Here’s what you may have missed @theFarpoint this week.

• Right Is Not Enough
• Stuck in the Bottom of a Hole
• Good For; Good To
• Is It In You?
• Practical Steps
• Post Reload – 7 Days of Devos

Being right is not enough.

I have a friend who says, “I thought I was conceited till I found out I was perfect.” He usually goes on to say, “I thought I was wrong once, but found out I was mistaken.” And then tops it off with, “I’m not conceited. I’m convinced.”

There’s a difference between self-confidence and self-centeredness.

It’s one reason I’ve always been amazed at the story of Jesus. He is described as the perfect Son of God. The Bible calls Him blameless. He knows things no else knows. He’s able to do things no one else can do. Yet, we never see him strut. He works miracles and teaches with authority. He has confidence, but not conceit. He has the wisdom to win every argument and the ability to put everyone in their place with just a few words. But He doesn’t. Instead, He deals compassionately with people. Even when he argues with the self-righteous religious leaders of the day, while He always wins the argument, it’s with an amazing lack of swagger.

If I had that kind of knowledge and power it would be tough to resist the urge to make my point, work my miracle and then get up in someone’s face, “BOOM – stick that in your pipe and smoke it!” I’d want to spike a scroll and strut around the room doing a little miracle dance. But that’s not how Jesus did it.

It causes me to notice a few things.

Jesus didn’t come to prove points. He didn’t come to win arguments. He didn’t show up to show off. Jesus came to make a way. He came to speak the truth. He came to give us life. He came to save. No one ever came to faith in Christ after losing an argument. I’ve never met anyone who said, “Yup, I used to be a die-hard atheist, but after you put in me in my place with all those brilliant and undeniable facts about a Creator I just had to give in and believe.”

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have our arguments. We should speak the truth in love. As we do, we should remember that our purpose is so much more beautiful than proving points. The purpose is to prove love. That’s what Jesus did. He didn’t come to prove points. He came to prove love.

He was right. But He was more than right. He did the right thing, the right way, for the right reason. This is true righteousness. It comes with confidence. It’s convincing. It causes people to stop and take notice. I may not yet understand or agree with everything you just told me, but the way you told me speaks volumes. It means we’ll have this conversation again.

Being right is not enough. Be righteous. Show compassion to people. Speak the truth in love.

John 14:6

I heard a story about a man. He was walking down the street and fell in a hole. It was dark, deep and there was no way out.

The man at the bottom of the hole heard someone coming. He shouted, “Hey! I’m stuck in the bottom of this hole. Can you help me out?” The man walking by stopped, looked in the hole and said, “Sir, I’m sorry for your misfortune. But it would be irresponsible for me to help. See, I’m an Investment Banker. I could afford to buy a rope, a ladder, even a crane. But what’s to keep you from walking down another street and falling into another hole? You’re too risky an investment.” And the banker walked on.

Now the man at the bottom of the hole was frustrated and mad. He heard someone else approaching. She sounded like she was in a hurry, but she stopped when she heard his cries. “Hey!” He shouted, “I’m stuck in the bottom of this hole. Can you help me out?” The woman stopped, looked at her watch, then down in the hole. She was carrying a Bible. Anxious and clearly frustrated by the interruption she looks at the man, “I’m late for a very important Bible study. Besides, I don’t have the strength or the stuff to get you out. I’ll tell you what, I’ll ask the people in my Bible Study to pray for you.” She smiled, pleased wither herself. Winked, waved and ran along.

Now the man at the bottom of the hole was really angry. That’s when he saw his friend peak over the edge of the hole. “What are you doing down there?” The friend asked. “I don’t know. I was walking along, stumbled and fell in this hole. Can you get me out?” Said the man in the bottom of the hole.

The friend looked thoughtful. Stepped back. And jumped into the hole!

Now the man at the bottom of the hole is livid. “ARE YOU STUPID!?” He shouted. “Now we’re both stuck in the bottom of this hole.”

The friend calmly looked the man in the eyes, “You don’t understand. I’ve been in this hole before, and I know the way out.”

John 1:14 | Philippians 2:5-11 | 2 Corinthians 5:21

Do you ever meet a couple that seems mismatched? Maybe they’ve been married for 15 or 20 years but something just doesn’t seem to fit. How could a couple with a woman that smart and a man that daft stay together for so long? How is it possible that someone so driven and organized could endure someone so listless and free-spirited? What is it that holds together a relationship that seems built on a foundation of contradictions. She’s a little bit country. He’s a little bit rock and roll. She likes long walks in the park. He likes good seats at Fenway Park.

I think ‘good for; good to’ is part of the answer. I love to talk with couples about what brought them and keeps them together. There’s all the standard comments: Love, respect, communication, patience, an occasional knock on the head with a frying pan. But sometimes they cut through the usual list of responses and say something truly interesting.

“She’s good for me.” I heard one friend say. “Before I met her I was a knucklehead. Today, I’m a recovering knucklehead with occasional relapses.” We had a good laugh. I thought I’d get in a friendly jab, “That explains why you’re with her. Why does she stick with you!?”

He got serious for a moment and didn’t miss a beat, “She’s good for me. I try to be good to her. It just works.”

Ephesians 5:22-33 gives us a brief snapshot of how to have a healthy, happy, even holy marriage. It could be summed up in this one principle: “Mutual submission out of mutual respect.”

It could be said as a series of questions:

• Will you be good for or good to your spouse today?
• Will you look out for their interests and their needs before your own?
• Will you give more of yourself to them than you think you can afford and trust God to provide? (A good definition of sacrifice.)
• Will you be willing to repent when you’re wrong and forgive when you’re right?
• Will you value your relationship more than your own rights or opinions?

How we answer questions like these determines whether or not those mismatched couples will go the distance.

Good for | Good to – which are you?

Romans 1:15 – Paul says, “As much as is in me I am ready to preach the gospel.” He goes on to tell Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5, “…you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work to introduce others to Jesus, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.” (NLT) 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “…the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…”

You don’t have to be an exceptional athlete, brilliant scholar, talented artist, or successful business leader to be useful to God. As a matter of fact, 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 makes it clear that words like ‘exceptional, brilliant, talented or successful’ don’t impress God. He’s looking for someone whose heart is loyal to Him.

A few years ago Gatorade asked a question, “Is it in you?” Today, I ask you the same question – but not about Gatorade, about something that really matters. What’s in you? What’s in your heart? Are you ready?

Paul said, “As much as is in me I am ready to preach the gospel.”

Is it in you?

This is a video of exceptional athletes doing unbelievable things. When your heart is loyal to God you can accomplish the unbelievable too. It’s not about your exceptional ability, but about the exceptional God you serve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHH-6ZQktRQ

I like practical steps.

Jack Welch, Seth Godin, Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Rick Warren, Mark Driscoll – these men are experts at articulating  practical steps for better business, leadership, living or scriptural application. They’ve built businesses and churches that have global impact and eternal influence. They speak in sound bites that become axioms for leadership, principles for success and proverbs for practical living.

It’s easy to see the value of practical steps. They are small, achievable goals, relatively easy to understand and attain. The big idea may be challenging. The mountain you intend to climb may seem impossible, implausible, even impassable. But take the right series of practical steps and you’ll find yourself at the top. With practical steps you can accomplish unbelievable things.

There’s also a danger to practical steps. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Good intentions may be the gravel under you feet, but practical steps are what move you down that road. People have to make a living. Chores have to be done. Dreams give way to the practical step of paying bills. The goal of business is to make money. Cheaper labor, higher prices sounds like a practical formula for bigger profit margin. Yet some companies find that formula failing while others, who choose to give away services for free, make money hand over fist. Christ-followers try to live ‘in the world, not of it.’ They take practical steps to separate themselves from temptation. They become so surrounded by ‘Christian’ people and ‘Christian’ culture they’ve excluded themselves from any real opportunity to be salt and light in a world desperately seeking the answers they hold.

Today, you’ll take practical steps. Will they be practical steps on the road to success or the road of good intentions?

It seems ironic, but here’s a list of practical steps to help you take the right practical steps.

• Know the Word. The Bible says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.” It’s filled with practical wisdom for daily living.
• Know your purpose. There’s a difference between taking practical steps and taking a walk. Knowing your destination determines the difference.
• Surround yourself with smart, godly people. They provide insight and accountability on your road to success.
• Surround yourself with smart, godly people who disagree with you. If they’re smart and they’re godly it’s wise to listen when they push back. They likely have thoughtful, god-centered ideas you should evaluate and learn from.
• Move forward. It’s not really a practical step without the ‘stepping‘ part.

What practical step do you need to take today?

• Something Fantastic in :40 Seconds
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5beoRa_HR8o The kids are cute, but the truth they speak is fantastic. It’s not not cliche’. It’s not old, dead stodgy religion. It’s real. How will you let it influence you today? Find life.
• Life Interrupted – Pt. 2
  Saul had a plan. He was a brilliant young man with a promising career. He spoke several languages. At an early age people recognized his intelligence, skill and passion. He was driven. The force of his will alone enough to get him noticed. He studied under the very best teachers. But there was even more [...]
• Life Interrupted
  Has your life gone ‘according to plan’? As kids, we dream about what we want to be when we grow up. It seems like the younger we are the more fantastical the dream. At 13 I was convinced I would one day be a Supreme Court Justice. At 10, it was astronaut. As a 5 [...]
• Holy Discontent
  John 2:13-35 Righteous anger rightly applied is a powerful thing. What makes you really mad? Are you prone to road rage when the idiot in front of you cuts you off and drives too slow? Do you find yourself on the edge of madness when your children spill juice on your new couch? Does your blood boil [...]
• Lessons from the Fog
  Pea soup. That’s what I drove through as I pulled out of my garage this morning. The fog was as thick as pea soup. It was cool and a little creepy. It felt like I was on the moors in England. I checked the moon to see if it was full. Fortunately it won’t be [...]
• Live, Work, Learn, Play, Need
  Colossians 1:28 Jesus has a pattern for ministry. He meets people where they are and challenges them to take their next step of faith. Sometimes the challenge is simple. Nicodemus comes to Jesus with questions. Jesus answers, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus doesn’t fully understand. Jesus responds with the most famous words in Scripture. John 3:16 [...]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5beoRa_HR8o

The kids are cute, but the truth they speak is fantastic. It’s not not cliche’. It’s not old, dead stodgy religion. It’s real. How will you let it influence you today?

Find life.

Saul had a plan.

He was a brilliant young man with a promising career. He spoke several languages. At an early age people recognized his intelligence, skill and passion. He was driven. The force of his will alone enough to get him noticed. He studied under the very best teachers. But there was even more to Saul’s story. It’s like he was born for this. He had just the right pedigree. He was related to all the right people.

A brilliant mind plus passionate skill plus family, academic & political connections became a formula for Saul’s stratospheric rise to success. He climbed rapidly through the ranks outshining all of his colleagues. He gained special privileges and became known as the go to man for any job, no matter how difficult. He was well on his way to becoming one of the most recognized, well-respected and influential men in his field.

