This morning Kimberly came back into the house from the garage and said, "The car won't start." Those are not the words I want to hear to start the day. To make matters worst, the reason the car did not start was because of my doing. When I arrived home from work yesterday, I left the keys in the ignition. I did not leave the car running, but I left the key in the on position meaning the battery was used up all night. So, this morning the battery was dead.
What in the world was I thinking? Why did I leave the key in the ignition and the battery running? The answer is simple: my mind was not focused on what I was doing. My mind was dancing with other thoughts about 100 other things rather than the task at hand. As a result this morning the battery was dead.
God used that dead battery to remind me that I was doing the same thing to myself this week. Monday and Tuesday I was "too busy" to really stop and meditate on God's word and to talk and listen to His Spirit in prayer. While I was allowing my mind to dance with 100 other things, I was letting my battery go dead. I am thankful that the Father loves me enough to warn me when my battery is running low.
This morning I was reading in Acts 13 and the last verse grabbed my attention. It reads, "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." If you take this verse out of context, one might be led to assume that something really good must have happened for the disciples to experience such joy and filling. However, just the opposite is true. Right before this verse it says, "The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jews incited God-fearing women of high standing and leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
How could the disciples be filled with joy, let alone the Holy Spirit, when their circumstances were providing any reason but joy and filling? Why isn't their battery dead in light of persecution and rejection? Apparently, they realized what I forget...joy is not dependent on one's positive or negative circumstances, but on one's connection to the Holy Spirit who has the power to keep us full in the face of draining circumstances.
How is your battery this week? Are you plugging into the circumstances of this week? If so, then your battery is as good as dead. Come, with me, unplug from everything else that you have to do this week and plug into the Holy Spirit. Trust me...the time you you think you don't have to do this will be more than made up for by the fresh charge of joy the Holy Spirit will pump into your battery.
Holy Spirit, forgive me for thinking I can run on my own power. Holy Spirit, thank you for turning me back to you before my battery went dead.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
"A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words"
If you are a fan of Living Hope on “Face Book” you have seen this (if not, I invite you to join us on FB). Today, my thought is the same as what I posted on FB yesterday: If you had to draw a picture of the Church, what would you draw?
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I could not agree more. Thank you to everyone who has responded so far…you are painting an incredible picture! Anyone else have a picture come to mind? Send it my way!
I can’t wait to be with you this Sunday as we explore the next part of the story of God. This is where it gets really exciting! Also, we are going to do something this Sunday that we have never done. Its been 10 years and God is still doing new things among us! Invite a friend and come and see. This would especially be a great day to invite friends who have a poor opinion of the church or have been disappointed by the church. It shouldn’t be hard to find folks who fall in that category. See you Sunday!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I could not agree more. Thank you to everyone who has responded so far…you are painting an incredible picture! Anyone else have a picture come to mind? Send it my way!
I can’t wait to be with you this Sunday as we explore the next part of the story of God. This is where it gets really exciting! Also, we are going to do something this Sunday that we have never done. Its been 10 years and God is still doing new things among us! Invite a friend and come and see. This would especially be a great day to invite friends who have a poor opinion of the church or have been disappointed by the church. It shouldn’t be hard to find folks who fall in that category. See you Sunday!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
"Storm of the Century"
I suppose I have reached that point in life when I now join with those who have gone before me and say, "When I was younger..." You know...the whole, "I used to walk in snow up hill to school with no shoes" routine. Be that as it may, I must say it...when I was growing up, a few inches of snow, a little wind and ice did not constitute a winter weather emergency. Honestly, my mind is clear on this...we did not consider 3-5 inches a big deal. It was not big news. As a child, you went to bed with no hope of school canceling. But now, if the threat of snow is on the radar we go into winter storm advisory mode two days before the snow is to hit.
So, just humor me and say that I am on to something...that we now consider a little, snow, ice and wind to be a major storm...if that is true, why is it true? Hang with me here...could it be that for a people that have relatively little threats and problems, small problems like a few inches of snow seem huge?
