'Leading in Hope' Articles from Heartlight

Stretching for Our Gods

p.d.odum@gmail.com (Patrick D. Odum) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0500

What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve or find?

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it (Matthew 16:24-25).

I will show him how much he must suffer for my name (Acts 9:16).

Some people will go to almost any length to look good - literally, go to any length. The Chinese Ministry of Health has issued an official statement that one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in large Chinese cities poses serious risk of disfigurement. Ministry spokesman Mao Qunan warns that the surgery, which is available in many clinics alongside more conventional cosmetic procedures, "must only be carried out for strict medical reasons and performed in authorized hospitals." At least ten people are reported to have been badly disfigured by the surgery in the past year. The surgery in question is leg-lengthening. It involves (grab hold of something) breaking the legs and stretching them on a rack. Apparently, height is often listed as a requirement for most jobs and many schools in China. Many employers require a height of 1.65 meters for women and 1.75 meters for men. Height has also become increasingly important to potential mates, as both men and women want taller children. Because of those expectations and ideals, many Chinese are choosing to undergo the painful and potentially disfiguring surgery. I wonder where the Chinese got the idea that being thought of as attractive, or getting a better job or into a better school, was worth suffering for? I wonder how they could have possibly come to the conclusion that having your body broken, manipulated, rearranged, and altered by a surgeon simply to meet their society's standard of beauty is worth paying for? That's so ... so ... American. Really though, despite the fact that we live in a country in which people pay large percentages of their income to have their noses broken and reshaped, or their tummies tucked, or fat sucked out of one part of their body and injected into another, or botulinum toxin injected into their faces, America has hardly cornered the market. Human beings have always practiced the "modifying" of the body to meet certain standards of aesthetic or moral value. Frequently those modifications are painful, and sometimes even horrific. It seems that human beings all understand that some things are worth suffering to achieve. It's just a question of what matters most. The media tide that rises around our knees every day carries images and ideals - idols, even - that human beings choose to believe is worth their suffering. If we aren't willing to have surgery, many of us sweat at gyms hoping that a treadmill will transform us into the body type our gods demand. Or we pay ridiculous amounts of money for labels and styles and fabrics that the fashion gods decree are "holy" - or at least popular in Milan and Paris. Many studies suggest that eating disorders among young women and even young men are rising to unprecedented levels. The harsh gods of Beauty and Style even make a claim on what and how we eat. So we know what it is to suffer for our gods. Strange that we don't seem to be so willing to suffer for our faith. Christianity, throughout its history, has all too often morphed into some sort of unrecognizable civic religion that creates good citizens, but not real disciples. It's been packaged and promulgated by many well-intentioned people as a faith full of promises and short on demands. "Cheap grace," Dietrich Bonhoeffer called it. Cheap grace is receiving the favor of God without recognizing that his favor comes with some demands on the transformation of our character. As Bonhoeffer elegantly put it, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." And Bonhoeffer didn't make that up out of thin air. Jesus equated being a disciple with carrying a cross - and a person only carried a cross to his death. In a great contradiction, he claimed that life is not found in holding on to it with a white-knuckled grip, but in giving it up for him. It's human nature to preserve the self, of course. Quite intelligently, we shy away from stepping out onto limbs that look too thin to support our weight. And yet that's what Jesus asks us to do: take note of the fact that the limb doesn't look like it'll hold us, and then step out onto it anyway, knowing that whether it holds or breaks we're following our Master. It was onto just such a limb that Jesus invited Paul, then called Saul, to step. The Lord called Saul to leave behind a life of relative ease, comfort, and respect for a bending, swaying branch of constant travel, death threats, poverty, prison, and turmoil. And, no doubt trembling a little, Saul took the step, because what else could he do? Jesus had spoken to him. His Lord had bid Saul to come and die, and so Saul went and died. If we think that Saul's story is unusual, it's only because we have such a limited idea of what following Jesus involves. It doesn't always make life easier; sometimes it makes life harder. It doesn't always answer all our questions; sometimes it just raises new ones. In this age when churches trip all over themselves to provide more services to their "customers," in the end, following Jesus isn't about consuming services as much as it's about being consumed by service. It's pouring out our lives, offering up our preferences and desires and dreams and hopes in favor of his. "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name," Jesus said to Ananias about Saul. He could say it about any of us, too. And we need to hear. We need to hear him tell us what he would have us suffer for him, so we can walk into discipleship with eyes wide open. We need to understand that following him means the death of selfishness, greed, lust, and self-determination. It means that we will find ourselves in uncomfortable situations, that we will be asked to do without things we didn't think we could do without, and that we might have to choose between him and people who matter to us. It means that we will have to struggle against some of our own inclinations, and to give up some of our favorite coping mechanisms. It might mean being misunderstood and misrepresented. But, it's not all about what we give up. It's barely about that at all, in fact. In losing our lives for him, remember, Jesus promises that we will find life. What he asks us to give up, he replaces - with far better alternatives. He gives us new dreams, new hopes - and new certainties. He accepts us, loves us, and gives us reason to live. And then he gives us an eternity to live it. I promise, I would never pull your leg about that.

