Four of us will be driving to Table Rock, South Carolina tomorrow afternoon. Al Johnson, Larry Barber, Marshall Jameson and myself comprise the largest group registered from our church. We will be attending the first half of the FLAME event at the SC district campgrounds. FLAME stands for: Fellowship of Leaders Acquiring Ministerial Education.
Why ministerial training for lay persons? We are all called to ministry, at some level. These two and a half day modules offer some of the highest value educational experiences available. Director Wayne Richards has given me the go ahead to bring the willing. Jesus trained the Twelve to turn their world upside down. Training remains essential to effective ministry.
Please pray for our safety. Pray that we can retain and return with practical ideas. Pray that we be refreshed by God's presence during this mountain top experience. Thank you in advance for your prayers. Pastor Al
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Just Thinking--New Year's Resolutions
Can you remember your New Year's Resolutions this year? It has only been days! For the most part, we forget resolutions as quickly as we make them. A quick promise doesn't usually change anything.
For the past few years, I have taken the whole month of January to think about what I am doing and where I am going. I pray. I talk to people that have proven themselves as trustworthy friends. During this time, I pay attention to: what, who, where and how things are going.
Keeping life simple works for me. My personal relationship with God is number one priority. My wife is the most important person of the planet. We are blessed with family. Church allows us an even bigger family. Growing personally and professionally rounds out the list.
Usually, I make only one difficult promise each year. That one idea stretches me. The promise easily fits into one of those five listed priorities, the one that needs attention.
We have a few more days left in this month. What is the decision/resolution that will make the most impact on your life? Keep it simple...that helps the memory. Be Blessed!
For the past few years, I have taken the whole month of January to think about what I am doing and where I am going. I pray. I talk to people that have proven themselves as trustworthy friends. During this time, I pay attention to: what, who, where and how things are going.
Keeping life simple works for me. My personal relationship with God is number one priority. My wife is the most important person of the planet. We are blessed with family. Church allows us an even bigger family. Growing personally and professionally rounds out the list.
Usually, I make only one difficult promise each year. That one idea stretches me. The promise easily fits into one of those five listed priorities, the one that needs attention.
We have a few more days left in this month. What is the decision/resolution that will make the most impact on your life? Keep it simple...that helps the memory. Be Blessed!
MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL
Our theme this month is on vision. We all tend to look outward when thinking of vision...the ability to see clearly. James, the half-brother of Jesus, gives us a unique look at vision. The writer compells us to look inward in our vision quest.
James talks about the Scripture as being a mirror that enables us to see ourselves completely, as God sees us. (Remember, God sees clearly.) James writes, "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what is says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:23-25, NIV).
Often, it is hard to look at ourselves. Being honest, I have sometimes had great difficulty receiving even 'constructive' criticism. Making excuses remains common to every day life. We make hiding our faults a primary activity, even to ourselves. We hide from our selves in busyness. But where ever we go...there we are. We really can't hide from ourselves forever.
Most recovery programs tell us that the first step to recovery is to take an honest look at who we are and admit our short comings. James adds several promises to this advice that I think we all should look at this year:
If we look intently and continually at the Scripture...it will not only reveal faults...it will transform us. Earlier, James stated, "He (God the Father) chose to give us birth through the word of truth" (v. 18). God is able to speak both life and change into our very being. God is able to make us our very best, "firstfruits of all he created." We are changed by responding to God's leading...through His word.
We don't go through this self-examination alone. Jesus, God's son, is also called The Word. Jesus came to live among us so that we could see our need and our solution. Jesus came to lead us in all truth...to a better life. Much like going to a medical physician, we allow Jesus to examine the need and write the prescription.
That intent look into God's mirror produces freedom and blessing. These are promises from God's lips. "God is "the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (v. 17). We can trust God's character and His ability to shape ours.
We tend to look outside and far off for vision. James tell us to look into the mirror, the Word of Truth, intently and continuously. Once the internal vision is clear...our external opportunities come into focus. Can you see the Bible as a mirror? We see our true self...in the true Word...and realize our true worth. Real change starts with my response to the mirror.
James talks about the Scripture as being a mirror that enables us to see ourselves completely, as God sees us. (Remember, God sees clearly.) James writes, "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what is says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:23-25, NIV).
Often, it is hard to look at ourselves. Being honest, I have sometimes had great difficulty receiving even 'constructive' criticism. Making excuses remains common to every day life. We make hiding our faults a primary activity, even to ourselves. We hide from our selves in busyness. But where ever we go...there we are. We really can't hide from ourselves forever.
Most recovery programs tell us that the first step to recovery is to take an honest look at who we are and admit our short comings. James adds several promises to this advice that I think we all should look at this year:
If we look intently and continually at the Scripture...it will not only reveal faults...it will transform us. Earlier, James stated, "He (God the Father) chose to give us birth through the word of truth" (v. 18). God is able to speak both life and change into our very being. God is able to make us our very best, "firstfruits of all he created." We are changed by responding to God's leading...through His word.
