Igift?

In German, the word Gift means poison!

(A friend of ours wondered one time why a lady in the store gave her an odd look when she noticed “baby gift” on her shopping list!)

Anyway, I got a great gift for Christmas. My son (we exchanged names this year) -- at my request -- gave me a new MP3 device.  I quickly got my NLT Bible and the audio version of John on it. Wow -- amazing tool -- portable and ready at all times.

But it can be so much more. Unlike its poorer cousins, this one features APPS!

Thousands and thousands of apps! Lots are free, you can download them and suddenly -- another time sucker! Another distraction. Another substitute for reality and authenticity.

A device to remind me to worship my God! 

Or…something else...to keep me far from His presence. 

This morning 1 John 5:21 came home. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (NLT)

Individualism and Commitment

American cultural traditions define personality, achievement, and the purpose of human life in ways that leave the individual suspended in glorious, but terrifying, isolation. From Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life

Choices can change the heart

How does a lapse of faith occur? Very simply: one begins to live like everybody else.  Leo Tolstoy

Thanksgiving: antidote for grumbling

Dr. Dale Robbins writes, “I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems.  But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better.  It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives.”  

Complaining makes us miserable!

SO busy!

I wondered to myself this morning: has any academic ever taken the time to calculate how much time we give to convincing others around us how busy we are?

Samuel Adams on commitment

Before the Revolutionary War began Samuel Adams issued a gut check to his fellow colonists who would dare to call themselves Americans. 

If you love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen. 

Another great charge to commit or forget about it -- to follow through with abandon or abandon all attempt, because no middle ground can be tolerated in regard to supreme causes. 

Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God. Luke 9.62.

Not a spectator sport

In the Kingdom of God, no one can see so long as he remains merely a spectator. Nathan Soderbloom

Opportunity

Opportunity


This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream:-
There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;
And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged
A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords
Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince’s banner
Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.
A craven hung along the battle’s edge,
And thought, “Had I a sword of keener steel-
That blue blade that the king’s son bears,-but this
Blunt thing-!” he snapt and flung it from his hand,
And lowering crept away and left the field.


Then came the king’s son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle-shout
Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day.

- Edward Rowland Sill

A lesson from Weight Watchers

Our appetite for and the steady consumption of any kind of commodity becomes a determining factor for our future. A quotation I heard at WW a couple of weeks back was: "What you eat in private will show up in public!"

It’s not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity. Francis Bacon

Changed?

Tim Hansel recounted a story of a class reunion in an older book of his: 

A close friend of mine was asked back to his forty-year high school reunion. For months he saved to take his wife back to the place and the people he’d left four decades before. The closer the time came for the reunion, the more excited he became, thinking of all the wonderful stories he would hear about the changes and the accomplishments these old friends would tell him.

One night before he left he even pulled out his old yearbooks, read the silly statements and the good wishes for the future that students write to each other. He wondered what ol’ Number 86 from his football team had done. He wondered if any others had encountered this Christ who had changed him so profoundly. He even tried to guess what some of his friends would look like, and what kind of jobs and families some of these special friends had.

The day came to leave and I drove them to the airport. Their energy was almost contagious. “I’ll pick you up on Sunday evening, and you can tell me all about it,” I said. “Have a great time.”

Sunday evening arrived. As I watched them get off the plane, my friend seemed almost despondent. I almost didn’t want to ask, but finally I said, “Well, how was the reunion?” “Tim,” the man said, “it was one of the saddest experiences of my life.” “Good grief,” I said, more than a little surprised. “What happened?”

“It wasn’t what happened but what didn’t happen. It has been forty years, forty years—and they haven’t changed. They had simply gained weight, changed clothes, gotten jobs…but they hadn’t really changed.  And what I experienced was maybe one of the most tragic things I could ever imagine about life.  For reasons I can’t fully understand, it seems as though some people choose not to change.”

There was a long silence as we walked back to the car. On the drive home, he turned to me and said, “I never, never want that to be said of me, Tim.  Life is too precious, too sacred, too important.  If you ever see me go stagnant like that, I hope you give me a quick, swift kick where I need it—for Christ’s sake. I hope you’ll love me enough to challenge me to keep growing.”
 

Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat

Motivation

Motivation and the lack thereof have been occupying my thoughts of late. I saw this one this morning: You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good. ~ Jerry West

The enemy within

God, harden me against myself,
    The coward with pathetic voice

    Who craves for ease and rest and joy.

Myself, arch-traitor to myself,

    My hollowest friend,

    My deadliest foe,

    My clog, whatever road I go. 

          Amy Carmichael, "God Harden Me"

Artful Dodgers

It often occurs to me that the American church gets paralyzed by its verbosity. We so often talk rather than act, because we've elevated discussion to the value of action. 