But something happened. His life was interrupted.

This once rising star that burned so brightly exploded then faded into anonymity. For three years there was silence. When Saul finally returned he was still brilliant and passionate. But something significant had changed. No longer would he tow the party line. Gone were the days he would sit idly by as his colleagues and superiors clawed their way to the top of a system that had become corrupt to the core and abusive to people. He began to teach and organize, gather and train a new generation of people.

It offended the establishment.

On many occasions Saul was arrested. He was beaten for his new found belief. Several times the abuse was so bad he was left for dead. His journey’s were perilous. Three different times the ship he was on sank. On one of these trips, after the shipwreck, he spent a night and a day in the water waiting for rescue. He left home and family behind. He became a ‘wanted’ man – but not for his brilliance. He was wanted for rebelling against the system that raised him.

His last days spent in prison. His last breath taken just before his head.

What kind of interruption can cause this kind of transformation? What causes a man to leave behind a promising future for a life filled with struggle and difficulty? We know the answer. Saul wrote it down.

He says, “If anyone thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I many know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one think I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Saul met Jesus. His life was interrupted. His name was changed to Paul and nothing since has been the same.

Has knowing Jesus interrupted your life? I wonder what it means if it hasn’t.

Has your life gone ‘according to plan’? As kids, we dream about what we want to be when we grow up. It seems like the younger we are the more fantastical the dream. At 13 I was convinced I would one day be a Supreme Court Justice. At 10, it was astronaut. As a 5 year old, the Incredible Hulk. Of course, somewhere in between was rock star! Our evil plans on the road to world domination start young.

We live our lives, make our plans and work toward a goal. But what happens? How do dreams of fame, fortune and influence give way to 30 years of punching a clock in the hope you’ll someday get a nice retirement party and a cheap gold watch?

The answer is simple. Life gets in the way. Dreams give in to the daily grind. Plans get pushed aside for the promise of a pay check. People you trust make unexpected, unfortunate decisions. Accidents happen. Sickness redefines priorities. Suddenly you’re living a life interrupted.

Maybe this is your life. What will you do about it? Circumstances may trick you into believing you don’t have many choices. But look. Just beyond the edge of the mundane are possibilities unlimited. So, back to our question…what will you do about it?

No matter how you try to complicate it, there’s really only two choices.

1. Do nothing.
2. Do something.

The choice you make charts the course for your next season of life. Do nothing and the story tomorrow will be the same as today. Do something and your story will be different. The change may not be monumental. It may be a massive mistake, but what was it Thomas Edison said? “I have not failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb.”

Mistakes, rightly applied, become stepping stones on the road to success.

There’s another myth here. Doing nothing isn’t really an option. Tomorrow may be just as mundane as today, but it’s a different day. Your choices, ever so slightly, will not be exactly the same and that will chart the course for what’s next. Be honest. Has your life really been interrupted or are you where you are today because of a long string of indecision, bad decisions or safe choices that pay the bills?

Read Galatians 1:1-24. Paul knew about a life interrupted. We’ll talk more about him tomorrow.

Today – consider where you’ve been; recognize where you are; imagine what’s next; move forward.

John 2:13-35

Righteous anger rightly applied is a powerful thing. What makes you really mad?

Are you prone to road rage when the idiot in front of you cuts you off and drives too slow? Do you find yourself on the edge of madness when your children spill juice on your new couch? Does your blood boil when your boss treats other coworkers more fairly than you? Can your spouse push all the right buttons and cause you to lose your mind? A lot of things have the potential to make us really mad.

I find it interesting that the word ‘mad’ can be used interchangeably to describe someone who is angry or someone who is crazy. “He lost his temper! He’s mad!” or “He’s lost his mind! He’s mad!” Either are an accurate expression of what often happens when we get angry. We lose our temper – and our mind. We fly off the handle to become our own weapon of mass destruction. What a waste.

Anger may cause us to lose control and hurt people, but dealing with that kind of anger isn’t the focus of this post. If you want to know more about that read Anger Management.

Instead, let’s consider the kind of anger that is reasoned, calculated, and focused. This kind of anger isn’t the overflow of unmet expectations but the righteous indignation that comes from recognizing an evil that must be overcome. It’s Popeye seeing Bluto abuse Olive Oil. “That’s all I can stands and I can’t stands no more!!” Bill Hybels, Pastor at Willow Creek Community Church, calls it your Holy Discontent.

A holy discontent is what happens when your heart breaks over the things that break the heart of God. It’s that fire within that drives you to right a wrong, to fix what’s broken in the world and to justly punish the perpetrators. Have you ever known this kind of anger? If so, what have you done about it?

Today…

• I will likely eat more food than I need and throw away food I don’t want while others in our world will fall into sickness because they have no food to eat.
• Somewhere in our city someone will finally make the decision to cross that line and cheat on their spouse.
• A husband, in a fit of rage, will raise his hand to his wife. Bruised and confused she won’t report it.
• You may not see it, but human trafficking is one of the greatest atrocities of the modern era. Today, a child will be sold into slavery. Some will be sexually abused. Others will be put to work as forced labor, still others will be conscripted into armies, given weapons and forced to murder.

Do these kinds of things ignite anything in you at all? What does? What is your holy discontent? What is the wrong you must right? Is there anything in you that cries out for justice and what will you do about it?

Don’t waste your anger on spilled coffee or some minor personal offense. Get angry about something that matters and do something about it.

Righteous anger rightly applied is a powerful thing.

Pea soup.

That’s what I drove through as I pulled out of my garage this morning. The fog was as thick as pea soup. It was cool and a little creepy. It felt like I was on the moors in England. I checked the moon to see if it was full. Fortunately it won’t be that for another week. No worries then about potential werewolf attacks. It’s amazing how one small change in the environment can affect your imagination.

I pulled to the corner of my edition. My lights cut through the fog, but not very far. I couldn’t tell if it was safe to make the turn but slowly risked it anyway. Driving my regular route in the darkness and through the mist the landscape was transformed. The comfort of the familiar gave way to apprehension. Houses, businesses, street lights and signs, comfortable landmarks I use to find my way and so common in daylight, now hidden behind a vale of grey.

You’ve been in a little fog like this before. Maybe you woke up a little foggy this morning. Your mind isn’t as clear as you hoped. Your heart isn’t as focused as it needs to be. Perhaps life’s circumstances have hidden the comfort of the familiar behind a vale of grey. There are a lot reasons why you could be a little foggy.

• Mistakes, wrong turns, bad decisions – these can clutter your path and confuse the choices you need to make.
• Changing circumstances make it difficult to navigate. Maybe your career is shaky. Perhaps your marriage is unstable. Unexpectedly you’ve found yourself in a new environment that affects your imagination and what you imagine is more nightmarish than happily-ever-after.
• Pain is another one. Sick people, people in pain, don’t make decisions the same way healthy people do. Pain in your life – physical, emotional, relational, spiritual – dulls the senses. Pain becomes the catalyst for bad attitudes and bad decisions. It becomes an excuse for selfishness and self-centeredness.

Driving Through the Fog

When driving through the fog there’s only a handful of ways to arrive safely at your destination.

• Pray Hard – Prayer is the light that cuts through the darkness. God may not illuminate every detail, but He will show you the path ahead. He can lead you into your next step. Wherever He leads is sure and secure even if you can’t see the destination ahead or the familiar landmarks that comfort you along the way.
• Slow Down – but don’t stop. Move forward with deliberate purpose. Mistakes, changing circumstances and pain can trick us into thinking the answer that brings immediate relief is the right one. But this is often not the case. Giving up on the relationship, giving in to the pain, if we’re not careful these can lead us down a path that only makes things worse.
• Be Patient – this is about endurance. Patience is the calm assurance that comes from understanding that God isn’t finished with you yet. Where you are today isn’t where you will be tomorrow. God will move your life forward. Be patient with Him and with others. Whatever you face today it’s only one chapter, maybe just one page, in a very long story. Be patient enough to see the story through to the end.
• Give & Receive Grace – Sitting in the fog at the four way stop sign facing another driver you have a choice to make. Who goes first? As long as you’re thoughtful of one another you’ll both make it safely through the intersection. When selfishness takes over is when you both make mistakes, pull out where you don’t belong and cause an accident. Learn to give and receive grace.

Maybe you’re a little foggy today. That’s exciting, and a little creepy. You can make it safely through the fog.

Colossians 1:28

Jesus has a pattern for ministry. He meets people where they are and challenges them to take their next step of faith.

Sometimes the challenge is simple. Nicodemus comes to Jesus with questions. Jesus answers, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus doesn’t fully understand. Jesus responds with the most famous words in Scripture. John 3:16

Sometimes His challenge is more difficult. In Matthew 10 He sends the disciples on a mission trip to the cities around the sea of Galilee. He tells them, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” This isn’t your average ‘build a house, deliver some food, dig a well’ kind of trip. He expects them to accomplish something supernatural. Amazingly, the disciples don’t bat an eyelash. They go on the trip and do exactly what Jesus says. A few chapters later in Scripture they return celebrating all God had done through them.

Jesus meets people where they are in order to challenge them to take their next step of faith. He meets people where they live, work, learn, play and at their point of need.

It makes me wonder:

• What’s your next step of faith?
• Who can you encourage to take their next step of faith?

Have you ever considered that the answer to these two questions could be the same? Maybe your next step of faith is to encourage someone near you to take theirs. Is today the day you share the gospel, speak the truth in love, or meet a need?

Look and listen. People all around you are crying out for a Savior. You may be too. He’s right where you are. The question isn’t whether He will hear or act. It’s whether or not you will follow, believe and obey.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I’ve got a song stuck in my head. The line that keeps banging around in the grey matter between my ears, “Bring love alive, bring love alive, bring your love alive in me.”

Love the lyric, the hook’s good too – it’s why the music’s stuck in my head. The annoying problem? I can’t remember the artist, the name of the song or anything else the song says. Can someone help a brother out!? What’s the name of this song!?

It made me think. My problem with this song is similar to the problem many relationships face. We desperately want love to come alive in us. We cry out for it. We’re hooked on the idea and can’t get it out of our heads. But somehow, we’ve forgotten the rest of the song. We approach love like an undiscovered country. With caution and excitement we step into a new relationship to explore what we might find. Once the new wears off and the undiscovered settles into the familiar our hearts and minds begin to wander toward the next new adventure. But that’s not real love.

How would our relationships be different if we remembered the rest of the song? One great line doesn’t make a song worth singing. It takes all the notes and rests, the tempo that speeds up and slows down, the rhythm that moves things forward and the lyric that tells the story. One great line may get stuck in your head, but it’s the rest of the song that makes it worth singing.

The same is true in our relationships. Love is so much deeper than one exciting moment. What can you do today to strengthen your relationships? 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 will give you some good ideas. Read it and sing the rest of your song.

Proverbs 13:12

A little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.

