I want to be a "Those" instead of a "They"

Are you counted in the "those" camp, or are you a "they"?

I just finished studing Matthew 1-4 and have been really blessed by how Jesus was on mission from His conception onward, (to save His People from their sins) and the lessons we can learn about keeping the mission alive through the examples of Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

Now I am into HAPPINESS, the beatituds in Matthew 5. :0)

and HAPPY are THOSE...(uh, yeah, these are the ones I want to be like)

1. Who are poor in spirit. You know people like this. They aren't puffed up, but humble, lowly, opposite of those who need to "make themselves big/heard/known". All they have is not their own, but God's. They are God-dependent and claim nothing to themselves. These lucky duckies receive the Kingdom!
2. Who mourn: These lovelies sorrow over sin, the grieve over it. And not just their own sin, but sin in the world. They walk in true repentance and are compassionate. Their reward? They will themselves be comforted!
3. Who are meek: These happy darlings are forgiving - they turn the other cheek when smited. They think more highly of others than of themselves, and they shall inherit the earth. No retribution or vengance in this camp!
4. Who hunger/thirst for righteousness: Christ's righteousness satisfies them, and they shall be filled! They recognize that their own self-righteousness is rags, a blanket to short to cover them. They eat "heavenly manna", bread from heaven, and don't live by man's declarations. They keep looking Up.
5. Who are merciful: These happy ones spread the joy when they give others a second chance, extending grace and favor to others. They look for the best in people, forgive wrongs, seek to help. In return? They will receive mercy.
6. Who are pure in heart: "to the pure all things are pure". They believe the best and live in right/clear conscience before God and men, all to please Him - and they will see Him! Their motives are Godly.
7. Who are peacemakers: These beautiful people create peace instead of stirring up strife, and they are called sons of God. They unite instead of divide.
8. Who are persecuted for righteousness sake: chew on this! They are persecuted a) for taking a righteous/godly stand, or b) by the self-righteous indignation of others, or c) for Christ's righteousness - their faith. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

and lastly, when "they" revile, persecute, say all kinds of evil against you falsely for His sake, REJOICE and be exceedingly glad!

I want to be a THOSE, a happy one who helps to create that truth in others. I don't want to be a THEY who acts against "those" . Let's be happy and spread it around to others!

Letting God Talk

Stop.

Just stop, right now.

Stop moving, stop talking, stop trying to figure it out.  

Stop.

And listen.

Do you hear Him?

Wait and listen for His voice.

Let it cut through the striving frenzy of human emotion and the opinion of man.

Let it brush away the confusion.

What is He saying?

What does He want?

In YOUR life?

I am intrigued and baffled by the insistence we have at gazing at everyone else's navel when we haven't cleaned our own out yet.  God speaks to us, and our job is to follow Him.  

I recently did something that I knew I needed to do.  It was the right thing to do.  I did it, and it turned out well for all involved, and I was glad.  Mission accomplished.  And yet.

Days later God whispered in my heart, and He wasn't impressed.  Although it was the "right" thing to do, and it turned out well, I had missed what God wanted.  See, I was happy to do what I knew was right, and I had my eyes on myself.  But God had really been interested in my motivation.  He didn't want me to do it for me or to be satisfied with the result I received.  It hadn't been about me.  I needed to hear what He wanted me to hear in the situation.

It can be hard to understand clearly what God is doing, but if we'll stop and listen, we'll hear Him.

I read this recently:

"...'and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished'...But they understood none of these things...." (Luke 18:31,34)

God was working out His purpose, and the disciples weren't understanding it.  From their vantage point, it didn't make sense.

"God called jesus Christ to what seemed absolute disaster.  And Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death, leading every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken.  His life was an absolute failure from every standpoint except God's.  But what seemed to be failure from man's standpoint was a triumph from God's standpoint, because God's purpose is never the same as man's purpose.  

This bewildering call of God comes into our lives as well.  The call of God can never be understood absolutely or explained externally; it is a call that can only be perceived and understood internally by our true inner-nature.  The call of God is like the call of the sea--no one hears it except the person who has the nature of the sea in him.  What God calls us to cannot be definitely stated, because His call is simply to be His friend to accomplish His own purposes.  Our real test is in truly believing that God knows what he desires.  The things that happen do not happen by chance--they happen entirely by the decree of God.  God is sovereignly working out His own purposes.....If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the calm, relaxed pace which should be characteristic of the children of God."  Oswald Chambers.

Things can look wrong but be right.  

Things can look one way and be another.

Let's hear God.  Give Him the room to speak into our hearts.  Let Him direct and re-direct us.

When's the last time you heard God redirect you the way you were thinking about something?

Getting into God's Boat and Enjoying the Journey

Mark 6:45, Jesus “made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side…”.

I have the pleasure of living a life chock full of mistakes, trials-and-error to learn from, and the questionable yet compelling desire to share from those experiences. Case in point. Have you ever had one of those times when you are doing something right, maybe even something nice to bless someone else, yet the process of getting it done saps all the joy out of it, not just for yourself, but for those involved. I can give examples from any number of the roles I live out in this life, but here are a few from my experience as a mother, a spouse, a pastor.

As a mother, I want to make my children their favorite cookie to bless them (we don’t usually have cookies in the house. You can pray for how disadvantaged our kids are). In the process of making the cookies, I find I am out of ingredients which calls for a run to the store. Frustration. I didn’t plan on it taking this long. As I am baking I get interrupted with other peoples needs. More frustration. I just want to get this done. As I grump my way through the process, snapping at my family if they should cross my path, my joy is gone and theirs drains away under the weight of my snarky attitude. Oh, they’ll eat the cookies, they’ll like them, but there will be no joy.

