Think Big... Live Big

Regarding Public Baptism

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 00:25:00 +0000

3 words

...THE JORDAN RIVER

the end.

The Law of Commanded Blessing...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:49:00 +0000

The Story of the the Tower of Babel has always intrigued me. I'm not sure if it's because the arrogance of a group of people who said they were going to build a tower up to heaven or because God said they could do it.

And what was the reason God said they could do it?

...Unity

His exact words - "because these people are united, there is nothing that will be impossible for them to do" (Genesis 11 - see below).

Wow - godless people, with a proud plan to make a name for themselves and God says they would be able to do it because they were united.

This should be great news for anyone reading this right now. With unity there is nothing you can't do.

Let me help you understand the importance of unity. Have you ever been in a relationship that is so strained you don't even know what to do? You don't know how to speak to that other person, or what topic you could possibly bring up that wouldn't be filled with tension? Maybe that person is your spouse or a business partner or a church member?

What does that feel like? How productive can you be together? How much work can get done in that state?

It's brutal isn't it?

Well, that is the power of disunity. The ability to make almost anything you set your mind to or invest your time in - mostly futile.

But, the opposite is also true. Find a couple or a group that can connect in vision, passion and execution... and nothing is impossible for them. The work gets easier and more fun, even though you know that what you are endeavouring should feel hard and stress-filled. It's almost like there is a law that governs the universe. A law of unity...

That's because there is.

It's found in Psalm 133 - it's the law of commanded blessing in unity.

Ps 133 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

Unity is like… the extravagant anointing of a priest or life-giving water from the mountains to the dessert...

There is commanded blessing where there is unity…

I believe it's an intangible law of the universe - "with unity you can do anything". Kind of like gravity, but with far better consequences (and I am a BIG fan of gravity).

God wants you to be blessed. He wants to "command his blessing" on you. You're not like those who were building the Tower of Babel - out for a name for yourself. You honestly want your family, friends and business partners, your city and your world to be blessed. You want to be blessed, so you can be a blessing.

So, there you have it. You now have one of the great secrets of the universe. The law of commanded blessing.

Now what are you going to do about it?

___________________

Gen 11 - Tower of Babel - At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2 As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there.

3 They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) 4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”

5 But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6 “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! 7 Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”

8 In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.

TGIM - Thank God It's Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:19:00 +0000

TGIM - Thanks God it's Monday.

Monday gets a bad rap, but for me it's one of my favourite days of the week.

This past weekend could have been an intense roller coaster ride had I let it. Reports of wonderful news to very challenging news; from broken relationships to renewed relationships from the past; announcements of new life, to a life that ended too soon.

Years ago, I determined that I would not make any serious decisions while either on an extreme high or extreme low (the roller coaster). A time of significantly heightened emotion is not good ground to stand on when jumping out into the unknown.

Around the same time I learned of a few things that you can depend on, no matter the situation.

Firstly, God's character. He doesn't change... period!

He is good - so He can't be bad.

He is wise, so He can't make a poor decision.

He never leaves us , so we're never alone.

Next, Good friends. They don't change either. While they will never understand everything we face (and we shouldn't expect them to) they are ALWAYS there. And that is really the point, at the times of deepest emotion nothing needs to be said - and that's probably for the best.

And finally - for this post anyway - Good Coffee. Sorry, I know you were expecting something more spiritual. But it really is. While taking time for a great coffee, you can reflect on God and friends and then everything comes back into perspective.

What you're facing is seldom as bad or as good as you first think it is.

Step outside the situation, take a deep breath (or 10), trust God, confide in friends and have a coffee.

Pray... WITHOUT CEASING?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:24:00 +0000

Pray without ceasing…

If you've been around the church for any length of time, you've heard this verse quoted quite often. It's recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV).

Pray without ceasing. That's a lot of prayer.

My problem is I like to eat and play sports and sleep and read and drink coffee with friends and, and, and... well, you get the picture. And, I don't think I'm that different from most people. I have a very busy life full of stuff I like to do and full of stuff I feel that I'm supposed to do. If I'm totally honest there are sometimes during the day that I am not praying.

