who does she think she is?" And even a few more phrases that I'm not very proud of. But, oh the wonders of social media, one of my good buddies Scott posted on Facebook that this subpoena of sermons might be a golden opportunity for Annise Parker to hear the incredible news that Jesus Christ saves sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) Because, I think one big mistake many of us make and that I made when I first heard the news is that we let little annoyances or disturbances interrupt the incredible story that Jesus' blood and power calls all sinners to repent. My advice is to never lose sight of the big picture. People who annoy us, irritate us, and even disagree with us need to know and come to home to know Jesus forgives their sin. That's the big picture we all need to remember no matter what.
2) God is greater than all of the problems we all face.
I will admit that I'm one of the first people who gets upset when I hear that another Nativity scene gets taken down, or someone has an issue with a Cross in the town square. But, let me say that despite all of the struggles that Christians have had in recent years, we need to remember that no matter what God has the final word in our lives and for all of human history.
It would be incredibly nice to know all the twists and turns in the story, but if we did there wouldn't be any need for us to have faith. We don't know the entire story, but we know that the author is good and loves us and we know in the end Jesus wins.
3) Preach the gospel with your life.
God's Not Dead is another of the many quality Christian movies that have been shot and produced over the past few years. In the movie college freshman Josh Wheaton is challenged in his philosophy class to prove to his class that in fact God is not dead. Well, the movie brings about some very compelling facts and arguments for the existence of God. But, what I want to share is a quote earlier on in the movie that many may have missed. When considering whether or not to prove God's existence Josh goes and talks with a pastor, and the pastor tells him this (paraphrased), "If you take this challenge, this may be the only time some of the students in the room hear the gospel." What an incredible idea! Difficult times, opposition from those who disagree, and problems can be opportunities to communicate the gospel to an unbelieving world. Remember that tough times don't build character, they reveal the character that is already there. Houston pastors can have an amazing show of character as the situation with Annise Parker continues to unfold.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Gone Girl
Without a doubt you've seen previews or heard talk of the newest movie that just came out last Friday: Gone Girl. I have not seen the movie, so this review is of the book which I finished about a week ago. In this review I won't spoil any plot twists or the ending. So, let's dive in here.
Gillian Flynn's 2012 smash hit, Gone Girl, highlights the story of Nick and Amy Dunne. This couple moves from New York to Missouri to care for Nick's mother and father after the economy crashes. The couple struggles to adjust to life in a Missouri small town, but they do manage and Nick opens a bar with his twin sister with money that Amy received from her trust fund.
The story really picks up on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick gets a call at the bar from his neighbor that his front door is wide open. Confused and slightly alarmed Nick rushes home to find his house in a mess and his wife completely gone. Frantically, Nick calls the local police and then the search begins! Over the next several days Nick is questioned several times by the police, his past begins to unfold more before the reader's eyes, and he desperately searches for anything that will prove that he is not responsible for her disappearance.
Nick's search takes him everywhere as he delves into Amy's past, meets some shady and some interesting characters, hires a lawyer, defends his actions, has his past behavior unearthed, and it all leads up to the answer of the million dollar question: who exactly is Amy Dunne and what is she capable of?
There were certain parts of the book I really loved and others I didn't care for that much. I didn't share as much because I don't want to spoil anything if you plan on reading the book or seeing the movie. The previews do make the movie look extremely compelling. In terms of quality of work I'd give the book 4 out of 5 stars. Gillian Flynn's style in this book is unique, and I actually really enjoyed it. The pace is fast, and you really do feel in the middle of a missing person search. I will let you decide about the ending, I won't say much in here about my opinion on it. In terms of overall family friendliness this book gets a 1 out of 5 stars. There are some very mature themes in the book (drugs, sex, rape), and there is pervasive language throughout the work. I did enjoy it, but I had higher expectations. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 overall.
Gillian Flynn's 2012 smash hit, Gone Girl, highlights the story of Nick and Amy Dunne. This couple moves from New York to Missouri to care for Nick's mother and father after the economy crashes. The couple struggles to adjust to life in a Missouri small town, but they do manage and Nick opens a bar with his twin sister with money that Amy received from her trust fund.
The story really picks up on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick gets a call at the bar from his neighbor that his front door is wide open. Confused and slightly alarmed Nick rushes home to find his house in a mess and his wife completely gone. Frantically, Nick calls the local police and then the search begins! Over the next several days Nick is questioned several times by the police, his past begins to unfold more before the reader's eyes, and he desperately searches for anything that will prove that he is not responsible for her disappearance.
