What a Wretched Man I Am

I get so frustrated with myself. My inconsistency. My lack of focus. My inability to stick to commitments. The way I let others down with my failure.

Today I was reminded of these things when the sun came out and the temperature reached over 50 degrees for the first time in more than 2 weeks here in Atlanta. I was inspired to get out and ride my bike around the neighborhood for some exercise. That is where the frustration comes from. At Thanksgiving I had lost nearly 40 pounds and was biking about 50 miles a week at a pace of around 14.5 miles per hour. Not bad by my previously sedentary standards! But today I thought I was dying after just 5.5 miles at a 13.5 mph pace. Not only that, my weight has crept back up by about 9 lbs since Thanksgiving. HUGE FAIL!!!

What is sad is that my inability to stay focused and committed is evident in my spiritual life as well. I can be so passionate and committed in my relationship with God for a period of time, but I always seem find a way to fail. As quickly as the fire was lit in my heart for pursuing God, it can be extinguished. I find myself asking why this happens and why sustaining my focus on God is so difficult, but it describes the reality of my life nonetheless.

When I get frustrated like this there is a passage in scripture that gives me encouragement. It helps to see that Paul describes this same frustration for his own life in Romans 7.

Romans 7:14-25

^"14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²²For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Here is a truth I'm constantly trying to apply to my life. I am sinful and will always go back to sin when I am not connected to God. When I am studying and applying God's Word to my life on a daily basis and when I am on my knees in prayer and worship throughout my day, I can stay focused on God. But the moment I stop connecting to God through studying His Word, engaging Him in prayer, and honoring Him through worship, I immediately turn back to my sinful nature.

Getting reconnected after a time away from God can be painful. The confession and repentance that must take place is hard but necessary to get back on track. Sounds a lot like how painful it can be after a time away from physical discipline as well, doesn't it?

Today I jump started my commitment to physical health - and it hurt! Let me challenge you to examine your commitment to spiritual health today. It might hurt, but unless you are connected to God, you WILL turn back to your sinful nature and there is NO satisfaction to be found in failure.

By the way, losing these 9 lbs AGAIN is not going to be fun, but it will be worth it!

As Good as it Gets?

Think about your life. No, really! Stop reading for about 60 seconds and reflect on who you are, what you are accomplishing, and how you are impacting your little corner of the world. Think about what the purpose of your life really is and whether or not you are fulfilling that purpose.

(ok, stop and reflect for 60 seconds now)

Introspection is difficult for most people because they sense that there is more to life than what they are currently experiencing. Do you feel that way? My guess is that most people reading this blew right by the "stop and reflect" part and kept on reading. It is just too uncomfortable, isn't it?

The movie "As Good as it Gets" (1997) with Jack Nicholson, Greg Kinnear, and Helen Hunt was a fun movie to watch. (I'm not in the business of recommending films so don't take this as a recommendation. I am just using this movie to illustrate a point.) In this movie, the lives of three very different, but damaged lives are brought together. All three characters are lonely, lost, and looking for something in life that really matters - beyond just existing. At one point Nicholson's character is in a group psychiatric session and says to the depressed group, "What if this is as good as it gets?" Heavy words that really made me think. Words that caused me to do a little introspective thinking about my own life.

Let me ask you some tough questions:
- What is on your schedule today? When the day is over, will any of those things really matter?
- What is your purpose here on earth? Do you ever make an effort to match up your plans for the day with your purpose? OR is your REAL life completely disconnected from your PURPOSE?
- Are you satisifed with your life? Are you satisfied with the path you are on?
- If this is as good as it gets, are you OK with that, or do you want more?

Here are a few truths you need to hear and pray about today:

1) You were created for ONE purpose - to GLORIFY GOD. There is nothing more important than your efforts, plans, and energy being focused on worshipping God and showing others the love of God.

2) If you are not satisified with your life it is because you are not living out your purpose. More money, promotions, fame, or admiration from others will NEVER fill the void. The ONLY way to be fulfilled and satisifed in life is to know that you are advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth. If your plans today do not advance the Kingdom of God, you will end the day feeling like you wasted yet another day and missed the entire point of living!

3) If you're wondering if this is as good as it gets, the answer is NO! It gets so much better. A life lived to glorify God and to give hope to lost and damaged people is so fulfilling and amazing that you will never want to do anything else once you experience it.

4) VERY FEW people ever find out how awesome it is to live this way. Matthew 7:14 says, "...but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

My challenge to you is to stop and reflect (for real this time). Examine your life. Think about your plans, your goals, your desires. Will they really make any difference when this day is over? Don't you want your life to matter? Trust me...this is NOT as good as it gets. God has so much more in store for those willing to walk down the narrow road of life!

Church Incorporated

(*Disclaimer - It would be easy to think I am addressing specifics in this article, but I am not. I am not speaking to any specific church or individuals with these words. I am addressing the culture I see in MANY American Churches today.*)


Feel free to read into this whatever you want, but its going to get directly to the point.

What's the difference between the Church in America and Corporate America? Sadly, not much! Some of you reading this might not like the brashness of that statement, but the truth of it can't be denied. We have "Americanized" the church in such a way that the lines between how the church runs and how a typical corporation runs are blurred at best, and non-existent in many cases. AND yes, this is a bad thing!


Allow me to present just one (of many) of my personal observations to support these statements:


- We seek out the paying customers WAAAY before we seek out the lost or the poor. Observe your church's Sunday School classes and worship service this week and tell me that I'm lying. Who gets the attention? Who is made to feel welcome? Allow someone who doesn't "fit in" to walk through the doors and see how they are treated.


This is just one example. I will stop just to make this simple point:


I am NOT bashing the church...I'm trying to challenge those who have taken the American ideals of ambition and prosperity and applied them to our worship communities. I'm speaking about those who have taken the principles of capitalism and applied them to the church Jesus started. The truth is I LOVE THE CHURCH and want to see it do exactly what it is supposed to do.


Listen Church! Are we country clubs or are we places of refuge and beacons of light shining in a VERY dark world. Capitalism is fine for our economy, but it has no place in our churches.


Jesus said to give it all away - Capitalism says to get as much as you can!


Jesus said to treat others as you would have them treat you - Corporate America says to look out for number one!


Jesus said to take care of the poor, widows, and orphans - the Business world is more interested in those with money and influence!


Jesus said that true leaders are those who serve - Corporate America says the leaders are those with the most power and give them titles like CEO and Chairman!


Which one does the church resemble more today, what Jesus said or what Corporate America says?


I am not cynical, I am just tired of ignoring these facts. It is time to reform the church...AGAIN! It is time to remove corporate minded leadership and replace it with Spirit-led leadership! I am on a mission and hope you are too. Lets get to work...(a-hem) I mean, lets get to serving!!!


