What's your vision

     I read a story once about an elderly lady who lived in a small valley, hemmed in by towering mountains.  All her life she had wanted to make a trip over to the other side of the mountains, but there had been too much to do, too many babies to feed and care for, too many cornrows to hoe.  Now she was a great grandmother, with nothing but time on her hands.  One day her lifetime dream was granted.  Her grandson came and offered to take her to the otherside of the mountain.  She rode up to the top of the mountain, but just before they reached the summit where she could look down in the valley below, she told her grandson to stop.  Her grandson responded "But Granny, you have always wanted to see the other side of the mountain.  Why don't you want to see it now?"  Granny responded "Yes, sonny.  I did, but I have spent so many years imagining the beauty of the sight that I just could not stand to be disappointed.  Drive down, and let me keep my dreams."
 
     Like Granny, many people and many churches miss the opportunity to see what is on the other side.  They get a glimpse of what God can do, but because they are too involved in what is going on or too comfortable with their surroundings, they miss the chance to see what God can really do with them.  As a result too many of us and too many churches are content to live in the valleys of human experience and never venture any further. 

     For this reason, we need a vision.  We need a vision from God and a vision for God.  I have been in situations where I have had a glimspe of what God could do only to be brought back down to the valley because of my own failures or the lack of vision of others.  Either way the vision was never experienced.  I long to see what God can do when we are completely dedicated to Him and the purpose He has for our lives.  What about you?  Do you have a vision from God that transforms you and your thinking or are you content to stay in the valley of your dreams?  It is my prayer that you will not be like Granny.  Take the challenge.  Discover God's vision for your life.  It will change you and will change those around you.  Do you have a vision that God has given to you?  I would love to hear what God has revealed to you and perhaps others would as well.

Determine the right vision

      One of the hardest struggles we will have in determining a vision for our life is how to discern between good ideas and God ideas.  We do not usually have any problems choosing between good and bad, but we do have a problem choosing between good and best.  We normally will choose the easy way because it does not require as much from us.  We like to be able to handle everything in our own abilities and in our own power.  As a result we never venture to have a vision that truly challenges us to be all that we can be in Christ.  For that matter, many churches experience the same thing.  They never venture past what they can do so they never truly experience what only God can do.

     So how can we determine between a good vision and a God vision.  A vision from God will eventually feel like a moral imperative.  You will not be able to get it out of your mind.  A God vision will become such a part of your life that you will be compelled to make it a reality.  In fact the vision becomes a burden in your life.  I remember when God began revealing His vision for my life so many years ago.  I struggled with the idea that God was purposing in my life to be a pastor.  I battled for several years with the idea even trying to run from God in the process.  However, something had gripped my heart to the point that I could not find inner peace.  Finally, when I surrendered to the call of God upon my life and His purpose, I had a peace that I could not describe.  Even as I have been in difficult times in the ministry, the one constant has been the original call God had placed on my life or the original vision He had given me.  I sensed that if I did not live according to that vision then I would be disobedient in my actions.  It was a moral imperative for me to live according to that vision.  It has not always been easy, but it has always been right.\

     A second way to determine between a good vision and a God vision is that a God ordained vision will be in line with what God is up to in the world.  A God ordained vision is never about us.  It is a hard concept for us to grasp simply because we are so self centered and self seeking.  We want things our way and we want them now.  However, we lost our right to devise our own agenda and our own plans when Jesus came to be our Lord.  When we begin to get in on God's vision for our life we will soon discover how we fit into God's divine plan. 

     Regardless of the vision God has for your life it is tied to a greater vision that God has for the world.  You are an important piece to God's overall plan.  You fill a unique purpose and God has placed you in a position that no one else is in.  We are all placed in the paths of people at places that only we inhabit.  Only you work in your office in your particular desk.  Only you sit in a particular spot at a desk in school.  You are the one who lives in your house in your neighborhood at this particular time. 

     Whether you are a housewife, a banker, a construction worker, a student, a retailer, or even a pastor you are a part of God's greater vision for the world.  I challenge you to examine your own life and your situation and begin to evaluate what God is showing you.  Don't be afraid to take a critical look at yourself, but also seek wisdom and counsel from others as well.  God will either confirm or correct your vision.  Remember your desire is to discover God's vision not a good vision.

Vision

      Yesterday I started to talk about capturing the vision that God has for our lives.  If we are a child of God, then we need to be in step with the vision that God has for us.  He has a clear mental picture of what we could be and what we sould be.  But not only does He have a vision of what we could be, but He also has a vision of what we could and should do.  The secret is getting in on God's plan.

     As stated yesterday because we were purchased by God we exist for His good pleasure.  We are His and we are to glorify Him in our lives and in our actions.  Everything we do is to be about God and His plan and His purpose for our lives.  Until we discover this purpose, we will never truly find fulfillment in our lives. 

     We often quote Ephesians 2:8-9 which talks about being saved by grace through faith and that it is not by works.  We love this verse because it teaches that there is  nothing we can do to merit God's favor or to earn our salvation.  Our salvation is all up to God and the grace He freely bestows on those who believe.  Yet we very rarely read verse 10 of the same chapter.  Consider Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  We are God's workmanship, we are His masterpiece.  He designed us.  He shaped us.  He created us and He recreated us. 

      You are God's masterpiece.  I think it was Chuck Swindoll who said that if God had a refrigerator your face would be all over it.  I know what you are saying "I don't feel like a masterpiece.  I don't feel very special."  Don't be decieved by your feelings.  God's Word says you are His masterpiece.  Since you are God's masterpiece it means you are a product of His vision.  God has determined in advance what you could be and should be.  You are the outcome of something God envisioned.  Through Jesus Christ His vision has been brought to reality and God continues to shape you and transform you into what He designed you to be until you reach completion.