Nick's search takes him everywhere as he delves into Amy's past, meets some shady and some interesting characters, hires a lawyer, defends his actions, has his past behavior unearthed, and it all leads up to the answer of the million dollar question: who exactly is Amy Dunne and what is she capable of?
There were certain parts of the book I really loved and others I didn't care for that much. I didn't share as much because I don't want to spoil anything if you plan on reading the book or seeing the movie. The previews do make the movie look extremely compelling. In terms of quality of work I'd give the book 4 out of 5 stars. Gillian Flynn's style in this book is unique, and I actually really enjoyed it. The pace is fast, and you really do feel in the middle of a missing person search. I will let you decide about the ending, I won't say much in here about my opinion on it. In terms of overall family friendliness this book gets a 1 out of 5 stars. There are some very mature themes in the book (drugs, sex, rape), and there is pervasive language throughout the work. I did enjoy it, but I had higher expectations. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 overall.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
On Mom's Night Out
Movies speak to us in powerful way. Most of us can remember seeing Simba take back pride rock for the first time or the chill we got when we heard Elsa sing, "Let it Go" for the very first time. Well, I always want you to see this blog as being a place where it encourages you to watch family friendly movies. I'm bringing you one right now, Mom's Night Out.
This movie has just come out on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Redbox video within the last six weeks. It is the movie: Mom's Night Out!!!
Mom's Night Out is the humorous tale of Allyson (Sarah Drew, Grey's Anatomy), mom of three little ones, and her friends Sondra (Patricia Heaton), and Izzy as they embark on a rare but much anticipated mom's night out. The ladies leave their children in care of their husbands as they go out for the evening. Allyson's great plans are quickly derailed when their reservation is lost, the other ladies spend too much time on their cell phones, and when she discovers that her nephew is missing. Come join the fun with a great cast, lots of laughs, and a wonderful reminder that being a mom is truly one of the hardest but most rewarding jobs any woman could ever have.
This movie has much more than I described, because I want you to watch and enjoy for yourself. In terms of content and quality I would give the movie three out of five stars. The acting and quality of Christian movies has gone way up in the last five years. This movie is a great step in that direction. It won't be in the conversation during Academy award time, but it's a fun family movie that is appropriate for all ages. I would rate it 4.5 out of five stars in terms of family friendliness. There is no language, violence, or sexual issues at all in the movie. But, the characters do find themselves in places such as a tattoo parlor and police station.
This movie has just come out on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Redbox video within the last six weeks. It is the movie: Mom's Night Out!!!
Mom's Night Out is the humorous tale of Allyson (Sarah Drew, Grey's Anatomy), mom of three little ones, and her friends Sondra (Patricia Heaton), and Izzy as they embark on a rare but much anticipated mom's night out. The ladies leave their children in care of their husbands as they go out for the evening. Allyson's great plans are quickly derailed when their reservation is lost, the other ladies spend too much time on their cell phones, and when she discovers that her nephew is missing. Come join the fun with a great cast, lots of laughs, and a wonderful reminder that being a mom is truly one of the hardest but most rewarding jobs any woman could ever have.
This movie has much more than I described, because I want you to watch and enjoy for yourself. In terms of content and quality I would give the movie three out of five stars. The acting and quality of Christian movies has gone way up in the last five years. This movie is a great step in that direction. It won't be in the conversation during Academy award time, but it's a fun family movie that is appropriate for all ages. I would rate it 4.5 out of five stars in terms of family friendliness. There is no language, violence, or sexual issues at all in the movie. But, the characters do find themselves in places such as a tattoo parlor and police station.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Deception Number #8 God Won't Come Through
Stepping out in faith is never easy. Taking a risk for God often involves putting yourself out there and not knowing how the other person will react. But, we're called as the people of God to go and be the witnesses of what Jesus has done to the entire ends of the earth! What a large area for us to cover. The task seems daunting, but we're reminded that we as the body of Christ go in God's name and we work and minister in God's power. But, if you're like me we struggle in living out our faith in bold, tangible ways. If that describes you, then you're reading the perfect blog post. Here are a few things that come to mind:)
1) Learn to recognize the evil one's voice.
The evil one has a knack of reminding us of all the areas where we often fall short, areas where we're tempted, and past failures and missed expectations. The voice can take many different shapes and forms, but one thing is consistent the evil one's voice will always remind you that you're not good enough, not worthy enough, not lovable enough, and you're not as good of a human being as you should be. His tactics are deceitful and meant to destroy you, but they don't have to.The evil one is very sly and very cunning, make sure you know how to recognize his voice and his ways. A few good suggestions in helping you recognizing the evil one's voice and tactics are as follows: 1) Learn to discuss deep moments of your life with someone you trust. Almost all of us have some person in our lives that has wisdom, experience, and has our best interest in mind. Look to discuss big areas of growth and struggle with this person.