About the author: Patrick Odum lives in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife, Laura and son, Joshua. He is one of the ministers at Northwest Church of Christ, and an avid Heartlight fan. He enjoys writing and maintains a website of his work called Faith Web where you can find all of his articles. Email Patrick

Your Life in God's Mission

trshelly@lipscomb.edu (Rubel Shelly) — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Can you visualize your workplace as your mission?

For the sake of argument, let me assume that you have a career path. It may have been challenged of late, and you may be functioning outside your sweet spot. But there is something for which you see yourself best suited. You hope that career will make it possible for you to pay your bills, take care of your family responsibilities, and provide a certain standard of living. You probably also expect it to provide certain less-tangible rewards as titles and social standing. But do you also have a calling? Consistent with the way most people hear that term, a calling involves a clear sense of being commissioned by God for some holy task. It is an awareness of the sovereignty of God over who you are and what you are doing with your life. It is the sense that God's hand is on you and that he has a sense of genuine pleasure in what you are doing. The real secret to fulfillment is for career and calling to merge into one. Don't you sense Billy Graham has viewed his as one and the same? What about you? I believe God is offering you an opportunity to make a difference in the world. I am convinced he wants you to change the world. And I further believe that he wants you to see your job, business, or profession as an extension of his kingdom reign on Planet Earth. Here's what I mean. The sense that one's career is also a holy calling really shouldn't startle us. If slaves-become-Christians were counseled to "render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord" (Ephesians 6:7-8 NRSV), then surely you are supposed to be the best employee or employer the Acme Widget Company has ever seen. If not, why not? Above paycheck or promotion, do something that contributes to the good of your world. Let your routine reflect the character and excellence heaven is building into your life. Know that your work is inseparable from your spiritual life - and reflects its authenticity. When your faith cleanses and consecrates your workplace to God, you have found a calling larger than your career. Solomon put it this way:

There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their work. This, I saw, is from the hand of God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25).

Ready to change the world today? God is ready to be your partner.

About the author: Rubel Shelly preached for decades and served as a professor of medical ethics, Bible, and philosophy at multiple universities. He was a former president of Rochester College and Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Lipscomb University. He was the author of more than 30 books and hundreds of inspirational articles. His commitment to a non-sectarian presentation of the gospel touched countless lives.

The Who's Who that Really Matters

trshelly@lipscomb.edu (Rubel Shelly) — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0600

So how do I get my name in this book?

