For a long time there has been a dynamic at play in the Christian world. There are those Christians who believe that it is imperative to have a cognitive recognition of our faith. They would say it is about the head, and they would disparage other brothers and sisters in Christ who respond to the Gospel call with their hearts. These heart Christians believed that to engage the mind was to somehow minimize the experience of their faith.
In the middle of this debate, there are some who have ventured to believe that it is both - head and heart. Neither head nor heart need be checked at the door as we take the next steps in our journey of faith. To deny either is to somehow minimize the Faith.
Lately I have come to realize that I am a 3-D Christian. I am of the mindset that it is head and heart, but that they only have relevance and authenticity, when coupled with feet! If all i am is head, or heart, but have not feet, I am nothing. Our Christian faith is not something that is only thought about and dialogued, nor is it something that just gives us warm fuzzies and emotional highs. Head and heart only have true perspective when we put feet to our Christian experience and walk our talk.
How can you today put feet to your Christian experience and realize a 3-D faith?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
God Still Answrs Prayer
A gentleman in our church recently rented an apartment to a woman who was in need. He not only rented to her, but he and his wife have reached out to her in the name of Jesus. The woman has a sister whose 1 year old baby girl was to have serious surgery. The church prayed.
Korina came through the surgery well - an answer to prayer. A couple days later she developed a fever. The church prayed. The fever left her. On Friday concern rose that the baby was gaining weight from fluid build up and had as of yet not been able to do either bodily function.
Sunday morning word came that if she did not pee or poop soon (they set a deadline of 6 pm Sunday night) a radical surgery would have to be performed to rectify this issue. The church prayed.
Last night I received a call that informed me at 5:55 pm she began to pee and poop.
And the church celebrates! God still answers prayer!
Tomorrow is an all-church all-day of fasting and prayer for our church. Join me in praying for those who need God's touch and transformation in their lives. Our new prayer chapel will be open and ready for you to come and spend sometime in the Presence of God.
And the church prayed!
Korina came through the surgery well - an answer to prayer. A couple days later she developed a fever. The church prayed. The fever left her. On Friday concern rose that the baby was gaining weight from fluid build up and had as of yet not been able to do either bodily function.
Sunday morning word came that if she did not pee or poop soon (they set a deadline of 6 pm Sunday night) a radical surgery would have to be performed to rectify this issue. The church prayed.
Last night I received a call that informed me at 5:55 pm she began to pee and poop.
And the church celebrates! God still answers prayer!
Tomorrow is an all-church all-day of fasting and prayer for our church. Join me in praying for those who need God's touch and transformation in their lives. Our new prayer chapel will be open and ready for you to come and spend sometime in the Presence of God.
And the church prayed!
One Life Can Make A Difference!
Increasingly each day we are overwhelmed and feel like our world is spinning out of control and we are powerless to change a thing -- ever feel that way?
Yesterday, Dennis came to me and told me he had something he would like to share with me. Dennis works for a collection agency and manages a particular office. The agency is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and has offices around the world.
Dennis shared that he is often frustrated by the fact that he many times is required to work on Sundays and is prohibited from attending worship. Being frustrated, this past week when his boss visited he informed his boss that he felt the company was putting money before God and that he (Dennis) felt it was wrong and was no longer gong to require the emplyees in his branch to come in on Sundays before 2:00 pm, and that way give each employee in his office the chance to worship.
Later that afternoon Dennis' boss came back to him and informed him that after thinking about it, he agreed, that Dennis was right. He told Dennis that from that moment on everyone in the company would have the opportunity on Sunday AM to attend their place of worship -- all 6,000 employees!
One person, speaking up and taking a stand, can make a difference.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
Yesterday, Dennis came to me and told me he had something he would like to share with me. Dennis works for a collection agency and manages a particular office. The agency is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and has offices around the world.
Dennis shared that he is often frustrated by the fact that he many times is required to work on Sundays and is prohibited from attending worship. Being frustrated, this past week when his boss visited he informed his boss that he felt the company was putting money before God and that he (Dennis) felt it was wrong and was no longer gong to require the emplyees in his branch to come in on Sundays before 2:00 pm, and that way give each employee in his office the chance to worship.
Later that afternoon Dennis' boss came back to him and informed him that after thinking about it, he agreed, that Dennis was right. He told Dennis that from that moment on everyone in the company would have the opportunity on Sunday AM to attend their place of worship -- all 6,000 employees!