Fear not those who argue, but those who dodge.  ~ Wolfram Von Eschenbach

Today matters

You have not lived today successfully unless you've done something for someone who can never repay you.  John Bunyan

Winded?

 Most people never run far enough on their first wind

to find out they've got a second.             William James

Keys to sharing Christ

Neil Cole challenges me again and again. In his book Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens he asserts that contemporary evangelism has focused on "the conversation" over the gospel or correct answers to defend our beliefs. In Jesus' pattern though, the keys to sharing the gospel are:

• Time and availability. Relationships that are significant take time. One of the reasons our evangelism is often minimally effective is because we are more interested in rationally conveying a message than we are at truly getting to know people and letting them know us.
• A transformed life. The new life we have in Christ is contagious. This is what the world is dying to have and rarely gets to see.
• Hospitality. Our changed life and kingdom values will best be seen in our everyday life. Practicing hospitality is a powerful way to bridge into deeper relationships where others can see our life in Christ.
• Spiritual intuition. This requires listening carefully, to others and to the Holy Spirit. Rather than relying on a canned presentation of the Gospel that is used every time, listen to others and to the promptings of God's Spirit and you will see more fruit in evangelism. Everybody is unique, and the Spirit knows what the core longings of each person's soul are.
• Generosity. There are few character traits that stand out in this world more than a generous heart. People are drawn to someone who gives freely and cheerfully.

Courage is contagious

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened. Billy Graham

Jesus the Only

We may talk about Alexander the Great, Charles the Great and Napoleon the Great, but not Jesus the Great. He is not the Great -- he is the only. There is nobody like him. He has no rival and no successor. John Stott, The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling

What holds me back

The idea is in thyself. The impediment, too, is in thyself. Thomas Carlyle.
Most of your limitations are self-imposed. John Maxwell.

A lazy person's way is blocked with briars,

but the path of the upright is an open highway.

Proverbs 15:18, 19 (NLT)

The Exquisite [and Deadly] Nature of Excuses, Part V

Recognize them in the light of Truth
James instructs that "to the one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." I need to regularly confess my excuse-making for what it is -- confession is agreeing with God and in this case, moves me to no longer provide myself with an "out". How much would I learn and see change, if I would confess and take responsibility for my past actions, for present habits (like being habitually late or "blowing off" appointments or commitments) and realize honestly that what I do today (or do not do) impacts the future.

Commit to take action
Deny power to an old enemy: passivity -- that characteristic so common among men, but also one which has now invaded the Western Church for generations. Passivity has become the new "spirituality" (I'll wait until God speaks to me....until I know it's God's will....I get motivated....I want to....I get around to it....I have more time....I get better equipped....I know Scripture better.)

In accountability relationships, agree to take responsibility seriously and then hold each other responsible to plans
Excuses are always "anti-accountability." Once we begin to come to grips with our passivity and begin taking action, the next fortress to fall will be: unwillingness to be intentional, to set measurable goals, to being just willing to take the next step. What if we would begin to agree together -- we will stop blaming others, our environment, our lack of time, skill, money or capacity. We won't any longer feel free to do as we please and still get excused (like a lazy jr. high student from P.E.) -- excused from -- excellence, from behavior honoring to God, from serving others, from engaging in evangelism, loving God and people and pursuing hard the purpose of God for our lives.

The Exquisite [and Deadly] Nature of Excuses, Part IV

From a secular viewpoint, Eric Hoffer said, "For many people, an excuse is better than an achievement, because an achievement, no matter how great, leaves you having to prove yourself again in the future; but an excuse can last for a life."

It has occurred to me -- my urge to excuse myself (especially from doing the hard things of following Christ) often centers on two key and lame responses: "I don't want to..." and "I can't!" In other words, "I have no desire, so I will not"...and I have no capacity or ability, so I cannot...

But Scripture says: God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13, NLT). In other words, when I come forth with either of those two excuses, I'm denying the Truth that God's Spirit offers me both the desire and the power to move out. In Biblical terms, it seems the Spirit is always moving, always giving impulses, always offering desire, motivation and power -- all I need to proceed. But when I mutter the excuses, to myself or to others, I am then (the New Testament's language) quenching and grieving the Spirit.

The Exquisite [and Deadly] Nature of Excuses, Part III

The Spiritual Nature of Excuses

• Excuses keep my focus on the temporal instead of the long-term and eternal (1 John 2:15, 16)

• Excuses justify spiritual impotence and sterility.
  

• Excuses deny the power and motivation of God's Spirit in my life.

• Excuses mitigate against faith (meaning I give in to fear and no risk-taking) and they bolster human reason.