Hope is a powerful motivator. It can elect Presidents, define career choices and cause 10 year old boys to send their first valentine.  History demonstrates that the United States economy is the greatest wealth building engine the world has ever known. It’s an economy built on hope. Hope that the work I do today will pay greater dividends tomorrow. Hope that the future for our children and their children will be better than our current condition today.  Hope that my choices will have lasting value.

Hope fills us up, drives us forward and gives us the fuel we need to build a dream. ’Hope’ is the defining motivator of this generation.

• Leaders offer hope.
• Servants satisfy hope.
• Followers look for hope.

Hope is like nitroglycerin. Applied correctly it can be the catalyst that propels you and your organization further than you ever imagined possible. But use with caution. Handled carelessly hope is a raging and destructive force. There’s a Proverb that says, “Hope deferred makes a heart sick.” Think about the power of that statement. The very idea that tomorrow will be better than today is enough to raise your spirit and motivate you to act. While the thought, not the reality, but the thought that tomorrow could be exactly the same, or worse, leaves you drained, depressed, discouraged and doubting yourself, your organization, the leaders you follow and the followers you serve.

A little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.

Where is your hope? What hope are you offering others? Will you keep your promise? Will you lift someone up or make their heart sick? Will the hope you have and the hope you offer be the fuel that propels you forward or the destructive force that derails your dream?

Hope applied. It’s a powerful thing.

Colossians 1:28

Seth Godin says a tribe is any group of people, large or small, connected to one another a leader and an idea.

Everyone’s part of a tribe. Most people are part of several different tribes. There’s the business you’re in, the church you attend, your kids little league team, your neighborhood association and your gym. That’s just to name a few. What tribes are you in? Are you a participant in your tribes or a leader? Are you an instigator? Are you connecting with people who share your big idea and challenging them to move forward together to bring that big idea to life? How do you find your big idea in the first place?

The idea behind your tribe is your mission. It’s your vision. It’s that thing your group feels compelled to accomplish together. How do you identify your big idea?

Your big idea is an expression of who you already are.

Maybe you’re a 30-something year old biker with preschool kids or a 20-something college student who plays guitar. You could be a 48 year old business leader sandwiched between teenagers and aging parents. Your big idea starts as an expression of who you already are.

Your big idea is a statement of what you’re trying to accomplish.

Identify who you are. Decide what you want to do. If your tribe is filled with athletes the goal is likely to win. Marketing tribes want to sell. Political tribes elect. Church tribes…you get the idea. The statement isn’t likely complicated, but clearly identifying what you’re trying to do together is key. You see this on little league teams. Some parents want their kids to win. Other parents want their kids to learn and enjoy the game. Different statements will eventually cause players – families really – on these teams to break up the tribe. It may get personal, but it doesn’t have to. The reason for the imminent separation is natural and easy to identify. These families may have opted, for a time, into the same tribe, but as they play it becomes clear they’re not really sharing the same big idea.

Your bid idea is a method for how you bring your big idea to life.

If your tribe is a baseball team it doesn’t do much good to practice soccer. If your tribe is a rock and roll band your mad skills with a tuba aren’t likely much help. The method you choose to accomplish your big idea should be an expression of who you already are based on the statement of what you’re trying to accomplish and how you intend to bring that dream to life.

This is how you become a leadership instigator. Identify your people. Challenge them with the big idea and move forward together.

Galatians 2:20

I know. Macabre topic, but stick with me. Did you ever play the game, ‘Would you rather?”

Seems like that game always follows the same trajectory. It starts silly, gets gross, then turns dark. Would you rather kiss this girl or that one? Would you rather eat a live stink bug or drink motor oil? When you die, would you rather burn or drown?

The last question is dark, but interesting. If history shows us anything it’s that there’s more ways to die than one could possibly imagine. History is also clear that death comes for us all. Welcome to Tuesday’s happy post. Aren’t you glad you tuned in!?

The whole game is absurd, really, but isn’t that the point? Who wants to choose the lesser of two horrible ways to die? Who wants to choose death at all?

That’s the irony of the Christian life. Christianity is the story of a death that leads to life. Jesus willingly lays down his life as payment for the penalty of your sin and mine. As this new life in Christ comes alive in us our old, self destructive habits are removed and replaced. It’s a different kind of death. Not the lesser of two bad choices, but a death that leads to life that leads to victory over that which is killing us in the first place, killing us from the inside out.

Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” What temptation weighs you down? What sin holds you back? What tragedy keeps you from moving forward? Today, choose a different kind of death and find life.

1 John 3:7

My son plays baseball. He’s 7 years old. In their first few practices the coaches spent time showing them the best way to throw a ball. Elbow up, glove extended, throw across the body, flick the wrist. Pretty basic stuff. They all quickly understood the correct form. All that’s really left now is enough practice to be accurate and fast, to throw with strength and distance. What happened next is a little funny. Coach sends them out to play catch. Every boy goes through the same process. Catch the ball. Extend the glove. Lock and load, elbow up, throw! It’s going so slowly you can almost see them counting the steps in their head like some kind of baseball-induced ballet move. It was taking every kid an eternity just to throw the ball.

Coach stopped everyone, “You’ve got the form down. You know what to do. You just need to practice. Don’t think. Just throw.”

This is often the problem with our relationships with one another and with God. We dig into Scripture or search the next self help book hoping to find a silver bullet that will fight the temptation or fix the problem. We look for the Midas touch that will make us wealthy or the magic words that will give us success in relationships when we’ve already heard what we need to know to be successful. All that’s left is practice.

Don’t get me wrong. Exploring, memorizing, understanding Scripture – this is a critical part of the process, but at some point you’ve got to practice. You’ve got to use the things you already know. At some point you don’t think. You just throw. Maybe you hit the target. Maybe your effort falls short. Either way you’ve taken a step forward.

Get in the Word today. Read it, but don’t stop there. Practice it. Even if you get it wrong the practice will do you good.

1 John 3:7, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”

Proverbs 30:24-28

I guess I missed school the day they explained why people think a furry rodent can predict the weather. Can someone please help me understand? Oh, I know about Puxatony Phil. I’ve seen the movie. But the tradition itself, I’m not sure how something like Groundhog Day even gets started.

Predicting the future would be a useful talent. If I knew then what I know now I would have invested heavily in Google and Walmart. Did you hear? Facebook is filing a $5 billion – that’s BILLION with ‘B’ – IPO. I should have ‘friended’ Mark Zuckerburg. Being able to predict the future would come in handy.

Knowing the specifics of our future could make us ubber-wealthy or scare the schlamuckin out of us. Either way, history has proven we won’t know for sure what’s around the corner until we turn the corner to see for ourselves. Accurately predicting the future may not be in the cards, but we can prepare for it.

Those who appear to be the best at predicting the future are almost always the ones most prepared to meet it.

• You have a family – What choice do you need to make today to strengthen your relationship with your wife and kids tomorrow?
• You have a job – What decisions have you avoided that keep you from being satisfied with your career?
• You have a spiritual life – Have you ignored it? Will you grow deeper in character, stronger in your walk with God and more certain of your own eternal purpose?
• You may be involved in a church, small group or charitable organization – Are you prepared to receive new people, serve more effectively and increase the scope of your group’s influence?

We may never be able to accurately and consistently predict specific details of our future but we can prepare for it. Spring is coming whether that groundhog sees his shadow or not.

Romans 7:15-25

When I visit amusement parks, ballgames, concerts, community festivals, basically any public event, I’m always reminded of one simple truth.

The world is filled with ugly people.

That may not be politically correct to say out loud, but it’s easy to prove both statistically and scientifically. There are entire websites devoted to weird looking people at WalMart! Face it, ugly people far outnumber pretty ones. I think that may be why Hollywood is so popular. It’s a place for pretty people to gather and flaunt their pretty-ness.

Like slaves in the Roman Empire I think it’s time for ugly people to rise up and demand their place in the spotlight!

But that’s really the problem, isn’t it? Ugly is already in the spotlight. It’s not the ugly defined by physical comeliness or attractive beauty. It’s the ugly that comes from inside, the ugly that stains the soul. No matter how much make up, exercise, or Photoshop editing, regardless of the sparkle or shine on the outside the ugly inside has a way of making it’s way out. It’s why pretty people get divorced. It’s what tarnishes the beauty of success and strangles satisfaction.

The ugly inside, regardless of our external circumstance, finds a way to make its way out and corrodes even the most pristine of appearances. So how do we fight the ugly?

Powerless

It’s a principle from Celebrate Recovery. We must recognize we are powerless, on our own, to overcome the ugly inside. The ugly has a source. It’s our own heart. We need a change of heart that will lead to a change of mind, attitude and action. We can slap on some new paint. We can turn over a new leaf. But until we have a change of heart we’ll only find old dirt.

Heart change is Jesus’ specialty. You can trust Him to lovingly work in you and through you to remake you into someone beautiful from the inside out.

Patience

Real change takes time. Whatever ugly is in you has been there from birth and has been reinforced through your life experiences. Patience with yourself and with others gives you the space – think bandwidth – you need for genuine transformation to take place.

Practice

Repetition is a powerful tool. Repetition is a powerful tool. Repetition is a powerful tool. Getting it right once isn’t enough. Get it right again. Then again. Then do it again. Take one step at a time and when you experience a setback get up and get on with it. The team that wins the Super Bowl, the artist giving the concert – they made it that far through hours and hours of practice.

I could give you more bullet points, but none of that matters without a change of heart. That’s not a change you can make on your own. Trust Jesus with your ugly today.

Philippians 1:9-11

I believe my quality of life is measurably better because I try to live by the principles I find in Scripture.

You might think this boring, but I’ve never been addicted to anything. I’m not upside down deep in outrageous debt. I have a great relationship with my wife and kids. I have friends I enjoy and trust, a church I love and a life worth living.

I am blessed.

I can’t really take credit for it. I’ve made my share of mistakes. Stupidity runs genetically through me. But in spite of my own gaffes and guffaws, whether or not I’m popular, powerful or rich, my life is shaping up to be an exciting story worth living.

I’ll go back to my first statement. I believe my quality of life is measurably better because I try to live by the principles I find in Scripture.

Let me be clear. I don’t try to live by what someone told me the Bible said. I don’t try to jump through some kind of spiritual hoop in order to please a benevolent, but rigid dictatorial deity. That’s not who or what God is. I take the time to regularly read the Bible. I talk with friends about what they think it means. I pray about it. I ask God for wisdom and understanding. I meditate on the words and try to focus my attitudes and actions around following the principles I find. It’s not new age. It’s not strange.  It’s not mystical. It’s practical. It’s real.

And it works.

Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

This is my prayer for you today.

John 2:1-12

It’s a curious way to begin a public ministry. It appears Mary was invited to a wedding in Cana. Jesus and His Disciples went with her. They weren’t special guests, just friends of the family. In that culture a wedding celebration could last a week! Being good hosts was important to the family. The happy couple would exchange vows, the ceremony would end and the feast would begin.

