ir a principal |
Ir a lateral
The other day I spent a few hours watching the end of a Cardinal's baseball game on T.V. (they lost unfortunately). Since I don't always get to watch the game I have the final score of each game texted to my phone. Well, the game ended, and in the few minutes that followed Tricia and I were talking and I gave her a hug (I love my wife so I try to do that often). During our hug, my phone made the sound that lets me know I have a new text message. I proceeded to release from the hug and reach into my pocket for my phone to read that new text. I thought the hug was over, but according to my wife, it wasn't. And further more, she was none too pleased to feel like that text message was more important than her. Don't get me wrong, she didn't make me sleep on the couch or anything, but it made me think about something.
We respond quickly to a lot of things in life; screaming kid, screaming boss, screaming driver! My response to the text message was an example of that. But what if we responded to God as quickly as we do to other things? What if God sent you a text message? What if we didn't even read it for several hours, then once we do we realize it was time sensitive material?
Listen, God does send text messages......it's called the Bible! It's filled with messages for your life. All you have to do is read it. Just think what would happen in your life if God's Word, his text messages, were as important to you as the baseball game score or a message from a friend. I can promise you, the more you read God's messages, the more your life will change....for the better!
Note: Listen to Pastor Aaron's message (week 4) on how God communicates to us through the Bible. You'll learn some great practical ways to grow by reading God's Word.
Yesterday an armed gunman entered a church in Wichita, Kansas and proceeded to shoot and kill late-term abortion physician, Dr. George Tiller. As I watched the story on the news this morning, they showed the gunman's car and on the back he had placed a icthus fish (pictured), apparently a symbol of his faith and his Christianity. Does anyone see the irony in this story besides me? The gunman, justified in his opinion that the murder of unborn children is wrong, chooses to take a gun and MURDER the doctor who performs the abortions! That's now what my faith or my Christianity looks like. That's some ridiculous religion!
REAL Christians should understand the old adage; two wrongs don't make a right! And it makes me sick when someone does something like this under the banner of Christianity! It is biblical for us to stand against sin, but when we transition from hatred of a sin to hatred for the people who sin, we drawn a line that Jesus never drew. If believers in Christ would open up one of the many Bibles they have collecting dust on their shelves they would realize that this is not how Jesus responded to sin. He taught truth, engaged the opposition, and held to Biblical Absolutes (and yes, there are still moral absolutes). But he always did it in love; not with malace, not with hatred, and certainly not with a gun!
Proverbs 19:2 says, "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge." My prayer is that more and more Christians will stand up for what is right in various areas of life. But I also pray that their zeal is grounded on the knowledge of God's Word.
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this senseless tragedy.
Here's what I want you to do, I want you to think back to some of the craziest prayers you've ever prayed. Now be honest....you know you've prayed for some crazy stuff before! Let me see if I can read your mind and list some of the prayers you might have prayed before.
God, please let _____________fall in love with me!
God, could you please let me win the lottery? I'll tithe on it!!!
God, if you get me out of this, I'll do whatever you want me to do...FOREVER!
Lord, could you please help me pass this test....even though I didn't study?
God, could you please make hair grow on my head....I'm tired of being bald?!
Lord, if you give me this (house,car,etc., etc.) I'll never ask you for anything else!
Lord, could you make my parents normal?
God, will you make my kids normal?
Ok, maybe I didn't exactly list every possible crazy prayer, but you get the point. It seems like when we pray, we tend to ask a lot and listen very little. It's almost like we have turned prayer time into an opportunity to twist God's arm in an attempt to get what we want. If you only pray when you are asking God for something, then you have missed the point of prayer. Prayer isn't intended to be your attempt to make God into your spiritual Santa Claus. Prayer is supposed to be one part of how you communicate with God and develop a deeper relationship with him.
I know what you might be thinking, "But if I don't ask God for something.....then what do I say?" Good question! Why not start by using a prayer "cheat-sheet". What?!? You heard me right! How do you learn to pray? You learn by seeing positive examples of prayer. In Luke 11, Jesus disciples asked him to teach them how to pray and he proceeded to teach them The Lord's Prayer. It was a prayer model designed to help them stay on track when they prayed. Wouldn't you like to learn how to pray prayers that are meaningful and that don't put you to sleep? Prayer models are the place to start. For a list of downloadable prayer models, visit www.centralassembly.net. Focused, intentional prayer is a good thing. It's ok to be crazy, but your prayers shouldn't be! Learn to pray effective prayers.