I have more to say on this subject so stay tuned and find a way to impact your world today!

Perseverance

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:2-5)

Hmmm...This passage has always given me trouble. The problem is that I don't often face trials. To be honest, I have had a pretty easy life. Sure, I'm just like anyone else in that I have the occasional stresses at work, struggles with money, and difficulty in relationships, but I can only think of a couple of times in my life where I had to throw up my hands and acknowledge that the only way out of this situation is if God rescues me.

Here is my problem with this scripture: I want to be wise. I want to have perseverance. I want to be spiritually mature. I want to be complete. I want God to use me in ministry to help people. But I wonder if my relatively easy life is holding me back from these things?

What do I do? On the one hand, I am greatful for the life God has given me. I give Him ALL the credit for the fact that I have always had my needs and most of my desires met. On the other hand, if I want to be wise, mature, and complete with perseverance; I need to be tested and challenged in my faith. Do I PRAY for trials? Do I PRAY for trouble and hardship? It is a strange concept isn't it?

The only conclusion I can draw from all of this is that my life has been pretty easy and lacked significant trials for one reason: Up until now I have been pretty lazy and insignificant in pursuit of my purpose here earth to lead people to Christ. If we look at the example of Job, the source of our trouble here on earth is Satan. Satan only feels a need to attack those who are advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth. If a person is NOT advancing the Kingdom of God then Satan has no need for causing trouble for that person.

My prayer is NOT to have trouble. My prayer is that I will become passionate about impacting and advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth. If I do that, I am certain that Satan will bring trouble my way. When that happens I will have the opportunity to develop wisdom, perseverance, maturity and completeness in my life. After that there is no telling how God will use me to impact others.

I'm ready to advance the Kingdom of God. I'm ready to impact the world around me. I'm ready to quit being lazy and become passionate about sharing the truth about the Gospel message. I'm ready to become a target of Satan and his attacks. Because of all of this I can consider the trials I will face "pure joy".

Who wants to be a target for trouble with me???

Power Outage

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you..." (Acts 1:8)

How well does your car work when the battery is dead? Is it any fun to watch your TV when the electricity is out? Does it do any good at all to have a cell phone if you never bother to charge it? Think about it. How stupid is it to think that your electronics will work well when there is no power source?

Sadly, there are "Christians" all over the place thinking that they can use their talent and their gifts to have an impact on the world around them. There are church-workers everywhere thinking that their planning and abundant resources will make a difference for THE Kingdom. It is sad because no matter how talented you are, how gifted you are, how much you plan, or how many resources you have at your disposal; your efforts will be useless and futile if you are not plugged into God's power source - the Holy Spirit.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Let me be honest and blunt here. I'm tired of seeing churches think they can make a difference for the Kingdom of God with their talents, gifts, resources, and planning while completely ignoring, neglecting, and denying the true power of the Holy Spirit that is strong, alive, and well today!!!

Take a minute to scan through the book of Acts. Compare the church in Acts with the church today then compare the results. Did they have elaborate buildings worth millions? Did they have great orators that could impress the public with great messages? Did they use radio-quality music and professional bands to orchestrate their worship experiences? From what I see in Acts, the answer is NO! They simply had God's Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

How else can you explain how Peter, in just a few weeks time, went from being so scared that he denied even knowing Jesus, to being the man that preached a message and had 3,000 people respond in one day? Peter and the other apostles did not accomplish this with talent, not with money, not with planning, not with buildings. They accomplished it with the power of God's Holy Spirit.

Why would we expect this to be any different today? Throughout the Bible and history, God has always chosen the LEAST talented and those with the FEWEST resources to make the biggest difference for His Kingdom. The church has clearly forgotten this truth, but wonders why its impact is so limited. It is time that the church remember the true source of its power. Until then we might as well take the battery out of our cell phone and then spend the rest of the day wondering why we can't make any calls!

Love or Fear

One could argue that the two strongest motivating forces in the universe are LOVE and FEAR. Most significant actions taken by people are ultimately rooted in one or the other, maybe even both. More specifically, our relationships are ultimately rooted in one or the other, or both.

Stop and take a minute to evaluate the significant relationships in your life (your spouse, your kids, your parents, your closest friends, God, your boss, etc.). Think about how you feel about the person in each relationship. What are your feelings based on? Is your treatment of that person based on love or fear or a mix of both? What is the way you talk about that person based on?

As I think about the reationships in my life, I can't help but wonder which is the stronger motivating force. Am I driven to develop the relationships in my life based more on love or fear? I am pretty sure I know the right answer to this question, but it doesn't really matter what I think. I want to challenge you to consider the question for yourself as you evaluate the relationships in your life, especially the closest ones.

Just to reveal a bit of my thinking, I want to explore my relationship with God. What motivates me to develop my relationship with God? Do I LOVE God? Do I FEAR God? The answer to both questions is a resounding YES!!!

I fear God because of His unlimited power. I fear Him because He is perfect and I clearly am not. I fear God because He has the power to send me to Hell. I fear God because I know I don't deserve to ever be in His presence and can't possibly earn a place in Heaven. I fear God because He is everything and I am nothing!

I love God because of the fact that He has unlimited power and still loves me anyway. I love God because He is perfect and I am not, but He loves me anyway. I love God because He has the power to send me to Hell, but loves me so much that He made a way for me to escape that punishment. I love God because I don't deserve to be in His presence, but He desperately desires for me to be in His presence anyway. I love God because I can't earn a place in Heaven, but He has promised me a place there anyway. I love God because He is everything and I am nothing, but He wants me and loves me anyway.

My point here is that fear motivates action and can be very powerful. Fear will make me obedient. Fear will make me do what I'm "supposed" to do. However, love will accomplish all of those things and more. Love makes me WANT to do those things with all of my heart.

What are your relationships based on? When LOVE is your motivating force, you will experience true joy. When FEAR is your motivating force, you might succeed, but I'm afriad you will experience something a bit short of "true joy". Just something to think about!

Inertia

As a follow-up to my previous article "Pushing Rope", I wanted to redirect my thinking away from my own motivations for serving or participating in ministry and focus more on how to successfully motivate others to move into service or ministry. I call this "leadership"!

Inertia (in-ur-shuh) - the property of matter by which it retains its state of rest or its velocity along a straight line so long as it is not acted upon by an external force. (www.dictionary.reference.com)

I was watching a show on National Geographic the other night (yes, I love earth science!!!) and the topic was the geographic formation of Manhattan Island, the foundation of New York City. I'm sad to report that I have never actually been to NYC, but am holding out for a trip there one day around Christmas.