They weren’t likely a wealthy family but for this wedding they spared no expense. Imagine the potential for embarrassment when the punch bowl ran dry. Mary was close to this family. Close enough to notice and be concerned when the wine ran out. She told her son. His response was respectful, but less than enthusiastic. “Woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

The story implies Mary was asking Jesus to do something about it, but it’s not clearly stated. Neither was Jesus being dismissive. He was simply saying this wasn’t His wedding. The celebration wasn’t about Him. His time would come to reach, teach, preach and work wonders, but in His estimation, this was not that time.

Mary, too, was respectful, understanding, yet undeterred. She goes to the servants and subtly motions toward Jesus, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

That’s good advice.

My mom gave me similar advice. I grew up attending church. I often questioned the things I heard or saw. My mom would sometimes answer, “Even if a person doesn’t believe in the spiritual truth or the supernatural reality of Jesus you can’t deny the practical benefits that come from making wise choices based on His teaching. If you do what He says, your life will be better.”

The servants took Mary’s advice literally. They filled those water pots all the way to the brim with water, just like Jesus said. The containers held somewhere between 20 and 30 gallons.

You may know the rest of the story. The servants take the ‘water’ to the Master of the Feast – think ‘Wedding Coordinator’ – who takes one drink and declares his amazement that the couple had held back the best wine for the end of the celebration rather than the beginning. The water had turned to wine!

Jesus didn’t seek or receive credit from the couple or the crowd, yet He provided for them ‘exceedingly abundantly’ more than anyone could ask or think. I see this happen today. Someone will try to live by the ‘Golden Rule’. A charity will feed hungry people in an impoverished country. A family will adjust their lifestyle so they can get out of debt. The principles they apply have their source in the teaching of Jesus. The benefit they experience come from living according to His principles, yet He neither seeks nor receives credit. And that’s okay. Who gets the credit isn’t really the point. It’s as simple as a mother’s advice.

“Whatever He says to you, do it.”

You may have doubts about the spiritual truth found in Jesus but it’s hard to deny the practical benefit of living by His teaching. Put it to the test and see if it’s not true. Don’t take my word for it. Read the Bible, specifically the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John), to discover what He taught and how He lived and then apply those principles to your life.

As you follow His lead I believe your quality of life will change and eventually you’ll come to the same conclusion the Disciples did. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Whatever He says to you, do it.

Matthew 20:29-34

Have you ever prayed with such passion and persistence that you stopped God in His tracks? (Matthew 20:32)

That’s what these two blind guys did on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. People tried to silence them. But the resistance of the crowd only increased the resolve of the blind men. I don’t know what’s more remarkable, that they cried so loudly that Jesus stopped or the question Jesus asked when he turned to speak with them.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Seems obvious. You are the Son of God, right? Yet these men don’t hesitate. “We want to see.” Jesus makes it so, and their lives are never the same again.

What are you praying today? Will you pray with passion and persistence? When the time comes what will you ask Jesus to do for you?

Will your request open your eyes or the eyes of others?

People may try to silence you. Disappointment may discourage you. Let the resistance you face increase your resolve. God’s not afraid of your questions. He welcomes them. But get ready. When the answer comes, the way you see the world will never be the same.

Matthew 10:1-42

I’ve heard it said you should never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. Do you know why?

It’s the only thing that ever has.

With nothing more than a noble idea, ink and a pen 56 men sign their name to the Declaration of Independence and a nation is born!

In a small town on the Sea of Galilee four men carry their paralyzed friend to the roof of a house where a popular preacher is teaching the crowd. They open a hole in the roof, lower their friend, and a miracle happens! The preacher heals the man! Their paralyzed friend picks up his bed and walks home.

With 11 other men an uneducated fisherman joins an unconventional Rabbi. For three and half years they live, work, learn and play together. They come to believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. After His death, burial and resurrection this small group of 11 men continue a movement that spreads around the world. We’re still talking about it more than 2000 years later!

It’s amazing what a small group of people, committed to God and one another can do.

Everyone’s part of a small group. The question is whether or not your group will draw you and others deeper in your walk with Jesus or push you further away from Him. No matter what the nature of your group is, there are three things that influence your decision to take part.

• ME – What I do to live and speak my faith where I am.
• WE – What we do to live and speak our faith where we are.
• THEM – What I do with you to reach them with the gospel.

Said more bluntly -

• What’s in it for me?
• How are we better together?
• Will people outside our group benefit from the activity together?

Take time to evaluate the groups in which you participate. Is your participation all about what you get out of it? Is it all about what you can accomplish together? Is it about how you can affect the lives of others? It’s not healthy for a group to get stuck in any one of these three elements. Is your group stuck or well balanced?

Are you part of a group at all?

Jesus mentored 12 men who changed the world forever. They were a tight group of friends, but they weren’t a closed group. Matthew 10:1-42 gives us a snapshot of one thing they did together. What do you think of the group Jesus assembled and the mission they accomplished? How does that group relate to yours?

It’s Saturday.

a.k.a. – The Sabbath Day – a time for rest.

I’ve always pushed myself. I like how it feels to go further than you thought you could go, accomplish more than you imagined possible and do more while the sun shines! There are still new things to see, projects to pursue, another mountain to climb and more interesting people to meet.

I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

But that’s not really what the Bible says.

• Proverbs 23:4, “Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!”
• Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
• Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
• Psalm 127:2, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.
• Proverbs 3:21 & 24, “My son…keep sound wisdom and discretion…When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
  yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.”

Sometimes, the most godly thing you can do is rest.

We’re 27 days past the New Year. How are you doing on those New Year’s Resolutions? Do you remember what they were? Have you moved forward, made progress or fallen behind?

It’s seems there’s a difference between the inspiration to make the resolution and the motivation to act. If you’re like me you’re inspired by all kinds of things: a great success story, a new possibility, or even a new tool to help you accomplish your task. These things inspire us. They excite us, but do they motivate us to act? That’s really where the rubber meets the road. Good intentions lead to great resolutions. The motivation to make good choices leads to genuine success.

So often it seems like something prevents us from following through and finding success. The Apostle Paul struggled with this. In Romans 7:15-24 he says he wants to do good but can’t seem to get it done. Instead, he finds himself stuck making the same wrong choices over and over again.

The inspiration to change, the motivation to act; how do we bridge the gap?

I’ve heard it said that people don’t genuinely change until they  HAVE enough, KNOW enough, or HURT enough. I can see that it’s true. Maybe the reason you haven’t yet changed is because you don’t have, know or hurt enough.

• HAVE Enough – I used to own a small video production company. We started with 3 VCR’s and a TV. Pause, Play, Record. We’d make really poor quality videos using the only tools available. Over time we gathered more gear. Today, I edit digitally using Final Cut Pro, one of the best systems on the market. Video quality is high definition. It’s professional. I have the right gear. I can’t imagine going back to 3 VCR’s ever again.
• KNOW Enough – A friend of mine lost a lot of weight and told me how he did it. Slowly I began to learn how certain foods affect my body. I exercise marginally more than I used to. Today, I’m 50 pounds lighter. I still eat most everything I want but now I know how to eat it in a way that will keep the pounds off. I don’t think I’ll be that heavy ever again.
• HURT Enough – My grandfather started smoking when he was 9 years old. That sounds bad, but back in his day it was pretty normal. He smoked all his life till one day he went to the doctor. The doctor told him he had a choice. He could quit smoking and live longer or keep smoking and die. My grandfather laid down the cigarettes and lived another 15 years.

What have you been inspired to do? When will you find the motivation to act? Will you wait till you have enough, know enough or hurt enough before you make the right choice?

If you’re a follower of  Jesus Christ, God is working in you and through you for His good pleasure. The end of Paul’s story is Roman 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” You’re not condemned by God for your wrong choices. His work has forgiven, equipped and empowered you to make right choices.

Because of sin have you HURT enough? As a follower of Christ you HAVE enough. Through Christ you can KNOW enough. What needs to change in your life today?

The inspiration to change; the motivation to act – find life. Choose well.

Have you ever had one of those days? You know the kind. You wake up before your alarm and can’t go back to sleep. Throughout the day you move from one project to another, overloaded with more to do than you know what to do with. You bounce from meeting to meeting solving problems, making decisions, offering opinions, taking in new information. Every person you come in contact with presents another challenge, another opportunity and sometimes another unexpected distraction. You’re fighting a deadline so you decide to stay late. You skip dinner. Later you look back to realize you didn’t really skip dinner as much as forgot about it. You end the day a good 18 hours or more after it started. Your head hits the pillow still buzzing. There’s more to do. Tomorrow will be a repeat of today. There’s no way around it. Those kinds of days can be exhausting.

But what if they weren’t?

What if you poured that kind of effort and energy into the things you do and came out on the other side energized and excited by the work? What if a day like that filled you up instead of tearing your down. Finding this kind of life in the relentless daily grind of your busy schedule isn’t easy, but it is possible.

There’s a scene in Scripture where Jesus has had a rough day. He’s been so busy he hasn’t stopped to eat. The Disciples come to him concerned, “Jesus, you have to eat something!” He simply looks at them and responds, “I have meat to eat you know not of.” He wasn’t being curt, snide or sarcastic. He was being honest. “Yup, it’s been a rough day. Yet, somehow, instead of drained, I feel full!” It’s an example of the sustaining power of God at work.

This can be your story. It’s the story of a person on mission. It’s the story of someone who understands God’s call on their life and the unique shape he’s given you for ministry. It’s amazing what God can do through a person who knows what they’re supposed to do, how they’re supposed to do it and why. It’s remarkable to see how God uses ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plan.

How will you finish today? Exhausted and energized or exhausted and used up? The difference is in the mission. The choice  is yours.

Philippians 2:17-18, ”Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.”

You’re probably like me. If you attend church regularly I’ll bet you sit in basically the same place every week. It’s a pattern I’ve followed since I was a kid. Welcoming guests during a worship service is also a typical feature in the churches I’ve attended. We’ll break the rhythm of the service to welcome one another and give the congregation time to introduce themselves to people sitting nearby.

Because I usually sit in the same place I often greet the same people every week. This was true when I was in college too. Every week come in, sing a little, pray together, turn around and shake a hand. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Then came the day I turned around to shake a hand and saw someone I’d not seen before. There wasn’t a lot of time, but I knew this was someone I needed to meet. I made my way past a few familiar folks and extended a hand, “Hey, I’m Chad. It’s good to see you. I’m glad you’re here.” It was a typical, nonchalant, church service ‘welcome-of-guests’ kind of greeting. She smiled, looked me in the eyes, took my hand and said, “I’m Londa. Nice to meet you.” In that moment, my world changed.

It wasn’t like the movies. There were no fireworks. I didn’t imagine the two of us running toward one another, arms open, on a beach. Time didn’t stand still. But there was something.

What began as an introduction became a relationship. More than 16 years and 4 kids later I’m married to the woman of my dreams!

