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Archive for the ‘Formation’ Category

One Committed Kid

Posted in Church, Formation on June 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »

This week, the church has been teaming with little voices and the sounds of laughter and singing.  We are hosting our annual Vacation Bible School in the evenings this week and it has been amazing!  The kids are fun and they tell you exactly what they are thinking.  They aren’t afraid to ask hard questions and they soak up the answers like sponges.  It is so refreshing to witness their openness.  I have also learned from them this week.

One little girl who came with a friend wanted to talk to me the other night.  I was sitting on the edge of the stage as we waited for parents to arrive to pick up their kids.  She came up to me to ask a question.  She asked, “Would it be OK if I brought my Bible tomorrow night?”  I smiled and told her I could not think of anything better for her to bring to church.  I asked her if she read her Bible often and she gave me a big smile and a full body nod – yes.  Then she sat down beside me and told me that she attends Mass with her mother but everything is in Spanish so she doesn’t understand what is being said.  But then she smiled again and said, “I write down the verses when they say them so that when I get home, I can read them in my Bible.”

I was floored by the heart and the initiative of this little girl.  She is faithful to attend her mother’s church even when she doesn’t understand what is going on and then committed enough to read for herself the passages that are used during the service.  I have been wondering since, “how many adults would go that extra step?”  I even have to ask myself, “Am I that committed?”

Something to think about.

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Does It Really Matter?

Posted in Community, Formation on June 13, 2011| 7 Comments »

We are working through a sermon series right now on the focus of our church.  We began with setting the foundation that our focus should be God’s mission.  We looked to Matthew 28:19-20 as a foundation for understanding that mission.  We need to remember that God’s mission has a church, not the other way around.

Yesterday, we talked about being an apprentice of Jesus – making it a life passion to learn who he is and not just learn about him.  It is about a relationship not religion.  This week will take that a step farther and talk about how we should live in that relationship and how knowing Jesus should affect our choices and the way we live.  Lecrae (@lecrae) is a Christian rap artist who has always inspired me (yes, I like all kinds of music).  He does a song entitled, Go Hard.  In that song, he asks the question, “If you didn’t know him, would your life look the same?  Can they tell you value Jesus by the way you rep his name?”

Does your life reflect a relationship?  Does the fact that you know Jesus really matter?

I need your help this week.  I would love to use your examples in the sermon this week.  I have a question I would like you to consider and get back to me.  You can comment here or send me a message on Facebook or just email me.  Either way – I would love to hear from you.

Here is the question:  How does having a relationship with Jesus affect the way you live each day?

I look forward to your responses!

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Learning Together

Posted in Church, Community, Formation on June 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Last Sunday, I introduced some things to our church family that I hope and pray take hold and become an integral part of our DNA.  As I talked about our mission as a church, I reminded everyone that we should look at the bigger picture first – the fact that God’s mission has a church.  When we look at that mission, we see that the mandate to us is to make disciples – followers of Jesus – apprentices.

The plan for us in this regard can be stated simply:  Learning, living and loving . . . together.  That is the plan.  That is the strategy.

So this week, we will be looking at what it means to be “learner” and how we can do it together, in community.  It begins with each of us coming face to face with Jesus.  We have to move beyond knowing about Jesus to the point of really knowing Jesus.

I am excited about our services on Sunday.  If you are around Littlefield, Texas this Sunday morning at 10:45, I would love to have you drop by and see what God will do!

Be blessed today!

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Encountered God Lately?

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on June 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »

When was the last time you encountered God?  I mean, actually came face to face with God in such a way that you knew God was with you and speaking to you?

I have to be honest, I have to really think about this sometimes.  It is not that God is not present and with me – I know that is a fact.  But my problem is that I am normally too distracted to notice.  My life is hectic!  There are always emails that need a reply, phone calls to make, sermons to write, kids to tend to – and then after breakfast it really gets crazy!

You get the point.  And I am sure that your life is no different.  Our culture has ingrained in us that more is better and so we try to do more.  Unfortunately, we tend to fill our lives with really good things to the neglect of the best things.