As a wife I can want to bless my spouse with some “personal attention” if you catch my drift. As the day progresses, however, things can happen that begin to strip that desire away. Unsuspecting, my hubby can be full of good expectation, while I am fighting my day. I can fulfill his expectations, but if I have an attitude that doesn’t enjoy the process, the end-goal isn’t particularly spectacular for either of us. What a waste!

As a pastors, we can have a vision of God’s purpose for His church, but is the end-goal really the goal?

In Mark 6:45, Jesus “made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side…”. God sent them in a particular direction, putting them in the boat they were to travel in.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I am desperate simply to know what direction God wants me to go in and how He wants me to get there. In this story, these blessed dudes had that answered for them.

In the midst of their God-directed journey, the winds resist them, making rowing difficult. They are now straining to reach the other side. Wow. How many times have I been headed in a God-direction and felt the resistance pick up until I find myself straining with all my effort to fulfill the vision?

And then there’s Jesus, coming to them, walking on the sea. “Cheer up boys, there’s nothing to worry about” is His response to them. No worries, men, I’m here. See Me? It’s going to be a fine ride!

When we get our eyes on the end-game, on reaching the other side, on gaining the success of our vision, we can strain in the journey when it meets resistance, (or coast along in our own sufficiency when it’s smooth sailing, priding our skill as rowers), and all Jesus wanted was for them to SEE HIM IN THE JOURNEY.

THE JOURNEY is of primary importance. How am I going about it? Do I see Jesus as I travel, or am I focused elsewhere?

Oswald Chambers puts it this way: His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish—His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see “Him walking on the sea” with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see “Him walking on the sea” (6:49). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.

Interestingly enough, when I reach the goal of seeing Him as I travel, then I will ultimately reach my vision “with good cheer”. (Mark 6:50). I’ll have joy in the journey. I like that!
As a church, we have gotten into a God-given boat and been sent in a particular direction. God has directed us to sell our building and start something new, to go where we haven’t gone before. As we push off towards the vision He has given us, will we see Him in the journey? Let’s do it! Let’s see Him along the way – let’s be of good cheer and enjoy the ride with Jesus. Because really, what good is reaching the shore if Jesus isn’t in the boat?

Moving into New Things

This last week I've been chewing on all the messages we have heard in the last weeks, and I spent time pulling together the recurring themes in them. I also spent looking back since 2002 at recurring themes God has spoken to me personally, and I have to say...

I AM SO EXCITED

about what God is doing in and through us.

I am also THANKFUL for the friends who have kept up with us, engaging in conversation, dreaming with us, praying with us, believing together for the future. I am GRATEFUL for great and faith-filled attitudes too!

It's hard for us, as human beings, to accept the pace and timing of change - especially if we can see ahead through God's various gifts of discernment, knowledge and prophecy. But to have the amazing Spirit-resolve to see it through to the end - it is an amazing feeling.

Just think...a church without walls...

Long -kept dreams and vision awaken and stir
Unseen chains slipping away
God's timetable moves forward
His perfect timing
A new thing

Revealing - the bad and sad, the good and the glad
Shifting, moving, changing
Growing, stretching, enlightening

People
Loving, patient, faithful, loyal
Sons, daughters, friends
Tenacious, generous
One

True friends
Nothing to prove
Everything to gain
Together

Aaaaaaaaaaah. Priceless.

Refreshment that Comes from God

This is such a beautiful Psalm, and I think a timely one for us now. When going through tough times, who doesn't relish the thought of trees by the water, the refreshment of quiet, of good things? I put the original here for you first, then read on to my paraphrase. How would you paraphrase it?

Psalm 1, NKJV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor stands in the paths of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water

that brings forth its fruit in its season,

whose leaf also shall not wither;

and whatever he does shall prosper.

Now, for the Michelle D Higgins Version.....

Psalm 1, MDHV – A life worth living!

Happy is the one who gets godly advice and counsel for life’s situations,

Who hangs out with people who are living right with God and for God,

Who chooses a faith-attitude that believes God;

This person thinks through a God-filter, seeking and seeing His perspective on life.

This person draws life, soul-care, encouragement, comfort and refreshment from intimate relationship with God

which in turn results in an enjoyable and rewarding life,

one that doesn’t burn out or dry up when under fire;

And succeeds in whatever calling God has given him.

Have a blessed day!

APPRECIATE YO MAMA!:

Last one in this series....

Growing up, dinnertime was always anticipated in our household. It was the tastiest meal of the day! As a mother, it is a meal that I enjoy providing for my family. There is something special about everyone gathered together at the table to eat and share together. I would never have considered disrespecting my mother and the effort she put into providing a delicious, warm meal for me. As a mother, it would be insulting to prepare meals for my family only to have them disregard those meals and the effort that was put into them. In our household, appreciation is shown in different ways. My family is generous to say thank you for what is served, complimenting my efforts (even when it doesn’t turn out so good- I’d mention the recently grilled corn, but that’s another story), and by helping to set and clear the table and clean the kitchen afterwards. My husband is generous to provide the finances I need to put these meals on the table, and he enjoys the result!

As a Church, “eating at the table” should be accompanied by equal respect. Have we shown our appreciation for what has been offered? Have we assisted in some way for what we are about to share in? Have we provided what was necessary to put the “meal” together? Or are we simply consumers or food critics? Do we eat and run? Do we eat and pick apart the meal?

Sometimes, it is when visitors come to eat that we are shown the most appreciation. I am always blessed when visitors in a service give an offering. They don’t have to do that, and there’s a certain graciousness to it-sort of like bringing a hostess gift when visiting someone else’s house. It shows a generosity of spirit and it’s always a thoughtful surprise. As members of the church family however, we move beyond graciousness and become intentional participants in family life. So I might ask, “What table are you sitting down to eat at?”