     However, the vision is not complete with just looking good so we can hang on God's refrigerator or His wall and he can brag to everyone in heaven about His masterpiece.  God had a vision that we would be doing good works.  For this reason, God shaped us and formed us with particular abilities that no one else is able to do.  The reason being is that God has a particular purpose for your life.  He is constantly shaping and transforming you so that you can be the person He designed you to be.

     God has a vision for your life.  He has a clear mental image of what you could be and should be as well as what you could and should do.  The sooner we grasp this truth, the sooner we will see ourselves moving into the land of abundant living.  Jesus said I came to give life to the fullest.  The only way we can enjoy life to the fullest is to get in on God's plan for our lives.  He has a vision and we need to be captured by His vision for our lives.  Then and only then will we fulfill His purpose for our lives.  I pray that you will start now to discern God's vision for your life.

What's your vision?

     These next few posts I would like to write about vision.  Everyone needs some type of vision of their life.  God's word states that God has a plan for our life.  I know you have probably heard this statement before but  you still have not been captured by God's vision for your life.  Yet, I believe that if we can get hold of the vision that God has for our lives it will change the way we live, it will change the way we feel, and it will change everything we do.

      So I want you to grasp that God has a unique vision for your life.  Andy Stanley in his book Visioneering offers a great definition of a vision for the purpose of our discussion today.  He states that a "Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be fueled by the conviction that it should be."  That is a pretty powerful statement.  Vision is what could be and what should be. 

     The reality is that God has a vision of what your life can be and when you get a mental image of the way it could be and it should be it will change your life.  According to Stanley there are four things that vision will weave into the fabric of your life. 

     First, vision sparks passion.   A clear focused vision allows you to experience the emotions that come with the vision even before it happens.  Even the most seemingly insignificant task suddenly becomes exciting when it is attached to the greater vision.  Picture in your mind a teenager going out on a date that has a vision of what that date will look like.  Perhaps he thinks this will be the first time I will get to hold her hand.  Or maybe he thinks this might be the night I get to kiss her.  Or maybe tonight is the night I will fall in love.  A lot of excitement and emotion goes into that vision and they have not even went out on a date yet.  Vision sparks passion.

     Second, vision creates motivation.  I remember when I was a pastor in Baytown, Texas that a tremendous storm hit the area.  There was so much rain that the San Jacinto River began to rise above its banks.  People were afraid that they were going to lose their homes, so they formed teams to build dikes made of sand bags.  One thing for sure about dike builders, they are a motivated bunch.  A vision of preserving your home will give you great motivation.
     Show me a person who lacks motivation and I will show you someone who has little or no vision.  They might have ideas, but probably not a vision.  The reason being is that vision gives motivation to a person's life.  Vision is why you finish your training so you can do your job.  Vision is why you complete your education so that you can accomplish your job.  Vision is what gets you through all the classes, the routines, and the exercises that give you the skills to accomplish the vision.  You are motivated by your vision of what could be and what should be.

      Third, vision gives direction.  Vision sets the ball in motion.  Vision sets direction for your life.  It also simplifies the decision making process.  Anything that moves you toward your vision receives a green light.  Anything that moves you away from your vision receives a red light.  We start getting serious about the direction we are taking when we see what could be and what should be.  Without a vision we have no moral compass.  Without that moral compass we will make foolish and even stupid decisions. 

     Finally, vision provides purpose.  Vision is what drives you to get out of bed every morning.  You have something to do.  Vision makes your life an important link between the current reality and what could be and what should be.  Vision connects you to what is and what could be and what should be.

     Now I know what you  are thinking, "great all I need is another self help blog."  You may have read many self help books or heard many motivational speakers and you don't want some pastor giving you advice on how to improve yourself.  You are stuck in your situation and no amount of vision is going to get you out of the rut you are already in.  Well I am not a self help guru.  Half the time I do not even know how to help myself, so I would not pretend that I have any wisdom for you.  However, I believe that unlike non believers who can chart their own future, our future has already been charted for us.  Because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross we have been bought by him for his good pleasure.  He sets our agenda and not us.

      The sooner we recognize this fact, the sooner we can get in on God's vision for our lives.  Stanley states that honoring God involves discovering his picture of his vision of what our lives could and should be.  So stick with me the next few days as we take a journey together and discover a vision.  Not just any vision, but the vision that God has designed for us from the beginning.  God's Word says that "all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  If all your days are already written down by God, don't you think it might help you to get in step with His vision for your life?  I look forward to what God is going to reveal to us in the next few days.  I hope even now you are trying to grasp a vision of what could be fueled by the conviction that it should be.  Let's look ahead and see what God has planned for us.  Hope to see you there!

   

To the right is the first church where I served as minister

of everything, but preaching.  I worked with the youth, education, children and whatever else the pastor desired for me to do.  Unlike some who entered into the ministry in their early 20's, I was almost 30 and had two small daughters living at home.  I learned a lot at this little country church even though I was only there for 11 months.  This was the church where I conducted my first funeral.  It was the church where I learned how organize a Sunday School and children's worship.  It was also the first place I offended someone in the church. 

However, this post is not about me and my humble beginnings in the ministry, but about this little fellowship of believers.  It was located in between to growing communities.  Within a half mile of the church were older homes valued below $100,000 and newer homes over a million dollars.  Yet for the most part the church was still in a rural setting though that was about to change.  The pastor of the church was bivocational and needed help ministering to the needs of the church and so the church called me to help.  We talked about the future of the church and how we were going to reach the growing population that was around us.  People would drive by our little fellowship to attend churches as far as an hour away, churches such as First Baptist Dallas, First Baptist Plano, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas at the time.  Our little country church had many good qualities but few if any noticed our the little church.