It reminds of something. Every great relationship starts with an introduction.

• What opportunities will you have tomorrow because of people you meet today?
• What possibilities will you miss simply because you didn’t take the time to get to know someone’s name?
• Is it possible someone is waiting for you to introduce them to someone else who will change their life forever?

That’s what happend in John 1:35-51. It’s a series of introductions. John the Baptist introduces Andrew and John (who becomes the apostle) to Jesus. They introduce Jesus to Andrew’s brother, Peter. They all go together to get Philip who introduces them to Nathaniel. One by one Jesus is introduced to the men who become His 12 Disciples. Certainly he called them, but that call started with an introduction. What happens next changes the history of our world forever.

Every great relationship starts with an introduction. Who will you introduce today?

You’ve seen it in the news. Joe Paterno, 85, died this past Sunday from lung cancer. My prayers are with his family, friends and fans. It’s likely an understatement to suggest this year has been a difficult one for the Paterno family. The way the news reads says it all.

From Reuters…
“Penn State students and supporters laid flowers and lit candles on Monday as they mourned the death of Joe Paterno, who won more games than any other U.S. major college football coach but saw his legacy tarnished by a child sexual abuse scandal at the school.”

Fox News…
“Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno died on Sunday, his family announced, after a two-month battle with lung cancer that was diagnosed near the end of the playing season, just as Paterno was fired as head coach of a team he had served 61 years.”

From CNN…
“What do you do when a wonderful man who made a terrible mistake dies?” CNN contributor and sportswriter LZ Granderson doesn’t know. His article on CNN.com is getting a lot of buzz though, as he walks users through his conflicted emotions and explains the sentiments of those who fall in the middle.”

From ESPN…
“There is, obviously, nothing inherently surprising about Paterno’s death: He was an 85-year-old man with cancer in his lungs who had just endured the worst emotional shock of his lifetime. The Sandusky charges (and Paterno’s firing in the midst of the university’s reaction to them) were included in the first paragraph of his New York Times obituary…”

Triumph and tragedy, this is the story of Joe Paterno. I’m reminded of a quote from a movie, The Dark Knight, “You’ll either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” I don’t believe there’s absolute truth in this quote, however it seems to have some application to this situation. But this was no movie. It was the life of one of the most respected men in college football history whose legacy reads differently today than if it had been written even just a year ago.

It makes me wonder about your legacy. How would you like to be remembered for the worst mistake you ever made?

Marc Antony said it best in Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar, “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” A legacy is a fragile thing.

There’s a woman in Scripture. We don’t know her name. All history records is that she was caught in adultery, brought before Jesus and the religious leaders of the day and publicly shamed. The intent of the crowd was more than shame. The law of the land declared adultery a capital crime punishable by death. We know the outcome. Jesus deals gently with her as he confronts the blood thirsty crowd. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Humbled, the crowd begins to walk away. Yet the legacy lives on. Forever this story will be known as, “The Woman Caught in Adultery”. I’ll ask again, how would you like to be remembered for the worst mistake you ever made?

Your legacy takes years to build and only one bad decision to tear down. You could say this about a lot of things.

• Your marriage – years to build, one bad decision to tear down.
• Your career
• Your relationships with family, friends, coworkers, employees or boss.

How can we possibly get it right?

What if that’s the wrong question? What if the central focus of our effort isn’t the legacy we create, but the story we’re in? Life’s not a movie. You’re not the handsome hero or the evil villain. You are, however, a chapter in the story. The question of your legacy isn’t simply about what you got right. It’s about the story your life tells.

The headline may be, “Woman Caught in Adultery”. But the story is so much more than that. The story is the gentle and loving way Jesus forgives, silences the critics and restores a woman in the eyes of God and man.

The obituary may read, “Joe Paterno, the coach who won more games in U.S. college football than any other coach but saw his legacy tarnished…” But that’s not the story. History is still being written on this one. That may be the title, but it won’t be the story.

Today, if you’re making wise decisions, taking bold action, following God and doing the right thing – keep up the good work. Don’t risk the distraction of temptation or discouragement of the critics.

If, however, you’ve stumbled or fallen, if you’ve wandered down a path you never expected, don’t give up. Forgiveness is available. Your choices may write the title, but they don’t have to write the story.

2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

Everyone loves a well told story. This weekend millions of people will spend even more millions of dollars at the movies. They’ll see comedies and tragedies, romance and thrillers. We’ll pay our $8, slip into the theater with a bucket of popcorn and an ocean of soda, sit back and relax as we’re introduced to characters who will face unimaginable circumstances and fight to overcome overwhelming odds. We’ll cheer for the hero and boo at the villain. We’ll cry with the heartbroken and laugh at the idiot. We do all this to be entertained. Sometimes, to be distracted. And often to be reminded that, as stressful as life may be, no one has shot at us lately. Nothing has exploded near us. We’ve not been stranded in a frozen wasteland, chased by undead monsters or forced to choose between our one true love and the family fortune. Real life may be stressful, but it’s not as tough as those poor saps we see on the big screen. I find that comforting. Well, comforting and maybe a little disappointing.

Every story follows a similar pattern. It’s a three act play.

• Act 1 – Setup. We’re introduced to a new world and the characters that live in it.
• Act 2 – Confrontation. Our hero falls into trouble that must be overcome.
• Act 3 – Resolution. When all seems lost and against all odds, somehow our hero finds a way.

The setup allows us to identify with and like the main characters. The confrontation makes the story interesting and gives the characters a catalyst for growth. But the resolution…the resolution is why we watch in the first place. The resolution is how they fix things. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the villain going down in flames, getting his just rewards. It’s our hero’s happily-ever-after. We like to see how things turn out at the end and we like the end to turn out well.

Now imagine  if we ended the story early. Cinderella leaves her glass slipper. The magic fades. She returns to be a slave to her wicked step-mother, but the prince never comes. Luke Skywalker meets Obi Wan and decides he’d rather be a farmer than learn the ways of the force and fight with the Rebellion. I don’t think we’d remember the Titans if the players didn’t overcome their differences to win the championship game.

It reminds me of a simple truth. Happily-ever-after is about where the story ends.

Where are you in your story?

God is writing a masterpiece in you. It’s filled with tragedy, triumph, comedy and drama. It’s a story designed to grow your faith, shape your character, and draw you close to Him. It’s a story to be continued.

What chapter do you find yourself in right now? Don’t give up. This isn’t where the story ends.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14

I have four kids. Our schedule is, at times, what you might call ‘insane’. I’m sure it’s not much different from yours. Work, church, sports, music, school, birthday parties – none of it’s complicated just extremely full. All in all I believe we manage well. We’ve gotten used to our schedule. We tend to travel in a pack. It’s fun and sometimes a bit noisy or chaotic, but we get to be together and we like that.

This year Londa and I decided we would do something a bit different. We intend to be deliberate about spending unhurried time, just the two of us, with one of our children at at time while the others run amuck with their grandparents or a sitter. So, last night we got together and took Jaiden on a date. We went to dinner and a movie. We saw ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Up’. It’s about a family that loses their father in the Twin Towers on September 11.

I won’t offer up any spoilers. Instead I’ll simply say, you should see this movie. You should see it with your family. I expect it to win an Academy Award, possibly several. As you watch, consider this: right now, in the community where you live, maybe even in your own household, there are people who experience the same kind of desperation, grief and loss portrayed by the family in this film. They may not have been through a dramatic, nation-wide tragedy like 9/11 but they’ve been through something that has reshaped their view of the world and they struggle to make sense of it all. They’re searching for answers, crying out for relief and looking for the key to what will bring hope back into their lives.

I believe part of why God gave us a family is for moments just like these.

Malachi 4:6 says, “And [God] will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers…”

Take a close look at your family today. Ask God to give you uncommon insight into the hearts of your children and your spouse. Ask for the courage and boldness to make the sometimes difficult decisions necessary to reshape your schedule, say the right thing, offer or ask forgiveness, point the way and start an adventure.

The championship game was incredible. It was clear both teams deserved a spot in the big show. On both sides of the ball it seemed like the offense was perfectly matched by the defense. Ultimately the game ended. One team became national champions. The other went home in second place.

Reporters were gracious to the losing coach after the game. They bragged on the players and asked thoughtful questions about how he might have adjusted his strategy. The coach leaned into the mic, “It was a great game. It’s always an honor to face an opponent that good. But I want to be really clear. We didn’t lose this game. We were simply behind when time ran out.”

Let’s be honest. How many second place teams can you name? Who holds the record for the second longest winning streak in college football? How many presidential candidates can you name that ran for office and lost? I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with a few. The most recent contests will be fresh in our minds, but give it 20 minutes. Second place will soon fade into history as first loser.

Like the coach trying to spin his loss as a could-have-been win how often do we settle for second best? We make excuses. I’m not bad, I’m just not that good. I’m not a loser, I just didn’t win. I’m not rebellious. I just like to do things my own way. I’m not that sinful, nobody’s perfect. We could have been champions, but time ran out. It leads to a question, ”Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?” The challenge that comes next is simple, “Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

How will you run today?

John 1:9-14 | Listen to the song - Be the Moon

Throughout the Gospel of John Jesus is referred to as, ‘the light’. John 1:9 says Jesus was, “…the true light which gives light to every one coming into the world.” In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” And John 12:46 says, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”

A few years ago I wrote and recorded a demo of a song, “Be the Moon“. Use the link to give it a spin. The chorus says:

I wanna be the moon and reflect the Son;
Fill the whole world with His glory and the wonder of His love.
To change the seas, and show the way;
Shine Your light into the darkness, turn the night into day.
So take this heart of stone of mine and ignite it with your grace.
I wanna be the moon.

Questions for today:

• If Jesus is the light of the world what do you see when His light shines in your heart?
• If Jesus is the light of the world what do people see when His light reflects out from your life?

Be the moon – reflect the Son.

Art experts can examine a painting and tell by the brush strokes if it’s fake. Coaches can watch a player run the ball and tell if he’s a champion. Doctor’s can read an MRI and tell you if surgery is necessary.

We trust our eyes. We think we know what we see. But do we really?

The art expert, the coach and the doctor have studied. They know what they’re looking for. Experience has given them an eye for detail and the ability to discern the difference between average and world class, normal and dangerous. They see things the untrained eye cannot. Yet sometimes, they still miss it. A van Gogh turns out to be a forgery. That multi-million dollar contract never leads to a Super Bowl. The aneurysm happens in spite of the recent check-up.

In Scripture the Jewish people were the experts on God. They received the Law of God through Moses. Prophets delivered prophecies to paint a picture of the coming Messiah. They had all the resources and experience needed to spot what the untrained eye may have missed.

Jesus is Messiah.

Yet miss it they did. And so do many others. We have more information that has received greater scholarly scrutiny today regarding the history and life of Jesus than ever before. A quick search online reveals volumes of information debating the work and significance of this man.

How can the light shine so brightly, illuminate so thoroughly, and people continue to miss the truth right in front of their face?