"Pray without ceasing" can't mean that prayer is the only thing we get to do, because if that's what it means I would suggest we have all failed.

Let's take a closer look at "pray without ceasing"in a few different translations.

The New International Version says. "pray continually".

The Living Bible says, "pray and never stop".

The Amplified Bible says, "Be unceasing in prayer (praying perseveringly).

Check that last word, "perseveringly". It means to "continue in some effort or course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, etc. - to be steadfast in purpose .

I think we're getting closer to the real meaning behind the words. Let's look at some of Jesus' teaching to verify these thoughts.

In Luke 18, Jesus tells us that we should "pray and not give up". After he makes this statement he tells the parable of the persistent widow that kept going back to the judge to get the verdict she wanted. Many times the judge turns her away, but eventually he grants her request in what appears to be his final effort just to get rid of the lady.

In Matthew 7:7 and 8, the words of Christ are recorded. Here he says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Most commentaries suggest that a more literal translation of these words are "ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking, knock and keep knocking". Then he adds that if earthly Fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more does our Heavenly Father long to give good gifts to us, His children.

I want to add here, that the description Jesus gave of the summary of his life's mission on Earth was that he "only did what I saw the Father doing" (John 5:19).

Let's pull this all together and see how this can play out in a practical way in our lives.

First, we spend time with God to see what his desires are - what He wants to do, or is doing - and see how we can partner with that. We do this by listening more than we talk when we are with Him. Rather than coming to Him with a list of things we think we need, we seek His kingdom and plans first realizing that this will actually lead to what we really need (Matthew 6). In our times with Him, He will give us insight and foresight into what He wants to accomplish in and through us.

Then, with God's desires in mind we move forward, conscious of our need of His strength and guidance to fulfill His plans in such a way that pleases Him. In doing so, we recognize our need to persistent in prayer until we have seen in the natural realm what God showed us through the eyes of faith. The timeline on this can be a few minutes or many years. But, we are already committed to praying and walking it out until we see God's intended end to any given situation.

In this model or more specifically this lifestyle, we exemplify the words of 1 Thes 5:17... to pray without ceasing.

**************

"Prayer postures us to partner with the prophetic"

"F - One Another"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:13:00 +0000

Farginen is one of my favourite words. It is a Yiddish word which means "to wish someone well, to delight in someone else's delight", "living life open wide", "to make a pact with another individual’s pleasure or happiness".

Farginen is the opposite of "schaudenfraude" which means to "begrudge or envy".

It is becoming more and more apparent in North American culture that we are not very good at "Farginen". We're not open, relational, nor willing to delight in other people's delight. Unfortunately, it seems like we are a lot more schaudenfraude, than farginen.

I'd like to see that change, so I have started a "F - One Another" campaign.

The "F" stands for FARGINEN. The "One Another" stands for all the Biblical imperatives that connect us as Christians to each other and how we are to live our lives in a "pact" with each other.

I will end this post by simply listing a few "one anothers" from scripture for you to consider. But my guess is that after reading them you may want to reconsider how you are "Farginening" others - I know I did.

Romans 12:5… so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

1 Cor 12:25… that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

Gal 5… 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Gal 6:2… Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Eph 5:19… speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

Col 3:13… bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

James 5:16… Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

1 Peter 4… 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 John 4:7… Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Heb 10:24, 25… And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

To get at ______, you have to come through me

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:36:00 +0000

"To get at _________, you have to come through me!"

That is how I've chosen to define, "love like Jesus does".

Isn't that what Christ said when He died and rose again? Isn't that what He is doing right now as he is our advocate in Heaven?

"Devil, to get at ________, you have to come through me."

Let's back up a bit... I've been reading John 15 lately and the words of Christ that have jumped out of the Book and hit me in the heart are these, " This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

Now it's easy to see how Jesus fulfilled the words of laying down his life for his friends, but how are we doing with this? When was the last time I actually gave up anything (let alone my life) for my friends? But this is how he equates whether I love people or not, AND he calls it a commandment.