THEY HAVE BIG BUTTS…

Okay, the whole conversations on money were a single-session download of thoughts that I've broken down from my head to these pages. This thought had me giggling in church. Sometimes, you just go with what comes to you....

When we don’t give, we just end up with big butts! Our wallet gets fatter, and our butts (where wallets are often kept) bulge out. Who wants a fat butt? In essence, we get fat butts by hording our own seed, for our own consumption, and it only leads to poverty. When we don’t sow it, don’t spread it around, it won’t come back to us in increase.

In kindergarten we used to sing a song, “Love is Like a Magic Penny” (thanks Roxie Phillips!) - think I've shared this before, hmmm......

Love is like a magic penny, you hold it tight and you won’t have any.
Lend it, spend it and you’ll have so many, they’ll roll all over the floor.
Ooooh, love is nothing til you give it away, give it away, give it away.
Love is nothing til you give it away and you’ll end up having more.

Good, huh? Love and money, baby, love and money. Anything good worth having is worth sharing and will come back to you!

ENTITLEMENT, EXCUSES AND ECONOMICS

ENTITLEMENT, EXCUSES AND ECONOMICS
One of my first professors in University was a microeconomics professor who liked to say “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”. That has stuck with me all these years. Everything has a cost, everything. My love costs something: when I love I often say “no” to me and “yes” to others. My affections cost something: what I give to one thing I cannot give to another – my resources are finite. You get the drift. And guess what, eating costs money!

We like to eat dinner out, and my attitude towards tipping was initially developed by those I respected – I watched how they approached tipping and followed their example. Often, that example was one of tipping for excellent service. If the service was great, we tipped. If not, we tipped less, a sort of sliding scale. Tipping was a matter of personal judgment of the service received. Interestingly, while I might be inclined to tip more or less, I have never even considered walking away without paying for the meal I have eaten. The food had been purchased and prepared for me. The location of the meal had been prepared for me. Even when I have not particularly enjoyed a meal, I have always paid for it. I may never go to that restaurant again, but when I do choose to eat their food, I pay for it. Tipping then tops things off, showing my appreciation for the service rendered by the staff.

I want to suggest this scenario as a picture of our relationship to the Church, painting with broad strokes, so bear with me. When we attend a particular church, we become “patrons” of that establishment. We choose to go there and to eat off their particular menu. We avail ourselves of their services, their “spiritual food” and their hospitality. Why then do we think nothing of “skipping out on the bill”? (Here is where the broad strokes come in. We don’t “purchase” anything in the Church with our tithe– it is an analogy of spiritual life). We partake of what the Church offers, but fail to bring our tithes. Maybe we will leave an occasional “tip” of goodwill, but week in and week out we choose to come, to take part, and to not contribute to the overhead of the establishment? It takes money to keep a building open, the lights on, the place clean, staffed, atmosphere set. There’s no getting around that. We wouldn’t do that to any other establishment!

Perhaps we get around it by saying that it is a “spiritual establishment”. But it resides in the natural. Does our spiritual life not need natural sustenance?

Perhaps we get around it by saying that “such-and-such church” or “that ministry’ is more deserving of our money. Then go eat there! Where you eat, that is where you pay the bill. I don’t eat at Applebee’s and then pay the bill at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse – I pay Applebee’s. If I am sustained and nourished in a particular house of worship, then that is where I bring my tithes.

Perhaps we get around it by saying that the money belongs to, and goes back to God, so we can give wherever we felt “led” to give. Where do we feel “led” to be connected to the Body (God)? Where do we feel “led” to come and eat? That is where our tithe should go. If we aren’t getting fed where we are, or we don’t like the food served, then by all means change where we eat, but then pay where we eat. To do otherwise lacks integrity.

Giving is not limited to one place, but for certain it is right to bring your tithes to the house that is feeding you.

To do otherwise is ungrateful, unthankful, arrogant and entitled. How do you see it?

By the way, as I’ve matured, my tipping habits have changed. I have chosen to live a generous life and enjoy blessing the hard working staff where we eat. It would have to be truly terrible service for the tip to dip. I tip generously. I try to engage with the wait staff and verbalize my appreciation, backing it up with my money at the end of the meal. Whether it is acknowledged or not, it matters to me. I am blessed to be a blessing. And as much as I like to receive good things, I want to give that to others as it is in my power to do so. What kind of patron are you?

LAMBS TAILS, CHURCH LIFE, & MONEY

Money is an uncomfortable subject for many to talk about, but honestly, it's a necessary part of our daily life, so let's talk.

Just as our physical bodies have many members, as believers we are all members of one Body, Christ’s. When we withhold from the Body, it strangulates the flow of life, potentially resulting in death to parts of the Body.

Growing up I had friends who raised sheep for showing – you know, competitive judging for best in breed, etc. One day I watched them place rubber bands tightly at the base of the each lambs tail. When I asked why, they explained that the rubber band cut off the circulation of blood to the tail and eventually the tail would fall off, which was part of the requirements for showing. Blocking the flow of blood to the tail resulted in death, severing the tail from the body.

In Biblical application, 1 Corinthians talks about how we are the Body of Christ. This truth can be applied to our lives both individually and to the church – many churches make up Christ’s body, and each part contributes to the health and vitality of the whole.