John 1:9-14 says, “[Jesus] was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

We trust our eyes. We think we see clearly. But do we? You don’t have to be an expert to uncover the mystery and majesty of Jesus. He is the Son of God. He came to save his people from their sin. Go back a hundred years. Show someone a picture of a man walking on the moon. They’ll call you crazy. Go back a few hundred years, show them a picture of anything on your iPhone – they’ll call you a witch. Belief is not about seeing. It’s about receiving.

What are you willing to receive from God? What shadow of doubt prevents you from believing, trusting, following or obeying? Look closely. The truth is right in front of your eyes.

Be nice...

“Mr. McGee, don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” – Dr. David Banner

The other day I was driving. I pulled up to a stop light. It didn’t take long to notice the person in the car next to me. He was alone but talking so loudly I could hear the faint sounds of his voice through his window and mine. I thought at first he was singing. But the tone was clearly not something musical. This guy was mad! He flailed his arms around, beat on the steering wheel and made symbolic gestures to no one in particular.

From where I sat it was pretty funny.

We’ve all been there. Someone pushes us so hard we feel like we’re going to explode! There’s only a handful of ways to deal with this kind of frustration. While firearms and napalm may sound satisfying they leave a terrible mess, not to mention the unpleasant social, legal and moral issues. Is it really possible to learn anger management?

Let’s narrow our focus. Anger isn’t really the problem. It’s the symptom. You’ve heard people say, “I got so mad I lost control.” It may have been you. That confession reveals the truth. Anger is one natural expression of a lack of self control.

We get angry for three reasons.

1. Unsatisfied Needs
2. Unmet Expectations
3. Unrighteous Actions

We use these three reasons as an excuse to Hulk-out on people, fly off the handle and completely lose control. We let anger wash over us and give in to it’s unbridled lust for justice, revenge or satisfaction. Anger management isn’t about figuring out how to stay calm, cool and collected. Anger management is about learning self control.

Scripture teaches there’s an appropriate time and appropriate way to be angry. When we lose control, we lose an effective tool for dealing with certain unrighteous acts. There’s nothing more frightening than righteous anger, deliberately applied to an injustice in the world. It’s Liam Neesan’s calm but menacing voice on the other end of the phone as his daughter is being kidnapped in the movie Taken, “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If it’s money, I haven’t got any, but what I do have is a particular set of skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. So, you can let her go right now and that’ll be the end of it. Otherwise, I will hunt you down. I will find you. And I will kill you.”

Righteous anger applied. I can’t think of anything quit so persuasive or quite so frightening. But we don’t typically use anger. We allow anger to use us.

The principles that help us learn self control are not complicated, but they are often hard to practice. We know they aren’t complicated because they sound so cliche. But, the fact that something is simple doesn’t make it easy to apply. Here they are in a nutshell.

1. Pray – when I can’t control me or someone else, I can always talk to the one who can.
2. Decide Beforehand – Make a list based on Scripture. What’s worth the time, effort and risk of your anger? If it’s not on the list, don’t waste the energy.
3. Persistent Practice – Musicians practice in order to make beautiful music. Practice is messy. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don’t. With every rehearsal they refine their notes and rhythms till the song that comes out is the one they intend and the one you’re willing to pay to hear over and over again. Self control works this way. PRACTICE. You may not always get it right, but you can make it better. You can refine your response, prepare your heart and mind and place yourself in a position where self control comes more easily this time than the time before.

Ephesians 4:26, 31-32 says,

“…don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil…Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (NLT)

Don’t let anger define you. Learn self control and master the anger within.

Sir Winston Churchill

I love a clever come back. I respect those people who, in the heat of the moment, have the mental agility and verbal acuity to say just the right thing at the right time. They make their point with razor sharp wit and leave their subject languishing in the wake of their comment.

I’m not that guy, though at times I wish I could be. I have a friend who downloaded pages of one-liners about your mother just to be prepared. His son found it. The school says he used it well. Detention will last a week.

Winston Churchill was great at this. He was once confronted in public by an overly zealous women, “If you were my husband I would give you poison!” She shouted indignantly. Churchill calmly responded, “If I were your husband…I would take it.”

Mental agility and verbal acuity – the ability to think on your feet and say what you thought. It’s a talent that can be as priceless as perilous.

I also admire deep thinkers. They may be slow to speak, but don’t mistake their silence for ignorance. C.S. Lewis once said, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world will satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” Soak on that for a bit.

Deep thoughts often come from the most unlikely of places and their value is difficult to describe. Mental agility, mental depth, verbal acuity – are these natural talents, or skills that can be acquired?

I believe they are both.

• Mental agility is learned through lively conversation.
• Mental depth is learned through reading widely and writing regularly.

Conversation is quick, reading and writing is slow. Conversation helps you think fast. Writing helps you think deep. You are likely bent in such a way that you’re better at one or the other. It doesn’t matter. Either can be learned.

Do you struggle with mental agility? Talk with more people about more topics. Get into a good argument – not the kinds that damage relationships, but the kind that helps you think more clearly. Conversations are the practice field where mental agility and verbal acuity are tried, tested and proved.

Do you struggle with mental depth? Listen more. Read more. Write more. The process of writing requires a different kind of thinking than the process of talking. Take the time to read something and write something everyday. It doesn’t take much. Over time you’ll find that you think more clearly and your thoughts will have greater value.

Scripture teaches that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Take time to sharpen your mind and sharpen your words. In James 3:1-12 we’re told the words we think and say set the course for our life like the rudder of a ship. If we can control our words we can influence our thoughts and reshape the direction of our lives.

This video has been floating around Facebook lately. Give it a spin, read my comments, then make some of your own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY

Well produced and well said.

Scripturally, he’s right about self-righteousness. Politically, Jesus isn’t a Democrat either. Culturally, he clearly articulates why so many people are disenfranchised by religion.

I’ve heard people say, “I like Jesus, but don’t like the church.” If what they mean is religion, I’m right there with them. Religion is a fish out of water trying to teach a drowning man to breath.

There is a difference between the Church and religion. By Church I don’t mean a denomination, building or system of organization. I mean the Church described in the Bible. That Church is the body and bride of Christ. Saying, “I like Jesus, but don’t like the church,” is like telling your friend,  ”You’re great, but your wife is hideous!” It’s like telling someone, “I find you attractive. You don’t sweat much for a fat boy.”

The Church is what forms when Believers come together. It has a universal expression because of our unity in Christ. It’s why I can go to an underground church in China without being able to speak the language and still experience sweet fellowship with complete strangers as we worship together in spirit and truth.

The Church also has a local expression. When Believers assemble on the local level they are committing to God and one another. They are saying, “This is the place and these are the people I want to grow with, be accountable to, and partner with in ministry.” Anytime people come together there has to be some level of organization. Where and when will we meet? What will we do while we’re together? How will we decide what to do when we disagree? And the most important question of all, who’s making coffee!?

Like people, each of these local bodies of Believers has a personality. Some churches are very formal in their organization, others more free. Some are focused in their mission and methods while others try everything under the sun. None of these organizational expressions is Biblically superior to the other. The Bible gives remarkably few details about the day-to-day operations of the local church. However, the Bible speaks clearly about how Believers are to relate to one another and to people outside their fellowship. It’s almost like Scripture tells us, “How you do what you do is more important than the structures you use to do it.”

The reason churches, and people, fall into religion is because we value our structures and systems, our own opinions, more than our relationships. We choose to walk in self righteousness rather than risk getting too deeply involved in the glorious mess that is people. We ignore the Scriptures that command us to relate to one another in a spirit of mutual submission out of mutual respect. We forget the language of repentance and forgiveness with one another and refuse to recognize the one truth that  ties us all together – we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Anytime people get together mistakes will be made. People will fail. It’s not a question of, ‘if’, but ‘when’, and how bad it will be. How we handle those moments defines the difference between dead religion and a living relationship with Christ and one another.

Religion – or the church – are easy targets. We blame the nameless, faceless, ‘they’ and ‘them’ for all the reasons why we don’t participate with other Believers. When will we recognize that the church is not ‘they’.

The church is me, with you, learning how we can honor God together.

Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Page Cole

Page Cole’s Theory of Life #1 states, “People are stupid.”

It doesn’t take a Harvard study to prove his theory true. Turn on the TV, take a look at Twitter. We’re not always stupid. Sometimes, in moments of clarity, we demonstrate Page Cole’s Theory of Life #2, “People are weird.” My grandmother used to say, “Everyone’s weird but me and thee…and I’m getting worried about thee.”

Which leads to Page Cole’s Theory of Life #3, “Always remember, I are people.”

It’s true, people can be frustrating. I once knew a pastor’s wife who said, “This ministry thing would be easy if it weren’t for all these stinking people!” We’re people. We’re messy. We’re prone to make mistakes. Mistakes that make other people want to curse. My grandfather had a favorite, “May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits.”

That sounds wholly unpleasant – but from my experience, often well deserved.

Proverbs 14:4 says, “Where there are no oxen the stall is clean, but strength comes by many oxen.”

I don’t have any tattoos.

But every time I see one I have this compulsive need to ask for details. Every tattoo tells a story. Some are funny, some sad, some just pointless. My dad used to have a t-shirt that said, “Marry a fat, tattooed woman. Have heat in the winter, shade in the summer and moving pictures all year!” It was illustrated with the woman described. I’m not sure where he got it and I only remember seeing it once. My mom made it vanish after it’s first appearance.

Whatever the case, tattoos are distinguishing marks that tell a story. They uniquely identify the person who wears them.

I’m reading through the Gospel of John. John writes for a singular purpose. He wants to persuade you to believe that Jesus is God. In the other gospels Jesus works miracles. Matthew, Mark and Luke want to demonstrate the power of Jesus. Not John. In the Gospel of John every miraculous thing Jesus does is called a ‘sign’. It’s ‘semeion‘ in the greek. It means, “distinguishing mark“.

John doesn’t show us miracles to demonstrate the power of Jesus, but to prove that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. John records 7 different miraculous signs. Each is a distinguishing mark that tells a story designed to convince you that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.

The evidence is convincing.

What are the distinguishing marks of your faith? What story does your life tell? Will your life paint a picture of Jesus that compels people to want to know Him?

John 20:30-31 says, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

I don’t have any tattoos – and you may not either, but we are the distinguishing marks of the story of Christ. What do people believe about Jesus because of you?

John 15:2 says, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Churches – and people – go through times of pruning. During the pruning dead branches are removed while healthy wood is reshaped. Both acts of pruning are God’s way to make room for new growth.

Pruning is rarely easy but necessary.

Unlike a real vine people have a voice. We aren’t content to sit idly by while God does the pruning, but feel compelled to comment on His work. At best our comments reveal our ignorance of His plan, at worst they reveal our self-righteousness.

I have been in and walked alongside churches and friends who have gone through times of pruning. No one was able to accurately predict God’s intended outcome. Those who tried revealed their foolishness.