There seems to be an almost limitless number of "Who's Who" books. There's one for every state, for colleges and universities, for every major sport and most of the minor ones. There's one for television, movies, and the stage. Major professions have their own lists. And if you are inclined by now to think every specialty on earth has a "Who's Who," surely you wouldn't be surprised to find that heaven has one too. All the earthly "Who's Who" volumes carry a high entrance fee of achievement. You have to be the fastest or smartest, richest or most powerful, first to discover or last to abandon. You might get in if you win enough medals, lose enough pounds, or draw the most beautiful pictures. Practically all firsts get in, maybe a few seconds, and practically no others. The heavenly "Who's Who" has a different criterion for being included. Oh, none of the pretty, smart, powerful, or first-place people are necessarily excluded from it. On the other hand - and this is what is most important - people who belong to none of these categories may also be included. How does someone qualify? Just think of some of the names already on the list, and identify what they have in common. There are women like Sarah, Rahab, Deborah, Mary, and Dorcas. There are men like Noah, Moses, Amos, John the Baptist, and Timothy. You will find kings and fishermen, farmers and seamstresses, a few the world called "somebodies" and several it called "nobodies." A few had their names included for big things they did, and many, many more for little things. One I recall led forces that defeated a much larger and better-equipped army. Another only shared his sack lunch that contained five pieces of bread and two smoked fish. Figured it out yet? It has nothing to do with greatness in the eyes of the world, for God's standard of excellence is totally different. In the words of T.W. Matson, "In the kingdom of God, service is not the path to greatness. It is greatness." Jesus said it very simply: "The most important person among you will be your servant" (Matthew 23:11). Heaven's "Who's Who" lists servants, only servants.

ToGather.church for December 13 is Ready!

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 02:00:00 -0600

You're invited to use our worship guide for your home or group worship!

This week's ToGather.church is ready! (Find out more about ToGather.church.) Our focus this week is on how the Holy Spirit makes us one in Christ:

ToGather: ONE! (December 13, 2020)

The Holy Spirit is Jesus' ongoing presence inside his followers. When we became followers of Jesus, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ's body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:13). This makes us ONE - one people, one fellowship, one family, and one body! The Spirit works to pull us together into the cohesive and effective bodily presence of Jesus. When we don't love each other and can't get along as the body of Christ, we oppose and grieve the Spirit. The good news for us, however, is that the Spirit not only makes us ONE but also empowers us and inspires us to love each other (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 3:20-21).

Our Verse of the Day is inspiring as it is challenging:

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Join us for ToGather.church this week as we focus on the power, inspiration, guidance, love, and fellowship the Holy Spirit brings to us as Jesus' followers:

We invite all who worship Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior and want to be led by the Spirit to join us in our worship with believers from all around the world in this week's ToGather.church. Because the Holy Spirit is alive in us, we know our future is bright (Romans 8:11) and until we step fully into that future, we trust the Spirit is at work interceding for us with God (Romans 8:26-28) and transforming us to become like Jesus in all we think, say, and do (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Let's be guided by the Holy Spirit in all we do!

Special thanks for the use of images related to Jesus' ministry from The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images.

About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God's Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.

ToGather.church for September 27 Is Ready!

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0500

You're invited to use our worship guide for your home worship!

This week's ToGather.church, for Sunday, September 27, 2020, is ready for you to enjoy. Use this week's home worship guide for yourself, family, small group, or house church gathering. (Find out more about ToGather.church.) This weekend's ToGather.church can be found here:

ToGather: Intentional Godliness (September 27, 2020)

Paul talked about disciplining his body to make it obedient, so he lived the message he preached and reached out to lost people doing whatever was necessary to reach them. Phil will challenge us in his Bible message to follow both the example of Paul and the standard of Jesus in resisting the evil one and drawing near to God (James 4:7-8). Our Verse of the Day comes from 1 Corinthians 9:27 and the surrounding context:

(1 Corinthians 9:19-27 NLT).

Demetrius has several songs that emphasize who Jesus is as our Messiah, Christ, and Lord. Phil and Donna, from Heartlight.org and VerseoftheDay.com, share a communion reflection focused on Jesus as a powerful, yet personal and tender Lord and Savior. Jan, from Thailand, closes us with a special biblical blessing:

We invite all who worship on Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere and all who keep Sabbath and celebrate Sunday beginning at 6:00 p.m. on ordinary Saturday evening to join us.