There are parts, some worthy of more honor than others (parts that are more visible, prominent), but we do not disregard any part – all parts of the Body are necessary. God does not create unnecessary parts! Some may esteem one ministry or church over another, but God says there are no unnecessary parts! Where you are positioned in a Church, you are connected to the whole Body. Just think, each part of your own body has vessels that direct the flow of blood, the flow of life, throughout your whole body (via veins, capillaries). If you choose not to allow “life” to flow through your part (such as putting a band around your arm that cuts off the flow of blood), then it will strangulate and separate that very necessary part from blessing and being a part of the Body as a whole.

What strangulates life in the church? Withholding.

· Withholding service
· Withholding money
· Withholding fellowship
· Withholding ourselves. Hearts withheld often results in withholding in other areas.

When there is freedom of flow to each part, life is imparted and shared, enabling each part to function and prosper the Body as a whole with no member lacking. Just think, the veins running through your life, the conduit of blessing through your life, feeds the health of the whole Body. We are “blessed to be a blessing”. Blessing in my life does not benefit me alone! We have the power to bless or curse, to withhold or live generously.

[Note: There are those who argue that the corporate expression of the church is not necessary, but my body is a corporate expression of many parts. What that corporate expression looks like is not what I am arguing, but that we are meant to live in connection with one another, supporting and strengthening each other as we reside in community together. I expect my personal arm to benefit my personal body, etc.].

There is no greater investment than the Kingdom of God. When we give, we give to Him, to the tangible expression of His Body in the earth, and we are supporting the life flow of His Body. Where you are positioned, that is where you are connected to the Body, and that is the point where life is going to flow. As a hand, the life doesn’t flow from my hand to the belly, but from my hand to the arm. Where are you connected to the Body? That’s where your life is going to make a primary contribution to the whole. If you are connected to the Body of Christ via a local Christian Church, then allow life to flow through you to the rest of the Body, freely and generously.

Life, Leadership & Sermon on the Mount - Pt 2

The good news is, no one was harmed in the writing of this blog. No snoring occurred, sleep was had, and all are feeling rested. Read on. :)

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM MATTHEW 6

1. Don’t Blow Your Own Horn (1-4). We all like to have our ego stroked, but really, how annoying – “look at me, look at me”. Let your actions speak for themselves without making a show out of them. And leaders, take note, pay attention to what your team is doing. Notice the good, celebrate the good. It can be helpful to establish regular times of recognition for outstanding work or effort. Acknowledgement goes a long way with your team.
2. Mean What You Say: Don’t just talk to be heard (5-15)
a. Talk to people in private. Make petitions in private. Both as a leader and a follower, it shows respect for the other person, considers them first.
b. Don’t be a pest with your petitions – eventually your voice is going to be drowned out by the plethora of words used (Think “the boy who cried wolf”). Followers, keep your requests simple, relevant and to the point. Leaders, let them know you’ve heard them.
c. Ask the right way:
i. Show honor and respect
ii. Let them hear/see that you are for them, not being self-motivated
iii. Be clear about what you need
iv. Reconcile any difficulties or conflicts
v. Be teachable. Ask for help in achieving your goals.
vi. Treat others the way you want to be treated and it will get noticed!

3. Whistle While You Work (16-18). Enjoy your work and work hard. The 7 dwarfs in “Snow White” had the right idea – a positive attitude creates an uplifting atmosphere, even in dark places. The book “Fish” is a great illustration of this, depicting how the fish mongers at Pike Place Market became world famous, in part because of this attitude. They chose the attitude they were going to bring to work, and then had fun while working. Attitudes are infectious – spread some joy where you work!
4. Keep Perspective (19-21). Work needs to be kept in perspective. Your greatest treasure lies in the people you have relationship with. Don’t allow work, achieving your goals, to run roughshod over your relationships. Don’t neglect your families. Stay connected with your friends. Stay in tune with how people around you are doing. Are we pushing too hard? Are they bored and need a challenge? It can be as simple as asking not only how we are doing at achieving our goals, but how are the people who are doing the work doing? People matter, and they’ll work for you or against you.
5. Keep a Clear Vision (22-23). Clean the glass on your lamp all the time, removing those things that fog up the glass. Have you ever lit a candle, and after a while the glass holder it is in begins to blacken with soot from the flame? It dims the light of the flame. We need to keep the vision burning bright, removing all that distracts from the flame of our vision.
6. Choose Whom You’ll Serve (24). There can only be one master. One boss. One vision. One goal. When our allegiances or efforts are divided, our ability to succeed are lessened. As a leader, clarify the vision, the goal, the tasks continually to keep everyone on the same page. As a follower, don’t get sidetracked. While you are on the team, eat, breathe and sleep the same vision. Rowers in a boat will get where they are going faster if everyone is pulling in the same direction, in unison. If someone is pulling against the direction you are going, they need to turn around or get out of the boat (hopefully finding a different boat to row in – no one gets anywhere fast by themselves).
7. Don’t Worry (25-24). As leaders we need to create a stable environment for people. When shaky times come, help them stay on task. Today has enough worries of its own, so keep the “what ifs” at bay and focus on today. Hey, that rhymes! Also, leaders need to plan for eventualities and be prepared for unexpected turn of events, to handle them with calm. Nothing shakes people up more than to see their leader get frazzled or blow their stack.