• Excuses keep people deceived regarding what are the real values, aim and purpose of their lives.

• Excuses keep (especially males!) silent and abdicating leadership. They keep us out of the game.

• Excuses render marriages, families, churches and organizations fruitless.

The Exquisite [and Deadly] Nature of Excuses, Part II

Another definition of an excuse.

An excuse is a lie, masquerading as a reason.

The Exquisite [and Deadly] Nature of Excuses, Part I

Lord, I will follow You. But let me first go and bury my father. Lord, I would follow You, but I've bought a field, purchased a herd, married a wife...."

In my recent time away, God brought to mind a great deal about excuses. Such a fascinating practice, excuse-making! I came to realize that excuses are exquisite (when we find the perfect one for the right occasion) and simultaneously deadly (because they successfully block us from making further progress).

By way of definition, it occurred to me that an excuse (as opposed to a reason) is a "verbal response allowing its giver to shun responsibility and accountability."


We offer up excuses in the social realm, the marriage realm, on the job and then, above all, in the spiritual life. For me, among the sorriest of communications are those by which we "excuse" not following Jesus and not pursuing His agenda (Matthew 6:33).

So, over the next few days (or weeks!) I want to untangle my thoughts about the issue by jotting them down here. I'd welcome your responses! Certainly, there are the out-and-out lies we utter as excuses: "The dog ate my homework." There are the excuses which might carry within them a kernel of truth. "I've been so busy!" What seems clear is that:

• With them (excuses) I blame others for my failure or ineffectiveness. (Adam: "This woman You gave me...")

• With them I choose a lesser value over a greater one.

• By them I can do what I want and yet not appear to be self-absorbed!

• By them I can avoid doing hard things.
  

• With excuses I blend into the crowd. (ah, the safe mooing herd!)

• With them, I avoid risk, loss and the accompanying pain or humility.

Next time I want to describe what I see as the spiritual nature of excuses -- that explains in my mind how they become so deadly.

I can hear more when I'm quiet!

My son Jeff gave me the gift of rest last week. He took me on a trip, and for seven days, I could rest, read, listen and be quiet. What a treat. There were no expectations, no requirements and no deadlines. It was so good to spend some great time with my son. Then, as I read God's Word, I heard His voice clearly. The Father encouraged me and directed and re-oriented me -- to my value to Him and to my purpose and calling from Him. What a pleasure it was, to just be with the One Who loves Me and knows me by name. What a joy to know that I need not perform to please Him...that He wants me, as He's made me to be, doing what He's made me to do. What a prospect to look forward now -- to serving and developing servants, and therein being like the Master.

Faithful is He Who Called You

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Jesus, in Luke 16:10

Let it never be forgotten that glamor is not greatness; applause is not fame; prominence is not eminence. The man of the hour is not apt to be the man of the ages. A stone may sparkle, but that does not make it a diamond; people may have money, but that does not make them a success. It is what the unimportant people do that really counts and determines the course of history. The greatest forces in the universe are never spectacular. Summer showers are more effective than hurricanes, but they get no publicity. The world would soon die but for the fidelity, loyalty and consecration of those whose names are unhonored and unsung. James R. Sizoo

Focus and simplicity

While for years now the church has invested in growing larger, the new missional movement is trying to get smaller in its focus so that it can get bigger in its impact. Neil Cole

When it's 4 am

When most of us wake up too early we attribute it to indigestion, too much “on our minds” or old age – then we want a simple solution like a pill. This morning when I awoke – too early by my judgment – God’s Spirit reminded me of a verse I memorized a long time ago: And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. (Mark 1:35)

In Jesus’ case, there certainly would have been much on His mind – but I don’t imagine it was a matter of not being able to sleep! More likely it was very simply the great priority of time with the Father – that time easily pushed back the human need to sleep. And since the crowds seemed to find Him everywhere, since every single voice seemed to want to push Him in one direction or the other -- He got time with His Father in the darkness, when the lamps were out and very few came knocking (except the occasional Nicodemus!). It wasn’t a lonely place because He was lonely – but because He was alone with His Father, in a quiet place where He could freely speak and listen. He said repeatedly: “I came to do the will of the Father Who sent Me…” So, again and again He went away -- when it was decision time or when it was a time of being hyper-busy…when He just needed time with One instead of time with so many. And He also went when it was time to die, at every major time, you’d have watched Him slip intentionally, purposefully away to a place to pray.

And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, he departed to the mountain to pray. (Mark 6:45-46) And they came to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying. (Mark 14:32-34) And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them. (Luke 4:42) But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. (Luke 5:16) And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

More fluff than stuff?

The temptation of the age is to look good without being good.

Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out