Alright, it's Monday morning, the day after the "big" day. For those who don't realize it, Sunday is the big day for every pastor. It's what every church seems to work up to; it's the climax of the week. Don't get me wrong, there are a huge amount of valuable ministries and activities that happen Monday thru Saturday, all of which make Sunday a success. But when the service is over, and everyone has left the building and I'm sitting on my couch Monday morning drinking coffee, it's very easy for me as a pastor to get the "blahs".
Here's one thing I know, everybody faces the "blahs" even if it isn't on Monday. We may think that we are the only people who get down for a day or two or even a week. Well listen up, you're not alone. Everyone has those days. Those days when the "joy of the Lord" isn't quite as strong as it was on another day. Even as a pastor, I have those blah days. I haven't talked to him lately, but I believe even the Pope has those days! We seldom talk it, we hide it. We don't want someone to think we're less of us because we think spiritual people don't have those days. Guess what......WE DO! Read the story of David in the O.T. also the corresponding Psalms that he wrote. David was a basket case! The roller coaster of his emotions was better than anything Six Flags has to offer. But still the Bible refers to David as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22).
Wow....there's hope for me and you! Everyday isn't spent on the mountain top. You already knew that, didn't you? But even if everyday doesn't find you on top of the world, everyday can find you in relationship, hand-in-hand with the creator of the world! I think the best thing we can do on those blah days is head the words of Isaiah 40:31.
"But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Take the time to wait on God this week, get your soul recharged, and get some well deserved encouragement and rest.
In the book Wild Goose Chase (author, Mark Batterson), Mark writes a very profound statement that I have found to be of daily encouragement. Please forgive me as I paraphrase his statement where he says, "Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do each day is to just not give up!" Now to some, that statement may sound like a lack of faith or a negative outlook. But if you live here in the real world with the rest of us and your willing to drop your "superspiritual" mask for a moment, you would have to admit that in this Christian journey there are some days that survival is success.
At age 34 I find that statement encouraging. I play a lot of roles in this life; husband for almost 15 years, daddy to my kids (ages 7 & 11), son, brother, pastor, counselor and friend. And that's just the easy stuff to remember, not to mention the other stuff like; grass cutter, kid's baseball & soccer practice partner, (fill in the blank)___________________. And before I start to feel like I'm the only one doing all this stuff, make your own list. Every one of us has a list of this stuff. My point is, with all this activity, responsibility, and pressure, the feelings are always there that want to drive us to just give up and quit. We don't feel successful or we're frustrated. We feel like if we can't get it right at work, at home, or anywhere else, then certainly we aren't getting it right with God either, so why not just give up.
Remember, sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do each day is to just not give up! God's Word also tells us the same thing. "So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. - Galatians 6:9" Even God knew that our emotions would drive us to give up some days. But His encouragement is so practical, don't give up; it's going to be ok....don't give up; it's going to get better....don't give up; you can make it, I'm here with you. DON'T GIVE UP!
"Lord, I know that today is going to be filled with chances to quit and give up. But by faith, I place one foot in front of the other and take another step forward into my promised blessing. AMEN!"
Side note: I encourage you to read "Wild Goose Chase" by Mark Batterson. This book will jump start your faith and help you develop a lifestyle that chases after God.
Just over a week ago, my 7 year old daughter asked my wife one of those innocent, yet profound questions while traveling down the road in the family minivan (grocery-getter, family wagon; you get the point). Her question was, "Mommy, do people see Jesus when they die?" And with what seemed like a simple question, my wife answered, "Yes, honey." She wasn't prepared for my daughters response. In her small, innocent voice she said, "Then I want to die, so I can see Jesus." While surprised by her thoughts, my wife shared with her that God wanted her to live for him here on this earth, and that when she was old and gray, God would bring her to heaven at just the right time.
To put Lauren's question in context, we had just been in a Saturday night service where everyone in the room got prayed for. I saw my daughter place her little hands on people as they passed by and pray for them, tears rolling down her face. I couldn't contain my own emotions as I watched God bless my baby girl.
Afterwards, I couldn't help but remember Jesus words to the people of his day when he said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Matt. 10:14-15) But the realization for me as a father from my daughters question was this. Jesus died for us so that we could have a relationship with him. He died in our place. For most of us, we don't have to die to be with Jesus; he is with you right now where ever you are reading this. My daughter's passion to be with Jesus drove her to make the choice that she would give everything to be with him. And we explained to her, and I hope you recieve this as well, you don't have to die to be with Jesus, you can live for him today.
It's in the news, and everybody is freaking out; Swine Flu! Where will it show up next? What state will report the next case? It is a very serious and potentially pandemic situation. So it's with that in mind that I share the following photo with you. I'm not scientist, but this can't be good! Ha.Ha.
