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How Much Light Does It Take?

March 2, 2012 by jbrianhill

I have a question for you today:  How much light does it take to be visible in a dark room?  I heard that question last night at a conference and I have been thinking about it ever since.

The talk was on changing the world and the question was asked to make us think about the power of just one person who is committed and passionate about what God has called us to do.  Can one person really make a difference?

How much light does it take to show up in utter darkness?  Not much.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to go spelunking in, at that time, a newly opened cave in the Carlsbad Caverns.  We had to hike up the side of a mountain and then take a rope ladder down into this huge hole in the ground.  It was a great adventure.  There were no marked trails in the cave and we were armed only with our flashlights and an experienced guide.

We hiked back into the cave for about an hour and once deep in the heart of the cave, the guide had us sit down and turn off our lights.  We sat for a few minutes in suffocating darkness.  I don’t know if you have ever experience utter darkness but it is staggering.

After what seemed like an eternity, in the midst of that darkness, the guide produced one small light that illuminated the entire area.  It was amazing how one little light could bring such illumination out of the darkness.

We live in a dark world.  We are surrounded by evil and corruption.  We come face to face daily with deception and self-centeredness.

The only hope for our world today is the light that only Jesus can bring.  The good news is, as a believer, you have that light.

So, when faced with the question of how many people it takes to make a difference in the world, the answer we should remember is – only one.

Go be light in a dark world today!

Posted in Grace, Hope | Leave a Comment »

Seasons Change

March 1, 2012 by jbrianhill

I have been here in Richardson for a Board meeting since Sunday night, and yesterday, I was standing in line waiting to order lunch.  I looked out the window and just outside was a planter full of flowers.  I had to remind myself that it was February 29 because this is what I saw.

As I stood there, I was reminded that even in the midst of winter, life goes on.  Some life continues in spite of the cold wind and snow.  Some life breaks through the elements to signal the coming of a new season.  This winter has been a mix of warm days and bitter cold days with frosty winds and more snow than I have seen in a long time in our area.  But I am ready for spring.

Our lives are like that as well.  We have seasons of life – changes that come our way.  The interesting thing is that we all experience this reality differently.  Today, you may be experiencing a “spring” day while the person next to you is in the harsh throws of winter.

Regardless of what season you find yourself in, rememberer that in the hands of God all the seasons rest.  So if you find yourself in a season of pain, know that there is a season of renewal coming.  On the other hand, if you are in a season of joy, look around and see if you can help brighten someone else’s day who may be battling a blizzard.

Be a blessing!

Posted in Grace, Hope | 3 Comments »

How Will They Know?

February 27, 2012 by jbrianhill

As believers, we should understand that we have something that others are missing.  That should not make us proud – it doesn’t make us better than anyone else.  In fact, it makes us obligated.

We are obligated to share what we know.  We are mandated to spread love and truth and hope everywhere we go.

Paul wrote to us in Romans about this very fact.  He asked how anyone would know about Jesus unless we tell them.  You can read it here.

The question I have for you today is a little more personal.  Could the person standing behind you at the store today tell that you are a believer?

Something to think about.

Be a blessing today.

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions | Leave a Comment »

A Time to Return

February 22, 2012 by jbrianhill

Yesterday, we began a discussion on the meaning of Fat Tuesday and Lent.

Today, in some of my readings, I ran across a very insightful statement about Lent.

Ruth Haley Barton is a recognized author and spiritual director.  In her blog post for today, she said that the most common question asked at Lent is a question of what one is giving up.  However, there is a better question.  Here is what she said:

The real question of the Lenten season is: How will I repent and return to God with all my heart? This begs an even deeper question: Where in my life have I gotten away from God and what are the disciplines that will enable me to find my way back?

This should be our focus as we enter into this season of Lent.  It should be a time of self-examination and a time of repentance.  We must focus on the cross event and the sacrifice Jesus made for us and in light of that sacrifice, we should turn inward to look at where in our lives we have moved our attention away from God and to other things.

Lent is a season to return.  Return to God.  Return to a life lived for Jesus.

Today, God is saying, “I am here – come back to me!”

How will you return to Jesus?