Leadership, Life & the Sermon on the Mount-Part 1

I want you to know that at 2 AM I am deeply skilled at Spider Solitaire. I’m just saying.It’s in the crucible of marriage that my skills deepen – I’ve been driven from my bed by the melodic, light snoring of my beloved. Normally, this doesn’t keep me awake, but since my attitude began to slide towards decidedly uncharitable ends, I decided to get up and write what I was dreaming about. See, I went to bed early, driven by my need for quiet (noise was getting under my skin, a pattern?), and I decided to read my Bible first. I consider the following thoughts to be a gift from God for choosing an edifying endeavor over yelling at my family to be quiet (My tongue is in my cheek). :)

I was reading the Sermon on the Mount and “flashed” on how applicable it was to leadership. [Note: I once read the Sermon on the Mount and “flashed” on how it could be read through the sieve of 1 Corinthians 13 at almost every point – that was profound for me, such a practical lesson on what love looks like day to day. But I digress.] I love how Jesus’ words are so completely applicable to our everyday living, and to be challenged by them in the context of leadership is awesome, so here goes, my thoughts on leadership and the Sermon on the Mount. I’ll probably write this in parts, beginning in Matthew, chapter 5. Verses will be noted in parentheses. I’d love your thoughts on the various applications of these verses, so please feel free to share!

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM MATTHEW 5

1. Lead By Example (15-16). “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”. The light in you, the gospel of Jesus, is something that is meant for others. It’s meant to be seen, visible in you. So, "who is in your house”? Who is in your everyday life that needs the light?Your life is meant to be an influence to others, to be a living example of Jesus, a light lifted up for all to see. The light becomes VISIBLE through your good works, because that is what people can SEE. Just do it for Him, give Him the glory as His light shines through you. It’s all Him, baby.
2. Integrity Matters, Practice What You Preach. (19-20). There are two kinds of people here: Both are teaching and leading others, but one breaks the law, the other obeys the law. If we are going to be a light to others, we need to be living in that light ourselves. We can’t point others towards something that is not applied in our own lives – what hypocrisy. Leaders gotta walk the walk. Let your life be a living example.
3. Leave No Man Behind: Reconcile offenses whenever possible (21-26). In the course of our day we are going to have times when life gets ugly, hurtful, confusing, etc. Offenses happen. When we recognize that somehow we have offended someone, don’t leave them hanging – as a leader, go after them! Jesus said that if He had 100 sheep and one was lost, He’d go after it. Don’t leave a team member swinging in the wind, cut them down! It requires humility in a leader, but you can do it! Reconcile quickly: Don’t ignore problems or gloss over them – they’ll bite you later!
4. Get Rid of Bad Apples – they’ll spoil they whole bushel (27-30).Sometimes we have a team member who is hurting the team and efforts to reconcile them have proven fruitless [pun intended]. Their bad attitude or negative actions are going to begin to rub off on others. Sometimes we have to cut off the offending member. I know this can be painful for all involved, but it’s necessary. We are charged with bearing good fruit that remains. If we allow the bad to spoil the good, the harvest may be unnecessarily lost. Really, it’s negligent to allow this to happen. Try to save and restore, but when that fails, cut off the spoiled fruit.
5. Infidelity Breaks Relationships (31-32). Lack of faithfulness, broken promises…infidelity is a tearing of trust in a relationship. On our teams we need to trust each other to fulfill our roles, accomplish our tasks, support and help one another. Be faithful in your dealings as a leader, or your team members will go elsewhere. You’ve worked hard to build relationships on your team, and your follow-through will help retain your members. Build trust by fulfilling your role faithfully.
6. Leaders Keep Their Word – Integrity (33-37). “Let your yes be yes and your no, no”. Our church is familiar with this story. When our middle child, Nathan, was about 9 years old, we found ourselves in the van after a Sunday meeting, heading to lunch. We had promised the children we’d go to McDonalds for lunch, but when the time came, my husband and I would rather have gone to In-n-Out Burger. We told the children of the change in plans and it got quiet in the car. Then, from the back seat came a quiet, and respectful, voice. “Dad, let your yes be yes and your no, no”. Gulp! We immediately turned around and went to McDonalds for our special combo meal of crow and humble pie. Your team is going to remember what you have promised, so follow through!

That completes thoughts for chapter 5. What has been your experience in these areas?

Tough Decisions, Peace, & Alligators

Ever wrestle alligators? That's what a friend calls having a hard day dealing with issues, dealing with people. Ever tried it? It's exhausting! No, I haven't wrestled real alligators, but you get my drift. Sometimes the battles we are in seems endless. There are opposing and contradicting forces pulling one way and another, we aren't sure from one day to the next how things are going to end. But then....

When we are torn between two opinions, pulled in different directions, and we have a decision to make, how do we know when we make the right one? Peace. A supernatural peace that goes beyond our own understanding. I've recently spent months and months wrestling alligators in my own life. Then I made a decision, and with that decision, peace flooded my soul. That is nothing less than God.

John 14:27 (NLT) "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid."

See, the difficulty is that I want to make decisions that God would make - and that isn't always recognizable to me. Sometimes it goes against what I want, what seems logical, etc. But when I make a decision that lines up with His will, His peace comes. A relief from struggle and burden.
Was I sure the decision was the right one? I thought so, but was still wrestling....until I made my decision firm in my heart, and the peace came.

Without the peace, I'd still be wrestling.
So, if you have decisions to make, if you are feeling pulled betwixt and between, choose which way you will go. If peace is not your companion, go back to God because you're not done yet.

And by the way, having His peace doesn't mean I understand it all, doesn't mean I have all the answers, except for one: I'm right where I need to be with God. Beautiful.

Got peace?

How do you handle making tough decisions? Does peace play a factor in the decision-making process, and what is that like?

Staying Centered on the Gospel | TheResurgence

I really enjoyed reading this this morning. Greear provides some great thoughts about how to enter into a day of living a gospel-centered life. You'll enjoy this!

Staying Centered on the Gospel TheResurgence

• Nothing I do today can make God love me more or less
• God's presence and approval is all I need to have joy today
• God's Word for me is true, His intentions for me are blessing....