Something had to be done to help the church meet the needs of the people and become a church that was relevant to the community around them.  The growth was coming to the area and the church wanted to be ready when the people moved to the area.  I eventually left this little church and moved into the pastorate, but I continued to follow the ministry of this fellowship of believers.

This little church knew that something had to happen if they were going to reach their community with the gospel.  So in a leap of faith they purchased a piece of property down the street from the existing building and eventually built a new building to reach their community and minister to the needs of others.  It was a big step of faith for this group of believers.  They were not a wealthy church.  In fact most of the people in the fellowship were living on a fixed income.  They were blue collar workers with a handful of business men.  There was only one Adult Sunday School class and one youth class.  There were only three classes for children and we still had a cry room for babies in the back of the church.  Yet this church took an incredible leap of faith and built a new facility.  They sold the existing building to a Lutheran church and erected a state of the art facility that was comparable to other facilities further away.  Today the church is vibrant, relevant and ministering to the needs of the growing community.

They had a vision of what God wanted to do and step out on faith to make that vision a reality.  William Carey, the father of the modern day missions movement onced stated that churches are "to attempt great things for God and expect great things from God."  This body of believers believed in a big God and moved forward to do big things.  I pray that as  you read this post you will be encouraged that with faith you can do much more than  you ever imagined.  God wants to accomplish great things with you and in  you if you will only believe and step out on faith.  Or perhaps instead of stepping out on faith, it needs to be leaping out on faith.  With God nothing is impossible.  Have you dared to do the impossible today?  Oh, by the way below is the picture of the church today. 

  

Meeting the needs of others

This past weekend was a good weekend for Lynwood Baptist Church, where I serve as pastor. We are a small group of believers gathering together in the Fox River Valley to worship and serve our Lord. We are strategically located on the main thoroughfare between Oswego and Yorkville, Illinois. This past week we were able to help one of our own who is going through a difficult time during this economic downturn. They did not come to us, seeking help, but we were made aware of the need and we wanted to try and help. The early church in Acts taught this as they shared all things in common and no one in the fellowship had any needs that were not being met.

We decided that we would take up a food collection for the family so that they would at least have food on the table. We made the request on Wednesday through email and word of mouth. Of course we did not include the family in need in our correspondance and no names were ever mentioned. I showed my lack of faith as I thought we might need to give the people several weeks to gather enough food. I wanted us to be able to provide the family several bags of groceries to get them through a couple of weeks. However, my faith was much smaller than I could imagine. The people moved by the Holy Spirit provided so much food that we could barely get everything in my car to deliver. I do not know how much was gathered, but it is safe to say that they will not be buying food for a few months. Generally speaking when a church family is presented with a need the church will rise to the occasion to meet that need as best they can.

My wife and I delivered the food to the family and were moved by their humility and gracious heart. They were totally unaware that we were meeting this need for them and their attitude reflected their surprise. However, they also revealed their love for God and others by the words that they shared. They were wondering how they missed the plea to help another family. They remarked to one another during the worship service that had they known of the need they would have provided help as well. What an example for all of us to remember. Even though they were hurting and struggling, they would have still helped another family in need.

The church is the body of Christ in this world in which we live. We are to physically put action to our words. If someone in the church family comes to us with a legitimate need and we can help to meet that need we have a responsibility to do what we can to help. We are His hands and we His feet. Sometimes that might mean giving money or food. More often it will mean being their during a difficult time. It will mean offering an encouraging word and a comforting presence. It will require weeping when they weep and rejoicing when they rejoice. We will need to be involved in people's lives. We cannot meet other people's needs if we do not know they have a need.

Do you know someone in need? How are you helping to meet that need? God has given us so much and we have a responsibility to use His resources to help others and honor Him. We have been blessed so that we can be a blessing. The Bible says that people will know we are his disciples by the way we love one another. Love is a verb. Love is something you do not talk about. The Bible says that God demonstrated his love for us. How are you demonstrating your love for God and your love for others?

What can the church learn from Walmart?

Yesterday we looked at Walmart to see if there was anything the church could learn from this very successful franchise. It is one of the few businesses that has been able to maintain a profit through these tough economic times. We discovered yesterday that we can learn from their parking, their greeters, and their signage. But there are a few other things we can learn from them as well.
Generally a Walmart is very clean. There are some exceptions to the rule, but for the most part they maintain the cleanliness of the store. I notice this fact when I have visited other similar stores. Perhaps it is a flaw of mine, but the cleanliness and the neatness of a store enhances the shopping experience. Walmart has invested a lot of money in the way they design the store and the way that the merchandise is displayed. They are clutter free and the floors are kept clean. The bathrooms are always clean and there is a log that reveals the last time the bathroom was cleaned. Now think of the church you attend. Is it clean? Is it free of clutter? Are there things lying around that have not been used for months and sometimes years? Are the rooms well organized and designed for learning? Are the bathrooms clean? Is the outside of the building pleasing to the eye? By this fact I mean that the paint looks good the yard is weed free and trash free. Even older buildings can look great if they are maintained properly. All of these things make an impression on people when they visit the church. If a church facility does not smell good, does not look clean and is full of clutter the impression that people will get will be that the members do not care about the church. Walmart does a great job of providing a pleasant atmosphere where people can shop til they drop.
However there is more we can learn from Walmart. Walmart provides what people need for everyday living. They do not pretend to be Macy's are Dillards or even J. C. Penneys, and they do not try to compete with those type of stores. They sell stuff at lower prices that people need on a general basis. If you need it you can pretty much find it at Walmart. If you need food, it can be found at a Super Walmart. If you need pet supplies, you can find it at Walmart. Need clothes? Yep, Walmart has that as well. Need some tires? Check! Need some hardware? Check! Need some craft stuff? Check! Need a prescription? I think you get the point. Now here is the application for the church. When a visitor comes to a church can they find what they are looking for? Does the church have a nice, clean, fully equipped nursery for the babies? Does the church have appropriate Bible study classes for the children and for the various age adults? Are there opportunities for people to serve? Are there activities for their teenagers and their children? Is the worship setting inviting and encouraging? Is the message relevant to the times? There are numerous other things that could be mentioned, but the point is that when people come to the church is there something for everyone? When visitors come to the church they should be able to discover what they are looking for and not have to go to several different places to have their needs and wants met.
Ultimately people need the gospel. They might not come to the church knowing that at first, but they come looking anyway. If we can help them find what they want, then maybe we can show them what they need. The church must do whatever it can to make the people feel welcome and comfortable in the church. By so doing we will be able to provide them with the good news of Jesus Christ. How is the church doing? Paul said it well when he said I have become all things to all people that I might somehow win some to Jesus.
There are other things we could learn from Walmart and I have just scratched the surface. Perhaps you have some other ideas that you would like to share. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