Unfortunately, this is where many of us stop. We justify our lack of love or commitment to people with thoughts like... "Well, this is too hard, so I'm sure I need to find a way to reason myself around this words of Christ. There must be another interpretation. Maybe there is an easier way".

I don't think there is an easier way, there's no back door theology we can throw into the mix to negate our responsibility to "love like Jesus does". This "new commandment" of love that Jesus commands and exemplifies is how He redefined our relationship with God and those around us. He makes the statement and then He lives it out by laying down His life for His friends - making the ultimate declaration on the cross - "to get at them, you have to go through me".

So, I've chosen to define how I qualify my love for people in the same way. I love my family, I love my friends, I love my city...

AND to get at any of them, you have to come through me first!

Processing the Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:59:00 +0000

We spent most of the weekend with long time friends of ours, Mark and Tammy Griffin. When I say "long time", I mean "30 years - long time". That's a long time. We have been through just about everything together.

What quickly became the talk point for the weekend was the length of time we have all spent pursuing dreams in our lives.

I had invited Mark to speak at our church, Freedom House, so they were in town for the weekend. We booked them at the Best Western Hotel - the same hotel we were all at 16 years ago when God had originally spoken to them about the dream of a Ministry Training Centre.

Interestingly, Tammy "confessed" to me that when they originally shared their idea of the training centre with us that weekend 16 years ago, my response was something like, "well, you better settle in for a vision like that - you'll be a couple of years before that can happen" AND SHE WAS TICKED that I would suggest it could take a "couple of years". There is a big difference between a couple and 16.

Don't skip by the timing I just mentioned... 16 years... read it again... 16 years... ok, one more time... 16 years.

Most people don't keep anything for 16 years... not a pet, not a car, not a spouse, not anything - let alone something as intangible as a dream.

Yesterday at church, Mark masterfully wove the picture for us of what happens in the the process of the dream. He took us from dream... to development... to delay... to destination - brilliantly weaving in Biblical characters such as David, Joel, Peter and Joseph (and his technicolour dream coat).

As Mark spoke to the church he also unfolded the tangible outflow of the dream by showing us pictures of the Hotel and restaurant they had just purchased in Germany, to use for their training centre.

Now for me, the potential here is to write a huge list of applications we should walk away with from this, but I will refrain. I do, however, want to encourage you to do your own soul searching for a few minutes today.

Do you have dreams that perhaps you have laid aside too soon?

Have you given up on the dream altogether or perhaps even the Dream-giver?

Don't give up on your dream - the One who gave it to you is patiently waiting to help you fulfill it.

Let me leave you with the Biblical passage that Mark used as his text yesterday for your consideration as you start this week off.

Psalm 126 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion we were like those who dreamed.2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Hope Rising

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:33:00 +0000

Have you ever felt hopeless?

Hopelessness is terrible, it's mind numbing, it can be debilitating... it will make you desperate...

During one of the roughest stretches in my life, I found a way to be bound TO hope instead of bound BY hopelessness. If you're interested in how this happened, you should read on.

Here's what I know for sure about hope

1 - Hope is Desperately needed.

Hope in our world can seem rather fleeting - "here today, gone tomorrow". In the Bible, it was more concrete. Hope in the Bible had the connotation of earnest expectation.

John 1... In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

...10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Jesus' HOPE is stronger than hate.

…came to his own and his own rejected him (John 1:11)

2 - HOPE is divine in nature.

One of the most known verses in the Bible is John 3:16... for God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God... so loved! It started with Him... it's who He is... it's His nature.

3 - Hope is active

God, SO LOVED the world. God's love initiated a plan to save us.

4 - Hope is Universal in scope

God so loved THE WORLD...

If you live on the planet you can be a recipient of God's active hope. Because Jesus paid the ultimate price for my sin and yours - a cruel death on the cross - we can receive His Hope. I'm so glad that Jesus is a better Saviour than I am a Sinner.

God's hope is amazing and wonderful and fantastic and, and, and ... there really are no adequate words to express how great His hope is.

Let me conclude with Zachariah 9:12:

...

Return to your fortress, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.