We don't go through this self-examination alone. Jesus, God's son, is also called The Word. Jesus came to live among us so that we could see our need and our solution. Jesus came to lead us in all truth...to a better life. Much like going to a medical physician, we allow Jesus to examine the need and write the prescription.
That intent look into God's mirror produces freedom and blessing. These are promises from God's lips. "God is "the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (v. 17). We can trust God's character and His ability to shape ours.
We tend to look outside and far off for vision. James tell us to look into the mirror, the Word of Truth, intently and continuously. Once the internal vision is clear...our external opportunities come into focus. Can you see the Bible as a mirror? We see our true self...in the true Word...and realize our true worth. Real change starts with my response to the mirror.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
VISION THAT TRANSFORMS
What is the year 2008 going to be like for us? Eugene Peterson described our ability to predict the future: "We don't see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist." (I Corinthians 13:12, The Message). The economic and political scene looks chaotic these first few January days. Where's the defroster? That ditch is out there somewhere! We are all driving down this unknown road called 2008. Where are we going? God only knows!
The basic meaning of the word vision is...the ability to see. The Apostle Paul was a visionary man. He saw a vision of the resurrected Christ on the road to a city called Damascus. The sermon text came from the Book of Acts, where Paul retold his story for the third and final recorded time. He shared his key statement, "I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven..." ( Acts 26:19, NIV).
The first idea we see is that Paul had a vision that transformed or radically changed his life. God sees the future clearly...even when we are in a fog. Real vision is a gift from heaven. Seeing clearly provides 'response ability' to make right choices. We can remain in a fog, or we can pray for God's vision. Living in a fog can be risky. Have you ever had to drive your car in a fog? Having great headlights sure helps in a time like that! "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 28:18, KJV). Do I really want a vision from heaven? Am I willing to see what God wants for my life? Paul chose to follow the heavenly vision and allowed God to change his direction.
The second idea is that God's vision will often cost us something. Some of our foggy notions about life have to go. Are we willing to change...friends, schools, jobs, careers, dreams...for God's ideas? Does God really know what will make us happy? Paul thought so...when he said, "I was not disobedient." Paul gave up his plans. Now, Paul could now say that God knew exactly what He was doing from personal experience. Sometimes we settle for some poor choices, just to live in a comfortable fog. Do you want 2008 to be different than last year?
Paul was convinced that God was right. He was on a mission to tell the whole world, one person at a time. How do you hide real joy? I remember when I bought my first car. I remember preparing to graduate from college. I remember falling in love with my wife. It is hard to keep good things secret. I wanted to tell everyone, until friends were tired of hearing it! Vision gives us a life worth talking about.
God sees the future clearly. God sees and knows our hopes and dreams. God knows us better than we know ourselves. The old fog is filled with past mistakes. How bad do you want to see 2008 clearly? Vision is a gift we can ask for. Only God can light up our future to see the road ahead and keep us between the lines. Happy New Year!
The basic meaning of the word vision is...the ability to see. The Apostle Paul was a visionary man. He saw a vision of the resurrected Christ on the road to a city called Damascus. The sermon text came from the Book of Acts, where Paul retold his story for the third and final recorded time. He shared his key statement, "I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven..." ( Acts 26:19, NIV).
The first idea we see is that Paul had a vision that transformed or radically changed his life. God sees the future clearly...even when we are in a fog. Real vision is a gift from heaven. Seeing clearly provides 'response ability' to make right choices. We can remain in a fog, or we can pray for God's vision. Living in a fog can be risky. Have you ever had to drive your car in a fog? Having great headlights sure helps in a time like that! "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 28:18, KJV). Do I really want a vision from heaven? Am I willing to see what God wants for my life? Paul chose to follow the heavenly vision and allowed God to change his direction.
The second idea is that God's vision will often cost us something. Some of our foggy notions about life have to go. Are we willing to change...friends, schools, jobs, careers, dreams...for God's ideas? Does God really know what will make us happy? Paul thought so...when he said, "I was not disobedient." Paul gave up his plans. Now, Paul could now say that God knew exactly what He was doing from personal experience. Sometimes we settle for some poor choices, just to live in a comfortable fog. Do you want 2008 to be different than last year?
Paul was convinced that God was right. He was on a mission to tell the whole world, one person at a time. How do you hide real joy? I remember when I bought my first car. I remember preparing to graduate from college. I remember falling in love with my wife. It is hard to keep good things secret. I wanted to tell everyone, until friends were tired of hearing it! Vision gives us a life worth talking about.
God sees the future clearly. God sees and knows our hopes and dreams. God knows us better than we know ourselves. The old fog is filled with past mistakes. How bad do you want to see 2008 clearly? Vision is a gift we can ask for. Only God can light up our future to see the road ahead and keep us between the lines. Happy New Year!
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