One person, speaking up and taking a stand, can make a difference.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
All Inclusive
Today as i was reading my email, I opened the daily one I receive from a woman in our church who sends out a Scripture verse each and every day. Today this is our verse:
Acts 2; 21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Everyone - it's a pretty inclusive word! As I have sat here this am meditating on this verse, this word continues to strike me. Who is everyone? Dumb question I know, but the question stands. Does this include the person who was rude to me? The businessman who took advantage of me? The man who raped a 12 year old? The man who has snubed his nose and finger in the face of God and everyone else for 50 years?
You betcha! Because of this verse I take heart each and every morning, because I am also everyone! My wife is everyone! You are everyone.
The condition of this verse is "calls on his name". Seems easy enough, and yet we have sometimes such a hard time humbling ourselves and seeking God's help.
Today is a good day to seek him -- in fact, every day is a good day to seek him!
Acts 2; 21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Everyone - it's a pretty inclusive word! As I have sat here this am meditating on this verse, this word continues to strike me. Who is everyone? Dumb question I know, but the question stands. Does this include the person who was rude to me? The businessman who took advantage of me? The man who raped a 12 year old? The man who has snubed his nose and finger in the face of God and everyone else for 50 years?
You betcha! Because of this verse I take heart each and every morning, because I am also everyone! My wife is everyone! You are everyone.
The condition of this verse is "calls on his name". Seems easy enough, and yet we have sometimes such a hard time humbling ourselves and seeking God's help.
Today is a good day to seek him -- in fact, every day is a good day to seek him!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Community
On Sunday, February 3, I boarded a plane and traveled to Orlando, Florida, where I had the opportunity to attend Asbury Seminary Minister's Conference. In the past this conference was held on their Kentucky campus and I had the opportunity to stay with friends while attending the conference. Those who know me are aware that I am a person who enjoys being around people.
While in Orlando I stayed at a hotel 15 minutes from the campus. I had a suite all to myself! Now while that seems like a great deal, I was reminded of a very important truth -- we were meant to live in community. Though I was in one of the largest cities, and while I was surrounded by others, I longed for those who knew me.
This morning I am sitting in front of the fire, it is gently snowing, and the kids are arguing in their rooms -- what sweet music! Sharing life together is one of the greatest joys there are. Truly we are better together!
While in Orlando I stayed at a hotel 15 minutes from the campus. I had a suite all to myself! Now while that seems like a great deal, I was reminded of a very important truth -- we were meant to live in community. Though I was in one of the largest cities, and while I was surrounded by others, I longed for those who knew me.
This morning I am sitting in front of the fire, it is gently snowing, and the kids are arguing in their rooms -- what sweet music! Sharing life together is one of the greatest joys there are. Truly we are better together!
Good Question!
The other day i heard the kewlest question:
"Why is it that every funeral i attend has not been my own?"
Isn't that a great question? As long as we have breath, as long as we are breathing in and breathing out, God has a purpose for us and our lives. One of the greatest joys is not only knowing your purpose, but living it.
What is your purpose? What part of that purpose will you live out today?
May God give us the courage to become the people He has designed for us to be.
"Why is it that every funeral i attend has not been my own?"
Isn't that a great question? As long as we have breath, as long as we are breathing in and breathing out, God has a purpose for us and our lives. One of the greatest joys is not only knowing your purpose, but living it.
What is your purpose? What part of that purpose will you live out today?
May God give us the courage to become the people He has designed for us to be.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Lighten Up!
Today I was reading and came across this piece from Mike Yaconnelli. As we begin this New Year this is great insight and advice:
IT'S TIME TO PARTY (excerpts)
By Mike Yaconelli
It doesn't take much to make most of us realize that we have become too serious, too tense, too stressful. The result is that we have forgotten how to live life. It seems like the older we get, the more difficult it is for us to enjoy living.
It reminds me of a description of life given by Rabbi Edward Cohn: "Life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time, all your weekends, and what do you get in the end of it?"
I think that the life cycle is all backward. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you live twenty years in an old-age home. You get kicked out when you're too young. You get a gold watch, you go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You go to college; you party until you're ready for high school; you go to grade school; you become a little kid; you play. You have no responsibilities. You become a little baby; you go back into the womb; you spend your last months floating; and you finish up as a gleam in somebody's eye.
It's hard to imagine we were a gleam in someone's eye once. What happened to the gleam in our eye? What happened to that joyful, crazy, spontaneous, fun-loving spirit we once had? The childlikeness in all of us gets snuffed out over the years...
.The sign that Jesus is in our hearts, the evidence of the truth of the gospel is ... we still have a light on in our souls. We still have a gleam in our eye. We are alive, never boring, always playful, exhibiting in our everydayness the "spunk" of the spirit. The light in our souls is not some pietistic somberness, it is the spontaneous, unpredictable love of life...I believe it's time for the party to begin.