My encouragement for when you face a time of pruning – remain faithful to God. Focus on the mission and ministry He has entrusted to you. Follow Him, wherever He leads and get ready – “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

It’s entirely possible GPS was invented for me. I’m quick to confess, I’m geographically challenged. I’m not one of those masculine wonders who can tell you which direction is north while standing in the bottom of a cave. I’m lucky to get it right if I’m next to I-35 & I-40 in Oklahoma City – they follow the compass rose.

While geolocation may not come naturally for me I’m not prone to get lost either. When driving I’ve made it my habit to follow a car that looks like it knows where it’s going. I may not always end up where I intend to be, but I almost always end up where I need to be. Finding my way is always an adventure.

Finding direction is one of three big frustrations people manage every day. Should I take/leave that job, date/dump that person, join/leave that group, Buy/sell that thing? People are lost and almost every decision they make reflects a desperate struggle to find their way.

We all make the best decisions we can based on the information we have available at the time. Good information usually leads to good decisions. Bad information usually leads to bad decisions. The way is easier to find when you know the truth. That’s why GPS is helpful. That random car I follow may not be so clever after all. The GPS knows precisely where the next turn is and guides me to it straight away.

John 14:6 says Jesus is, “…the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.”

According to this verse, look at what Jesus is NOT:

• He’s not a guide with good direction – He is the way.
• He’s not a teller of truth – He is the truth.
• He’s not a way of living – He is the life.

Jesus didn’t come to set up a new system of belief or to organize a new religion. He came to build a relationship with you. The reason His wisdom is sound, His counsel is good and His direction always right isn’t simply because He knows – it’s because He is. When you interact with Jesus you experience direction, truth and life.

“What would Jesus do,” is an inadequate cliche. When faced with another decision, don’t settle for trying to puzzle out what He would do. Instead, interact with who Jesus is.

• When you lack direction. Jesus is the way.
• When you’re surrounded by lies. Jesus is the truth.
• When your way of living seems to be crashing down all around you. Jesus is the life.

Know the truth, follow the way, find life – This is Jesus.

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.”

In the wildly popular Harry Potter series Lord Voldemort is the name of the ultimate bad guy. He’s a vile and dark wizard who’s evil has ripped apart his own soul and devastated many lives. He’s so wicked that people fear even to speak his name. Throughout the series he’s referred to as, “He who must not be named,” or simply, “You know who”. It’s an interesting story telling device that adds excitement to the audience as they anticipate Harry’s inevitable face-to-face confrontation with his arch-nemesis.

The Jewish culture has a name they wouldn’t speak. It wasn’t the name of someone vile and wicked, but awesome and righteous. It was a name handed down to them from Moses, a word so important they considered it holy and unspeakable. It was the name YHWH (Yahweh).

Standing in front of the burning bush Moses is told by God to return to Egypt to tell Pharaoh, “Let my people go.” Moses asks, “Who should I tell them sent me.” God responds, “YHWH” – “I AM“. It became a word so holy that Jewish people wouldn’t speak or write it. They found other ways to express it. They would use other names for God or simply refer to “the word“. Just like, “You know who” clearly identifies the bad guy in the Potter series, “The word”, for any Jew was easily understood to identify the great I AM, Yahweh, God.

Understanding this makes reading John 1:1 even more interesting.

John’s gospel is different from Matthew, Mark, or Luke. John is not trying to lay out a biography of the life of Jesus. Instead, the sayings of Jesus highlighted by John are designed to convince you that Jesus is Messiah and Savior of the world. In Matthew, Mark and Luke the miracles of Jesus are used to demonstrate His power. Not in John. In John they are called signs – semeion in the greek – or distinguishing marks. The miracles reported by John are the signs, the distinguishing marks, that prove Jesus is Messiah, the Savior. John doesn’t simply want to tell you who Jesus is or what He did. He wants to convince you to believe Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

So he begins with something every Jew would understand. “In the beginning was the word.” You know, the word. (wink, wink) The word we don’t speak or write. The word that in your head means God. The word YHWH, the one who is I AM. “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.”

John begins his gospel painting a picture. The Word we’re not supposed to speak or write, The Word made holy by the law, set apart from us, an impersonal reflection of the Most High God – this word has become flesh and now lives with us. That which once we couldn’t even speak we can now see, touch and experience. The Word, I AM, walks with us. Then in John 1:17 he reveals who this Word is, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

What do you believe about Jesus? Do you see him as a good teacher, an influential figure of history? Do you think of Him as an interesting idea of the past? What do your words and actions cause others to believe about Him? John makes the case. Jesus is more. He is not the impersonal word that can never be spoken. He is the great I AM, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is Messiah and Savior. He is not a distant, unspeakable idea but God in the flesh whose life, death and resurrection insured He could have an intimate relationship with His people.

Do you believe it and will your words and actions cause others to believe it today?

Mischief managed.

Missouri is known as the ‘Show Me’ State. California is the ‘Golden’ State. Florida is the ‘Sunshine’ State. You get the idea. Every state has a nickname that describes what the people of that state are known for.

In Oklahoma, we’re the Sooner State. I graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University. We’re the Bison. Students at Tulsa University are the Hurricanes and there’s a little school up in Stillwater where everyone calls themselves a Cowboy.  Regardless of your school allegiance we all represent Oklahoma. It made me think…

Every win is a Sooner win.

I’ve said this a couple of times to Cowboy fans since their big win in the Fiesta Bowl. Their knee jerk reaction is to mock and ridicule me with a little resentment thrown in! Imagine that. Regardless of our reaction, the statement is true. The Cowboys of Stillwater, the Hurricanes of Tulsa, and yes, the Sooners of OU all represent something bigger than they’re school. There’s nothing wrong with our allegiances. It’s fun to poke at each other. You may think orange is beautiful. I may bleed crimson and cream, but there’s a bigger tribe we all represent.

You’re involved in other tribes too. There’s your kid’s baseball team and the High School that gave you a diploma. Your wife’s book club, the church you attend, or that weird group you joined on Facebook, Fans of Lou Ferrigno. You know, the guy who played the Incredible Hulk on TV.

Every where you go you represent the tribes you’re in and those tribes represent you.  The words you say, the things you do, your victories and defeats all affect how the world sees your tribe. Many of us claim to belong to Christ. We call ourselves Christians. We attend church regularly. It’s one of the tribes we represent. I wonder how you will represent this tribe today? Will the words you say and the things you do make people want to know more about Christ or will they push them further away? Can you celebrate the victories of the church down the street? Will you represent Jesus and His church well or will your words and actions cause others to cringe?

I Corinthians 11:1 says, “Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.” No matter what tribes you’re part of, as a Believer in Jesus Christ there is one tribe that matters most. Represent.

John 1:6, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was…”

Why do you what you do? What got you out of bed this morning? Are you up and ready because you want to be or because you have to be? Will you put in 10 hours today doing a job you love in a career that matters or will you endure another lovely day at the insane asylum?

Work has a purpose.

Somewhere along the way we’ve bought into the idea that the job we do is about the income we earn. The ultimate goal of the career we choose has less to do with the significance of the task and more to do with what we’re willing to endure until we reach our ultimate goal – retirement.

I know a lot of retired people. The happiest may have retired, but they never really stopped working. The nature of their work has changed. They have more control over their schedule or the projects they choose to pursue, but for them, retirement is far from leisurely inactivity. They now participate in activity with a purpose. They won’t get out of bed today for the 8 – 5 grind, the paycheck or the promise of a restful retirement. Instead they will fulfill a significant task. They will add value to themselves and others. They will poor themselves out and end the day spent, yet energized by the work they do.

And that’s what work should be – activity with a purpose.

God’s designed you with a purpose in mind. The job you have is simply an expression of the purpose created for you. While paychecks, benefits and retirement are important, they’re not the point. John 1:6 says, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was…”

Fill in that blank with your name. Retire from the daily grind. The work you do is activity with a purpose.

2012. The beginning of a new year. A time for new beginnings. There’s nothing particularly magical about one calendar date rolling on to the next, yet many people find themselves asking the ‘-er’ questions.

• How will this year be bett-’er’?
• Will my job get hard-’er’ or easi-’er’?
• Will the money I make be great-’er’?
• Will my lifestyle be healthi-’er’?
• Will my relationships be deep-’er’?

We’re fixated on ‘-er’ questions. They aren’t bad questions to consider. Life will move forward. Where you are right now is the result of answers to last year’s ‘-er’ questions. The choices you make today set the direction for the path you walk tomorrow.

James 4:14 and 17 say, “What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away…therefore, to him who knows to do good, but does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Take inventory. This will be the year that changes everything. The quality of the change is up to you.

The words we know are like a programming language. We may feel. We may imagine. But words give clarity, definition and direction to our thoughts, attitudes and actions. Political candidates and marketing experts look for just the right words to persuade your purchase. Preachers craft their message to inspire, convict and convince. The words we dwell on set a course for our future. The words we speak affect relationships and determine the depths of our influence.

Consider the following:

• The words we know determine the thoughts we think.
• The thoughts we think determine the attitudes of our heart.
• The attitudes of our heart determine the choices we make.
• The choices we make define the quality of our character.
• The quality of our character becomes the legacy of our lives.

It sounds like a ‘successories’ poster, but just because it’s cliche’ doesn’t mean it’s not true. It begs a question.

What kind of words do you know?

Imagine what might happen if you took the time to get to know better words. I’m not talking about increasing your vocabulary – the world already has too many pompously loquacious voices rambling their insubstantial verbosity without end. I mean better words. Words that bring life. Words full of wisdom. Words that cause us to see the world more clearly. Words that help us understand people and circumstances in ways like we’ve never before imagined.

The Bible is often called ‘God’s Word’. What if the words we knew were God’s Words? Would our thinking become more godly? Would attitudes become more grateful? Would we make better choices? I believe so.

Peter said to Jesus, “Where else would we go? You have the words of life.” (John 6:68) Open up the Bible. Learn some new words and put them to good use.

The world loves a good scandal. “You’ve gotta see this! They’re some of the funniest pictures I’ve seen. Of course you know them. That’s what makes the pics so funny! Can you believe they would do that in front of a camera!?” One ‘friend’s’ quick moves with a camera-phone turns into another friend’s most embarrassing moment captured for all time and digitally duplicated all over the internet for the world to see. What will mom think!?

Scandalous new travels fast!

There’s a comfortable scandal that takes place everyday in the hearts of Believers. There’s a subtle line of obedience we simply aren’t willing to cross. We hear what Jesus has to say. We agree in spirit and nod our heads in affirmation until we realize He’s talking about us. That’s where the scandal lies. We follow Jesus until He asks us to do something seemingly difficult, counter-cultural, or just plain inconvenient. This isn’t new. John 6:66 tells us it happened during Jesus time as well. ”From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with him no more.” They came to the line they simply weren’t willing to cross. Scandalous…

There are 4 reasons why we walk away. And 4 ways to take the leap of faith Jesus asks us to make when He challenges us to do the difficult, impractical or inconvenient. Most everyone has drawn a line that says, “Jesus, I’m willing to follow you this far, but no farther.” I wonder, as you consider these 4 things how you might redraw the limits of your life.