What can the church learn from Walmart?

I have mentioned our family mantra before "If Walmart doesn't have it then we don't need it." I find myself shopping at Walmart a lot. This past week I visited other stores, but still finished up at Walmart and purchased what I was looking for. My Walmart experiences have always been interesting and I think there is a lot that churches can learn from Walmart.
For instance, when I arrive at Walmart there is always ample parking. Though I sometimes do not get to park right at the door, I never have to worry about not finding a parking place. I don't think having a visitor parking space would be applicable at Walmart, but I think it would be beneficial in a church parking lot. Does your church have visible parking spaces set aside for a church visitor? It may be one of the early signs that your church is interesting in making a visitor welcome. By providing the best parking spots you are telling the visitor, "we think you are special, why don't you take the best spot." In order for them to have that spot that means someone else needs to give it up. Parking is important and I suspect it is even more relevant here in Illinois when the snow and ice begin to appear.
Another interesting thing about Walmart is when I make my way into the front entrance of the store I am always greeted by a smiling person who is ready to assist me. They give me a basket, they assist me with my return and if I have a question they direct me to the right person. If I am lost they will point me in the right way. Does your church have adequate greeters when a visitor arrives? I am not talking about just greeters in the classrooms, I am talking about greeters at the various entrances to the church facility. One of the things we reinforced when I worked as a volunteer coordinator at a hospital wsa the importance of escorting people to where they needed to go. We never pointed or directed, but we walked with them to their desired location. By so doing we could talk up the hospital and be a friendly face to people that were afraid and concerned. The same principle applies to the church as well. When a visitor comes to the church, what an encouragement to be met by a smiling face that can escort them to where they need to be. They need to know where the children's classes are located. As the greeter escorts them to the children's classes the greeter can alleviate their fears and tell them how great the children's teachers are at the church. A greeter can calm their fears about leaving their children. They probably would like to know where their Sunday School class meets. Does the greeter know where to escort people? The greeters must be some of the most knowledgable people in the church and definitely the friendliest. They must be people persons. Of course it is always helpful to point them to the coffee. Even if they do not drink coffee they will be appreciative of the offer. Smiling informative greeters are essential to providing an inviting experience to the visitors. Someone once said that normally visitors make up their mind about a church in the first 7 - 10 minutes in which they visit. As a pastor that is not really encouraging, because I usually don't step into the pulpit until 30 minutes after the service begins. Their mind might already be made up before the preacher ever says a word.
Another important lesson about Walmart is that there are signs informing you of where everything is located. Actually the signs of Walmart begin even before you make your way to the store. It is not hard to locate a Walmart from the road as their sign can be seen from a large distance. How about your church sign? Is your church easy to find from the road?
But it does not stop at the store sign as it is fairly easy to shop at Walmart if you follow the signs. Of course if you do get lost there is always that smiling happy greeter to point you in the right direction. But the signs help us locate what we are looking to purchase. Here is the application for the church, does your church have ample signage? Are there signs telling people where everything is located? Signs outside of classrooms. Signs pointing to the children's building, to the nursery, to the restrooms and to the auditorium are essential to help people find their way around. I know you have those great greeters, but you still need signs.
Tomorrow I will continue the discussion on lessons from Walmart, but I would love to hear from you. Has Walmart taught you any lessons that can be applied to the church? I am eager to hear because maybe you have learned something I have not learned.

Great weekend

It has been a great weekend for the Worley household, or at least for the male population of the household. It was kickoff for football and both College and Professional teams are now in full swing. Around here that means Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns and the Baylor Bears. I know they are all Texas teams, but what can I say, I am a Texan. Even though I live in Illinois my teams are still from Texas. The Longhorns won, the Cowboys won and Baylor did not lose, because they were idle. It was a great weekend for us. For others it was not as great a weekend, the Bears loss so there will be gloom and doom for the rest of the week.
Unfortunately the above criteria is the way many people evaluate their weekend. They live for this time of year or another sports time of year, such as Basketball, Baseball in October, hockey, water polo, soccer or any other sport that can take their mind off the problems in their life. However, as much as I like it when my teams win I do not measure my weekend by these standards. A great weekend for me centers around the Church and the worship of God.
So with that in mind, we had a great weekend at the Worley household. We were able to see our brothers and sisters in Christ, some which we had not seen since last week. We were able to study God's Word together. We were able to worship God through song and prayer. We were able to give our tithes and offerings as we worshipped God. We were inspired by the proclamation of the word. And two people made a public profession of Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. I would say that constitutes as a great weekend.
So how do you measure your weekends? Is it all about sports and time off or is it about the worship of our wonderful Lord and Savior? I always look at Sunday as a tune up for what we will do forever, so it seems that we should take it pretty seriously. Unlike other things that occupy our weekend, worship of God is not a game. It can change your life and the life of those around you when you come in contact with a Holy God who loves you passionately. How are you doing? Did you have a great weekend? If not why not? Perhaps it had more to do with where you put your focus than anything else. I have a great idea, lets put our focus on God this week and then gather together for worship on Sunday. Now that is a gameplan for success.