One interesting geographic feature of the island is found in Central Park. All over the park there are random boulders scattered about. These bounders were not brought in for park decor. They were there long before a city was built in this location. As I watched I wondered what these rocks have witnessed over the past few thousand years. As the city that never sleeps was built around them, they have not moved - not one single inch. They are sitting exactly as they were upon being deposited by a glacier during the last ice age.

In physics, a law exists called inertia (defined above). This law says that those rocks in Central Park will be there indefinitely if they are left alone by man. They will not move on their own. They will not decide to sit in a different position. They are content to stay exactly in the same position forever unless another force that is more powerful than them decides differently.

Inertia applies to people too! People get used to doing things a certain way. They get used to viewing the world in a certain way. They develop opinions and ideas about life and settle down right in that spot. They get comfortable there and have no desire to move from that spot. Movement for people requires a force that is bigger and more powerful than them. Movement will also require time and patience.

Because inertia is not just a law of physics, it is a law of human nature as well; as a leader in a church it is important that I take this into consideration as I try to move people from where they are comfortably sitting to a deeper and more ministry/service focused relationship with God. Even though people like to get comfortable in their churches and routines, as LEADERS we must help people realize that movement towards God is essential whether you are a new Christian or have been one for 75 years.

This concept is scriptural. Paul addresses it in Philippians 2:12 when he says, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." In other words, salvation is something we are striving for every day. One cannot just say a little prayer or get dunked in water and assume that is the END of the journey. Becoming a believer, repenting, and being baptized are the BEGINNING of the journey! From there we are called to pursue God, pursue holiness, and be disciples every day we are given.

This all is easy to write, but actually moving people is VERY difficult. Inertia! As leaders we must realize that we must teach AND teach with a purpose. If we hope to create disciples who are focused on making new disciples and pursuing God in their daily lives, we must make sure we are mentoring and teaching to that end. Even more importantly, we must realize that we are simply not a big enough force to move people on our own. God's Holy Spirit is the bigger force that is going to move people into this deeper relationship focused on service and ministry. However, as leaders we must be ready to challenge people to really be soaking in God's Word so they can receive their own convictions about service and ministry.

It just isn't good enough to fill up a church with comfortable and happy people. I don't want my church to look like Central Park with a bunch of unmovable rocks sitting around. To move them I MUST make sure I am guiding them into God's Word and helping them recognize the force of the Holy Spirit that is trying to move them. Once people get moving, look out! Inertia quickly becomes another physics law called MOMENTUM, and that can be very difficult for Satan to stop!!!

Pushing Rope

I imagine there are few things that look funnier than watching me attempt to thread a needle. My fingers are clumsy, my coordination is not all that great, and my eyes keep crossing as I try to see what I'm doing! The problem is that thread pulls much easier than it pushes.

Similarly, think about a rope. In a tug-of-war, each team PULLS on the rope. Imagine how silly it would look if we pushed the rope instead! Pushing rope is a futile and worthless activity. Rope is meant to be pulled, not pushed. Getting a job done by pushing rope would be frustrating and would ultimately result in failure.

Many times, church-workers get the feeling they are just "pushing rope" as they try to work with and motivate people in their congregations. We constantly put opportunities for service and ministry in front of people. At first there seems to be some enthusiasm and desire for taking on the project, but it usually doesn't take very long before the project is stagnant and nothing is being done to pursue the objectives of that project.

Here's the point...It is impossible, useless, futile, and a waste of energy to push people into service or ministry if they don't already have a desire and passion to pursue those things because of their own personal convictions and relationship with God.

As a true disciple of Jesus, it is vital that I spend time in God's Word so it can pull me deeper into my relationship with Him. The result is that I DESIRE to be in ministry, I DESIRE to serve others, I have a PASSION to impact people's lives. Nobody is PUSHING me into ministry, I am instead being PULLED into ministry by God.

If I want to see someone succeed in ministry I MUST guide them into God's Word and allow them to mature and grow to the point that God is pulling them into ministry rather than me pushing them there.

If you are frustrated because nobody else seems to be helping or joining you in ministry, it is likely because they are not being PULLED by God's Word and His Spirit to do so. Maybe, instead of pushing people into ministry, start with spending some time mentoring them into a deeper and more mature relationship with Christ. With that you will get to see the difference between pushing rope and pulling it!

Hearing and Listening

Its easy to hear, but its hard to listen.

Lately I have found myself focusing extra hard on hearing God's Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit, perhaps more than I ever have in my life. The results have been powerful for me personally. I am seeing things and thinking about spiritual things in a way I can't really explain other than to say that there is no question in my mind that God is indeed speaking to me through the Bible and his Holy Spirit.

Today I spent some time reading Acts 21, where Paul is leaving Miletus with the ultimate goal of reaching Jerusalem. For some reason, Paul feels a driving need to get back to that city and realizes that a warm reception by the Jews is not likely. Along the way Paul is confronted by believers in two different locations. Their message for him was to avoid Jerusalem because bad things were waiting for him there. Scripture makes it clear that the people telling Paul not to go back to Jerusalem were being led by the Spirit. Paul never really argues with them, he hears their message, but he is determined to go back anyway - and he does. Paul was hearing the message, but he wasn't listening!

This thought has been burning in my head all day since reading that passage: Perhaps I am hearing God's Word and His Holy Spirit speak to me right now, but I have to ask myself, "am I really listening?"

There have been so many times in my life that I have wanted to follow God's lead and do the right things, but missed the mark because I heard the message without really listening to it. It is so easy to see good and Godly things to do with your life and to pursue those things without really listening to God tell you where HE wants to use you.

Maybe you're thinking about a new job or a major financial investment or commitment. Maybe your dealing with issues in a relationship or in raising your children. Maybe you have a major decision that needs to be made. There are a multitude of "good" options to choose from in most decisions we make in life. The real question is whether or not you are really LISTENING to God's leadership in that decision.

It is hard to judge whether or not Paul made a mistake or was "wrong" in going back to Jerusalem, but one thing seems clear to me - this was one time that Paul wasn't really listening to God very well.

There is a big difference between doing "good" things on your own compared with doing "right" things under God's direction and leadership. I believe the difference between "good" and "right" is similar to the difference between hearing and listening.

It is great that I am hearing God in my life right now, but Acts 21 really made me think about whether or not I am really listening at the same time. I don't just want to make good decisions and do good things for God. I want to listen to Him and be right in the MIDDLE of what He has planned and how He wants to use me.

Are you hearing God? More importantly, are you LISTENING to Him?

Producing Fruit?

James 2:14 tells us that claiming to have faith, but having no evidence of that faith in your life is useless. If you have true faith you will produce fruit.

John 15 tells us that if we are connected with Jesus in a real and personal relationship, we will produce fruit like the branches of a vine produce grapes when they are connected to the vine. A branch not producing fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire.

