I’ve Always Been Lucky In The Order

I’ve Always Been Lucky In The Order

by | Jul 23, 2022 | Newsletter | 0 comments

When Clint Eastwood’s character in “Unforgiven” was asked about the order in which he shot a room full of outlaws, he replied,” I’ve always been lucky in the order”. The order matters in gunfighting and in almost everything else in life. I have a good many conversations over email with people who see videos that I’ve posted. I almost never get emails from strangers who agree with me. The emails I get are from people who disagree with something I’ve said. Most are irritated and some are downright angry over some minor point.  Sometimes it’s only a word choice that I’ve used. Their faith has lost its order.

No one ever sends me a message saying “Hey, you’re wrong, Jesus is the Savior of the world”. That never happens because we all agree on the main things. People get bent out of shape over some point of theology that we may see differently. And there is something about our brains and our faith that causes us to get frustrated and angry and even fuels hatred at times when others think differently about the finer points of Christianity. What is really going on when we allow these disagreements to fester? Our faith is out of order. We’ve lost perspective of first and second things.

I like to build houses. I’ve been doing it on the side for many years. I know the sequence. If you get the sequence wrong, the outcome will be a disaster. There are only a few things that you can interchange the order within building a house and get away with it. It’s the same with math, cooking, manufacturing, and almost everything else. The order matters. If we get the order right our faith and relationships will thrive. If not, we will have lots of trouble. If you only remember one thing, you’ll do well. Keep Jesus, (God incarnate, the Savior of the world, and the sinless Sacrificial Lamb) first in all your religious thinking and conversations, and enjoy listening to and considering the thoughts and beliefs of your brothers and sisters in Christ. You might actually learn something in an unexpected place!

You Might Be An Influencer

You Might Be An Influencer

by | Jul 1, 2022 | Newsletter | 0 comments

There is a fairly new career category that has been added to the list. “Influencer” That means that others are influenced by someone’s content. But, you don’t have to have a social media account in order to be an influencer. There are many influencers out there who spend their time working on their latest projects, writing books and articles, others pouring their wisdom, time, and love into other people and influencing the world by the “content of their character”. Dr. King’s famous words outlined so succinctly, the thing that we should be judged by. And it’s also the thing that carries the most influence in this world.

How are you influencing the world? Have you thought much about the imprint you are leaving? You are influencing the world in some way. You are leaving a mark. The question is, what kind of mark are you leaving. Whatever is in your heart will almost always make its way out through the things you say and do and others will be influenced by them. Sometimes, I think about all the people that I could have encouraged but didn’t. I think about the ones I could have helped, but walked on by. I also wonder about all the people I’ve injured in some way. Some of those I know about, but there are probably many more that I don’t. It’s a sobering thought. Most of the time, you can’t go back and undo what has been done. The only thing you can do, is just move forward and give your heart to God.

In the hands of Jesus, your heart will begin to produce the love and the works of Christ. It’s amazing what your life can mean to so many when your trajectory is determined by the Father. Put your destiny in His care and you will be as the scripture says in Isaiah, “Like a well-watered garden”. Your influence will grow by leaps and bounds and the mark you leave will be that of Jesus Christ. One more thing. When you hit a bump in the road and it looks and feels like you’ve totally ruined everything and there is no hope, think about what God would want you to do. Get up quickly, go boldly before the throne of grace. Boldly, not because of anything you deserve, but because the blood of Christ deserves consideration even for the worst sinner. God doesn’t want you to stay down. Accept His redemption and move forward as the influencer He has called you to be.

Are You Winning?

Are You Winning?

by | Jun 3, 2022 | Newsletter | 0 comments

What does winning mean to you? If you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking about situations in which you are honored, celebrated or rewarded for some accomplishment. A win for most of us is a time when we are recognized for obvious victories. But how does God think about winning? Jesus said that people look at the outside but God sees the heart. 
Is your heart winning? It may sound like spiritual mumbo jumbo, but it’s actually one of the most legitimate questions you could ask, because your heart is challenged every day. The battle for your heart is the one you fight more than any other. Maybe the sheer frequency of these battles has dulled your senses but make no mistake, winning is crucial. Here’s the good news! If you are a follower of Jesus, you have control over whether you win or lose. 
Winning a promotion at work, upping your golf game or being recognized for an amazing achievement feels good. It really does feel great doesn’t it? But those feelings like most feelings come and go. Becoming closer to God and other people, taking control of your thoughts and actions and being at peace in your own heart is a win that keeps giving you deeper and deeper fulfillment. I can’t think of anything else is more satisfying. We can actually make winning a way of life!
Is It Really Important?