Spending money

I did not enter a post yesterday because I was busy spending money. Yes, you read that right, I was spending money. We love our new house and are excited about being able to set it up as our home. You know when you move into a new place there are things that you must do and things you must buy as you adjust to your new place. One of the things we had to buy was curtains and of course curtain rods. It seems that in our bedroom window a bright light shines in ever night. Though we have blinds on the windows it is not sufficient to black out the light, so the need for curtains. Of course we have four windows in our bedroom so that meant we had to purchase a lot of curtain panes for those windows.
The good news about the Worley clan is we stuck to our mantra "If Walmart doesn't have it we don't need it." Fortunately Walmart had what we wanted and needed. We did look at other places, but we went back to Walmart to get the ones we liked.
In general we have a tendency to purchase things that we need and in general what we want. However, I was floored this week when I read that a woman in China purchased a Tibetan black Mastiff for $582,000! You read that number correctly. I cannot fathom purchasing a dog for that amount money. Normally such a dog will fetch $2000 in the States, but in China they are valued for thier use as a guard dog. But still I think the woman who purchased the dog could have hired some security guards for less money.
The previous high for a dog was $155,000 for a cloned Labrador Retriever. This dog was purchased by the couple who had their dead Labrador cloned. Perhaps they could have found something better to invest their money in, but who am I to make suggestion.
Here is the thing for us to consider. What do we spend our money on? Actually if you are a follower of Jesus Christ it is not our money at all, but God's money. He just allows us to use it for a short time. The story about the dog really caused me to think if we are often times frivilous with our spending as well.
Think about your own situation. How have you spent money lately? Have you spent money on you needs or your wants? If you are just dying to spend some money, I have a great place where you can put it. How about investing in the Kingdom of God? Oh I get it, you can touch it, you can see it, you can experience that. You would much rather have something tangible for which to spend your money. But did you know that for every dime you give to the church it helps bring the light of Christ to a dark and dying world? Instead of being like me and trying to block out the light, why don't you try to help shine the light? It will make a difference in your life and in the life of another.

Proof of Life

Several years ago there was a movie called "Proof of Life." The movie starred Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan and was about a hostage negotiator who demanded proof of life before he would negotiate with the kidnappers. This title led me to think about our own proof of life. In Luke 3 we are presented with the ministry of John the Baptist. John's job was to prepare the way for Jesus. He was to instill in the people a desire for spiritual things, which focused on repentance and forgiveness of sins as well as the need for a Savior.
In the course of his ministry John told the people to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance." We do not normally like to talk about our actions for fear that we will be labeled a legalist. Yet we cannot deny that there should be some proof of life that we are indeed alive in Christ. The truth remains that we are not saved by our works, but our works should prove that we are saved.
John pointed out a few things that prove we have new life. In verse 11 he stresses the need to help those less fortunate. In verse 13 and 14 he emphasized the importance of not taking what does not belong to us. He also taught that we are to be content with what we have. There are other things that John taught, but these were the ones that were highlighted in this particular context. The point John was trying to stress to the people is that there should be proof that we have indeed found forgiveness for our sins.
Now here is the kicker, Jesus validated John's message. There was no reason for Jesus to be baptized. He never sinned so there was no need for him to have a baptism to demonstrate his repentance. Jesus was identifying with the ministry of John. By being baptized He was telling John and those who watched that I am in agreement with this message. He was also providing an example for us to follow. For those who are afraid of being baptized then you do not know what it really means. Baptism is an outward confession of an inward commitment. It is a way that we identify with our Lord's death, burial and resurrection to a new way of life. When we are immersed in the water it demonstrates our death to our old way of life. When we are raised out of the water it demonstrates our commitment to live a new life. Then as we walk up out of the water it is a demonstration of our commitment to walk a different path than the one we were on previously. We go in one way we come out another. After this public demonstration our life should offer proof of life.
Jesus would later tell us through His words that if we love Him we will do what He commanded. Two things Jesus clearly commanded in His teachings were to love God and love man and then He demonstrated our need to serve one another. If you ever have a doubt as to how you can love someone then remember the golden rule, do to them as you would have them do to you. If you think about that teaching it will help you do good in a lot of situations.
The question we all must consider this morning is do my actions provide Proof of Life? Sure makes me think of my own life and what my actions reveal. Why don't we work together to demonstrate to everyone that we are indeed alive in Christ? We should allow our actions to do the talking and then we will not have to be ashamed to talk about what we believe. Just something to think about. What do you think?