2) Fill your life with the voice of Jesus. There's currently a war going on for your heart. If that weren't so evil wouldn't be flashing all over the news, the Internet, radio, and sadly evil has become even more present in our schools. However, if what we believe about God is true, and that if we know God to be above all and over all creation, then we know that God's voice will have the last word. Learn to fill your life with goodness, love, beauty, grace, and forgiveness. It may require that you change your music tastes, block out a channel on the TV, stop going to places that tempt and cause you to stumble, and even more radically you might need to give up a friend or two. Paul reminds us so powerfully in Philippians 4:8, "8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
3) Be very careful about basing your understanding of God on emotions. As we dive into our final point let me first say that emotions are a good thing. But, be very careful because our emotions can easily deceive us. I urge you to fall in love with God with your emotions, feel the love and warmth of God's embrace, but be careful if your entire understanding of God is based on emotion, because emotions can change. Emotions are often based on experiences, and as we know as followers of Jesus and people on this earth. Emotions can change. My hope is that we would develop and have a growing, firm relationship with Jesus that can withstand the greatest success and also the greatest defeat, thus knowing that God loves us and God will no matter what come through for us, it often won't be the way we hoped or in our timeframe, but God will come through.
1) Learn to recognize the evil one's voice.
The evil one has a knack of reminding us of all the areas where we often fall short, areas where we're tempted, and past failures and missed expectations. The voice can take many different shapes and forms, but one thing is consistent the evil one's voice will always remind you that you're not good enough, not worthy enough, not lovable enough, and you're not as good of a human being as you should be. His tactics are deceitful and meant to destroy you, but they don't have to.The evil one is very sly and very cunning, make sure you know how to recognize his voice and his ways. A few good suggestions in helping you recognizing the evil one's voice and tactics are as follows: 1) Learn to discuss deep moments of your life with someone you trust. Almost all of us have some person in our lives that has wisdom, experience, and has our best interest in mind. Look to discuss big areas of growth and struggle with this person.
2) Fill your life with the voice of Jesus. There's currently a war going on for your heart. If that weren't so evil wouldn't be flashing all over the news, the Internet, radio, and sadly evil has become even more present in our schools. However, if what we believe about God is true, and that if we know God to be above all and over all creation, then we know that God's voice will have the last word. Learn to fill your life with goodness, love, beauty, grace, and forgiveness. It may require that you change your music tastes, block out a channel on the TV, stop going to places that tempt and cause you to stumble, and even more radically you might need to give up a friend or two. Paul reminds us so powerfully in Philippians 4:8, "8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
3) Be very careful about basing your understanding of God on emotions. As we dive into our final point let me first say that emotions are a good thing. But, be very careful because our emotions can easily deceive us. I urge you to fall in love with God with your emotions, feel the love and warmth of God's embrace, but be careful if your entire understanding of God is based on emotion, because emotions can change. Emotions are often based on experiences, and as we know as followers of Jesus and people on this earth. Emotions can change. My hope is that we would develop and have a growing, firm relationship with Jesus that can withstand the greatest success and also the greatest defeat, thus knowing that God loves us and God will no matter what come through for us, it often won't be the way we hoped or in our timeframe, but God will come through.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
A Look at the Word of God 1 Timothy 1
As we dive into some very applicable teaching by Paul, let me say that these are some of my favorite letters in the entire Bible. What Paul imparts to Timothy is both great spiritual advice and also great advice for a young person growing up and discovering who they are. Let's dive into some of the teaching Paul gives us in 1 Timothy.
1) We go in God's name. The first two verses are so crucial in this letter and in most of Paul's letters. Because, what Paul does is he sets the stage and gives the reader a reminder of whose name we serve in and by whose power we thrive. Paul at the start of every letter wants all believers to know that Jesus is the source of his identity, his purpose, his thoughts, and his every move. His life would be fully subject to Jesus in all areas and in all circumstances! What a powerful witness and testimony! I hope that as we dive into every single one of Paul's letters we're reminded of the incredible truth that God is calling the shots and is the author of our story.