The phrase "prisoners of hope"

became words of freedom for me. I realized that God did not want me to become a prisoner to hopelessness and despair. He did not want me chained and bound by fear and confusion. But he wanted me to be imprisoned in His jail of hope, shackled by his chains of hope, tied with His ropes of hope.

And let assure you - He can and will do the same for you if you ask Him to.

Hosanna...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:45:00 +0000

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It was the day when Christians all over the world remember when Jesus road into Jerusalem on a donkey, beginning the final week of his life.

John 12... 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!" “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

Crowds are full of many different people with varied thoughts and agendas. It was no different on this day. The crowd that cheered for Jesus coming into Jerusalem was filled with both the committed and the cowardly.

The committed were those that worship from a sincere heart, even when the religious leaders of the day tried to shut them up.

Luke 19... ³⁷When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” ³⁹Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” ⁴⁰“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

The crowd is filled with the committed, but it is also filled with cowards. Be careful of the applause of fearful people. Fearful people are fickle. One day they can be singing Hosanna and the next day they quickly change their tune. Remember: The same crowd that yelled "Hail Him" about Jesus on Sunday, screamed "Nail Him" on Friday.

What have your words been about Jesus this week? Are they filled with love and gratitude, or fear and frustration?

Take some time today to thank God for what He has done for you. Stop and express your gratitude to Jesus.

Here... let me help getting you started...

Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

The Power of a Resolute Life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:51:00 +0000

I know it's almost 3 months past New Year's, but i want to take some time to extol the virtue and power of a resolute Life.

Dan 1:8 But Daniel resolved.

Resolve…

1 - to come to a definite or earnest decision about;

2 - firmness of purpose or intent; determination. determine (to do something)

3 - a resolution

(dictionary.com)

Res·o·lute - "Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering".

Daniel's life has always been fascinating to me. As a young man he is taken into captivity. He is chosen as one of the finest, fittest and smartest. He rises up the ranks of this new, foreign nation - ultimately becoming one of the decisions makers in the country of his captivity.

And what was the reward for his excellence in working hard and serving both God and man? He is set up by his associates and sentenced to death. Death by lions.

You can read the whole story in Daniel 6 (and you should), but suffice it to say that Daniel is set up by his fellow workers to disobey the reigning King by continuing his custom of daily prayer to His God. In the end, God rescues Daniel from the lion's den by sending an angel to shut up the mouths of the huge, hungry felines and his accusers become the lion's breakfast instead.

Let me make a quick, but important statement to bring application to this story. I want to suggest that Daniel did not make his choice to stay faithful to God about his prayer life the day the "no prayer" edict came into effect. Daniel had made his decision many years before when ... "Daniel resolved" to honour the Lord with his life.

Allow me to further say that many hours of internal intrigue, worthless worry and antithetical anguish could be done away with if we would simply resolve now what our life values and guiding principles would be. In reality, most of our life choices would already be made for us if we lived by the power of a resolute life.

At the risk of conjuring up flannel graph images and Sunday schools songs from years ago, why don't you decide today to - "Dare to be a Daniel"

God is Great, Beer is Good, People are Crazy

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:09:00 +0000

My whole life can be defined by music. I can take you back to almost any season in my life and tell you what song was significant for me at that time. Three summers ago the song was "God is Great, Beer is Good, People are Crazy" (that wasn't a good season).

I suppose I should explain a bit. My name is Brian Beattie and I am a music junky. I am a husband, a father, a leader, a business man, a Pastor and a music junky. For the record, I'm not writing to advocate for alcohol or against crazy people - but FOR music.

Lately, I have spent a lot of time with my boys and their band called Incentive. I find myself living out some of my teenage dreams vicariously through them as I drive them from gig to gig. These guys are incredibly talented and will make far more of their music than i ever did.

Let's go back 50 years.

Jeff Foxworthy says you may be a Red-neck if the directions to your house includes the words "turn off the paved road". Now, I wouldn't define my family as red-necks, but people who have visited our family home have made the case for how perhaps we were. We definitely lived "off the paved road".