Copyright 1989 Mike Yaconelli. Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.
Have a light filled day!
IT'S TIME TO PARTY (excerpts)
By Mike Yaconelli
It doesn't take much to make most of us realize that we have become too serious, too tense, too stressful. The result is that we have forgotten how to live life. It seems like the older we get, the more difficult it is for us to enjoy living.
It reminds me of a description of life given by Rabbi Edward Cohn: "Life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time, all your weekends, and what do you get in the end of it?"
I think that the life cycle is all backward. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you live twenty years in an old-age home. You get kicked out when you're too young. You get a gold watch, you go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You go to college; you party until you're ready for high school; you go to grade school; you become a little kid; you play. You have no responsibilities. You become a little baby; you go back into the womb; you spend your last months floating; and you finish up as a gleam in somebody's eye.
It's hard to imagine we were a gleam in someone's eye once. What happened to the gleam in our eye? What happened to that joyful, crazy, spontaneous, fun-loving spirit we once had? The childlikeness in all of us gets snuffed out over the years...
.The sign that Jesus is in our hearts, the evidence of the truth of the gospel is ... we still have a light on in our souls. We still have a gleam in our eye. We are alive, never boring, always playful, exhibiting in our everydayness the "spunk" of the spirit. The light in our souls is not some pietistic somberness, it is the spontaneous, unpredictable love of life...I believe it's time for the party to begin.
Copyright 1989 Mike Yaconelli. Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.
Have a light filled day!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Blessed Are The Persecuted
One doesn't get out of bed in the morning and look for ways to be persecuted, or do they?
This morning I have been reading from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:10-12
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Should I live this day so radically in Jesus, that as my light shines for Jesus, Satan will try and quelch the Light reflected from me?
Came across this qoute from Clarence Jordan, Sermon on the Mount:
"One wonders why Christians today get off so easily. Is it because unchristian Americans are that much better than unchristian Romans, or is our light so dim that the tormentor can not see it? What are the things we do that are worth persecuting?"
That last question - "What are the things we do that are worth persecuting?" that has captured my thoughts. I'm not sure that I am so excited about persecution, in fact, I know that I'm not. I have looked less globally at this verse, and rationalized that it only for those God has chosen to be persecuted. Moments later I realize that God has a more universal application for this verse.
Today, I want my light for Jesus to shine so bright, that I tick Satan off so much by my efforts through Christ for the sake of the Kingdom, that the evil one sends someone my way to shut me up - to quelch my light. Not guaranteed that I will this day be persecuted -- but I am sure gonna give the evil one cause to try!
For King and Kingdom!
This morning I have been reading from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:10-12
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Should I live this day so radically in Jesus, that as my light shines for Jesus, Satan will try and quelch the Light reflected from me?
Came across this qoute from Clarence Jordan, Sermon on the Mount:
"One wonders why Christians today get off so easily. Is it because unchristian Americans are that much better than unchristian Romans, or is our light so dim that the tormentor can not see it? What are the things we do that are worth persecuting?"
That last question - "What are the things we do that are worth persecuting?" that has captured my thoughts. I'm not sure that I am so excited about persecution, in fact, I know that I'm not. I have looked less globally at this verse, and rationalized that it only for those God has chosen to be persecuted. Moments later I realize that God has a more universal application for this verse.
Today, I want my light for Jesus to shine so bright, that I tick Satan off so much by my efforts through Christ for the sake of the Kingdom, that the evil one sends someone my way to shut me up - to quelch my light. Not guaranteed that I will this day be persecuted -- but I am sure gonna give the evil one cause to try!
For King and Kingdom!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Un-Click It!
The other day I pulled my car into the garage - nothing spectacular to be sure, but upon shutting off the car and beginning the extraction process I had an epiphany.
I opened the car door and went to leave the vehicle when there was this strange resistance keeping me bound in the car. I tried a second time to vacate the premises, but with a similar result. Then it suddenly dawned on me that I still had my seat belt on! Sheepishly I reached down and un-clicked the seat belt! I then was able to walk into the house without this strange force holding me in my seat.
Walking into the house pondering this moment in time, I had my epiphany. In order to leave the confines of the former space I had to remove the constraints that held me there! The same is true of those who wish to leave the constraints of the sinful life! Too many individuals try to make a fresh start, to allow Christ to come into their life - allowing them to start fresh. Yet even as they try and leave they try to live this new life setting in the same seat, and under the same constraints.
In order for us to live a new life in Christ, we must move to a new place and un-click the restraints in order to actually move to a new place.