2) Know the truth, preach it, practice it, and do it in love. One of the most difficult/dangerous forms of thinking is the current ideology infecting a lot of thought in our country today. Not all thoughts are correct, not all answers are true, and just because someone says it or believes it that doesn't make it right. Paul discusses in 1:8-11 that the law is for the sinner not the righteous. But, his charge in vs. 5 is the key to this entire passage, " The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." The command Paul gave Timothy was to know the truth and seek to lovingly correct those who were preaching and living into falsehoods. The truth will win out eventually, since God is still on the throne, but God is calling all of us just as Paul reminded Timothy to stand up against the falsehoods of the day with love and grace.
3) 1 Timothy 1:15 is the crucial verse probably in all of Paul's theology. God's business is first and foremost not to judge, not to hate, not to condemn at the first. But, I will say that God is a righteous judge and will judge sin, but God's first in the business of saving sinners even the worst of all sinners. Paul wants Timothy to be encouraged and to know that God saved him from a life of hatred, judgment, and murder. If God saved a one of the worst sinners of all in Paul, God can save everyone, loves everyone, believes in everyone, and has a bold purpose for anyone. Paul charged Timothy to take up the torch and be the one that communicates this powerful message to all. God is filled with love, and His love is powerful enough to save anyone.
4) Vs. 18 is very convicting and gives us something to think about. Paul uses the word battle and encourages Timothy that he has been given all of this so that he might be able to fight the battle well. Paul's use of battle brings up an interesting thought I just want you to mull over for awhile. Are we doing something wrong if the world speaks well of the church? Didn't Jesus say that He chose us out of the world and that is why the world hates us?
1) We go in God's name. The first two verses are so crucial in this letter and in most of Paul's letters. Because, what Paul does is he sets the stage and gives the reader a reminder of whose name we serve in and by whose power we thrive. Paul at the start of every letter wants all believers to know that Jesus is the source of his identity, his purpose, his thoughts, and his every move. His life would be fully subject to Jesus in all areas and in all circumstances! What a powerful witness and testimony! I hope that as we dive into every single one of Paul's letters we're reminded of the incredible truth that God is calling the shots and is the author of our story.
2) Know the truth, preach it, practice it, and do it in love. One of the most difficult/dangerous forms of thinking is the current ideology infecting a lot of thought in our country today. Not all thoughts are correct, not all answers are true, and just because someone says it or believes it that doesn't make it right. Paul discusses in 1:8-11 that the law is for the sinner not the righteous. But, his charge in vs. 5 is the key to this entire passage, " The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." The command Paul gave Timothy was to know the truth and seek to lovingly correct those who were preaching and living into falsehoods. The truth will win out eventually, since God is still on the throne, but God is calling all of us just as Paul reminded Timothy to stand up against the falsehoods of the day with love and grace.
3) 1 Timothy 1:15 is the crucial verse probably in all of Paul's theology. God's business is first and foremost not to judge, not to hate, not to condemn at the first. But, I will say that God is a righteous judge and will judge sin, but God's first in the business of saving sinners even the worst of all sinners. Paul wants Timothy to be encouraged and to know that God saved him from a life of hatred, judgment, and murder. If God saved a one of the worst sinners of all in Paul, God can save everyone, loves everyone, believes in everyone, and has a bold purpose for anyone. Paul charged Timothy to take up the torch and be the one that communicates this powerful message to all. God is filled with love, and His love is powerful enough to save anyone.
4) Vs. 18 is very convicting and gives us something to think about. Paul uses the word battle and encourages Timothy that he has been given all of this so that he might be able to fight the battle well. Paul's use of battle brings up an interesting thought I just want you to mull over for awhile. Are we doing something wrong if the world speaks well of the church? Didn't Jesus say that He chose us out of the world and that is why the world hates us?
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Deception Number 7# You Cannot Conqueror Your Pain
This is one of the more in-depth posts that has been written and will be written in our journey together about life's great deceptions. One of the big things we hope to accomplish in this entire blog and not just this series is for you to firmly know and live into without a doubt the truth that Jesus is greater than whatever life throws your way. This truth fits really well into conquering one of life's toughest deceptions: pain and heartache. Let's dive and see what we can find together!
1) Pain in an inevitable part of life.
The only people who ever knew a pain free life were Adam and Eve, and that all changed shortly after they disobeyed God by eating of the forbidden fruit. Once sin entered the world pain followed shortly after. The reality is that our world is desperately broken by the effects of sin both in personal choices and in the effects it has in the physical world.