As the youngest kid in a family of 7, we were raised on heavy doses of country music. I mean heavy doses. Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Tom T Hall. Even today I may not be able to remember someone's name that I met yesterday, but I can't forget words to obscure old songs like "A Boy named Sue" or "The Year that Clayton Delaney Died". I used to spend countless hours sitting beside my parents record player learning the words to these songs and learning how to play acoustic and bass guitar along with them.

My teenage years we filled with the music of Andre Crouche. I had never heard "Christian Music" before, but the guy who picked us up for the church youth group I had joined, played an old eight-track of Andre Crouch and the Disciples - Live from Carnegie Hall every week. Songs like, "Jesus is the Answer"and "He looked Beyond My Faults (and saw my needs)" still have powerful, emotional connection for me.

In my late teen years, a friend and I memorized an entire album of The Statler Brothers and dreamed of becoming singers and travelling the world.

Then, there was that one summer during my Bible College training where a buddy and I worked as lumber-jacks in Northern Ontario to help his brother-in-law plant a church. I still laugh when I tell the story of how I was threatened with death from drunken lumberjack (true story!). Music help me get through that summer alive.

Through the years I have gained an appreciation for many different styles of music, all having a significant part both in my past and in my present.

So, why am I telling you all this? Why do you want to hear my trip down memory lane?

Let me make a couple quick and easy applications.

Some reading this article are wondering if you will ever be free of the emotional or relational struggle you feel bound by. Let's face it, life gets crazy sometimes. I remember talking to my sister when she was in the midst of a challenging time in her life where we shared our mutual admiration for a Tim McGraw song that was current at the time called, "Live Like you were Dying". It became (and still is) a source of inspiration for both of us.

Others are wondering when God is going to answer that prayer that you have brought to Him more times than you care to remember. To you I submit the words of The Gaither Vocal Band song, Give Up:

"Now if you got burden's too hard to bear

Oh, and if your load is more than your share

Kneel, kneel down, talk to Jesus because I, I know and I know He cares

And He'll, He'll make a way, make a way for us somehow."

Whatever you are facing, try this, find the truth in a song that has brought meaning and purpose into your life and allow the words come alive for you again. I don't care if it's country, gospel, rock, classical or Zamphir and his pan flute - there is something powerful about music that can remarkably change the course of a day. Here's a hint for you that works for me - I have found the greater the challenge, greater the need for increased volume.

So, don't let circumstances or bumps along the road of life steal your passion. Turn up the radio, crank up your Ipod and join in on a song that elevates you above whatever is trying to hold you down. And, if you need a help finding a song, you can sing along with me about how God is Great (with or without the beer and the crazy people).

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:05:00 +0000

I was asked recently why we don't talk more about prophecy at Freedom House. You know, the type of prophecy where you delve into the mysteries of the book of Revelation and what all the beast and trumpets and vials mean.

I don't think my response pleased him - I said, "because I don't think anyone knows the future, or what those symbols really mean definitively, so it's a bit of a waste of time".

Now, that was a short answer to a longer discussion, but not much longer. To be honest, I just can't take much time for these discussions. I used to care a lot about them, but quite frankly, they have become a waste of time for me.

Let me take this a step further. I think they're a waste of time for most Christians. I'm wondering when we will get tired of entertaining ourselves and "out-exegeting" another Christian tribe? When will we stop taking "unknowable" tangents in our Christian conversations?

At the risk of sounding cliche, I have relaxed into what has been described into "pan" eschatology. It will all pan out in the end AND the truth is, we don't know when the end will come - just ask Harold Camping.

Another of the classic Christian issues is about to hit in a week - the dreaded Hallowe'en. What do we do, hide in our churches? Have a Harvest Party? Maybe a 24/7 Prayer vigil?

Well, we're going to do what we've done for years. NOT get sucked into the Christian issue vortex, but rather serve the city. In Brantford, there is a great family event that takes place this weekend called Scare in the Square that we intentionally come alongside and hopefully make a bit better. Then on the actual "unholy eve" we will be out collecting food for our local food bank at an event called "Trick or Eat".

Let's face it, there are many big issues that need to be discussed, worked through and lived out with passion. Then, there are others that we should make personal choices about and move on to the big issues. Maybe if we did this, more of the BIG issues would get solved.