Michelle

Many gods in San Diego

Every morning I drive by a large idol of Buddha. It's in a private yard just off the main street. At the "French" bakery this morning I bought croissants for our staff meeting (I try to be nice when really I'm feeling a bit grouchy - the good overcomes the evil) and there were Hindu gods at the cash register and over the door. And private homeowners are not allowed to have Bible studies in their homes without a major use permit or they'll get fined. (I realize that's a bit of an oversimplification - there are parameters and issues about size, parking, etc). Churches in San Diego are regularly denied the possibility of buying property.

Our City needs Jesus. Our City needs Pastors and churches to stay, to continue, to stand and not give up. Our City needs Christians to permeate and influence and flavor society. Where is there evidence that we are here? (Thanking God right now for the crosses on our hills that have been hard-fought for).

Let's lift up Christ. Let's let our light shine. Let's be salty and relevant. Let's love, and learn how to love, our City.

Let's not waste our time in-fighting. Let's not waste our time figuring out how people are wrong, but let's let it be known God is right. Declare the goodness of God! Declare His goodness in your life, tell of His wonderful love! Let it be known who He is and what He has done. Don't let the hinderances and obstacles stop us from BEING CHRISTians. Love Him. Live Him. Share Him.

Christians, Community, Barriers, $.....

I've got a lot of thoughts percolating about being a Christian, church, and living like a Believer. Since I don't know exactly what I want to tackle first, I thought I'd just hit on the thoughts and see where it will develop later...sorry, but bullets help me order my thoughts....

• Lots of talk about "community", what constitutes community, how it achieved/maintained, how it is redefining (potentially) the "church" as we know it. I actually love this line of discussion, and think it's essential for Christ-followers to consider. Things to think about: letting go of traditional church structures; accountability and discipleship; roles and relationships; mission-reaching the lost....One question I have is that time is short and so many people are yet to be reached for Christ - does "community" focus on the believer or can it be intentional and purposeful about introducing others to Christ?
• Barriers that exist not just between believers and non-believers, but between Christians! Had some amazing conversations these past months with people from different denominations who have amazing hearts and passion for God, and discovered the barriers we had in communicating (to our Christian brothers) by the words we used. Different definitions for words we commonly use. These men have both the fruits and the gifts of the Holy Spirit evident in their lives, and yet our words created barriers. So: do we shut off conversation because of words we use? Are we willing to converse and learn what our differences are so we can come together? Do we label things in a rigid manner that excludes others? (for example, we often say we are "spirit-filled" because we are baptized in the Holy Spirit and operate in the gifts of the Spirit. But all believers are "spirit-filled", and I know people who would never label themselves this way but who function in the gifts of the Spirit....I've found it is offensive to fellow Christians to say "I am spirit-filled", implying that they are not? Words, wording, definitions....). Do our labels, titles, words create unnecessary barriers between Believers, and what does that say to the world?
• Sectarianism. What an ugly word, yet it seems alive and well in church? Sigh. "I belong to this group or this stream" mentality. Holding up one over the other. Yet we are enjoined to lift up Christ - that's our standard. We can enjoy the particular communities we relate in, but can we do it without exclusion? How can we be many different parts of the Body without excluding or demeaning the value of the other? Many in the Body have been stung by rejection in this area.
• Politics, $, tradition: allowing either of these to get in the way of authentic relationship? Do I need to say anything?

Oh, that's enough of that for now. I'm excited about the future, actually. There is nothing better than being a follower-after-God, joining in on His plan for this party. I'm excited that when God wired me up for life, He gave me interesting thoughts to think, and I look forward to thinking them for Him. At least my thoughts interest me, lol! :)

And for the record, I love the church - it's His Body! I love the inter-connectiveness that that implies, and the life that is meant to flow from one part to the other. I love that it is an extension of HIM. How awesome is that?

Getting Mean and Nasty

Is it ever okay to be mean and nasty? Are we ever entitled to be rude? How about demanding or insensitive?

Sigh.

Yes, we can disagree, be disappointed even. We can have strong feelings and opinions. But love is not mean, nasty, rude, demanding, insensitive, negatively critical.....I am disappointed when I find such things in my own life, and it's a terrible disappointment when on the receiving end of it from Christ-followers.

Love lives a Spirit-controlled life, not allowing emotions to override us. Love listens and asks questions instead of passing judgement first. Love responds instead of reacting.

Do I always walk in perfect love? Nope. But I am constantly working on it.
God, give me patience to love those who are struggling with being unlovely, and to remember that they are on a journey as much as I am. As much as I need God's grace, God help me to extend it.

Let's keep the love.

Simplified Missional Living | TheResurgence

Living like a Christian in 2009. Great article, very accessible and do-able. Dodson shows us that living on purpose for Christ does not have to be complicated. Reaching out doesn't require a degree or special training. Just LIVE your life, don't let it simply happen around you, pulling you in its current. And I think you'll find you enjoy it a whole lot more. What do you think?

Simplified Missional Living TheResurgence

Could it be easier?

• Eat with non-Christians - flee the Christian sub-culture
• Walk, don't drive - engage!
• Be a regular - build relationships
• Hobby with non-Christians. Have fun, be yourself
• Talk to your co-workers. Work on mission
• Volutneer with non-profits. Serve your city
• Participate in city events, with the city
• Serve your neighbors - be creative

How could your life incorporate such changes? Is there one you could focus on right now to get the change started?

Young Love, Simple Love - Part 2

....so the journey continues.

During high school I was exposed to prophetic ministry, and was both amazed and scared by it. Thankfully, those I met were genuine and sincere in the Lord, and I only wanted to experience more of God’s voice in my own life. When I reflect on those times of my youth, it seems truly golden, simple and good. Relationship with God was a natural outflow of love.