So, where we're going with all of this is we want you to know that no one escapes pain in this lifetime. Living a life where one so desperately avoids taking risks, putting yourself out there, and only focusing on avoiding being hurt will be a life filled with emptiness and many unfulfilled dreams at the end of it all. Jesus reminds in John 10:10 that He has come to give life and life to the fullest. Don't avoid potentially painful situations, taking risks that may better yourself, or live in fear. Pain and heartache touch all of us in ways that we often don't like or appreciate. If we look at the saints of the New Testament and even throughout history their lives were filled with many great moments of success in their mission to proclaim Jesus to the world. But, there lives also had lots of moments of pain and heartache. Don't avoid painful situations, but learn to walk through and conqueror your pain through the power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
2) Be an aid to help others conqueror their pain.
Let's face it other people feeling discomfort and walking in pain can be fairly difficult for us as human beings to navigate through the difficult moments of life, and when a close friend or loved one experiences tough times, hurt, and pain all of our well words can seem to be lost. Trust me you're not a bad person, for feeling uncomfortable, confused, or somewhat lost when trying to help a loved one through their pain. We often do not know what to say to help alleviate someone's pain, so we do something that has good intentions but often leaves hurting people with more hurt: we don't say anything and we don't come around. Those actions can be particularly devastating. In times of pain and heartache, people need support and they need others who will lift them up.
One great example of being with someone after a difficult time is Jesus' stirring words to Peter in John 21. To refresh your memory, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of his arrest. Jesus had a very important decision after his resurrection, and He chose to be with Peter in his moment of shame, offer forgiveness, and the result is that Peter became one of the bedrocks of the early church. Pain and hurt take many different forms, and often times we don't know or can't say anything to make it better. But, we can be there for people to show them we care. Teddy Roosevelt our 26th president sums up what I'm trying to say nicely when he states, "No one cares about how much you know, until they know how much you care."
3) Pain is not fair but neither is grace.
One of the big traps a lot of people get in life is they often try to rationalize their life in terms of whether or not it is or has been fair. Questions about fairness are legitimate questions to ask. Fairness is often the lens through which we view our life experiences, but I want to encourage you to look at both the good and hurtful areas of your life through the lens of fairness.
It is true that many people who live hurtful immoral lives do receive a lot of success on this planet. Is that fair? The short answer to that is no. However, there are also lots of good people who God has called home from this earth far too soon then we would have liked. Life is definitely fair in either of those situations. However, is it also fair that we in developed countries have clean water, while those in other countries do not? Is it fair that to forgive our sin Jesus had to die? Is it fair that we have the ability and financial resources to access computers, the Internet, etc, while many in the world do not? We don't want you to feel bad in reading this, that's not the point. It also is not the point to minimize your paint, but rather we want to put your life into perspective. Your life has been filled more than likely with a series of good moments and quite a few rotten moments as well. The truth is we want you to view your life as a whole, God has been good to you. God wants to know you more, and God will provide for you. Trust me God's provision is rarely in our timing or the way we would like, but it always comes. Know that God has given you the ultimate gift, a relationship with Him (Ephesians 2:8-9), and in no way is that fair at all!
4) Your Pain is not meaningless.
One of the most difficult things for humans to understand is why is this happening to me? Why did my marriage fall apart? Why did I not live up to my potential? Why did my best friend betray me? The answers can go on and on and on. I will say that when I do finally reach those pearly gates, I do have LOTS of questions that I would like answered. However, in the moment here are just a few hopeful words of reassurance on this issue.
1) Sin was wounded at the Cross and one day will be defeated. Much of the pain we experience is a direct result of sin and please note that sin's destruction is sure and coming. 2) You have a chance to practice empathy. Empathy is different from sympathy, because someone who practices empathy has walked in similar shoes that you're walking in. Use your painful experiences in the past to encourage others and help them conqueror their pain the present.
3) You are not alone. One of the big mistakes people make is to believe they are the only ones suffering in their type of situation. Seek support from a group, talk to a pastor, reach out to friends, spend more time in prayer, but please don't try and conqueror your pain alone. 4) Finally, don't be ashamed of scars. Christ has so graciously wiped out our sin, forgiven, and forgotten our sin. In so doing he also wiped out our shame. Your physical and emotional scars are part of what make you uniquely you. Use those to tell your story and in so doing point out the power of God to bring you above every pain and hurt you experienced. In closing, we can be sure that our pain can be conquered because of Jesus' words in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world."
1) Pain in an inevitable part of life.
The only people who ever knew a pain free life were Adam and Eve, and that all changed shortly after they disobeyed God by eating of the forbidden fruit. Once sin entered the world pain followed shortly after. The reality is that our world is desperately broken by the effects of sin both in personal choices and in the effects it has in the physical world.