Romans 14:22 ...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God

Why I Still Believe

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:09:00 +0000

Several times in my life I have sat down and considered what I really believe. This happened to me again recently.

Coming into the fall, I came to the realization that my oldest son, Renyck was about to enter his last year of high school. That means he may leave home next year and not come back. I wasn't ready for the dialogue that happened in my head over this. Had I done everything I could to prepare him for life? Had I been a good example? When I wasn't a good example was it so much that I will need to pay for his counselling later?

There are seasons in your life that hit you more significantly than others ...and this was (is) one of them. It has become one of those "boarder crossing" moments.

You know what I mean? Like when you're crossing the boarder into the USA. They ask you the standard questions - that are actually echoes of the BIG questions of life.

When did you come from?

What do you do for a living?

Where are you going?

Now, at the boarder, they aren't looking for the answer to the BIG philosophical questions, but the questions are the same.

Where are you from (ie. how did all this start - is there a God)? What do you do (ie. what is your purpose, why are you on the planet)? Where are you going (ie. like after this life is over - is there an afterlife - if so, where will you be)?

And so, for me, I had to wonder if I had communicated these thoughts and beliefs in a way that made sense, but more importantly, had affected the way I lived in such a way that Renyck knew I believed it (and he would believe it too).

When was the last time you thought of the BIG questions and why you still believe?

Agreeing to Disagree in matters that Don't Matter

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:56:00 +0000

The church is answering questions no one is asking!

As we started preparing for Freedom House TV which we launched 2 weeks ago, we put together a promo video and this was one of our points in our opening rant. (check it out at freedomhousetv.com)

In the middle ages, one of the Big questions the church played around with was "could God create a rock so big that he couldn't pick it up?". Theologians spent countless hours debating this "life changing" query.

Now in our post-modern age of enlightenment we have made great strides towards really important dialogue. Or have we? Now our internal dialogue revolves around denominational distinctives that have little (if any) salvific effects. Topics like baptism, tongues, escatology, celebration of certain days (like Hallowe'en), drinking, blah, blah, blah fill our calendars with endless talk points, but at what expense?

Romans 14 speaks to these issues with clarity and certainty. You should take the time to read it for yourself, but let me quickly sum up what you will read. Regarding disputable matters, each person should inform themselves on what they believe, act on that belief with conviction AND respond with grace to allow others around them to act on these issues how it fits their personal convictions. Ultimately we agree to disagree in matters that don't matter.

AND in these grey areas - where there is no direct Biblical directive to "definitely do this" or "definitely do that" - we DO NOT judge our brothers on how they interpret each issue.

WOW - that is good teaching!

Do you think it's possible we have missed the whole point of why the church exists? It can't be to continually arguing about barely significant issues, can it?

Well, there's good news and bad news. The bad news is that after almost 30 years of involvement with people and ministry, I have experienced more chats about these or similar topics than I care to mention. The good news is that I see a new breed of believer that really wants to hit the big issues and bring resolve - issues like poverty, human trafficking, world hunger, etc - and what God expects our response to these needs to be. Issues that bring division in the church, like pride and judgement are being displaced by what really matters so we can be "salt and light" and a blessing to our cities.

I'm not suggesting this will be easy - it's much easier sitting back in our respective religious corners and throw our critical jabs at each other. But we've seen from the past that this is not just unproductive, it is detrimental.

This new breed of believer is both an idealistic dreamer and a hard-working pragmatist. And they are the type of people BIG THINKING people love to hang with. Search them out and do life together and as you do you will start answering questions everyone is asking!

Lead Follow or get out of the way...

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Lead, follow or get out of the way...

"Oh here we go again, another leader talking down to the followers, another bash on the little guy, another regal attempt to chastise the downtrodden serfdom."

Actually this is none of the above. It is a simply plea to people to get in the game, find their position and play it.

Let me explain what I mean. I strongly believe that every person has a "position on the team", a "destiny", "a mission from God" (come on - even the Blue's Brothers knew that). I also believe that it is each person's personal responsibility to passionately seek after and find this mission, so they can then live it out with passion.