In Luke 8 we see a story about a farmer who throws seed onto 4 different types of soil. The seed on the path, among the thorns, and on the rocks all eventually died. Only the seed on the good soil was able to grow to maturity and produce fruit.

There are quite a few passages in the New Testament that use the metaphor of producing fruit in your life to describe what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus. Unfortunately, many of us use the terminology without actually doing it in our own lives or even understanding what it means.

Based on what I read in the gospels, I come to only one conclusion. To produce fruit in your life means that you are making new disciples and training them to make even newer disciples. Every command Jesus gives comes back to the two greatest commandments - glorifying God and loving people. Loving people means leading them to the ONLY gift that really matters, the saving grace of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 13 ends by telling us that we can do all the good stuff we want, but if it doesn't have love it is worthless.

You really must examine the gospels for yourself to find this truth. My examination has led me to this conclusion:

A true disciple of Jesus is producing fruit. Producing fruit means you are making new disciples and training them to make even newer disciples. If you are not producing fruit, you are not a disciple of Jesus. If you are not a disciple of Jesus you will not be saved from punishment and death.

My question for you is a matter of life and death: ARE YOU PRODUCING FRUIT IN YOUR LIFE? Are you leading people to Jesus? Are you making new disciples? Are you preparing them to make even newer disciples?

My fear is that many people packing in to churches each Sunday feel pretty safe and confident, yet there is ZERO evidence of any fruit they are actually producing in their lives. The message of the gospels is clear, only those producing fruit will be saved. Jesus also warns that only a few will find this truth and live it out. Why? Because it is hard.

Please examine your life. If you are not producing fruit it is time for you to start focusing on what is really important. Making disciples is central to what Jesus has commanded of us.

Making New Disciples who Make New Disciples

I'm a numbers guy. Not in the sense that I use them as the only means to measure success or failure, but I just love to play with numbers to make a point. Let me try it on you right now.

If the church were doing its job in making new disciples and training those disciples to make even more new disciples (and so on...), the impact would be astonishing. Consider a group of 20 people in your church who FINALLY got it and realized their main job as a true disciple of Jesus is to make new disciples, then to train those new disciples to make even newer disciples. What do you think would happen?

If that group of 20 made it a mission to successfully disciple 6 new disciples each year AND trained those new disciples to start making 6 new disciples each year after that, how many disciples would be made after 6 years?

I have done the math for you. Over a 10 year period the results would look like this:

Start with 20 Disciples

End of Year 1 = 140 total disciples

End of Year 2 = 980 total disciples

End of Year 3 = 6,860 total disciples

End of Year 4 = 48,020 total disciples

End of Year 5 = 336,140 total disciples

End of Year 6 = 2,352,980 total disciples

End of Year 7 = 16,470,860 total disciples

End of Year 8 = 115,296,020 total disciples

End of Year 9 = 807,072,140 total disciples

End of Year 10 = 5,649,504,980 total disciples

Yes, the math is absolutely correct! Sometime during year 9 the entire population of the United States could be reached. By the end of year 10, most of the entire world's population could be reached.

You might laugh and say, "THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" But this is exactly the model Jesus had in mind. He picked 12 guys out and entrusted them with spreading His message to the entire world.

The model has not changed, but the focus and vision of the church certainly has. It isn't all about being a big, attractive church offering to make everybody happy. The job of the church is to TRAIN DISCIPLES TO MAKE NEW DISCIPLES WHO THEN MAKE NEW DISCIPLES. This is done through personal relationships, not big church events. This is done by connecting with people at work and in your neighborhood, not through creative and showy church programs.

When is the church going to realize that it must start functioning like the church in Acts did. We MUST start training people to be disciples making new disciples. The age of being a church service spectator is OVER. The results of this spectator age have been disastrous. Wake up, Church! Our job is to reach the lost, not make each other comfortable and happy!!!

Flippin' Tables

I see a scene in my head where a man has just been seated in a fairly nice restaurant. He is dressed "business casual" and begins looking through the menu as he awaits the arrival of his server. The restaurant looks nice with pleasant music playing in the back ground and people milling about with their various parties, oblivious to the man's presence.

After a few minutes the server approaches the table with a smile and a brief introduction. The server then proceeds to describe the daily specials as the man listens intently:

"Sir, today we are offering a special on appetizers. We will have small group registrations at the welcome center if you would like to join and we have a Sunday school class that would fit your demographic perfectly. Would you care for an appetizer today?"

"No thank you," the man replies. "I really am more interested in your entrees today. A friend of mine said your worship music is fantastic. I think I will give that a try. I just want to make sure it is not too bland or too spicy."

"Of course, sir," says the server. "We are sure you will be pleased with the way our worship is designed to make everybody happy. Maybe you might be able to try some of our preaching as well."

"OK, as long as it doesn't upset my stomach too much. I don't have much tolerance for preaching that will hang around for a while after the meal, if you know what I mean. What about your youth ministry? I have heard some good things and I'm considering coming back later and bringing the rest of my family."

"Sir, you will not be disappointed with our youth ministry, I promise! The kids menu is fabulous as well. Our menu is designed to make the entire family happy."

"Alright, but I do have one more important question. How much is all of this service going to cost me?"

"Well, it is interesting that you ask. We used to expect people to just give everything they have for such great service, but we realize that is a bit unreasonable. All we ask is that you give 10% so we can keep the menu going. We really don't want to ask more than most people are willing to give."

"Wow! 10% seems pretty steep. I'll have to think about that before we come back again. The Baptist restaurant up the street is the same price, but they have much more extravagant services to offer."

The server tells the man, "We are here to serve you. Just let us know how we can make you happy and we will do our best. We will not ask any more of you than you are willing to contribute."

"That's good to hear! As long as you make me feel like the most important customer here, I will keep coming back."

"Thank goodness, sir! We couldn't continue without customers like you!"

The server then moves away to the next table while the man feels a sense of pride. He has done his service to the community today. This restaurant is stronger and better today because he is here and is a great customer.

The VAST majority of church-goers think of church like this. They truly believe the church is there to serve them. They think the staff is there to meet their every need. We have created a consumer mentality in our churches. Is it any wonder that we have to beg people to commit to service? Is it any wonder that we struggle to get families to make church and service a priority in their lives?

Its not about you. It is about God. It is about serving others. Quit being a consumer and start making disciples!

The Visionary Leader...

Where are you going and what will it look like when you get there?

Isn't vision the thing that drives us to look forward to a big vacation or to get excited about an upcoming event? We count down the days until we leave for vacation because we can see in our mind what that vacation will look like. The rest and relaxation, the beautiful sights, the down-time spent with our spouse and kids, the indulgence in good food, etc. are all things we are longing for. As a result of this type of vision, we make plans and we pursue making this vision happen with more energy than we will ever expend on a project at work!