So, where we're going with all of this is we want you to know that no one escapes pain in this lifetime. Living a life where one so desperately avoids taking risks, putting yourself out there, and only focusing on avoiding being hurt will be a life filled with emptiness and many unfulfilled dreams at the end of it all. Jesus reminds in John 10:10 that He has come to give life and life to the fullest. Don't avoid potentially painful situations, taking risks that may better yourself, or live in fear. Pain and heartache touch all of us in ways that we often don't like or appreciate. If we look at the saints of the New Testament and even throughout history their lives were filled with many great moments of success in their mission to proclaim Jesus to the world. But, there lives also had lots of moments of pain and heartache. Don't avoid painful situations, but learn to walk through and conqueror your pain through the power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
2) Be an aid to help others conqueror their pain.
Let's face it other people feeling discomfort and walking in pain can be fairly difficult for us as human beings to navigate through the difficult moments of life, and when a close friend or loved one experiences tough times, hurt, and pain all of our well words can seem to be lost. Trust me you're not a bad person, for feeling uncomfortable, confused, or somewhat lost when trying to help a loved one through their pain. We often do not know what to say to help alleviate someone's pain, so we do something that has good intentions but often leaves hurting people with more hurt: we don't say anything and we don't come around. Those actions can be particularly devastating. In times of pain and heartache, people need support and they need others who will lift them up.
One great example of being with someone after a difficult time is Jesus' stirring words to Peter in John 21. To refresh your memory, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of his arrest. Jesus had a very important decision after his resurrection, and He chose to be with Peter in his moment of shame, offer forgiveness, and the result is that Peter became one of the bedrocks of the early church. Pain and hurt take many different forms, and often times we don't know or can't say anything to make it better. But, we can be there for people to show them we care. Teddy Roosevelt our 26th president sums up what I'm trying to say nicely when he states, "No one cares about how much you know, until they know how much you care."
3) Pain is not fair but neither is grace.
One of the big traps a lot of people get in life is they often try to rationalize their life in terms of whether or not it is or has been fair. Questions about fairness are legitimate questions to ask. Fairness is often the lens through which we view our life experiences, but I want to encourage you to look at both the good and hurtful areas of your life through the lens of fairness.
It is true that many people who live hurtful immoral lives do receive a lot of success on this planet. Is that fair? The short answer to that is no. However, there are also lots of good people who God has called home from this earth far too soon then we would have liked. Life is definitely fair in either of those situations. However, is it also fair that we in developed countries have clean water, while those in other countries do not? Is it fair that to forgive our sin Jesus had to die? Is it fair that we have the ability and financial resources to access computers, the Internet, etc, while many in the world do not? We don't want you to feel bad in reading this, that's not the point. It also is not the point to minimize your paint, but rather we want to put your life into perspective. Your life has been filled more than likely with a series of good moments and quite a few rotten moments as well. The truth is we want you to view your life as a whole, God has been good to you. God wants to know you more, and God will provide for you. Trust me God's provision is rarely in our timing or the way we would like, but it always comes. Know that God has given you the ultimate gift, a relationship with Him (Ephesians 2:8-9), and in no way is that fair at all!
4) Your Pain is not meaningless.
One of the most difficult things for humans to understand is why is this happening to me? Why did my marriage fall apart? Why did I not live up to my potential? Why did my best friend betray me? The answers can go on and on and on. I will say that when I do finally reach those pearly gates, I do have LOTS of questions that I would like answered. However, in the moment here are just a few hopeful words of reassurance on this issue.
1) Sin was wounded at the Cross and one day will be defeated. Much of the pain we experience is a direct result of sin and please note that sin's destruction is sure and coming. 2) You have a chance to practice empathy. Empathy is different from sympathy, because someone who practices empathy has walked in similar shoes that you're walking in. Use your painful experiences in the past to encourage others and help them conqueror their pain the present.
3) You are not alone. One of the big mistakes people make is to believe they are the only ones suffering in their type of situation. Seek support from a group, talk to a pastor, reach out to friends, spend more time in prayer, but please don't try and conqueror your pain alone. 4) Finally, don't be ashamed of scars. Christ has so graciously wiped out our sin, forgiven, and forgotten our sin. In so doing he also wiped out our shame. Your physical and emotional scars are part of what make you uniquely you. Use those to tell your story and in so doing point out the power of God to bring you above every pain and hurt you experienced. In closing, we can be sure that our pain can be conquered because of Jesus' words in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world."