This "mission" is much easier to find than most would admit (possibly since to admit how easy it is would presume that I have to do it after I find it) and is based largely out how you were wired when you were made.

Do you like being in front of people - speaking, encouraging and leading? - then you're a leader - do it!

Do you like being behind the scenes, working the details out, making sure the chairs are in correct rows? - then you're a follower - do it!

Do you have things in your life that are presently leaving you with the inability to fulfill your function and you recognize that you need some time to re-evaluate, reconsider and re-focus? - then get out of the way - do it!

Please understand, I have purposefully oversimplified life for the sake of time. I do understand the intricacies and complications of life that can entangle us, but at the risk of sounding callous - that's just life and when life happens, real leaders lead, real followers follow and at times both types of people need to get out of the way (in a good way).

And... in all of this we must realize that none of these positions are better or worse than any other - they just are! However, if we fail to realize who we are and where we are, it will inevitably lead to a break down in either relationship or function (or both).

AND ...if we're really honest and realistic - we will realize don't have time to waste time!

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

Have you ever...?

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Have you ever come across something that had the power to change your life?

3 years ago a friend of mine gave me a copy of the book Red Moon Rising. Red Moon, chronicles the 24/7 Prayer movement that began in the UK in 1999 to its present international influence. I read the book, bought copies for our church Leadership Team and we jumped into the 24/7 model as a church.

Since that time, we have had numerous nights and weeks of prayer and I am more convinced than ever that this is one of the pieces of the puzzle that God is going to use globally to significantly increase His Kingdom.

Recently, I was asked to sit on the national 24/7 Prayer Team. Last weekend we had our annual meetings and I have to tell you that this "underground movement" is about to emerge as a driving force for passionate prayer across our country.

Have you ever come across something that had the power to change your life?

You just did…

Check out www.24-7prayer.ca

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:21:00 +0000

So ...I have to say that I am privileged to hang out with some BIG Thinkers for a living and this past weekend they proved it again. With few people and a VERY limitted budget we pulled off a an amazing float in our city's Christmas Parade and won the prize for BEST THEME float.

Freedom House you ROCK!

You are what you think

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:29:00 +0000

You've heard the saying "you are what you eat"? Well, I think you are what you think.

Why am I thinking about this? Because I just had to endure a lengthy AND LOUD discussion between two pseudo-intellectuals at a Williams Coffee Pub. They were pontificating about numerous topics (none, which remotely intrigued the rest of the coffee patrons) and amazingly they were experts in every one of the subjects they spoke of. Now, I'm not sure if they were trying to impress each other, or those around them, but all I could think of was "would you two loon-balls kindly hush up"! (that was the editted version).

Please don't misunderstand me, I like a good intellectual chat session as much as the next guy (possibly more), but these guys could never live out even half of the discussions they just had - they just don't have that long to live! And if you can't live out your thoughts (dreams) or release someone else to do so, you are either wasting time or blowing the proverbial "butt-smoke". (that was also the editted version).

Life necessitates that eventually, if you are going to make a significant contribution to the world and to those around you, you will need to take you thoughts and act on them.

Your thoughts will become your actions - your actions will become your habits and eventually your life. You will become known for how you live, despite what your hopes and intentions are. It starts with your thoughts, realizing that these concepts are mutually inclusive and co-dependent.

Over the last few days I have had the chance to chat with a number of people who have the capacity to both think (dream) and then transform their dream into reality. And that is the difference between living your destiny and looking back at the end of your life and regretting what could have been.

You are what you think - so - thinkers unite! Think, chat, strategize and then get out there and live it!

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:52:00 +0000

It's been 10 years?! I can't believe it... a decade, ten years, 120 months, 520 weeks, 3650 sleeps blah, blah, yada, yada.

It's been 10 years since we moved to Brantford. As I was thinking about that this week many memories rolled through my brain ...some pleasant, some otherwise!

We didn't move here on a whim, we talked about it alot, we prayed about it alot, we inquired of the Lord and we really felt like it was the direction of the Lord (and we still do). However, I think it's probably good that God didn't fill us in on everything that this decade would hold because I'm not so sure I would have moved here. You know, you would like to think God could show you the future (for good or bad) and you'd still walk unswervingly into it, but who knows?