Brother Lawrence figured this out.  You can read more about Brother Lawrence here.  He realized that when we approach our everyday tasks from the standpoint of taking them on in order to please God, our focus changes.  All of the sudden we can sense God more fully in everything we do.

You see, God is at work all around us all the time.  Our missing an encounter with God is not because God is not at work.  The missed encounter is due to the fact that we are not in tune with what God is doing.

Try this today:  with every task you undertake, think to yourself, “I want to do this in order to please God.”

I would love to hear how this turns out!

Be blessed today!

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Can Anyone Tell?

Posted in Formation on June 1, 2011| 1 Comment »

Last night, I read this in Psalm 34:   I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant.

As I thought about this passage, I was overwhelmed with a couple of thoughts.  The first is we are reminded here that when we call out to God, God hears us.  Stop and think about that for a minute . . . no really, stop, close your eyes and meditate on that fact for a minute.  The one and only God, the creator of the universe – yes, that God – cares about you to the point that your cries are actually heard.  When we seek God, God answers us and deliverance is offered.

The second thought that still remains with me is what we read in verse 5:  “Those who look to him are radiant.”  The truth is that when we look to God and we experience God’s deliverance, we will be changed – radiant!  But the question that arose from my meditation – the question that has haunted me for hours is this:  Do I appear to be radiant to anyone?

In other words, is my relationship with God such that people can tell when I have been with Him?  Do I radiate God’s glory?  Or is my countenance less than radiant?

My prayer today is that everyone with whom I come into contact can tell I have been with God.

What about you?

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Happiness Comes and Goes but Joy . . .

Posted in Formation, Hope on May 26, 2011| 1 Comment »

This past Sunday, our church hosted the high school baccalaureate service.  It was my honor to speak to the graduating class and challenge them as they cross this threshold in their lives and move into a new phase of their journeys.  One of the things I discussed was the difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness is fleeting.  It is dependent on how we feel.  When things are going our way, we tend to be happy.  When we have a bad day . . . not so much.  The bad news is, we are all going to have bad days from time to time.  Things are not always going to go our way.

Joy, on the other hand, is lasting.  It is more than a feeling, it is a confidence in knowing the end of the story.  It is the contentment that comes when we remember that God is in control.

Today, I used Psalm 51:10-12 as my reading.  Here is what it says:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, 
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 
 Do not cast me from your presence 
   or take your Holy Spirit from me. 
 Restore to me the joy of your salvation 
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

I have always loved verse 10 where the writer asks God to create a pure heart within him.  But today, my mind locked in on verse 12 where the author asks for the joy of God’s salvation to be restored to him.

Do you ever get so tied up and weighted down in the day to day grind and the problems that come your way that you forget about the joy you possess?  The joy that is available to you simply because you know the Creator of the universe personally?

It happens to all of us.  Sometimes we do need to be reminded of the joy that is ours as believers.  So today, my prayer for you and for me is an echo of the psalmists words:

Lord God, I ask that you renew your joy in us today.  Remind us of what your salvation truly means.  And then, help us to live that joyful life today – regardless of our circumstances.

Amen

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Silent Listening

Posted in Formation on May 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

On Wednesday nights at the church we are talking about prayer (and we are putting it into practice).  Last night, the lesson was on listening.  It is hard to hear God speak if we are not listening.  The problem is, we do not practice listening very often.  God is always present and always ready to lead, but we rarely pay attention.  It is really about sensitivity.

One of the things I had our folks do last night was to sit in silence for 2 minutes – and I timed it.  The objective was to clear their minds and listen for God to speak.  I then asked for responses of what it was like.  Most said it seemed like much longer than 2 minutes.  One gentleman said he had to keep telling himself to shut up.  We all chuckled at that but that has been my experience as well.  I can sit and be still.  I can keep my mouth shut, but my mind continues to run at 90 miles per hour.