Monday, June 2, 2014
Deception #6 Doing Just Enough to Get By Is Good Enough
One of the things that breaks my heart is when people don't pursue excellence. We're satisfied with a C grade, mediocre spirituality, average performances and the list can go on and on and on. Now, let me first explain a few things, the goal for all people should be their very best. A big mistake we can make as parents, leaders, and even adults is to treat all people equally. Now, I will say we need to treat all people with same amount of love and respect, but different standards and requirements should be made for different people. My parents pushed me and encouraged me to get all A's in school growing-up, looking back I can say that I didn't get all A's and I am somewhat regretful that I didn't live up to my full potential in school. Did things turn out okay for me? I will say that they did, but I do look back and wonder, "What if I pursued excellence in all I did growing up?"
1) Why is this important?
Habits are the bedrock of our character. Human beings are intricate wounds beings filled with both vices and virtues that make them unique and wonderful. The part that makes this so important is that while habits are extremely important, they take time to build and are difficult to break. One example that comes to my mind is world renowned violinist Joshua Bell. Joshua's violin music has been an inspiration for millions of people all over the world, but he did not become a violin sensation over night. Joshua spent hours practicing, rehearsing, learning music, technique, and through many hours of hard work and dedication Joshua became a violin sensation!
His success came through many hard hours of work, patience, humility, and dedication. Those habits and technique for success came at a great cost and through much time and patience. In a current time when so many people in our country and in our western culture are under performing and not reaching their full potential in many areas of life are society needs people who work hard, endure failure, and pursue excellence because if excellence is pursued and becomes a habit than the hope is it will transfer into our spiritual journey and into all of our relationships. Habits of excellence and the desire to pursue excellence will affect all areas of life, let's vow as a church to become people who strive to be the very best they can be.
2) Failing is an event not an identity.
This is a tough pill for a lot of people to swallow, and I lump myself into this category as well. Putting pressure on ourselves to make more money, lose more weight, have a better status at your job, associate with higher class people, drive a nicer car, and the list can on and on and on. But, the reality is that most of us will endure failure at some point in our lifetime. We will miss deadlines, expectations, bounce checks, and even at times fall flat on our face.
But, the truth is that when we live life we will hit bumps in the road, fall flat on our face, and fail. What we need to understand is that no matter how bad the failure it does not define us and will not own us, unless we let it. Failure it can be bad, and at times it can be even devastating, but it is something that we can overcome. A few things to consider when overcoming failure and preventing it in the future are:
1) Surround yourself with good people. For a plant to grow green and strong, it needs strong roots, the proper care, and it needs to be in a place that has lots of light. Human beings are the same way, we can encouraged, strengthened, and pushed in all the right directions when we surround ourselves with the right people. However, being around young people in a variety of settings for several years now, I've seen first hand how destructive poor friend choices can be. A lot of good kids and adults often have had great intentions in befriending or even engaging in missionary dating to try and bring up those who so desperately need to hear about the good news of Jesus and have their lives changed.
Now, I'm not saying that good influences can never change hearts, what I am saying is be extremely careful, it is much easier to be pulled down then to pull someone up. If you're having doubts about this idea, my advice would be to try it sometime, take a folding chair, one that is fairly strong and that can support your weight and stand up up on the chair. Now, have a friend or sibling stand near the chair and conduct two experiments first have them try and pull you down. It should happen quite easily, next stand by them and try and pull them up on the chair, my guess is it probably will be extremely difficult. The same is true of the people we surround ourselves with: be careful.
2) Listen to wise advice. One of the things I think a lot of us will regret is we didn't fully comprehend how smart our parents, coaches, professors, and bosses truly are. Older men and women who have walked in our place, experienced the stage of life we are currently in, and have made similar mistakes that we have or will make can offer some valuable insight and guidance on how to pursue excellence and reach your full potential.
Listen to advice. Ask questions. Learn from mistakes, and above all do your best to minimize distractions. One of the biggest things problems in this generation is not their lack of education or opportunity but rather we are distracted and pulled away from what really matters to pursue what really doesn't matter. I will say this that your personal goals for your life cannot all be work related, although it is good and healthy to set some quality work related goals for yourself. Ask people to help you discern and understand what you're passionate about, where your gifts lie, and how you can pursue excellence and reach your full potential in life.