Spirit filled believers

There is a lot of discussion about being a spirit filled believer. Some believe that in order to be a spirit filled believer you need a second dose of the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but then later we need a second blessing from the Spirit before we will truly be spirit filled. Others believe that we receive all the Holy Spirit when we accept Christ as our Savior and we do not need a second dousing of the Spirit. But we can be guilty of quenching the Holy Spirit that is within us.
This morning I would like to look at an individual that defies both of these teachings. The thing that is surprising about this individual is that he was full of the Holy Spirit even before Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us. The man I am speaking of is Simeon as revealed in the early chapters of Luke. Listen to the way Luke describes Simeon in Luke 2:25 - 27. "The Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit . . .and moved by the Holy Spirit he went. . ." Three times in three short verses Luke mentions how the Holy Spirit dominated his life. We have no problem with the first phrase. We probably believe that the Holy Spirit is upon us. However, it is the second two phrases that reveal the greatest problem we have. Do you sense the Holy Spirit revealing things to you? The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Lord's Christ. I often wonder how this had been revealed to him. I have had times in my life where I sensed the Holy Spirit was revealing something to me only to be shot down by other individuals. Was I wrong? Were they wrong? Were we all wrong? How often do we allow logic and common sense cloud the Holy Spirit's revelation in our lives?
Not only did the Holy Spirit reveal something to Simeon, but it also moved Simeon to do something as well. It moved him to go to the temple courts. As he made his way to the temple courts he would be able to see the Lord's Christ. How often has the Holy Spirit moved you to do go somewhere or to do something?
I believe the example of Simeon is a challenge for all of us. I admit more times than I would like to that I am often more in control than the Holy Spirit is in control. Do you resemble this remark? There have been times that I have been in meetings and could not recall a verse of Scripture or could not remember my train of thought. Then there have been other times when the words flowed freely. What was the difference? Perhaps it had more to do with an attitude of expectancy than anything. Simeon was called a righteous and devout and He was waiting for the promised Messiah. He believed what the Scriptures foretold and lived his life in expectancy for the moment. He loved God, he served God and he waited for God to reveal himself to his people. Maybe we can understand why the Holy Spirit is not as instrumental in our lives when we consider his example. So the question may not be am I a Spirit filled believer but rather "am I a Spirit led believer?" Now that is a different question altogether. I think this is a relevant question for all of us to consider. What do you think?

What news do you share?

What news do you get excited about? What news do you love to share with others? People like to share good news. If you win a million dollars, you would probably share the good news with others. If you were getting married, you probably would not keep it a secret. If you were having a baby you would share the good news. Oh sure you might wait a little while, but you would eventually share the good news with others. Ask any grandparent if they share the news about their grandchildren and they will immediately show pictures. The point is that we share things that we are excited about. We share good news, because we want people to rejoice with us.
So how does this compare with the good news of Jesus Christ? I am under conviction already! I was reading in Luke 2 today about the time the angel came and shared good news with the shepherds. In fact it was good news of great joy. Talk about a double whammy, this news had it all. It was the announcement that a Savior had been born. A Savior was one that would redeem them from bondage and oppression. His name would be Christ, which means the anointed one. He was anointed to lead people from chaos and confusion into peace and harmony. He would also be called Lord, meaning he confronts all time and all ages. Our Lord Jesus came to this earth to be our Savior, our Christ and our Lord. He chose to do so willingly.
What did the shepherds do? Did they horde the information for themselves? Did they go back to tending sheep and have warm fuzzies that night? Did they sit around in a holy huddle that night and sing about the event? Did they go to bed at night and debate with themselves the validity of the news? Or did they sit around and stategize about how best to share the news? No they did none of these things.
The Scriptures states that they shared the news with all they came in contact with. They had been given valuable news of incredible joy and it was news that was meant to be shared. The story does not reveal that people immediately accepted the news, but it does say they were amazed at what they heard. It was not the responsibility of the shepherds to make people believe, it was their responsibility to share.
We should emulate the shepherds. For unlike them we know the rest of the story. We know that the babe of Bethlehem became the Christ of Calvary. He accomplished everything that the angel said he would do. He has offered salvation to people if they will believe. He can lead us from chaos and confusion into abundant living. And He can do these things for eternity. He is Lord. This is good news of great joy that needs to be shared with others. So how are we doing? Have you shared any good news this week? How about this: the next time you share some good news with a friend, an associate or a collegue say this: "I have some good news and I have some really good news can I share them with you." Then share with people the good news of great joy for all the people. Trust God and see what happens. Thanks for letting me share with you today.

Guard your tongue

Yesterday our church conducted a worship service at one of the nursing homes in our area. We provide a worship service at two nursing homes once a month. Yesterday my wife, Abbie and I went to the wrong nursing home for the worship service. While the rest of the team was leading in worship in Yorkville we were ministering to an elderly man in Oswego. Perhaps it was not an accident that we were in the wrong place.
While we were there we ministered to Charley. Charley is 81 years old and enjoyed talking with us while he waited for a family member to visit him. As we began talking Charley told us some interesting stories about his life and some of the things he had done. I told Charley that we would be back next week to have a worship service and invited him to come.
With a great deal of respect he said that he did not need to come to church and then he shared his story. Charley was serving in Germany during the Korean War and met a young German lady that he decided he wanted to marry. She had three little girls and was raising them on her own. He wanted to marry her while he was in the army so that the army would pay to move his family back to the states. In order to marry a national Charley had to have approval from many different people in the chain of command. He got everyone's approval until he came to the chaplain. The chaplain told Charley that he could not approve the marriage, because too many of them had ended in divorce. From the chaplain's perspective, whenever these foreign wives arrive in the states, they fall in love with another man with more money and divorce their soldier husband. So Charley could not marry this young lady.
However, he told the chaplain that he would prove him wrong and vowed that he would never step foot in a church as long as he lived. He got is discharge in Germany and stayed 4 1/2 years in Germany to save enough money to bring his new family to the states. Charley's wife died 6 years ago and he kept his word, he has never entered a church since that time. Though he is respectful to God he does not believe that one needs to attend church.
After he shared his story I told him that we would be having a worship service next week and since we would not be in an actual church building he could still keep his word. However, I don't know if Charley will be there or not.
So what is the point of this little story? It is very simple, we must always be careful with what we say. I am not faulting the chaplain for his words, but often times our words have an impact that we know nothing about. James states that we are to restrain our tongue, because if we cannot restrain our tongue then we might be decieving ourselves into thinking we are religious when in reality we are not. The tongue is a volitile instrument that can be used for good and evil. Everytime we speak we should guard our tongue, for afterall someone is listening. We never know the damage our words may cause to another individual. Be careful what you say little mouth is what the old nursery song said and perhaps we would be wise to heed this advice as well. Guard your tongue becuse it can be sharp and cause a lot of damage if we are not careful.