Lets shift this discussion to the church and spiritual leadership. Do you have a vision for what your relationship with God will look like this time next year, or in 5 years, or in 20 years? Even bigger, does your church have a vision for how it will be impacting a community (or even the world) this time next year, or in 5 years, or in 20 years?

I'm asking 2 very different questions here:

1) What is your vision in ministry? How are you impacting the Kingdom of God now and in the future? Have you really thought about it? Do you have a vision for how God will use you and your talents to reach lost people? Are you excited about pursuing this vision much like you would a great vacation? A disciple of Jesus that does not have a vision to pursue will not be able to impact the world around them. To have a vision, you MUST be in God's Word and you must be connected with Him in prayer. Ask God to reveal a vision in your heart then pursue it with every ounce of energy you have. You will certainly make a difference!!!

2) What is your church's vision in ministry? Do you have any idea? Does the church leadership make it clear in words and action? Sadly, many churches have no more vision than to just get through the next Sunday service or to the next big event. How is your church impacting the community around it? How is your church focused on changing people's lives who do not already know Christ? Is there a CLEAR plan of action that says, "HERE IS WHERE WE ARE GOING AS A BODY OF BELIEVERS, WHO'S ON BOARD?" A church without a clear vision will NOT impact the community and world around it.

If you are wondering what a "clear vision" is, let me throw out a few examples for you to consider.

PERSONAL VISION EXAMPLES:

- You have identified 5 families in your neighborhood who never attend church. Within the next year, you are going to develop a relationship with each of those families and personally invite them to join you in worship. You will not quit until you have succeeded.

- You want to start a small group Bible study in your home with people who do not currently know Christ or go to a church somewhere. Within the next year you want to start this study and have at least 10 people attending.

CHURCH WITH VISION EXAMPLES:

- Your church has started making it clear that everything that happens over the next 5 years will be focused on planting 5 new churches (one each year) around your state. Your Sunday school classes, Sunday sermons, small group meetings, etc. will all be focused on training people to use their gifts to contribute to this vision (financially, or as a planting family, or maybe even as a ministry staff member or elder). Instead of trying to grow bigger, your church will try to multiply itself into new communities.

- Your church has made it clear that it is going to make an intentional effort to reach every non-church going family living within a 5 mile radius of the church within the next 3 years. This means Sunday sermons and all classes will be focused on coming up with strategies to intentionally identify and reach these people. This makes it clear that EVERYONE in the church is a minister, not just an attender!

With vision like this, you will lose friends. Your church will lose members who don't have any desire to be true disciples who are making new disciples. You know what, that is OK! Give them a hug and wish them well. Hopefully at some point in their lives they will wake up to what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus.

But after the sweet hug and good wishes, GET BUSY. Following a vision is hard work. However, it is the ONLY way Christ's Church can advance.

We need some VISIONARY LEADERSHIP in our churches. Maybe the Holy Spirit is calling on you as you read this article to get out of your seat and start actually making a difference in this world!!!

Does it hurt?

Isn't it true that the most important things in life hurt? Think about it. If you want to get in good physical shape, you must experience some pain to get there. If you want to be financially successful, you must make some pretty big personal sacrifices to attain that goal. If you want your marriage to work, you must be willing to swallow a lot of pride and independence to see it succeed.

Something else is starting to really become important to me and it hurts too! I'm ashamed to say that it took me 36 years to finally get it, but better late than never! I am finally learning what it feels like to hurt for those who haven't given their lives to Jesus Christ.

Sure, I've been in ministry for several years and have always had a desire to see new people get excited about God in their lives. However, I seem to be entering a new era in my life where I am starting to really understand how important it is for me to share the message of Christ with those who are lost and dying. Ministry is really starting to become a passion of my life instead of just a job.

Over the past 5 years I have seen between 150 and 200 students graduate from my youth ministry. There is one sad truth about many of these kids...they are lost. I'm not saying they are living terrible lives or anything, but when I see some of them I hurt for them because they have no idea what the purpose of their life is. They are in a college with people they don't know. They are working jobs they have no desire to be working. They no longer have the safety of a stable youth group or social group of friends to depend on. They are lost and I hurt for them.

These students I mention are just a small example of how many lost people are surrounding me every day. Many times these are people that go to church each week. Other times, they are people who have no thought of or desire to know Christ. Either way, it hurts to see people who are lost and dying.

Listen, Church! When are we collectively going to start hurting for lost people so much that it leads us into action? If it is important to you, then the burden for the lost will hurt. I just need to ask you one simple question: Does it hurt?

A New-Old Way of Doing Things

I am currently leading a Bible study on Sunday nights with my youth group using Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" as a guide. Here is a selection from chapter 4 of that book that sparked an interesting discussion:

"In the United States, numbers impress us. We gauge the success of an event by how many people attend or come forward. We measure churches by how many members they boast. We are wowed by big crowds."

"Jesus questioned the authenticity of this kind of record keeping. According to the account in Luke chapter 8, when a crowd started following Him, Jesus began speaking in parables - 'so that' those who weren't genuinely listening wouldn't get it..."

"...The fact is, He just wasn't interested in those who fake it."

I have been working in local churches now for about 17 years. As I look back on these experiences, one thing seems to hold true - most churches are much more concerned with creating "church-attenders" than with creating true disciples.

Allow me to explain. Most places I have worked or observed have been VERY interested in the Sunday worship attendance, offering numbers, and other program attendance. While these are useful benchmarks to use for measure, they certainly do not tell the whole story of whether or not a church is truly making new disciples.

Unfortunately, most church-attenders are nothing more than that! They have no concept of what it means to have a real relationship with Christ. They have no idea what it means to multiply themselves by making it a passion to create new disciples. They just assume that is the preacher's job.

Jesus didn't care anything about collecting a gathering of people that would attend church on a regular basis. He wanted to find out who the true disciples were. He wanted to know who was willing to go out and make new disciples so those new disciples could go out and make even newer disciples.

I don't care who you are. If you are a disciple of Jesus, your job is NOT to dutifully attend church each week, put your offering check in the plate, and join a Sunday school class. Your job is to turn around and start making new disciples and training them to make new disciples and so on!

I don't care how big your church is. If your church is just full of a bunch of church-attenders, it is a failure!!! I'd rather have a small group of 20 people who are passionate about making new disciples and teaching them to make even more new disciples, than to lead a mega-church of 2,000+ church-attenders.

Let's get off this "bigger is better" train. Bigger is failure if it isn't creating true disciples. Let's follow the example of Jesus. Let's find out who is really paying attention. Let's take the few true disciples and pour our efforts into training them to be true disciples that multiply.