For instance, a year after the earth quake in Haiti, people are still dieing. People in Haiti are dieing in their tents (they have no hope of rebuilding their homes)of cholera because they still do not have clean drinking water. (By the way, for a one-time gift of $55 you can purchase a filter system that will produce clean water for 60 people for life...Star 93.3 is talking about it today). And it is not just in Haiti...one child will die every fifteen seconds today because they do not have clean drinking water.
The examples could go on and on...40% of the world's population (outside the US, of course) live on less than $2 a day. 143 million children live as orphans every day.
15 thousand Africans will die today of preventable, curable diseases because they do not have access to the medication we take for granted. 30,000 children...half of Paul Brown's Stadium...will die today of starvation in a world that throws away 30% of its food. Over 25% of kids who age out of foster care in Montgomery County become homeless.
Do you see where I am going with this? What if the reason weather storms are such big news to us is because our problems are so small compared to the problems of our world. As we have been studying the Story of God, I keep hearing the words of God to Abraham in Genesis 12, "I will bless you to be a blessing to the whole world." There is no doubt about it...if we see a little ice, snow and wind as the storm of the Century, we are blessed...and so the question for us to ask is, are we being a blessing to others for God?
It is an important question to ask considering what happened to the people of Israel when they chose to stop being a blessing and start oppressing as King Solomon led them to build the temple on the backs of slaves (1 Kings 9:15). God has shown us what happens when his people forget to be a blessing so that we do not have to experience exile. Will we choose to listen?
I thank God that you are a Church family that is open to learning to listen. I praise God that you are growing in in what it means to be a people of both righteousness (love God) and justice (love others). Last Sunday was a great demonstration of your heart and action for being a blessing. This Sunday, we will share the details!
So, just humor me and say that I am on to something...that we now consider a little, snow, ice and wind to be a major storm...if that is true, why is it true? Hang with me here...could it be that for a people that have relatively little threats and problems, small problems like a few inches of snow seem huge?
For instance, a year after the earth quake in Haiti, people are still dieing. People in Haiti are dieing in their tents (they have no hope of rebuilding their homes)of cholera because they still do not have clean drinking water. (By the way, for a one-time gift of $55 you can purchase a filter system that will produce clean water for 60 people for life...Star 93.3 is talking about it today). And it is not just in Haiti...one child will die every fifteen seconds today because they do not have clean drinking water.
The examples could go on and on...40% of the world's population (outside the US, of course) live on less than $2 a day. 143 million children live as orphans every day.
15 thousand Africans will die today of preventable, curable diseases because they do not have access to the medication we take for granted. 30,000 children...half of Paul Brown's Stadium...will die today of starvation in a world that throws away 30% of its food. Over 25% of kids who age out of foster care in Montgomery County become homeless.
Do you see where I am going with this? What if the reason weather storms are such big news to us is because our problems are so small compared to the problems of our world. As we have been studying the Story of God, I keep hearing the words of God to Abraham in Genesis 12, "I will bless you to be a blessing to the whole world." There is no doubt about it...if we see a little ice, snow and wind as the storm of the Century, we are blessed...and so the question for us to ask is, are we being a blessing to others for God?
It is an important question to ask considering what happened to the people of Israel when they chose to stop being a blessing and start oppressing as King Solomon led them to build the temple on the backs of slaves (1 Kings 9:15). God has shown us what happens when his people forget to be a blessing so that we do not have to experience exile. Will we choose to listen?
I thank God that you are a Church family that is open to learning to listen. I praise God that you are growing in in what it means to be a people of both righteousness (love God) and justice (love others). Last Sunday was a great demonstration of your heart and action for being a blessing. This Sunday, we will share the details!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
"Getting Our Big 'Buts' out of the Way"
On Monday night our doorbell rang. It was Seth Zellers. Seth is a high school senior in our Living Hope family and a part of our Teen FUEL ministry. He had called me the week before to see if he could do a Knife demonstration for us. So, Monday evening, I sat down for his sales pitch. I respect any young man who takes the initiative to work, but I was curious about for what he was working. So I asked, "Why did you take this job?" I expected him to say the usual..."I'm saving money for college" or "I'm saving up for a car" or "I want to go to Florida for Spring Break with my friends." However, that was not Seth's response. Seth said,"This is how i am going to pay my way to go on the Expedition Ukraine Trip."