Labels, Performance, Failures
I’ve thought a lot about the shift I experienced after high school. …..

The pursuit of Him became [unknowingly, innocently] a pursuit of outward manifestations. Perhaps that’s a bit strong of a statement – I still was after Him – yet as I gained “knowledge” of the gifts of the Spirit, and I wanted to grown in them, I unconsciously began to inventory those things in my life. Where before it just was a part of my relationship with God, it then became something I was aware of, conscious of. With this knowledge came judgment. How was I doing? Did I measure up? Did it sound right, look right, etc. The shift was gradual. At times I was surrounded by other young people, passionate for God, reveling in discovering and moving in the gifts God had given us. Unfortunately, being my own harshest critic and judge, I continued to compare myself. Relationship was becoming performance.

How often have we seen someone gloriously come into relationship with God only to become consumed with wanting to experience His gifts. Learning about them, pursuing them, receiving prayer, sometimes tying themself up in a knot to somehow “earn” the gift or "learn" the gift. “If I just do this or that, I’ll have this gift in my life”. As humans we are very comfortable with formulas. 2+2 = 4. That never changes, it’s dependable. Wouldn’t it be great if God worked that way? If we could just jump through this hoop, say these words, in this manner, it will all “work”. Create this atmosphere, play this music, act this way….”Genuine Holy Spirit ministry” looks like ABC. Yet I can’t help but remember….

Walking in the love of heavenly Father, without reproach, free from the burden of sin and thankful for His hand in mine. Living daily in Him. My words and actions informed not by books I had read or words people spoke, but by my simple relationship with Him. He had created me and He knew how to speak my language! I understood His voice without question. I just LIVED in Him.

THAT is beautiful.

All else pales in comparison. It's hollow and exhausting and utterly disappointing otherwise.

How do we lead others into the simple love relationship? I think that is His job. We give opportunity as it comes, as we follow Him in daily life. It’s not contrived, but free. We join together and worship Him. We hear His word together, and we go on our way, living it out. Living it out in daily life. I'm not saying we forgo being intentional about sharing Jesus, but I'm saying that it needs to flow from our relationship with Him.

Can we go back? Can we rediscover such simplicity? I think we can. Maybe if we just let go of all the voices saying “do this or do that”, and simply follow Him.

I am so thankful for all the Christian Sunday School teachers, pastors, and family who have spoken the Word into my life, explained it, lived it, prayed it. For friends who have stretched me in my faith, stretched me in grace. This is not a solo journey we are on, and I continue to believe in the essential of community in this journey. That’s where I was introduced to Him and inspired to seek more of Him.

Have you had some of these struggles?
Where are you on your journey?
What questions does it bring up for you?

Young Love, Simple Love - Part 1

Been thinking about my faith journey, and it's a long conversation, so I'm going to break it into parts....there's a place I am trying to get to in the conversation, so if you feel like bearing with me....

Confessions of a Believer

I came to the Lord at a young age. It was during a Vacation Bible School that our church hosted during the summer. We gathered for songs, Bible stories, crafts and snacks, and each day there was an opportunity for us to ask Jesus to be the Lord of our Life. I remember the absolute “yes” in my young heart – I wanted Jesus in my life. I responded every day to the altar call, each day passionate to put my hand in His. A kind volunteer took me aside to explain that I only needed to respond one time, that was all it took, but I didn’t care – I wanted to say yes again!

I was an avid reader, so reading the Bible was a pleasure. My mother’s parents gave me my first Bible, a New American Standard version with a puffy brown cover with fancy gold lettering on it. I loved it! I read as much of it as I could. On Sundays I watched and listened in awe as people began to speak in tongues during the services. I was particularly impressed with the Pastors wife, Mrs. Barr. She was like a machine gun, just rattling out this strange yet wonderful language in quick succession….oh, how I wanted to speak in tongues! I read in the Bible about the Holy Spirit, and one quiet day I sat alone in our living room, a patch of sun surrounding me, my Bible on my lap when I asked the Holy Spirit to fill me up and give me this prayer language. I began to speak in tongues on that day, and all I did was ask. God was so good to my young and trusting heart!
Without comprehending what I was doing, I began to experience the flow of the Holy Spirit activated in my life. With my sister, we had “Bible studies” under the playground tree, inviting our friends to hear stories about Jesus. We prayed for a miracle multiplication of cookies in our class one day, (no child wants to be the one responsible for not having brought enough for everyone), and we ended up with leftovers! Several times we had the opportunity to share Jesus with friends on the sports bus, to answer their questions and pray with them. One friend grew up and gave her life wholeheartedly to the Lord. I ran into her in my early 30’s, and she was married to a Christian man and they were serving in youth ministry at their church. God is so good! So often I found myself being faced with people coming and sharing their hearts with me and I would have words of comfort of encouragement for them, even words of discernment or knowledge. This could happen in the cafeteria, on the school bus, at band concerts, after sports games….it was just a regular part of my life. I had no idea there was a name for what I was doing, there was no label, it was just the life flow of the Spirit of God flowing through my heart. I loved God and He loved me! .........more coming

Help for When Your Anxious

I read this article last week....here's an excerpt. Centuries have gone by....nothing new under the sun!

“As we’ve seen, anxiety arises from an excessive desire to be freed from pressing evil or to obtain some hoped-for good…..Whenever you urgently desire to escape from a certain evil or to attain a certain good, strive above all else to keep a calm, restful spirit. Steady your judgment and will, then go quietly and easily after your goal, taking all the appropriate means to attain it.

By “easily” I don’t mean “carelessly”, but rather without hurry, trouble, or anxiety. Otherwise, instead of obtaining the goal you seek, you will hinder it, adding more and more to your perplexities.