We've got talent!

One of the shows on the television that my daughter Abbie has dragged me into watching is America's Got Talent. I admit that I am not really into such programs, but there are moments that this particular show can be interesting and entertaining. Many of the acts that are performing are not that great compared to what we are used to seeing. But compared to some of the other reality shows this one has a twist as it allows any particular talent to be showcased. There was a magician on the show but he was recently voted off the show. There are three tenors from Texas that sing opera style music. They are pretty amazing and being from Texas could be one of my favorites. There is an unusual dance duo where a 98pound woman is able to lift her partner who is well over 200 pounds if not 250. There is the front runner, a Kentucky Chicken Rancher who sings country music. There are dance teams, musical teams and of course Grandma Lee, a 75 year old grandma who tells jokes. There is also a man that performs tricks with his dogs. It is an interesting cast that continues to perform every week in hope of gaining the prize, 1 million dollars and a show in Las Vegas. The thing about these acts is that we would probably never hear about them if it were not for this platform that has been provided for them. For the most part these are average everyday people that are just looking for an opportunity to share their talent. I think that we could learn a lesson from this show. We too have talent that others may not know about. We are looking for an opportunity to display our talent and put it to good work. The talent may not be elaborate or even glamour worthy, but nevertheless it is a talent. The Bible states that every follower of Jesus Christ has at least one talent and probably more. Many people have never discovered their hidden talent. Others have never been given an opportunity to use their talent. But for the most part, people have never even tried to use their talent. Why is that? Because they are afraid of what people might think. Would their be boos? Would you be compared to others and considered that your talent is not much? And worse of all what would happen if you started using your talent and someone did not like it and they decided to vote against you? All these questions come into our minds and then we decided against using our talent. Yet God's word says that if you have a talent you are to use it for the Lord. It may not be preaching or teaching. It might not be singing or playing an instrument. It might not be showy or flashy. It might not even be the one that everyone sees, but nevertheless it is talent that you should be using. Remember, a lot of people on America's Got Talent never made it to the big show, but nevertheless they tried. My fear in the church today is that we have numerous people that have never even tried to for fear of what might happen. It does not matter what the talent is or how old you might be, you have talent! Why not decide today to put it to work. After all there is really on one judge that matters and He is the one who gave you the talent. He will never vote against you. So your audience of one is waiting for you to use your talent. What are waiting for? A million dollars? A front line act at Las Vegas? How about just doing it for a well done good and faithful servant?

Don't check your brains at the door.

The title of this posting is taken from a book by Josh McDowell, because we as Christians are often accused of believing myths and fables. We do not have a serious ability to think and we are just mindless robots that have been indoctrinated over the years by decievers and charlatans. The idea is that we as followers of Jesus Christ just accept everything by blind faith and do not really spend much time seriously considering what we believe. Unfortunately there is an element of truth in these statements. You know exactly what I am talking about. The New Testament is full of such examples of people believing everything they hear and then falling into a trap designed by Satan. Galatians is a great example of people who were led to believe a different gospel. However, we see examples of this in our own time as well. We have organizations today that are founded on false gospels and teachings that when honestly analyzed can be proven to be false. Yet many believe without searching to be sure that what is taught is true. Luke the apostle provides a good outline for us to consider even today. As Luke prepared to write his gospel account there were already many others being circulated, ie: Matthew and Mark. However, these were written with a Jewish slant. Luke being a Gentile, wanted to present a gospel that would touch the hearts of his people. As a result he wrote the book of Luke or really he wrote a letter addressed to his dear friend and supporter. Three important things are revealed in his introduction. First, much of the information circulating during his day had been preserved by eyewitnesses and others who were witnesses of the eyewitnesses. These stories and teachings can be trusted because they come from a reliable source. However, Luke goes one step further. He states that he had carefully investigated everything from the beginning. Luke was not content just to accept everything that was passed down but examined everything carefully to make sure that it was indeed reliable. This idea may bother some people because the Holy Spirit is the author of the gospels. Yes it is true, but God chose to use human instruments inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the accounts. Inspiration by the Holy Spirit did not rule out human effort. He spent many years talking with people and investigating the facts. If scholars are correct and his gospel was written in 70-80 AD it would mean he had ample time to track down people to get their story. So Luke did not check his brains at the door. However the important thing was not because Luke had a wavering faith, but because he wanted others to trust the information as well. Luke told his friend Theophilus that he investigated the facts so that he may know the certainty of the things he had been taught. Here is the point for you and I. We believe by faith, but we study and analyze and learn the truth of what we believe, so that we can present it in a way that others will be able to accept the truth as well. We do not have to check our brains at the door when it comes to the Word of God. Don't believe everything you hear, but check it out. Verify that it is indeed what God said and not what one person believes that God said. We must be careful or we will be tossed about by every wind of doctrine that we hear. We accept it by faith, but we can rest assured that our faith is based on fact and not fiction. Every thing in the Bible can be believed. Don't believe me then check it out for yourself. As Paul told Timothy "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

Where do you Preach?