To be honest, from that point on, Seth could have been selling poop and I would have listened intently and bought it. Something inside of me jumped up and down and sang praises to God! "That young man, is one of our own," I thought to myself. He could be making a lot of plans for a lot of things for the summer after he graduates and he is out selling knives to make sure he can serve orphans. I pray that Seth never looses his ability to hear God's voice nor the willingness to do whatever he has to do to follow God's call.
Let's face it...I bet there are at least another 50 or more people in our church family who have said, "I would like to go and serve orphans and street children in Ukraine, but..." I wonder how often our big BUTS get in God's way? I wonder how often our big buts keep us from experiencing first hand God's personal power, provision, peace and presence. I wonder how often our big buts keep us sitting on our butts, when God had planned to use our hands and feet to bring his hope to the hurting.
If the Story of God teaches us anything it is that the difference between those who see God work in real ways in their every days lives are those who surrender all their "buts" and just say, "yes!"
Think about it...
Had Noah said, "but," the world would have come to an underwater-end...
Had Abraham said, "but," he would have died believing he and his wife were
infertile...
Had Joseph said, "but," he would have never seen how God can take what the
Devil means to use as evil and turn it around for good...
Had Moses said, "but", the story of God's people would have ended in slavery...
Had Joshua said, "but," God's people would have missed the promised land...
Had Daniel said, "but," he never would have known that God can keep lions
mouths shut..
Had Esther said, "but," she would have been comfortable in the palace and her
people would have been dead...
Had Isaiah said, "but," we would never have seen Jesus centuries before he was
born...
Had the 12 disciples said, "but", the truth of Jesus would have ended with
their generation...
Had Paul said, "but," only Jews would have been given the opportunity to know
the life -changing love of Christ...
Had Seth Zellers said, "but" he would not be going to Expedition Ukraine and who
knows what of God he and orphans would have missed out on...
Had Pastor Ryan Riddell said "but" he would not be preparing for an interview
with Diane Sawyer to help children aging out of foster care have an
opportunity other than homelessness (www.30dayshomeless.TV)
What "buts" have been getting in the way of the story God has for you? What "buts" are getting in the way of what God wants to do in your life? What "buts" of yours and mine are keeping others form experiencing the love of Christ first hand?
To be honest, from that point on, Seth could have been selling poop and I would have listened intently and bought it. Something inside of me jumped up and down and sang praises to God! "That young man, is one of our own," I thought to myself. He could be making a lot of plans for a lot of things for the summer after he graduates and he is out selling knives to make sure he can serve orphans. I pray that Seth never looses his ability to hear God's voice nor the willingness to do whatever he has to do to follow God's call.
Let's face it...I bet there are at least another 50 or more people in our church family who have said, "I would like to go and serve orphans and street children in Ukraine, but..." I wonder how often our big BUTS get in God's way? I wonder how often our big buts keep us from experiencing first hand God's personal power, provision, peace and presence. I wonder how often our big buts keep us sitting on our butts, when God had planned to use our hands and feet to bring his hope to the hurting.
If the Story of God teaches us anything it is that the difference between those who see God work in real ways in their every days lives are those who surrender all their "buts" and just say, "yes!"
Think about it...
Had Noah said, "but," the world would have come to an underwater-end...
Had Abraham said, "but," he would have died believing he and his wife were
infertile...
Had Joseph said, "but," he would have never seen how God can take what the
Devil means to use as evil and turn it around for good...
Had Moses said, "but", the story of God's people would have ended in slavery...
Had Joshua said, "but," God's people would have missed the promised land...
Had Daniel said, "but," he never would have known that God can keep lions
mouths shut..
Had Esther said, "but," she would have been comfortable in the palace and her
people would have been dead...
Had Isaiah said, "but," we would never have seen Jesus centuries before he was
born...
Had the 12 disciples said, "but", the truth of Jesus would have ended with
their generation...
