Thursday, December 27, 2012

Change One Word - Change One Year



New Year’s resolutions are upon us. In the past I have attempted great changes such, “Become fluent in a language other than English.” I have given up trying to be fluent in English.
Then I changed the nature of the resolutions to be small actions committed on a regular basis such as, “Read through the One Year Bible” with which I was a bit more successful.
I just read something that is so simple I am embarrassed I did not think of it myself. Keep Believing Ministries suggests all we need to do is remove one word from our vocabulary: “Can’t.” We use it all the time, don’t we? We say, “I can’t lose weight.” “I just can’t seem to save money.” “I try and try but I can’t find the time to read the Bible.” “After what she did, I can’t forgive her.” “No matter how hard I try, I can’t change.”
Now for you literalists I know there are appropriate and functional times to say “can’t.” “I Can’t save myself,” is a fine example. However, on the main, this little word dulls motivation, shifts responsibility, and, in its most insidious use, denies reality.
When I say “I can’t" – especially with reference to the problems of life – I am just giving up without an effort. Without suiting up and walking onto the field I have admitted defeat without even trying, because, after all, I have decided, “I can’t.”
I am not suggesting we become the little engine that could, that does not always turn out to be possible. I am suggesting that we eliminate the word “can’t” from our vocabulary this year.
Paul writes in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” When I put the divine “if” in this passage I am able to remove the “can’t.” The divine “if” refers to placing “if it is God’s will.” God’s will is that everyone come to Him and those who are in Him bring them. This year you can do everything God intends for you to do. No matter how hard, no matter how difficult, no matter how impossible things may seem right now. If God wants you to do it, in 2013 you can!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Out of the Dark



As I reflect on the tragic and terrifying mass murder of the most innocent of our world, I cannot add to the power of this prayer offered by well known Pastor & Author, Max Lucado:
“Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas.  But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty.  Dark with violence. Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene. Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger. This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.”
Hold your loved ones closer. Repair relationships quicker. Reconcile with anyone you have hurt sooner. Few hurts done to you will be healed by breaking relationship with another and much joy will come to you through forgiveness.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Is Happy Holidays really that bad?



This piece was heard on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on November 2, 1988: "In 1958, America's first commercial jet air service began with the flight of the Boeing 707. A month after that first flight, a traveler on a piston-engine, propeller-driven DC-6 airliner struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger. The passenger happened to be a Boeing engineer. The traveler asked the engineer about the new jet aircraft, whereupon the engineer began speaking at length about the extensive testing Boeing had done on the jet engine before bringing it into commercial service. He recounted Boeing's experience with engines, from the B-17 to the B-52. When his traveling companion asked him if he himself had yet flown on the new 707 jet airliner, the engineer replied, "I think I'll wait until it's been in service awhile."
I share this old story to remind us enthusiastic conversation is not enough. Clear headed understanding of the basis for our belief is not enough. Involvement in helping other believers in their understanding is not enough. An active faith requires we put our lives where our mouth and mind are.
I mention this because so many believers become animated about the “Happy Holidays” greeting that has replaced “Merry Christmas” in the marketplace of America. I confess my dismay at the loss of that tradition, but, if I insist on the tradition while berating cashiers, pushing into line, attempting to have the most expansive Holiday Party, then my mouth is writing a check that my life is not able to cash. I have a suggestion – when an opportunity comes up to voice our passionate belief, before opening our mouths, let’s first give thought to an action which may precede or follow the comment which speaks for us the love Christ brought to earth over 2000 years ago.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Are you an Enthusiast?



I have found the holiday season to be a time when many Christians feel out of touch with people around them. As followers of Jesus we truly want to be focused on glorious gift of Immanuel – God with use. The problem too often is that we do not seem to feel “God in us.”
The Greek word for “God in us” is the word enthousiasmos which has as its base the word entheos, or, possessed by God. The more common word was enthousiazein which translates “to be inspired by a god.” Now it is true that the our English word “enthusiasm” no longer carries with it the deeper reason for the, “Great excitement for or interest in a subject or cause,” [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000] but we can still reclaim it.
Writing to a very unenthusiastic church scattered and thinly spread over the world the Apostle Peter writes,
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. {7} Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. {8} Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. {9} Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. {10} And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. {11} To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen (1 Pet 5:6-11).
I take five habits of the enthusiast from this text:
Develop the habit of being a Team Player – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (6). We are not in this alone and cannot maintain our enthusiasm without affirmation from others. Your service to LHCC as leaders of Growth Groups is an exceptional gift to our members who may find their enthusiasm waning this month.
Develop the habit of Trusting God Completely – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (7). Just as I can move much faster and with more agility when I loose a few pounds, so, you and I as followers of Jesus have a lighter heart when we let God have our worries and frustrations.
Develop the habit of seeing Sin as Evil – “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (8). Sin doesn’t sneak up on us – Satan is so sure of his prey that he brags from the bill boards, tv stations, movie theaters and even the places we shop and eat. I find I have to identify the activity I am about to take part in as sin before I get to it. “Deliver us from evil” was part of the prayer our Lord gave His followers for a good reason. We have to get ahead of the Evil One.
Develop the habit of being Accountable to the church – “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (9). Just knowing that I am joined in my desire to filled with God rather than the focus of this world by millions of other followers, many facing far more worries than I, gives me another reason to be enthusiastic rather than apathetic.
Develop the habit of Glorifying God – “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (10-11). When my first words in the morning honor God and welcome Him in my life I know the last words of the day will be in thanksgiving for his providence. Now that is the way to face each and every day with enthusiasm!