I was reading Mark 16 today about the good news of our Lord's resurrection. We do not normally read a lot from Mark 16 for the very reason that it ends rather abruptly and on a sour note. The women at the tomb were told to go and tell his disciples that He had risen from the dead. However verse 8 reveals that they were so afraid that they said nothing to anyone. Of course we know that is not the end of the story. A later editor added in 12 more verses that provide a little more detail about what happened after the resurrection. However, we do not normally accept these 12 verses as being authentic to the original author. Just a cursory reading of the verses explains why. We do not normally build a doctrine on obscure verses in the Bible. However, there are still some relevant words that are applicable to our lives. Consider what the disciples did after Jesus had spoken to them. Verse 20 states they "went out and preached everywhere." I like this ending much better than verse 8 which closes with fear and trembling. Now comes the pivotal question for us to consider. Which ending best illustrates our lives? Are we like the women, who after hearing the good news said nothing to anyone or are we more like the disciples who preached everywhere? Think about your life and consider which ending you prefer. I know which one we probably are more like, but I'm not sharing. Some of you are probably thinking that you are not a preacher. But the actual idea presented in these words is that they proclaimed the good news. You may not be a preacher, but you can certainly proclaim good news. Consider the example of Saint Francis of Assisi. He once had a young student who wanted to accompany him as he preached to the people in the streets. Saint Francis allowed the young monk want a be to join him in his daily rounds. As they made their way through the city Saint Francis ministered to a beggar on the street by giving him some money. He helped another person carry a heavy load. He gave out food to the poor. He gave clothing to the less fortunate. After the day was over the young monk want a be said "I thought we were going to preach the gospel, but we never uttered one word." Saint Francis said "Everywhere we went we preached the word." He then said "Everywhere you go preach the word, use words if necessary." The point of the story is that our lives should be a billboard for the gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be times when we must verbally proclaim the truth we believe. However, our lives should always be a reflection of the truth we claim to believe. Think about your own life. How can you preach the good news to those you come in contact with? Perhaps it might be sharing a meal with someone at work. Maybe it would be doing something kind to a colleague. It could lending a listening ear to someone. It could be dropping a card in the mail or sending out an email thanking someone for what they have done. It might be crying with someone or even laughing with someone. And yes it might be sharing with them the hope you have in Jesus Christ. So I ask you a question "Where do you Preach?" I would love to hear your preaching stories. By the way if you examine the rest of verse 20 it states that "the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word." Remember wherever you go preach the word, use words if necessary, but preach the word. There is power in the preached word.

What do we take for granted?

This morning I was reading in Mark 15 about the crucifixion and death of Jesus. It is always difficult to read of what he suffered and endured as he died a cruel death upon a Roman cross. Do we really understand what he endured? Do we really grasp the magnitude of his sacrifice upon the cross? Consider an important event that happened on that day that does not make the headlines very often. In fact I have often wondered what the religious leaders of the day thought of this event. Mark 15:38 states that after Jesus died, "the curtain of the temple was torn int two from top to bottom." It is an interesting bit of information. This curtain was not a flimsy sheer that could be ripped easily by hand. It stood 15 feet high and was made of very durable high grade embroidered fabric. It was hand sewn and made with great detail. This curtain would be opened one time a year to allow the High Priest to enter so that he could offer a sacrifice for himself and for the people. Only one person entered and no one was able to peek behind the curtain. In other words, what was behind the curtain was kept a secret and was not for public display. Yet, the Scripture is clear that suddenly the way was open for all to see and to gain access to that which was previously off limits. The curtain is symbolic of that which separated us from an intimate relationship with God. However, because of what Jesus did access has now been granted because of his shed blood. There are no other sacrifices that are needed or required to gain access to God. The writer of Hebrews stated where sins have been forgiven there is no longer any sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:18). Though I am sure that the religious leaders of the day scurried around to quickly deny access to the holy place, it did not matter. The way to God had been cleared by the blood of Jesus Christ. Yet even today there are people that want to teach that other things must be done to gain access to God. They will teach that we cannot approach Him because we are sinful and in need of something to cleanse us from our sins. Yet the writer of Hebrews states that "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). He also states "by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." In other words when Jesus died on the cross all our sins past, present and future were paid for by His blood. We often forget that when Jesus died all of our sins were in the future. Why do we continue to allow sin to dictate our lives and control our thinking? Why do we allow others to say that we must work for our salvation? Why do we allow others to teach that what Jesus did was not adequate for our salvation, it was only a beginning? Christ died one time for all time and nothing more needs to be added to His work upon the cross. Yet I am afraid we take what He did for granted. We do not live our lives as if we have direct access to God. The writer of Hebrews states "Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus . . . let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:19-21). I do not think we truly grasp the importance of being able to approach the throne of God. We could never do that before Christ died for our sins. Now access to His very presence is granted through Jesus Christ. Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the father except through him. Two questions you must consider today. First, have you accepted Christ as the only way to have a relationship with God? Second, are you taking advantage of the access to God that Jesus has provided you? Spend time with him daily. Talk to God. Tell Him how much you love Him. Tell Him how grateful you are to have Him as your loving heavenly father. You can do it, because Jesus has made the way possible for you to do so. If you have accepted Jesus as the payment for your sins you have access to God as a loving heavenly father who desires an intimate relationship with you. If you have not accepted Jesus, then you are separated from God and can only know Him as judge. Have you taken for granted what Jesus has done for you? It is my prayer that you will boldly go before God today in humility, but in faith that Jesus has made the way possible for you to crawl up into God's lap and say "Daddy, I love you." Why not do so today.