The art of listening takes practice.  Being still and quiet is harder for us than we might want to admit.  However, if we are going to hear from God, we have got to make listening a part of our daily routine.

So here is my challenge for you today.  Make time today to find a quiet place in which you can be alone.  Then sit down and make yourself comfortable (not nap time comfortable, just at ease).  Then sit in silence for 5 minutes and do your best to clear your mind of all the thoughts floating around in there and just listen for what God will say – the impressions you will feel.

I would love to hear of your experience.  Feel free to leave me a comment here.

Be blessed today!

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Flexible Availability

Posted in Formation, Missions on May 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I was reminded yesterday (and am living that reminder today) that when we allow ourselves to be pulled from our comfort zones, we need to remember to be flexible.  My plan had been to wrap up our mission project in Fabens by noon or so and then get the group started on the next project, collect my things and hit the road for home.  Instead, we finished at about 4:30 and then drove to the next project, looked it over and then headed for the dorm around 6.

I knew that by the time I got cleaned up and ate dinner, it would be 8 pm MST before I could begin the 6 hour drive.  I decided to stay one more night and make the drive today.  As much as I wanted to be home last night, I know that the work we accomplished is pleasing to God.  So, the inconvenience is worth it.

This is a common issue on mission trips.  In fact, I never lead a group on a trip like this without a discussion about being flexible.

But how about the rest of the time.  How flexible am I during a normal work week?  When I have an extensive To Do list, do I get frustrated when interruptions keep me from being able check things off my list?  I am reminded that God would have us be available.

Will you make yourself available for God to use today – remaining flexible?  Or will you get frustrated when an opportunity arises?

Your choice.

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Will It Change Anything?

Posted in Community, Formation on May 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Discussions between Christ followers about what we believe can often draw us closer together but sometimes it can drive us apart.  This morning I read something and I wanted to share it with you.  Jim Dennison is a long-time pastor and professor in Texas and a very respected thinker and theologian.  He shares a wonderful approach to theology from which I think we could all benefit.  A simple question – “Will this change the way I live today?”

I encourage you to take 3 minutes and check out what Jim says here.

Have a blessed weekend!

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Being Non-Committal Can Be Painful

Posted in Formation on May 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I grew up on the seat of a dirt bike – well not literally of course.  But riding was a big part of my summer days as a kid.  We lived on the edge of town and we had found a huge pit about 5 miles out into the pasture from our house.  So we spent untold hours out in that pit on our dirt bikes.  One Sunday afternoon in the pit will never be erased from my memory.

I was about 9 or 10 years old and was riding my Yamaha YZ 80.  I loved that motorcycle.  My dad had gone with us and we made our way to the pit.  There were trails all the way around the lip of this big hole in the ground and of course trails going in and out of the pit as well.  On the north end of the pit was a flat area among mounds of dirt that had been pulled from the hole and left for who knows what.  It made a great place to sit and rest and so that is what several people were doing.  I made my way to the area.  I approached the area from the mounds of dirt and just as I got there, I realized that there was a 4 foot drop from where I was and where I wanted to be.  I panicked.  I could have stopped and turned around and gone back another way or I might could have accelerated and possibly kept the front end of the motorcycle up so as not to crash.  But instead I froze – I didn’t commit to either approach.  I coasted over the ledge, and for what seemed like the next hour and a half, fell the four feet, the motorcycle  landing on the front wheel and my chest landing on the handle bars.  I couldn’t breathe for what seemed like an eternity.

I learned a couple of lessons that day.  One, it helps to know the trail.  Two, landing on the handle bars is painful and embarrassing.  But the biggest lesson of the day was that being non-committal can get you hurt.

Seems like Jesus mentioned something like that when he talked about being either hot or cold.  He said that being luke-warm disgusts him.  He would rather people be cold to him or be passionate followers – the non-committal in between folks make him sick.

So where are you today?  Are you resistant to following Jesus or are you passionately seeking him and living your life to honor and please him?  Or . . . are you in the middle?  This is one instance where being in the middle is not the place to be.

Think about it today.

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