3) Set reasonable goals. One of the biggest mistakes people have made is to set goals which aren't attainable. Change and growth take time and patience, so don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to accomplish the transformation immediately. Be understanding and knowledgeable that bad habits are hard to break and you will fall into temptation even after you've started to change your life. My best advice is to find someone that would hold you accountable, pray for you, and challenge you to set reasonable goals so that you can be all that God created and intended you to be. In closing habits that challenge you to pursue excellence will carry over in all areas of life and impact you in great ways. Pursue excellence, learn from mistakes, don't settle for good enough, reach for your full potential, learn to laugh at yourself along the way, and above all get up every time you fall.
1) Why is this important?
Habits are the bedrock of our character. Human beings are intricate wounds beings filled with both vices and virtues that make them unique and wonderful. The part that makes this so important is that while habits are extremely important, they take time to build and are difficult to break. One example that comes to my mind is world renowned violinist Joshua Bell. Joshua's violin music has been an inspiration for millions of people all over the world, but he did not become a violin sensation over night. Joshua spent hours practicing, rehearsing, learning music, technique, and through many hours of hard work and dedication Joshua became a violin sensation!
His success came through many hard hours of work, patience, humility, and dedication. Those habits and technique for success came at a great cost and through much time and patience. In a current time when so many people in our country and in our western culture are under performing and not reaching their full potential in many areas of life are society needs people who work hard, endure failure, and pursue excellence because if excellence is pursued and becomes a habit than the hope is it will transfer into our spiritual journey and into all of our relationships. Habits of excellence and the desire to pursue excellence will affect all areas of life, let's vow as a church to become people who strive to be the very best they can be.
2) Failing is an event not an identity.
This is a tough pill for a lot of people to swallow, and I lump myself into this category as well. Putting pressure on ourselves to make more money, lose more weight, have a better status at your job, associate with higher class people, drive a nicer car, and the list can on and on and on. But, the reality is that most of us will endure failure at some point in our lifetime. We will miss deadlines, expectations, bounce checks, and even at times fall flat on our face.
But, the truth is that when we live life we will hit bumps in the road, fall flat on our face, and fail. What we need to understand is that no matter how bad the failure it does not define us and will not own us, unless we let it. Failure it can be bad, and at times it can be even devastating, but it is something that we can overcome. A few things to consider when overcoming failure and preventing it in the future are:
1) Surround yourself with good people. For a plant to grow green and strong, it needs strong roots, the proper care, and it needs to be in a place that has lots of light. Human beings are the same way, we can encouraged, strengthened, and pushed in all the right directions when we surround ourselves with the right people. However, being around young people in a variety of settings for several years now, I've seen first hand how destructive poor friend choices can be. A lot of good kids and adults often have had great intentions in befriending or even engaging in missionary dating to try and bring up those who so desperately need to hear about the good news of Jesus and have their lives changed.
Now, I'm not saying that good influences can never change hearts, what I am saying is be extremely careful, it is much easier to be pulled down then to pull someone up. If you're having doubts about this idea, my advice would be to try it sometime, take a folding chair, one that is fairly strong and that can support your weight and stand up up on the chair. Now, have a friend or sibling stand near the chair and conduct two experiments first have them try and pull you down. It should happen quite easily, next stand by them and try and pull them up on the chair, my guess is it probably will be extremely difficult. The same is true of the people we surround ourselves with: be careful.
2) Listen to wise advice. One of the things I think a lot of us will regret is we didn't fully comprehend how smart our parents, coaches, professors, and bosses truly are. Older men and women who have walked in our place, experienced the stage of life we are currently in, and have made similar mistakes that we have or will make can offer some valuable insight and guidance on how to pursue excellence and reach your full potential.
Listen to advice. Ask questions. Learn from mistakes, and above all do your best to minimize distractions. One of the biggest things problems in this generation is not their lack of education or opportunity but rather we are distracted and pulled away from what really matters to pursue what really doesn't matter. I will say this that your personal goals for your life cannot all be work related, although it is good and healthy to set some quality work related goals for yourself. Ask people to help you discern and understand what you're passionate about, where your gifts lie, and how you can pursue excellence and reach your full potential in life.
3) Set reasonable goals. One of the biggest mistakes people have made is to set goals which aren't attainable. Change and growth take time and patience, so don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to accomplish the transformation immediately. Be understanding and knowledgeable that bad habits are hard to break and you will fall into temptation even after you've started to change your life. My best advice is to find someone that would hold you accountable, pray for you, and challenge you to set reasonable goals so that you can be all that God created and intended you to be. In closing habits that challenge you to pursue excellence will carry over in all areas of life and impact you in great ways. Pursue excellence, learn from mistakes, don't settle for good enough, reach for your full potential, learn to laugh at yourself along the way, and above all get up every time you fall.
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