Shortly after ToGather is posted each weekend, the videos are professionally captioned and posted on YouTube. See all of our ToGather.church videos on our Verse of the Day YouTube^® Channel.

Special thanks for Multi Transcription Services of America (MTSOA.com) for their fine work. See them for all your questions about marketing YouTube^® videos and expanding your online reach. Email Lee for more info.

Special thanks for the use of images related to Jesus' ministry from The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images.

ToGather.church for Sunday, September 20, is Ready!

togather.heartlight@gmail.com (Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware) — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0500

You're Invited to join us!

This week's ToGather.church, for Sunday, September 20, 2020, is ready for you to enjoy. Use this week's home worship guide for yourself, family, small group, or house church gathering. (Find out more about ToGather.church.) This weekend's ToGather.church can be found here:

ToGather: Jesus Is Both Savior and Lord (September 20, 2020)

This week, we focus on how we've watered down the call to follow Jesus as the crucified Messiah, our Savior, and our Lord. Jesus makes it clear that he can't be our Savior if he is not our Lord. If he is our Lord, then we will pick up our cross and follow him! Our Verse of the Day comes from Luke 9:20 and the surrounding context:

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "God’s Messiah." Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:18-23).

We invite all who worship on Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere and all who keep Sabbath and celebrate Sunday beginning at 6:00 p.m. on ordinary Saturday evening to join us.

Shortly after ToGather is posted each weekend, the videos are professionally captioned and posted on YouTube. See all of our ToGather.church videos on our Verse of the Day YouTube^® Channel.

Special thanks for the use of images related to Jesus' ministry from The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images.

About the author: Dr. Demetrius Collins is a mission partner at Westover Hills Church, Austin, TX, where he serves on the worship team and as a youth volunteer. His vocation is as a professor, physical therapist, and athletic trainer; but his calling is to mentor young men through their high school years as they try to figure out what it means to be a follower of Christ. He is happily married to Kristel, who shares his passion for God and scripture. He serves as our song resources coordinator for ToGather.church
Phil Ware is President of Heartlight, Inc. and is an editor and writer for Heartlight.org, VerseoftheDay.com, and ToGather.church. Phil has served in preaching, teaching, and online ministry for over 40 years. He is passionate for world missions and encouraging ministers, pastors, church leaders, and missional church planters.

ToGather.church for Sunday, September 13, is Ready!

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0500

You're Invited to join us!

This week's ToGather.church, for Sunday, September 6, 2020, is ready for you to enjoy. Use this week's home worship guide for yourself, family, small group, or house church gathering. (Find out more about ToGather.church.) This weekend's ToGather.church can be found here:

ToGather: More Than I Can Handle! (September 13, 2020)

This week, we focus on situations with problems and challenges too big for us to handle. In overwhelming times, we must lean into Jesus, and lean on Jesus, and trust he longs to draw near to us and be present with us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Our focus this week is Luke 9:13, as the apostles wrestle with how to feed the crowd of 5,000 hungry and tired people:

[Jesus] replied, "You give them something to eat." [His disciples] answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish - unless we go and buy food for all this crowd" (Luke 9:13).

Demetrius has several songs that emphasize God's presence and power in our lives. Ratan and Neelum Babu Baipa, from India, share our communion reflection. We end with a greeting about the Lord doing more than we can ask or imagine:

We invite all who worship on Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere and all who keep Sabbath and celebrate Sunday beginning at 6:00 p.m. on ordinary Saturday evening to join us. In a time in our world where we have problems too big for us to handle, we need to place our trust in Jesus who will never leave us or forsake us (Romans 8:32-39). Let's hang on to Jesus no matter what!

Shortly after ToGather is posted each weekend, the videos are professionally captioned and posted on YouTube. See all of our ToGather.church videos on our Verse of the Day YouTube^® Channel.

Special thanks for the use of images related to Jesus' ministry from The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images.