Less than a year after we moved here, the Lord began to speak to me about Brantford becoming the "city of God". In the Bible and throughout history, there have been places on the Globe that God has so transformed that they became known as "the city of God", maybe not by name, but by experience.

Do we believe that this is possible? Can we think that BIG to imagine such a thing? And, can we believe for it to happen here and now?

Perhaps more importantly, if we do believe it, are we willing to do whatever it takes in partnership with God and His plans to see it happen?

I hope so because He has BIG plans for cities!

I hope so because His desire is that no one misses out on His love!

I hope so, I don't have many decades left.

Think Big, Live Big

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:34:00 +0000

Last night I was with some big thinking friends. We talked about about many things, but conversation repeatedly came back to how we can positively effect our nation. We concluded that to touch the nation you have to touch the cities and to touch the cities, you have to touch people.

In order to do that, you have to move from thinking big to living big. It's not enough to think about something you could do, anyone can do that ...and truth be told that's as far as most people go. They look at situations they face as individuals or world issues we have to deal with together and repeatedly identify the problems. "Wow, nice work Sherlock ...I think Holmes is looking for you!"

And ...if they do take it any further, it is only to find where they can assess blame. It's like that song Living Years by Mike and the Mechanics that says, "every generation, blames the one before".

Well we could stay on the treadmill of the "blame-shame game", or we can be part of the solution - ie. THINKING BIG and LIVING BIG.

Deep down I believe everyone wants to be part of positive change. It's what we were made for, it's what we were destined for ...it's why we have the capacity to THINK BIG and LIVE BIG.

Here's where we can start...

...dream more than others think is possible;
...care more than others think is wise;
…Pray more think others think is necessary
…work more than others think is practical
...risk more than others think is safe;
...expect more than others think is reasonable.

Think Big, Live Big!

Thinking BIG again

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:53:00 +0000

It was exactly 2 years ago that I did something that I said I would never do...I started a blog. OK - that's not entirely true, someone else started a blog for me. It was Oct 2006 and I was running for city counsellor and I needed to get my "Think Big Message" out as quickly as I could. So, besides the door to door pamphlet drop in one of the coldest, wettest Octobers on record, part of the extensive media blitz was my entrance into the "blogosphere". And, as quickly as the entry had been, within moments of the end of the political campaign I made a similarly hasty exit from the world of blog.

And I have lived a fairly normal, "blogless" life. Until now, when I am compelled (recompelled?) to do something I said I would never do, for the second time - blog (re-blog?).

Now please understand I did not enter this reblogging world without careful consideration. What about the time factors? Who has time to blog when they type at a whopping 5 wpm? ( I actually refuse to go on msn for that reason)

And what if no one reads the blog? Can I really deal with the rejection?

OK - who am I kidding? I'm actually using this whole blogging thing for personal reasons. I figure I can get my typing speed up to at least 10wpm by the new year.

And the chance of me actually caring about what other people think of my blogs is minimal at best.

The truth is ...today I had lunch with one of my best friends who will be moving to the states in a week. He was the one that kept me sane in previous years of "professional church life" and one of my friends who is truly a BIG THINKER who lives out what he thinks. Now, whether it's the understanding that I can't pick up the phone and meet up with my BIG THINKING friend, or the need for an outlet that helps maintain my sanity - either way - it's blog-time.

So - in the "to blog or not to blog" Shakespearian dilemma - I guess you know how that turns out. If you choose to follow along in this blogging (reblogging) excursion I need to warn you from the outset that I will not tolerate any little thinking in my blogging presence.

But, if you agree to THINK BIG with me (again), I give you free reign to come along for the ride and I might even let you drive every now and then.

Brian Beattie

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Beattie) — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:56:00 +0000

Brian is a husband, father and leader. He is a BIG THINKER who loves challenging people to think for themselves and then live out their conclusions with passion and compassion. He is still working on ways to shut off his brain (at least for a few hours every night).

Find me on Facebook here, check out the rest of my blog here, or email me brian@freedomhouse.ca