What good is it if you have a church with 800 people in it, but none of them have any interest in being true disciples? I am convicted to start a new-old way of doing things in my ministry. I want to pour myself into those who are sincere and ready to be disciples and teach them to make new disciples. My guess is that some of the "church-attenders" will drift away (or RUN away) with this approach, but I am convinced that they will be replaced with true disciples. I am also convinced this is the way Jesus always intended it to be.

Bottom line: I'm tired of wasting my time with people who just don't care. It is time to focus on those who want to make a difference. I'm ready to see the church get serious about discipleship and to quit pandering to the "church-attenders" who just don't get it.

Wanna join me???

What If...

What if we taught people to stop going to church and instead challenged them to start being the church?

What if we had such a passion for God's Word that we couldn't wait until we could spend some more time studying it again?

What if we viewed every person we talk to as a potential disciple for Jesus instead of viewing them as someone who might meet one of our selfish needs?

What if we worried more about the souls' of those who don't know Christ than we do about offending them with our message?

What if we changed the world around us rather than being changed by the world around us?

What if your next door neighbor knew how passionate you were about your faith?

What if your family knew that Christ was the center of your family's life rather than sports, careers, or social status?

What if you really believed that prayer was powerful and important?

What if the Holy Spirit was really working through you?

What if you were using your talents to grow the church for Christ?

What if you started making holiness and purity the basis for ALL of your decisions?

What if you viewed everything you have as belonging to God instead of yourself?

What if God put a vision for ministry in your heart and you actually followed it?

What if your church actually cared more about reaching non-Christians rather than whether or not the music was the right volume or style?

What if the Church in America did its job taking care of people so the government wouldn't have to do it by force?

What if people started hating you and gossiping about you because you actually started to live as a true disciple of Jesus all the time?

What if your most hated enemy felt your compassion and love tomorrow?

What if we truly had a relationship with God instead of just doing the "Christian" things out of obligation and duty?

What if God shook the foundation of your life to get your attention?

What would happen?

Be Where the Being Is

The first time I heard the phrase "be where the being is" was from my friend, Arron Chambers; lead minister at Journey Christian Church in Greeley, Colorado. It was a phrase his dad used to say and it has stuck in my mind as being an important concept since then.

To 'be where the being is' simply means that we need to make sure that we are working on and doing the things that are truly important. If I am home with my family, I need to be with my kids instead of being on the computer or glued to the TV. If there is a choice between an extra hour of work or getting home to help my wife do the evening routine, I need to get my tail home because the work will still be there tomorrow!

As a minister working in a church this is a vital concept, one that way too many ministers are missing. It is a concept that I am now focused on trying to learn for myself. It is a discipline that means I am committed to ministering to PEOPLE instead of staying busy doing STUFF in the office all the time.

There is a kid that graduated from my youth group a couple of years ago. He and his family are plugged into the church, but he has never made the decision to give his life to Christ nor has he been obedient in baptism. I am convicted right now that I should be ashamed that I have not been pouring myself into this young man to help him see the eternal significance of this decision. It is time to change that. As I think about it, I need to really change my whole way of approaching ministry. My personality leads me to be very "task oriented". The Holy Spirit has been speaking to me loud and clear lately that it is time I learn to be truly "people oriented". It is time for me to be where the being is.

Look, there are thousands of lost people in my community. There are just as many in your community too. What are you doing about it? Even if you don't work for a church, you are in ministry if you are a Christian. Are you working for the Kingdom? Are you focused on 'being where the being is'?

It really doesn't matter how much money you make or how many people like or respect you. It doesn't matter if you miss the football game today or if the Braves miss the playoffs. But your next door neighbor who is lost needs to hear from you - RIGHT NOW!!! He needs to hear about what God has done for you and how He has saved you. It is what really matters. It is time for us, as followers of Jesus, to start being where the being is. It is what we are commanded to do. Make a difference in your world today!!!

Bold & Stupid...

Don't you want your life to make a difference that actually matters? I think we all do on some level. But how many of us take the time to sit back and examine what we are doing with our life right now to see if anything we are doing is actually making a difference that matters. Many of us don't do that because we know that the answer is too depressing.

When I say "making a difference that matters", I am referring to the only thing that really does matter - glorifying my God and bringing the message of hope and salvation to as many people as I possibly can. Am I doing that with my life? Is it my passion and mission every day from the time I wake up until I go back to bed again (naps don't count!).

This morning I studied Acts 17. In this chapter Paul starts by reasoning with the Jews in Thessalonica. Once they run him out of town he moves on to Athens where he eventually gets a chance to enter the Areopagus and speak to the Greek philosophers there. I was struck by a few things in reading about this today:

1) Paul was not afraid to talk to ANYONE about Christ, no matter where he was or what their reaction might be OR whether or not he thought there was a chance for them to be converted.

2) Paul was prepared to speak intelligently about his beliefs and testimony. He was able to use reason and logic to defend his statements. The most intelligent people in Greece were not able to beat his arguments.

3) Paul had amazing FAITH that what he was saying was the absolute truth and that God's Holy Spirit would guide him as he shared this message of hope and salvation.

4) Paul was ALWAYS on point. Every day he talked about Christ to anyone who would listen.

What I take away from all of this is that Paul was bold and stupid to think he could go into the furnace with Greek philosophers and Jews and have any chance of winning them over. But he did it anyway and he was successful!

I want to be bold and stupid like Paul. I want to do things that are "impossible" unless God gets involved. I want to be exactly where God wants me and I want to share His message with as many people who will listen.

I work in a "restoration movement" church. We claim that we want to restore the church we read about in the book of Acts. It would be great to see evidence of that in our actions, not just our words!

Who do you think you are?

It has been waaaaay too long since I've posted a message, but today I am moved to do so...

I have a simple question for you...WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE??? This morning I was looking around on Facebook, some might call me a FB Stalker, but I like to just read through the status updates of my friends to see what they are thinking and experiencing today. Now, please forgive me if I sound a bit condescending or self-righteous when I say this, but it seems to me that there are A LOT of "Christian" people who have no concept, whatsoever, of what it means to pursue HOLINESS and PURITY in their lives.

Let me explain. A vast majority of people on my friends list of about 750 people claim to be believers and followers of Jesus. However, when I look at the status updates of many of those people I see no desire or regard for glorifying God with the words and attitudes expressed.

Here is why I am moved to point these things out...

1) We were created to glorify God with EVERYTHING we do. James says that our lives are like a vapor, here one moment and gone the next. His message was simple. All the junk you think is soooo important (career, money, status, reputation, etc.) is all CRAP. It is worthless. James is asking you...WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Your one point for being on this earth for just a tiny bit of time is to bring glory to your God. Let's be honest, most of us are just wasting it on stupid stuff we think is important and God is no more than something we do for an hour or so on the Sundays we feel like going to church!