Had Paul said, "but," only Jews would have been given the opportunity to know
the life -changing love of Christ...
Had Seth Zellers said, "but" he would not be going to Expedition Ukraine and who
knows what of God he and orphans would have missed out on...
Had Pastor Ryan Riddell said "but" he would not be preparing for an interview
with Diane Sawyer to help children aging out of foster care have an
opportunity other than homelessness (www.30dayshomeless.TV)
What "buts" have been getting in the way of the story God has for you? What "buts" are getting in the way of what God wants to do in your life? What "buts" of yours and mine are keeping others form experiencing the love of Christ first hand?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
"Viral"
A man made a "Youtube" video talking about drawing personalized cartoon, stick figure cats. He has had thousands of hits and orders....yes, people are paying him to draw stick figure cats. Then, just last week, an Ohio homeless man's voice received national attention because of his internet video. It is amazing how the smallest ideas can now go viral because of present technological conveniences.
But what if something could go viral that is about more than silly attention-getters and self-promotion. What if something of meaning could be made to go viral? We are seeing that happen with www.30dayshomeless.TV. We along with the other Synergy Network Churches are a part of this viral phenomena.
Pastor Ryan Riddell's 30 days homeless to raise awareness for homelessness in Dayton and in particular those children who age out of foster care and become homeless over 25%) has gone viral. Last night channel 7 highlighted his mission(see http://www.whiotv.com/video/26458088/index.html), this Friday K-Love will air an interview with him every hour nationwide and we will see what comes of the interview he had today with ABC.com. All of this started with one simple web site and 9 churches coming togther to spread the word. Thank you for being a part of it!
Going viral is great imagery for the Church. We, the followers of Christ, ought to make Jesus' justice and righteousness go viral. Our lives are to tell his story to our world. Is my life telling the story of Christ to others? Is yours? By God's grace make God use you to make his love go viral in our world!
But what if something could go viral that is about more than silly attention-getters and self-promotion. What if something of meaning could be made to go viral? We are seeing that happen with www.30dayshomeless.TV. We along with the other Synergy Network Churches are a part of this viral phenomena.
Pastor Ryan Riddell's 30 days homeless to raise awareness for homelessness in Dayton and in particular those children who age out of foster care and become homeless over 25%) has gone viral. Last night channel 7 highlighted his mission(see http://www.whiotv.com/video/26458088/index.html), this Friday K-Love will air an interview with him every hour nationwide and we will see what comes of the interview he had today with ABC.com. All of this started with one simple web site and 9 churches coming togther to spread the word. Thank you for being a part of it!
Going viral is great imagery for the Church. We, the followers of Christ, ought to make Jesus' justice and righteousness go viral. Our lives are to tell his story to our world. Is my life telling the story of Christ to others? Is yours? By God's grace make God use you to make his love go viral in our world!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"Over 25%"
That statistic...over 25%...blew me away. Over 25% of children aging out of the foster care system in Montgomery County become homeless. So, this week, what is on my mind is http://30dayshomeless.wordpress.com/
Please take some time this week to check it out! All the Synergy Network Churches (9 churches sharing together in being real, transformed, connected and poured out) are participating. Let's have a huge viewing of www.30dayshomeless.TV from Living Hope.
Also, know that a portion of our annual 100% offering give away on January 30 will be going to "New Family Tree Ministries" which will give the "over 25%" another option...an option besides being homeless. Together, in Christ, we can change this statistic to 0%!
After all, one person and one church doing something, even small, always does more than many people doing nothing!
Please take some time this week to check it out! All the Synergy Network Churches (9 churches sharing together in being real, transformed, connected and poured out) are participating. Let's have a huge viewing of www.30dayshomeless.TV from Living Hope.
Also, know that a portion of our annual 100% offering give away on January 30 will be going to "New Family Tree Ministries" which will give the "over 25%" another option...an option besides being homeless. Together, in Christ, we can change this statistic to 0%!