Posted in Formation | Leave a Comment »

Fat Tuesday and Diet Coke

February 21, 2012 by jbrianhill

This morning, I made sure that I had my Stripes cup in the car.  Let me explain.  Stripes is a regional convenience store.  They have a policy that once you buy a fountain drink, you can then return with the cup and get a refill at a discounted price.

Now the reason this is important is that one of my biggest vices is Diet Coke.  I drink my weight in the stuff over the course of a week.  I know it is not healthy for me to do so, but it is one of the indulgences that I allow myself.  So for me, saving fifty cents each time I go for a Diet Coke can be significant.

Now the reason that I wanted to make sure I had my Stripes cup today, more so than any other day, is this:  today is Fat Tuesday.  The day before Ash Wednesday – the day before the season of Lent begins.  So today is the day that I need to drink my fill of Diet Coke, because tomorrow I begin my Diet Coke fast.

You see, Lent is a time when we think about the sacrifice Jesus made for us.  Part of the practice of Lent is giving something up that we enjoy as a means of focusing on that sacrifice that Jesus made.

So even though it is a little thing and may seem trivial to some, I am foregoing Diet Coke for the season of Lent.  There, it is public.  Now you can hold me accountable.

What will you be doing to remember Jesus’ sacrifice?

Posted in Formation | Leave a Comment »

I Believe But . . .

February 20, 2012 by jbrianhill

This morning the devotional reading was in the book of Mark.  It was the story of a man’s son that had been possessed by a demon since birth, to the extent that the disciples could not cast it out.  The father approached Jesus asking him to do something.  Jesus responded with a comment about a lack of faith.

It would seem that the disciples, who had been able to do this before, could not handle this problem.  The idea is that even though they believed and knew the power of God, they were facing something that shook their faith.

It would be easy to snicker at the disciples and say, “they should have known better – they had seen Jesus do this and should have known God’s power was sufficient.”  But stop for a minute and think about it in your own life.  You have seen God work in your own experience and in the lives of those around you.  And yet, how often do we come face to face with a situation that rocks our world and we turn and run?

For me, I often find myself thinking, “I believe, but . . .”

I believe but why isn’t God doing something about this?  I believe, but what if God doesn’t come through?

I believe, but . . .

Jesus responded to the father by telling him that casting out this demon is possible if he believes.  The father’s answer should be our answer:

I believe – help my unbelief.

What a confession.  What an attitude of complete submission.  I believe – help me to believe more.

Today, when you face that challenge that may seem bigger than God, remember, God is big enough.  Believe it.  Take it to the bank.  Tell God you believe and then ask for the grace to help you believe even more!

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope | Leave a Comment »

God Still Transforms

February 15, 2012 by jbrianhill

Yesterday, I mentioned being at a men’s retreat this past weekend.  I was refreshed and renewed spiritually through the course of God working in my own life but even more so in watching God work in the lives of others and hearing their stories.

One man, Joey, has been out of prison now for a few months.  His inked up arms tell part of his story.  He served 26 years for armed robbery.  While in prison, he was the kingpin for the prison mafia and not only controlled his prison but 4 others.  He ruled the drug traffic,  committed murders and several other things.  In a sentence – he was a bad dude.

After 26 years in prison, he was released with no where to go – no job, no family, no hope.  He was making his way through a town and happened into a church to ask for some assistance.  The pastor listened to his story and his heart broke for this man.  He assisted him and even gave him odd jobs around the church to help him survive.  After about 6 months of building a relationship with Joey, the pastor led him into a life changing relationship with Jesus.

Now, two months after his decision to follow Jesus, here he sat in the room with 32 other men on a Walk to Emmaus.

That picture reminded me of God’s life transforming power.  As a pastor, I know that God has that kind of power, but I forget sometimes just how real it is.

God is still in the life transformation business.

What is it about you that you need God to transform?

 

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope | 1 Comment »

Leading the Leader

February 14, 2012 by jbrianhill

This past weekend, Thursday night through Sunday afternoon, I was involved with a men’s retreat.  It was a great opportunity for me to do something a little different.  I was on the leadership team and we had 33 first-time participants in the retreat.  My job was to give one of the talks and then to be there to assist in counseling any of the participants that may ask for prayer or just a listening ear.

Even though I was there to lead, I am not sure I did any leading.  In fact, I had the opportunity to do a lot of observing.  I saw men from all walks of life and all age groups sharing their faith and their struggles.  I was moved by the transformation that began in some of their lives.  But what moved me the most was seeing the dedication in many of their lives.