Examine yourself often, at least every morning and night. If your soul has become anxious, make it a priority to bring it quietly back into the presence of God, placing all your hopes and affections under the direction of His holy will.

When you become aware that you are growing anxious, commend yourself to God, as the Apostle Paul urges, and resolve firmly not to take any steps whatever to obtain the result you desire until your disturbed state of mind is altogether quieted. Of course, this is the approach to take uness it’s necessary to do something without delay. In that case, you must restrain yourself from acting impulsively, even when you must act immediately.

Frances De Sales 1567-1622, a bishop of Geneva, Switzerland, was well known as a preacher and writer.
.Discipleship Journal, May/June 2009, Issue 171, “Soul Disturbance”, p. 66

• I love that he talks about waiting on the Lord AND going after your goals. We tend to think that "goals" are new, are business....yet this preacher, hundreds of years ago, gets it!
• I also love that he talks about taking "appropriate means" to attain your goal - go after it! People think waiting on the Lord is inactivity, waiting for God to move, to drop the answer from the sky, into the lap....yet we have to move forward, take a step.

Did you like this?

The Life Church Rocks!

Wow. I am sitting here this morning amazed at the light that shines out of the people I do life with. There is such immense faith, creativity and courage in their hearts. Their response to hard things emboldens me, lifts me up. How do they respond?

• Quickly and postively
• Creatively
• Strategically
• Seeing beyond the moment to the future
• With vision and passion
• Tenacity
• Courage
• Not looking behind

There is such love in the heart of our church family, amazing, courageous, stalwart love. WOW! I am especially grateful for those who see beyond, who have caught something in their spirit for the future. Thank you, God, for this amazing group of people we call The Life Church!

Lessons Learned When a Church is Growing

I was asked what lessons I've learned while helping to lead a church that has been experiencing growth - a big question! I'll try to give you 10.

1. Growth hurts. It stretches and challenges us beyond our comfort zone, making room for greater capacity. If we try to avoid these symptoms, we won't grow and our capacity will be diminished.

2. Growth is scary. It involves risk. But with risk comes great adventure! Risk achieves what others thought was impossible.

3. Growth tests our commitment. Relationships, motivations, and attitudes will be tested, and the refining process brings out the highest quality gold.

4. Success involves failure. We don't like failure, but we learn from it. It constantly pushes us to God to assess ourselves, to renew our dreams, to expand our creativity - He is the ultimate source and end of all we do. God is endless in possibilities, hope, creativity, opportunity.....

5. We need positive, believing, hope-filled, creative people around us. They breathe life, speak life, see the potential, the possibilities, and they dream. The nay-sayers, the "realists", the offended, the negative and critical sap all vitality, creativity, hope and nourishment - it's like killing a young plant before it has the opportunity to become firmly established.

6. Good fruit rocks! Celebrate it all over the place, no matter how small. See the good, advertise the good, focus on the good, lift it up and let it shine. Shout out what God is doing. Problems always exist, but they can't be our focus. People will be drawn to what God is doing, and how will they know unless we tell them?

7. God is in charge. He's firmly in control and our journey belongs to Him, leads to Him. Therefore our trust must be firmly rooted in Him at all times.

8. When I can't, God can.

9. Rejoicing is a choice. I must choose to rejoice, choose not to be distracted from it, choose to seek the joy and express it as best I can.

10. Growing a Church is about growing the Body of Christ. We choose to do it in an organized setting which meets weekly - but our purpose is One. To lift up Christ, to help others be drawn into relationship with Him, to grow in relationship with Him. He is what we are all about.

There. 10 things I've learned and am still learning.

What Kind of Faithfulness Do We Have?

We are very proud to call ourselves "the church", to take on the identity of Christ's body, removing ourselves from the perceived stigma of simply being an organized entity. "I don't go to church, but we are the church". But if the distinction is so precious to us, do we really contemplate what it means?

If we are Christ's body, we are in sacred union with GOD. I don't know about you, but in my mind and heart, this is no small matter.

I read a book recenty on marriage, and I was struck by the similarities between the struggles in marriage and struggles in the Church. It is grievous that the Church has statistically eclipsed the world's divorce rate - we are now leading the pack - and the reasons for divorce mirror some of the issues that the Church experiences on a regular basis.

Some reasons given for divorce:

• God told me to leave my spouse (yes, people actually have said this)
• Marriage is just an institution, and I want relationship
• I'm just not happy in this relationship
• You are holding me back from succeeding (amazing)
• I've been seeing someone else (also a common problem)
• I've changed, my needs have changed
• You've changed and I don't like change
• It's too hard to stay
• I've wasted my time in this relationship
• This relationships isn't exciting enough

...same reasons people give for leaving a church

You get the drift. We can all find ways to try and justify unfaithfulness, and we can sound self-righteous while doing so. But when a covenant relationship is entered into, it's for keeps. Perhaps the permissibility of divorce within our Church culture, and the underlying lack of faithfulness, is the root of the same struggle for faithfulness in the Church? It is so much easier to give up, move on, or make an exchange than to do the nitty gritty hard work of keeping a relationship together. Will it always get better if you try? No. Does that excuse the covenant made?

The devastation of divorce is real, and there is a devastation in Churches when they experience faithflessness. I'm often saddened by the callousness of people to the pain Churches, Pastors, leaders and friends experience as a result of faithflessness - but I can't say I'm surprised.

Can we turn the tide? Can we reverse the trend of divorce in the Church? Can we strengthen the faithfulness of peoples hearts in relationship to one another? I believe it is possible - anything is possible if we believe. So we will continue, one marriage, one relationship at a time. And in the meantime, I'll be checking my own heart.