Is It Really Important?

by | Apr 23, 2022 | Newsletter | 0 comments

We major on the minor things and minor on the major things way too often. I’m one of the worst. My family would tell you that I let the small things bother me while tolerating larger issues. Dust on the lamp bothers me but overgrown bushes, I can live with. Thank goodness my boys are good in the yard. We do this with our faith as well. Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel”. We make big deals out of the small personal preference issues like style of worship and ignore larger issues like baptism. And when someone is really big on something as important as baptism, there is always someone who will say. It’s not necessary because of the thief on the cross was saved without being baptized. Why should I be baptized? I’ve made similar statements before myself. 
But, just because you could theoretically get into Heaven without being baptized, does that mean that you should try it? Jesus demonstrated how to begin with God by being baptized Himself. The Father and the Holy Spirit showed up for His baptism and they will also show up for yours if you haven’t been baptized already. Then of course, Jesus said that we should baptize in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. In fact, those were His last words to the disciples before His ascension. He said to make disciples by doing two things, teach them to obey all that Christ commanded and baptize them. That’s it. Simple but powerful. If commitment is lacking in your life, maybe you should consider beginning again with baptism even if you were baptized once before. 
No Plan B

No Plan B

by | Apr 1, 2022 | Newsletter | 0 comments

God has no Plan B for you. But we all seem to want Plan B. I’m talking about myself here as well. But, I think the more I preach about the truth of Plan A, the more willing I am to go for God’s plan. We just finished a message series called “Flip The Church”. The series was about making disciples of the vast majority of our people. Jesus said nothing about us growing a church. He only said one thing about building a church and in that instance, He said that He would do it. What did He say for us to do? “Go and make disciples”. This is Plan A. There is no other plan for you or for me.
 
The first order of business is to become a disciple. While I consider myself to be one, I also know that I am in the process of becoming a better one. The calling of the church is to follow Christ and to make disciples. That comes through teaching, apprenticing and immersion. There is a great book by Mike Breen and Steve Cockram entitled, “Building A Discipling Culture”. If you’re curious, it’s a very good read.
 
There’s not much news in this blog. The title says it all. The point is to get you thinking the way God is thinking. If there is no Plan B, why not embrace God’s real plan for you and for all those around you? He wants you and your family and all your friends! He wants you! He doesn’t want you for what you can do for Him, but for what He longs to do for you. He will do for you what Jesus did for His disciples. He changed them into the type of person that He was. And He’ll do the same for you. And then through you (believe it or not), He’ll do the same for others. That’s the plan! There is no other.
 
Embrace the idea! Teaching is plentiful in the church and most of us are getting enough already. But, as He leads you, take advantage of the opportunities that cross your path to be apprenticed by a more mature believer and to be immersed in the culture of Christ.  Look for every opportunity to make Jesus Lord in every area of your life. There is no plan B.
A Good Matthew McConaughey Impression

A Good Matthew McConaughey Impression

by | Mar 25, 2022 | Newsletter | 0 comments

Do you love a good impression? Almost everyone does! I do a few impressions. Some good and some not so good. I used to do impressions of local pastors and it always got a laugh. I’ve since wised up and I canned that act. One thing I’ve learned though, is that a good impression is very good, but a bad one is very bad. A bad impression is almost unbearable. 
I’m a big Elvis fan. I always have been. So when a guy that I knew revealed to me that he had a side gig as an Elvis impersonator, I was intrigued. When I was invited to see my friend’s show, I happily agreed. O my gosh! It was awful. He didn’t look like him, act like him or sound like him. If is weren’t for the songs, I wouldn’t have even known who my buddy was trying to impersonate. I wanted to leave after the first note but I had gotten myself into something I couldn’t get out of. I had to fake enjoyment (I have no poker face) for the rest of the night. It was excruciating. 
But good impressions are powerful! An accurate portrayal will bring a crowd to their feet in an instant. We’ve all seen these impressions- Jim Carrey doing Michael Landon, Clint Eastwood or William Shatner or Matt Damon and Kate Hudson doing their best version of Matthew McConaughey. It’s so funny, entertaining and mesmerizing. It’s powerful!
In the same way, a bad Jesus impression will turn the stomach. It must be a great impression if it is to be powerful and effective. But there’s a secret here. If we were all willing, we could all do a great Jesus. We could imitate Him perfectly because that is exactly what He wants. In fact, He gives us part of Himself and when it comes through in the things we think, say and do, it’s amazing. His thoughts, His words and His actions are spot on because they are authentic. They are coming from the source Himself. 
You might say, “I don’t feel like imitating Christ”. I doubt many of us feel like it in the beginning because it’s the very act of “trying” that brings everything that is Him to the surface. And when He makes His appearance, it’s powerful. It changes us and almost everyone around us. This week, I received a text that was obviously meant to be sarcastic and degrading. I stopped and asked God, “How should I reply”. I texted back as if the insult was meant to be a complement and thanked the person for it. Guess what. The reply to my text was kind and generous. Imitate Matthew McConaughey and you may get a laugh “Alright, Alright, Alright”. Imitate Jesus, and you’ll change someone’s life.