I have struggles just as everyone else does, but as a pastor, I am often a bit insulated from the struggles that some people face.  As I listened to the stories of some of the men, I was reminded that God works in the midst of some pretty dark places.  There were men there who have struggled – and are struggling – with all kinds of addictions.  There were a couple of men there that have just recently been released from prison.  Others that have had serious family struggles for years.

But in the midst of all their struggles, these men made an intentional choice to follow Jesus.  I was reminded of a very important truth.  When we are faced with struggles, we often pray for God to deliver us – to get us out of this mess.  But many times, Jesus does not remove the struggles but rather walks with us through them.

Remember that today – even if your struggles are not removed from you – that does not mean that God is not walking with you through them.  It is a day to day thing – a journey.  Transformation does not happen overnight.  It is a progression.  The New Testament teaches us that these present struggles are refining us and being used by God to form us.

So this past weekend, the leader was led.

Be blessed today!

Posted in Formation, Hope | Leave a Comment »

That’s It? There’s Nothing More?

February 8, 2012 by jbrianhill

Tonight we will begin a study on the book of Ecclesiastes.  It is a book in the Old Testament attributed to King Solomon.  Solomon was credited as the most wise person in the world.  God had blessed him with an uncanny understanding of the world and how it works.

That is why this book is so surprising to me.  The book is written from a very negative perspective – in fact, you could even say it’s a bit depressing.  So much so that I am reluctant to commit to spending the next several weeks studying it.  The overarching theme of the book is the vanity of this existence.  One translation uses the word meaningless.  While I wholeheartedly believe that each page of the Bible is included because that is how God intended it to be, I have to admit that spending the next several weeks digging into 12 chapters of one person’s pessimistic view of just how pointless and meaningless this life is does not sound like a good time!

BUT . . .

What  I learn from what Solomon has to say is a reminder of a simple fact:  if this life here on earth is all there is then there isn’t a point to our existence – no meaning at all.  But we know better.  What we see now is not all there is.  Our hope is not placed in what we can attain here in this life time.  Our hope is in Jesus.  Our focus is on him and living to please him.

So when life seems to cave in on you today, remember that there is more – so much more!

Take heart!

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope | 1 Comment »

Where Do You Put Your Faith?

February 7, 2012 by jbrianhill

Last week I started the post on Tuesday as Tuesday Faith Check (you can link to that post here).  In keeping with that idea, I have a question for you:  Where do you put your faith?

Here is what I mean by that question.  Often times, with good intentions, we begin to put our faith in the system and not in the person.  And this is not a new problem.  Case in point, my scripture reading this morning was from the Gospel of Mark.  As this story unfolds, Jesus has a run-in with a group of Pharisees and scribes who have a real problem with the disciples not washing their hands before a meal.  You can read the story here.

Now, on the surface, we might say that the Pharisees made a good point.  It is a good idea to wash your hands before you eat.  It’s just a sanitary thing to do.  But when you dig down to what was really going on in the story, the words the Pharisees were using were religious terms.  They were complaining that the disciples were eating with “defiled” hands and not paying attention to the “traditions” of the elders.

What was meant, many, many years before as a good thing – a common sense thing – washing your hands before a meal, had become a ritual.

There was an entire book written to interpret the Bible.  This book, the Midrash, was an attempt to explain the law and develop practical systems for keeping the law.

Again, not a bad idea to have some practical steps for keeping the law.  But what was meant as an aid, became the new “law.”  In the story from Mark, Jesus explained to the Pharisees that they had forgotten the law and had become focused on the tradition.  Over time, their faith had been moved from what God intended to what man had created.

So back to our question for today, Where do you put your faith?  Is it in Jesus and his teaching?  Or do you put your faith in the traditions we have created?  Is following Jesus about a set of rules?  Or is it about a relationship?

Now that you are thinking about this, I need your help.  I am planning on developing this thought into a sermon.  I would love some feedback from you that might just make it into the sermon.

Take a few minutes and respond to this question:

What are some ways today that we in the church have taken our focus off of what God intends and put our faith in the traditions we have created?

You can reply here or send me an email at bhill33@me.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Be blessed today!

Posted in Church, Community, Formation | 2 Comments »

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