4 Scandalous Distractions that Set the Limits of Our Faith

1. Introduction – read more >
2. Temptation - read more >
3. Trials – read more >
4. Teaching – read more >
5. Transitions

Today – let’s focus on Transitions.

TRANSITIONS - Our church is going through a time of transition. Last year our pastor moved to another church. This year three more Associate Pastors and two Support Team Leaders stepped into ministries in other places. A few short years ago we had a ministerial staff of ten. Today, it’s four.

Changes like these in a church, a business or in your personal life produce natural, on-going effects. Transitions change momentum. Transitions create questions and instigate evaluation. Transitions are God’s way of putting all the right people in all the right places to accomplish His purpose here and around the world.

But let’s be honest, transitions are tough. Of all the things that trip us up in our walk of faith, nothing is quite so difficult to navigate as transitions. With temptation, there’s a definite wrong to overcome. With trials, there’s a clear pressure to endure. With teaching, there’s a well defined principle to obey. But that’s not how transitions work. You can do everything right and still find yourself in the middle of a difficult transition.

That’s how I would characterize what’s taking place right now in the church I serve. Those who are moving on are going where God leads to fulfill the ministry He’s entrusted to them. It’s good for them and will ultimately be good for the church – but in the middle of the transition sometimes the ‘goodness’ of things can be hard to see. With all these changes in staff we’ve said, “God moves the troops around. He’s putting all the right people in all the right places to accomplish His purpose here and around the world.” It’s true, but knowing this doesn’t make facing the transition any easier.

What does Scripture say?

John 15:1-2 says God prunes every branch that doesn’t bear fruit. That makes sense – get rid of the dead wood to make room for something that can bring life – but those leaders who have left our church are certainly not dead wood. Everyone of them were friends who have had a significant influence in my life. These transitions aren’t exactly what I had in mind or part of my ‘plan’ for ministry. Then I take a closer look at John 15:1-2. It also says, “…every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Did you catch that? Because the tree bears fruit God prunes it back so that it will be ready to bear even more fruit than ever before.

The key to following God through times of transition is FAITHFULNESS.

Like a car slowing down to turn a corner, transitions in our life or organization always change momentum. It’s a necessary change. Accelerate through the turn too much and the car flips over. Take your foot off the gas and once the turn is complete you’ll slow down even more. Faithfulness is remaining true to your calling. It’s finishing what you’ve started. It’s letting your ‘yes’, be ‘yes’, and your ‘no’ be ‘no’. It’s following God, wherever He may lead, in the integrity of your heart. It’s about applying the right amount of pressure as you keep your foot on the gas through the turn.

Momentum is an interesting thing. While on Earth you may have to slow down to turn a corner NASA has discovered that in the heavens you can use a change in direction along with the gravity from something like the moon to slingshot a satellite to it’s destination. For NASA, turning the corner of transition doesn’t always slow things down – it accelerates their plans and allows them to accomplish their mission.

Every transition you face can be just like this. It can be the transition that slows your walk to a crawl. It can be the transition that derails the direction of your plans. Or it can be the transition that accelerates you into the next exciting chapter of your life.

Don’t let transitions keep you from following God. Instead, remain faithful. Transitions are God’s way of placing you and those around you in just the right place to accomplish His mission. They are His way of preparing you for the road ahead.

Psalm 13:1-6.

Do you ever feel like you’re living Psalm 13. It starts with an impatient plea to God, “How long will you forget me, God?” Yet ends with a confident cry of trust and praise. In-between, the Psalmist declares His desire to overcome His enemies, to not be put to shame before them, and to bring glory and honor to God.

I believe God has called me to fulfill a specific purpose. I often ask God to give me the job no one else can do. If someone else can do it, then let them and let them receive the blessings of obedience that come from following Him. I want those blessings, but not for doing your job for you. I believe God has given us each a significant task and mine is different from yours.

God had a significant task for David. David would become the King of Israel and a blessing to future generations. Yet so much of David’s early life was spent running from enemies. So much of his early life looked less like a blessing and more like a curse. It’s in these moments that David would write a Psalm like this. “God, please don’t forget me.” I have to confess, that while no one is trying to kill me, there are times I feel exactly like David. “God, you’ve called me to a specific purpose, a significant task, when will you allow me to fulfill it? Don’t let my opponents get the last laugh, don’t let the naysayers be proven right, for the sake of your glory and your name do your work in me. I don’t understand your timing or your ways, I’m impatient for your answers, but I trust that it’s all under your control. So today, I give myself to you.”

Sometimes I’m a basket case. I’m up. I’m down. I’m confident. I’m confused. But like David, I pray that my faith will never waver. In all the confusion, as depression begins to set in, I pray I will always turn to God, tell Him what’s on my heart and be reminded of His great faithfulness to me and my family.

I wonder if you’re up or down today. I wonder if you’re confident or confused. God wants to hear from you. He’s not afraid of your cries for help or your fragile and ever-changing emotional states. Tell him what’s on your heart and mind and be reminded of His faithfulness.

God has a significant task for you. He is working it out right now. Turn to Him when you’re up. Trust Him when you’re down. He will lead you through the confusion.

As David would say, “I have trusted in your mercy. My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.”

The world loves a good scandal. Crazy people at WalMart are beating each other up over $2 waffle irons. Evangelistic Atheist, Christopher Hitchens, and wildcard Korean leader, Kim Jong Il passed away, both finally experiencing with definitive certainty the eternal answer to questions they so cleverly denied. Perhaps Kim Jong Sun will lead with greater wisdom. Either way -

Scandalous new travels fast!

There’s a comfortable scandal that takes place everyday in the hearts of Believers. There’s a subtle line of obedience we simply aren’t willing to cross. We hear what Jesus has to say. We agree in spirit and nod our heads in affirmation until we realize He’s talking about us. That’s where the scandal lies. We follow Jesus until He asks us to do something seemingly difficult, counter-cultural, or just plain inconvenient. This isn’t new. John 6:66 tells us it happened during Jesus time as well. “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with him no more.” They came to the line they simply weren’t willing to cross. Scandalous…

There are 4 reasons why we walk away. And 4 ways to take the leap of faith Jesus asks us to make when He challenges us to do the difficult, impractical or inconvenient. Most everyone has drawn a line that says, “Jesus, I’m willing to follow you this far, but no farther.” I wonder, as you consider these 4 things how you might redraw your line.

4 Scandalous Distractions that Set the Limits of Our Faith

1. Temptation - read more >
2. Trials – read more >
3. Teaching
4. Transitions

Today – let’s focus on Teaching.

TEACHING - Most people don’t say it out loud, but it’s true. Some of the things the Bible teaches come across as difficult, strange or down-right impossible to do. Jesus tells the crowd to ‘eat his flesh and drink his blood’. We’re commanded to ‘love our enemies’. We’re told to forgive and help those who spitefully use us. We may like the sound of what we hear, but the practicality of actually living these words sometimes gets complicated. We draw the line and walk away, just like the disciples of John 6:66. OBEDIENCE is really the only real way to handle the more difficult teachings of Scripture. We may not always like it or understand it, but God knows best. His ways are pure and right. As everyone left Jesus he turned to those closest to Him, His 12 Disciples, and said, “Are you going to leave me too?” Peter gives a remarkable response. He says, “Where would we go? You have the words of life. We have come to know and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” In those moment when our faith is tested because of difficult teaching we need to obey; not out of obligation, logic or reason; not because some preacher said you had too; not because obedience will make God love us more – it doesn’t – but because Jesus has the words of life.

There’s more to this story – especially when considering the arguments of brilliant men like Christopher Hitchens or the agressive dismissiveness of someone like Kim Jong Il. My mom used to say, “Whether or not you believe in the spiritual reality behind the principles taught in Scripture your life and relationships will be measurably better if you live by what it says.” I’ve found this to be true. I may not always like what I read. There may be parts I find difficult to understand or accomplish. But one way or the other, in the simple, yet profound words of Scripture, I find life.

Photo credit: Dave Saffran/MSG Photos

The world loves a good scandal. Facebook’s buzzing with the latest pic of someone doing something insane. Twitter’s tweets are tuned to the news of the NBA – Chauncey Billup is headed to the Clippers for a paltry $2 million. It’s Christmas – businesses once again debate over whether or not they should wish people ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’ – either choice, someone’s gonna lose their mind!

Scandalous new travels fast!

There’s a comfortable scandal that takes place everyday in the hearts of Believers. There’s a subtle line of obedience we simply aren’t willing to cross. We hear what Jesus has to say. We agree in spirit and nod our heads in affirmation until we realize He’s talking about us. That’s where the scandal lies. We follow Jesus until He asks us to do something seemingly difficult, counter-cultural, or just plain inconvenient. This isn’t new. John 6:66 tells us it happened during Jesus time as well. “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with him no more.” They came to the line they simply weren’t willing to cross. Scandalous…

There are 4 reasons why we walk away. And 4 ways to take the leap of faith Jesus asks us to make when He challenges us to do the difficult, impractical or inconvenient. Most everyone has drawn a line that says, “Jesus, I’m willing to follow you this far, but no farther.” I wonder, as you consider these 4 things how you might redraw your line.

4 Scandalous Distractions that Set the Limits of Our Faith

1. Temptation – read more…
2. Trials
3. Teaching
4. Transitions

Today – let’s focus on Trials.

TRIALS - I have a friend. He spends a lot of time away from his home and family. He believes God has called him to raise the next generation of missionaries so he spends a lot of time taking teenagers to some of the most dangerous parts of our world to share the gospel. He’s been imprisoned, beaten and held at gun point. At least one of his students has given their life on the mission field, taken by a disease caught while sharing the gospel overseas. I’m guessing the trials we face don’t rise to this level, but it seems they are trials enough. They are enough to cause some to question their faith. They are enough to distract us from fulfilling our mission or following God. Our trials often become the place where we draw the line. My friend says that without a TEST their can be no TESTIMONY. I’ve heard it said that a faith that can’t be TESTED is a faith that can’t be TRUSTED. James 1:2-3 says, “…count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience…” God doesn’t put you through trials so you can prove your faith to Him. He puts you through trials so He can prove your faith to YOU. He wants you to know the depths of your faith. He wants to put you through the test for the sake of the testimony He’s building in you. When trials tempt you to draw the line be PATIENT. God is working out His divine story in you. It’s a story that will strengthen your faith and bless someone else. The trials we face today become the epic stories of tomorrow that encourage, inspire and challenge others to grow deeper in their faith. Are you in the middle of a trial? Be patient. God is not finished with you yet.

What trial do you face today that causes you to draw the line? How far are you willing to go for your faith? Today, pray that God would give you the PATIENCE you need so He can finish the divine story He is writing in you.