As you begin this New Year in a matter of hours, what are the restraints that are holding you back? What things do you need to un-click so that you can move to a new place?
As you begin this New Year may you know the joy of a fresh start and in a fresh place!
I opened the car door and went to leave the vehicle when there was this strange resistance keeping me bound in the car. I tried a second time to vacate the premises, but with a similar result. Then it suddenly dawned on me that I still had my seat belt on! Sheepishly I reached down and un-clicked the seat belt! I then was able to walk into the house without this strange force holding me in my seat.
Walking into the house pondering this moment in time, I had my epiphany. In order to leave the confines of the former space I had to remove the constraints that held me there! The same is true of those who wish to leave the constraints of the sinful life! Too many individuals try to make a fresh start, to allow Christ to come into their life - allowing them to start fresh. Yet even as they try and leave they try to live this new life setting in the same seat, and under the same constraints.
In order for us to live a new life in Christ, we must move to a new place and un-click the restraints in order to actually move to a new place.
As you begin this New Year in a matter of hours, what are the restraints that are holding you back? What things do you need to un-click so that you can move to a new place?
As you begin this New Year may you know the joy of a fresh start and in a fresh place!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Power In Prayer
In the life of any pastor, there are weeks, and then there are weeks. The last seven days, has been one of those weeks! So many things have occured.
The season of Advent, is in and of it self a time where there is so much to be done. Layered over that, the formulation of a budget for the next year, end of the year items that must be cared for, several families in crisis of various sorts, the death and home-going celebration for a wonderful man of God - well, i think you get the idea.
Sunday, as i had a conversation with someone in crisis, I was gently reminded of how limited I am to meet the needs of those I shepherd. I have no magic wand to wave, nor pixie dust to gently blow, that will magically make everything all better. I was reminded that I do have the ability to pray and lay it all at the feet of Jesus. He, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is much more effective at supplying the needs of His children! So I prayed.
Monday was a wonderful celebration of Ken Clements home-going that also reminded me what daily Christian living is about -- loving God, loving others, and looking forward to Christ's return. What a woship celebration. I thought I would be stressed, but the more I leaned on the Lord, the more peace I discovered! Isn't God wonderful!
Yesterday, I followed up on my Sunday conversation, sharing with that individual my frustration on one hand of not knowing what to do, and knowing that I could and was praying for them -- trusting God. The individual looked at me with the biggest smile on their face, and began to share with me how God had helped resolve the crisis, and brought healing and restoration. Isn't God wonderful!
One of the other crisis situations, seems to still be a crisis unresolved, filled with hurt, frustration, and pain . . . I'm still praying. I'm trusting God. I believe He is wonderful, and almighty God no matter how this situation unfolds.
Maybe you have a situation, or situations in your life that you need to take to Jesus, and share with Him in prayer. One of my favorite quotes is: "Christians need to be reminded, more than they need to be informed". I have been reminded about the power of prayer -- now you can consider yourself reminded, and together we can give God the glory!
The season of Advent, is in and of it self a time where there is so much to be done. Layered over that, the formulation of a budget for the next year, end of the year items that must be cared for, several families in crisis of various sorts, the death and home-going celebration for a wonderful man of God - well, i think you get the idea.
Sunday, as i had a conversation with someone in crisis, I was gently reminded of how limited I am to meet the needs of those I shepherd. I have no magic wand to wave, nor pixie dust to gently blow, that will magically make everything all better. I was reminded that I do have the ability to pray and lay it all at the feet of Jesus. He, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is much more effective at supplying the needs of His children! So I prayed.
Monday was a wonderful celebration of Ken Clements home-going that also reminded me what daily Christian living is about -- loving God, loving others, and looking forward to Christ's return. What a woship celebration. I thought I would be stressed, but the more I leaned on the Lord, the more peace I discovered! Isn't God wonderful!
Yesterday, I followed up on my Sunday conversation, sharing with that individual my frustration on one hand of not knowing what to do, and knowing that I could and was praying for them -- trusting God. The individual looked at me with the biggest smile on their face, and began to share with me how God had helped resolve the crisis, and brought healing and restoration. Isn't God wonderful!
One of the other crisis situations, seems to still be a crisis unresolved, filled with hurt, frustration, and pain . . . I'm still praying. I'm trusting God. I believe He is wonderful, and almighty God no matter how this situation unfolds.
Maybe you have a situation, or situations in your life that you need to take to Jesus, and share with Him in prayer. One of my favorite quotes is: "Christians need to be reminded, more than they need to be informed". I have been reminded about the power of prayer -- now you can consider yourself reminded, and together we can give God the glory!
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