2) 2 Corinthians says that if you are a believer then you are an AMBASSADOR for Christ. That means your words and actions are the words and actions of God to the people who hear you and see you. You literally speak for and represent Christ everywhere you go, including what you post on Facebook. What non-Christians see is a pretty lousy representation of God when they look at the way most of us are living and talking and acting.

Listen! If you are going to go around claiming to be a "Christian", then start representing Christ in the way you live. Yes, I mean ALL THE TIME! But if you are going to keep on saying and doing things that clearly are against what God wants from us, PLEASE quit claiming to be one of us! None of us is perfect, least of all me, but there is a big difference between the person struggling with and pursuing purity in their lives versus the person who just doesn't seem to care anymore. Which one are you? YOU MUST CHOOSE A SIDE!

Karma Chameleon

If you were alive in the 80's you remember the song Karma Chameleon by Culture Club led by Boy George. Not exactly my favorite group or personality, but I do remember the song. What made me think of it was in looking through some Facebook status updates today and noticing how many people refer to the concept of Karma as being the moral force that evens things out in the universe. In other words, Karma is supposed to be the power that makes sure you get what you deserve.

The reason I mention this is because I see so many people who CLAIM to be Christians also claiming to believe in Karma. The sad thing is that these people have clearly never noticed how ANTI-Christian the concept of Karma really is. If you really believe in the Christian faith, there is no way you can believe in a concept like Karma.

I am not going to try to present a full study to back up my statements on this blog. You're a big boy/girl, look it up and study it for yourself. I'm quite certain you will come to the same conclusions. In short, the concept of Karma discounts two key elements of the Christian faith:

1) Karma replaces the idea of Supreme Being (God) and says that the universe itself balances things out to make sure each person gets what they deserve based on their behavior or morals. There is no concept of heaven or hell, it is about reaping what you sow now and in your next (reincarnated) life. Karma originates from Buddhism.

2) Karma takes the place of grace and forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ. If you believe people get what they deserve through Karma, there is no room for a belief that we can be forgiven and saved from our sin through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

The rest of this study is up to you. I just wanted to get you started if you're interested in such a thing. The reason I mention it is because it is appalling how many people who walk around thinking they are Christians also refer to Karma as a part of life here on earth. You can't have it both ways. The two faiths (Buddhism and Christianity) are not just different, they cannot exist together in the same heart. To believe one means the other cannot be true!

I know it is somewhat trendy to use the word Karma to describe a bad person getting what you think they deserve. I think we all have something inside us that feels a little satisfaction when this happens. However, ultimately if we all get what we deserve (Karma), we are all doomed. None of us is perfect and none of us is really all that good. You can have your Karma - good luck with that! I'll cling to the cross of Jesus and accept his grace so that I don't have to suffer what I really deserve.

Just think before you use trendy terms. Words have meaning. When I hear someone talk about Karma I either think they are Buddhist or they are simply too shallow and ignorant in their Christian faith to know any better. Either way, it is sad to see lost people and I want to help any way I can!!!

Under Attack!

I heard something on the radio yesterday that made me angry. It was a rally in Ohio where President Obama was trying to gain support for his health care bill. He told those people that if the bill passes, insurance premiums for employers to provide health care for citizens will be reduced by 3,000%. Yes, he actually said three-THOUSAND percent. He followed that statement up by telling the people that the extra money saved would allow their employers to give them a raise. Of course this statement was followed by cheers and applause.

Now think about this. If I have a health insurance premium of $6,000 per year and it is reduced to zero, what is the percentage of that reduction? Answer: 100%. YOU CANNOT REDUCE THE PRICE OF SOMETHING MORE THAN 100%. Think about it. If you went to Old Navy and they had a sale on $50 jeans for 100% off, the jeans would be FREE. If you reduced the price 200%, Old Navy would then owe you $50.

Back to the heath insurance example. If Obama is right and employer's would see premiums reduced by 3,000% for insuring their employees look at this. If we use the $6,000 figure as an average, the insurance companies would then owe employers $180,000 for each employee each year. Instead of us paying $6,000, we would GET $180,000 if Obama's statement is true.

There are only two possibilities here: 1) Obama is a complete idiot and doesn't know the first thing about math or percentages and how they work OR 2) Obama is intentionally lying to us in order to pass this bill assuming that we are all idiots.

I don't think the man's an idiot. I do think he is INTENTIONALLY lying to us. I believe he thinks we are all too stupid to take care of ourselves. I think he believes he knows what is best for us and that the government is the best way for us to be taken care of. I believe he is dangerous and truly intends to destroy the very foundation of freedom and free-market enterprise that this country was founded upon.

I continue to be amazed at this man's arrogance and disdain for our freedom. If you avoid politics because you aren't interested or don't see how it directly impacts your life...you are as much to blame for the internal destruction of this country as Mr. Obama is. Wake up and see that your way of life is about to be changed forever. Our economy and our freedom will not survive this attack if it isn't stopped.

Not-so-Random Acts of Kindness

Who have you served today? OK, maybe that is a bit unfair...how about in the past week? Hmmm...still can't think of anyone? Who have you served in the past month? Its kind of sad, isn't it? Sure, we might defend ourselves and claim that we help people everyday through our work, or we might talk about something we do for our kids like take them to soccer or make lunch for them. But that isn't what I'm talking about.

Let me ask you a question. Do you care about people? I'm not talking about caring in that you hope people are healthy and have their basic needs provided. I'm talking about really seeing them and noticing them and taking action when we are able to respond. In other words, do you really try to SEE and notice people, or is your life so busy and your selfishness so complete that all you give most people is a quick glance to make sure they are not a direct threat to you?

Read Matthew 9:35-38 and study it carefully. Do you ever try to see people as Jesus sees them? Try this sometime: Go to a mall or some other public gathering place and find a place to sit and watch people. As you do, look at their eyes and the way they walk. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see them, REALLY see them. You will be amazed at the insight the Spirit will give you when you are open to really seeing people.

The next step is much more difficult. Do something about what you see in people. At a restaurant, ask your server if they are doing OK and look them in the eye. Ask them if there is anything you can pray about for them. Take just a couple of minutes and let them see that you really do care. Try the same thing at the grocery store or the post office. Stop by your local police department or fire station and deliver a batch of fresh cookies and ask the people working there if there is anything you can pray about for them. You will be amazed at the response you get!