After all, one person and one church doing something, even small, always does more than many people doing nothing!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
"Discussing Hell with a 4 and 2 Year Old"
We are are morning family. I leave for work at 7:15 and the kids are usually up by 6 AM at the latest. On Saturday I kind of wish they would sleep in, but during the week I am glad they are early birds because that means I can sit down and have breakfast with them. During breakfast you never know where the conversation might turn. Today's topic was the devil and hell. It went something like this...
"Daddy, the devil is bad and people who do not love Jesus have the devil in their hearts," says Anna. (This sounds offensive, but the truth is her theology is right--1 John refers to anyone who does not Follow Jesus as "anti-Christ"--probably a little different than what we are use to thinking of when we think of the term anti-Christ, but the truth is, Jesus said either we are for him or against him and if we are against him we are "anti-Christ").
"What the 'Debil', Anna?" asks Seth.
"The Devil is red with horns," replies Anna.
"Where did you learn what the devil is like, Anna?" I asked.
"From TV. I saw him on TV. He is red and has horns and has a sharp thingy," explains Anna.
"Where the 'Debil' live Daddy? He live in my heart?" asks Seth.
"No, he only lives in people who do not want to love Jesus," Anna again explains.
"The Devil use to be an Angel named Lucifer. The Bible tells us he wanted to be the boss instead of letting God be the boss. So, God made a place called Hell so Lucifer, the devil, could be boss there. All the other angels who wanted Lucifer to be boss went to hell with him and they became, what is called demons. Now, every person gets to decide if they want God to be boss of their lives", I shared this because I did not want the TV to be the final word my kids receive on any topic, especially biblical topics.
"Yes," Anna chimed in, "The people who do not want Jesus in their hearts go to the bad place. But if you let Jesus in your heart, heaven is beautiful and fun and you get to be with Jesus all the time."
At the end of this conversation with my kids, I heard another voice. It was not an audible voice, but a voice that was just as real and deep within me. God asked, "Do you still want me as boss of your life?" It was a good question for me to be forced to answer as I approach a New Year. May be it will be a good question for you to answer for yourself as well.
Do you want God to be boss of our lives? Sometimes I fear that I want God to love and forgive me, but I don't want him telling me what to do. However, I know the truth is that he is not satisfied with anything less than having complete control of my life..funny thing is...when I give up control everything always turns out better...why do I so often protest?
"Daddy, the devil is bad and people who do not love Jesus have the devil in their hearts," says Anna. (This sounds offensive, but the truth is her theology is right--1 John refers to anyone who does not Follow Jesus as "anti-Christ"--probably a little different than what we are use to thinking of when we think of the term anti-Christ, but the truth is, Jesus said either we are for him or against him and if we are against him we are "anti-Christ").
"What the 'Debil', Anna?" asks Seth.
"The Devil is red with horns," replies Anna.
"Where did you learn what the devil is like, Anna?" I asked.
"From TV. I saw him on TV. He is red and has horns and has a sharp thingy," explains Anna.
"Where the 'Debil' live Daddy? He live in my heart?" asks Seth.
"No, he only lives in people who do not want to love Jesus," Anna again explains.
"The Devil use to be an Angel named Lucifer. The Bible tells us he wanted to be the boss instead of letting God be the boss. So, God made a place called Hell so Lucifer, the devil, could be boss there. All the other angels who wanted Lucifer to be boss went to hell with him and they became, what is called demons. Now, every person gets to decide if they want God to be boss of their lives", I shared this because I did not want the TV to be the final word my kids receive on any topic, especially biblical topics.
"Yes," Anna chimed in, "The people who do not want Jesus in their hearts go to the bad place. But if you let Jesus in your heart, heaven is beautiful and fun and you get to be with Jesus all the time."
At the end of this conversation with my kids, I heard another voice. It was not an audible voice, but a voice that was just as real and deep within me. God asked, "Do you still want me as boss of your life?" It was a good question for me to be forced to answer as I approach a New Year. May be it will be a good question for you to answer for yourself as well.
Do you want God to be boss of our lives? Sometimes I fear that I want God to love and forgive me, but I don't want him telling me what to do. However, I know the truth is that he is not satisfied with anything less than having complete control of my life..funny thing is...when I give up control everything always turns out better...why do I so often protest?
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