It is all well and good that you serve people at work and you take care of your family. But when was the last time you stepped outside of your small, self-centered world and REALLY noticed someone and responded by reaching out to them? You should give it a try. If you want to make a difference in this cold and cynical world, shine a little of your own light (that comes from Christ) on it. Don't let another week go by without noticing that there are helpless and harassed people all around you every day.

Getting Into Shape

I know many of you have fought this battle. It is a battle that I now face. I have spent the past few years proclaiming "I AM in shape, round is a shape!" Unfortunately, I find myself weighing in the mid-220's when the chart in my Dr.'s office says I should be more like 170. Yes, that is more than 50 lbs behind me (quite literally!).

I recently heard someone say that I can't expect to get in shape with a quick 2 week starvation diet. I spent years getting into this condition and it is going to take an equal commitment of time to get out of it!

Now, my challenge is this: Create and live by new eating habits...forever with no exceptions! AND start working out to help my body get itself into a healthy condition again. I'm writing this because I want to succeed and I need to hear from some of you who have faced this battle and experienced victory.

Please, let me hear your advice. What worked for you? The photo of a trim and buff Paul Tompkins on my bathroom mirror just isn't doing the trick anymore. Thanks!!!

"I'm not being fed"

If I have heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times from church people. They decide it is time to start looking for a new church or small group and their excuse is, "I'm not being fed." Its like fingernails on a chalkboard. Its like having to listen to a Barney Frank press conference. Its like having to watch UGA beat Georgia Tech AGAIN! It drives me crazy!

I have decided that it is time to take the gloves off and be really direct with anyone who uses this line as an excuse for why they are unhappy with the church or a ministry within the church. Why does this bother me so much? Because those 4 simple words reflect an inherent selfishness and lack of spiritual maturity that plagues MANY (so-called) followers of Christ. To be honest, I believe this reflects a "heart condition" that directly leads to the scripture where Jesus tells us that wide is the road that leads to destruction and narrow is the road that leads to 'life' (paraphrase of Matthew 7:13 & 14).

If this sounds harsh to you let me encourage you to check out Hebrews 5:11 - 6:3. Study this passage and evaluate your own spiritual maturity. If you have been a Christ-follower for any amount of time, there is an expectation that you have moved away from spiritual infancy and gained at least some level of maturity. This comes from consistent Bible STUDY (not just reading a few passages occasionally), a solid prayer life, a commitment to serving others on a regular basis, and listening to the guidance and counsel of the Holy Spirit.

My point here is that once you reach a certain level of maturity YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FED just through listening to a sermon or a Sunday school lecture. Once you reach a certain level of maturity it is time for you to get your butt out of the chair you're sitting in and start teaching and serving others. Your feeding time is your personal Bible study and prayer time that should take place every day. If you have been a Christian for more than a few months and you're still expecting a 20 minute sermon to provide all the spiritual feeding you need - you are FAILING and you are on the WIDE ROAD that leads to destruction.

If you are not being fed in your spiritual life, it is your fault and nobody else's. If you are not being fed in your church then it should be a clear sign that it is time for you to get out of your comfortable seat and start serving and teaching others.

Let me be really blunt here. If you have been attending a church for years and years, but you are not serving anywhere or teaching anyone, you should be really concerned about your salvation. Like it or not the Bible tells us over and over again that our service and action in the church is a direct reflection of our true faith. I see people in our church every week who have been sitting in the same place for 20, 30, or 40+ years, but have never done a single act of service or shared their faith with one single person. I feel sorry for them. They don't even know they are in trouble. That is why I feel convicted to start helping them see the truth.

So the next time you say "I'm not being fed", remember my simple reply: "Maybe it is time for you to start feeding someone else". That is what spiritual maturity is all about. That is what we are called and commanded to do!

No More "Benefit of the Doubt"

I am one that usually tries to assume the best in people until they overwhelmingly prove they don't deserve it. I have taken this approach with President Obama for the past year, but I have seen enough!

When he was elected I saw many fundamental problems and concerns with his views of government and leadership of this country. However, my attitude was a mix of "how much damage can he really do in 4 years" and "He isn't EVIL, just wrong and misguided". Unfortunately, after 1+ years of his presidency, I have seen enough evidence to let go of these attitudes of mine. President Obama no longer has "the benefit of the doubt" in my mind.

I am convinced this man HATES our Free-Market economy, he truly believes the government is the answer to everything, he believes that we are here to serve him and support his agenda, he doesn't care that the vast majority of people disagree with his fundamental agenda because he truly believes he is smarter, more informed, and morally righteous than the rest of us. President Obama is too dangerous to ignore and too arrogant and ideological to leave unchecked in his power.

I now believe that Obama IS evil AND dangerous. I believe the American people need to neutralize his power by making sure the other party (with whom I'm not thrilled with either) takes over power in congress this November. The Republicans have many problems, but they can at least neutralize Obama's power until the next presidential election.

This government has forgotten one very important fact. They are there to serve "WE THE PEOPLE". We the people are not here to serve and bow down to the government! The government does NOT have the right to take our wealth and redistribute it as they see fit. This country was built on and made great through PRIVATE industry, PRIVATE charity, and PERSONAL freedom. Government did NOT make this country great. WE THE PEOPLE made this country great.

It is not too late to recapture the spirit and freedom that made this country the greatest ever seen on this planet. Instead of giving up, it is time to get mad and passionate about personal freedom and economic freedom. Let Obama's election and assault on our freedom and economy serve as a wake-up call to those who are willing to work hard and want the government to get out of the way. The night is truly darkest just before the dawn. Now that it is clear where Obama and the Socialist Democratic Party are trying to take us and what they are trying to do to our freedom and economy - lets FINALLY wake up and reform this government back into what it was originally designed to be.

President Obama - my benefit of the doubt for you is OVER. The cold war of the 80's was fought against a foreign power. The new cold war of this era is between the people and an increasingly oppressive government. We will not bow down, we will not surrender, and we will not allow you to have your way. You better get ready to see just how great and powerful the people of this country still are when they are awakened. Thank YOU for that!!!

Read My Mind

I'm going to use this blog to vent from time to time. I don't know if anyone will ever read it or even care, but it will be a good look at some of the things that occasionally run through my little head. Much of what I think and say will offend and challenge. Of course, in our world where getting offended is easy and in style, you might want to stop reading right now if you can't handle some honest truth. I don't care if you're offended and there is no law against offending you. With that said, I don't intentionally seek to hurt anyone, ever! I just respond to things I see and hear based on what I believe and know to be true.

Hopefully some of what gets written from my mind is entertaining, informative, and challenges you to rethink some things. No subject is exempt: politics, religion, relationships, education, employment, economics, etc. Enjoy and feel free to comment. Just remember that this is simply my outlet for speaking my mind and I don't really care if you agree or not. Happy reading!