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Show Us the Father

March 24, 2011 by jbrianhill

With all the things going on in the world today, people are looking for answers.  They are looking for direction and guidance.

Things weren’t so different 2000 years ago.  Jesus’ disciples were looking for guidance too.  In John 14, Jesus was trying to reassure his followers by telling them that he was paving the way for them so that some day, they could be together again.  Thomas replied, “We don’t know the way – how can we get to where you are going?”  Jesus answered him by saying:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Then Philip jumped in with, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

I think many people I run into on a daily basis would second Philip’s request.  And that is where you and I come in.  As believers, we may be the only Jesus someone sees today.

Will the Jesus you present in your life today be enough?

 

 

 

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

Skiing Without a Clue

March 23, 2011 by jbrianhill

Last week, our family spent two days skiing at Wolf Creek Pass.  It was a great time!  We had good snow and good weather.  The lines were not long at the lifts and no one got hurt – a few bruises, but nothing serious.  Our time together as a family was wonderful!

We had never skied at Wolf Creek before.  Overall, we enjoyed our time there.  Our only real complaint was the lack of direction on the mountain.  The trail map was clear enough.  We could look at it and decide which lifts to take to get to the runs we wanted to ski – that was no problem.

The problem came when we made our way off the lift (which is always a major event) and began trying to translate the information from the map to what we saw in person.  The map was clear, but without markers along the trails, we never knew if we were on the right path.  In a sense, we were skiing without a clue as to where were headed.

We have skied on many other mountains and never have we experienced the lack of direction that we faced last week.  In some instances in life, having a map is enough.  If you make a wrong turn, you can simply turn around and go back.  But when you strap on a pair of skiis (or snow board in Jared’s case) and head down a mountain, one wrong turn can lead you to a point of no return where you are looking down a double black diamond slope with drop-offs and huge moguls.  Just so that you know – I have done my fair share of black diamonds but I am the guy everyone looks at from the lift and says, “Wow, that guy does not belong on that run!”

So without markers along the path, not only does the skiing experience take on more of  a challenge, it is also very frustrating.

Our spiritual lives are just like that!  We have a great trail map to help us on the journey – the Bible.  We can see where we are and where we need to go.  But where we often get frustrated or side-tracked is in our inability to see the markers along the way that help us to know we are on the right path.  Unlike my experience on the slopes last week, more often than not, the markers are there, we just choose to ignore them.  There are markers all around us every day – we just need to slow down long enough to pay attention to them.

Here three markers we can all watch for in our lives to help us along the way:

1)  Am I following the teachings of Jesus in the way I live every day?

2) Am I building relationships with other believers through involvement in a faith community or small group?

3) Am I striving to make a simple difference in at least one life each day?

There are many, many other markers, but I encourage you to think about these today.  And never forget, we also have a guide along with us – and that never hurts!

Posted in Formation, Motivational | Leave a Comment »

Complete Surrender

March 22, 2011 by jbrianhill

This morning, I sat down in my chair to have my prayerful reading time (Lectio).  I spent some time centering myself in preparation for my time with God – trying to clear my thoughts so that nothing would hinder my hearing what God wanted to say.  The concept I focused on to try and clear my mind was the idea of complete surrender.  Each time a random thought would enter my head, I would think the words, “complete surrender.”

The passage I read was Proverbs 3:5-15.  I struggled as I read.  Nothing was jumping off the page at me.  I meditated on the verses and then went back for a second reading.  Still – not much happened.  I meditated on the idea of God’s discipline and on wisdom and then went back for the third reading.

Throughout this process, I continued to think the words, “complete surrender.”

As I closed my time in prayer, I became a little frustrated that I did not feel I had met with God.  I did not sense an encounter in which God spoke to me through the words I was reading.  I thought back over the passage as I prayed, and I remembered the first words in verse 5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

I began to think about my experience.  I had entered into this time of prayer and reading with the expectation of hearing from God.  I had entered into this time with the idea that I would be completely surrendered to what God would say.  As I thought about my time, I remembered that I may not sense a vivid connection with God each time I sit down to read and pray.  That is not to say God is not present or that God is not listening and speaking, but somedays are more clear than others.  But complete surrender means I put myself in God’s hands regardless.

Then it dawned on me – that is the trust God expects of me.  Complete surrender requires complete trust.  I may not always “feel it,” but that doesn’t mean I stop trusting or surrendering.

So here is my prayer for you and for me today:

God, I do trust you.  I know that you are present and that you have plans for me today.  I surrender myself to you.  Use me as you see fit today.

Amen

Be blessed!

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope | 1 Comment »

Inconvenient Love

March 21, 2011 by jbrianhill

Bobby seemed like an old man the first time I remember meeting him as a kid.  It was strange because I had been taught to address adults with sir and ma’am but Bobby was just always Bobby.  He would stop by our house periodically and stay for hours – just talking to my parents – particularly my dad.  I didn’t understand it at first.  I didn’t realize that my parents were showing him Jesus’ love and grace through their actions.

You see, Bobby was in his 50’s or so, but he had the mind of an adolescent.  He was known all over town but he was lonely because few people would have anything to do with him.  And honestly, I can understand that because if Bobby had you cornered, you could not get away for an hour or more – at least not without being rude.  So people avoided him.  When they saw him coming, they ducked out of sight.  If they saw him approaching their homes, most would not answer the door.  He really didn’t have anyone.

My parents took the time to show Bobby respect and offer him something many would not take the time to offer – love and dignity.  That is what Jesus would have done.  That is what Jesus called my parents to do and so they did.  Through their actions, I was taught that showing God’s love is not always convenient.  It rarely fits our schedule to stop and take time for someone needing attention.  But it is part of what it means to be a follower in the Way.

I am so incredibly blessed to have grown up in my parents’ home!  Much of what I learned about what it means to be a Christ follower I learned from them – sometimes by verbal instruction, but more often by mere example.

Thanks Dad and Mom!  You are at the top of my list of heros!

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

Taking an Opportunity to Unplug

March 16, 2011 by jbrianhill

I have been thinking a lot lately about how connected we all are through technology.  It is not only a part of life but a real benefit – most of the time.  But sometimes we need to set it aside.

It is spring break here and my boys are out of school.  So, for the next couple of days I am unplugging.

I will be back with stories to tell on Monday.

Be blessed today!

Posted in Family | Leave a Comment »

I’ve Got This

March 14, 2011 by jbrianhill

What are you worried about today?

You may be concerned about safety.  After last week’s horrific earthquake and tsunami in Japan that would be understandable.

Or maybe you are worried about the economy.  Retirement is out there somewhere but will there be enough or will I have to work until I die?

There are any number of things we could concern ourselves with today, but I want to remind us of one simple truth – God is in control.  Matthew 6:25-26 says this:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

In the midst of all that is going on around us, remember, God is saying, “I’ve got this.”

Be blessed today!

Posted in Hope, Motivational | Leave a Comment »

Sharing Hope Through Gentleness

March 11, 2011 by jbrianhill

I use Bible Gateway for my online Bible.  Anytime I need to look something up, it is there to help.  Last night I went there to do a little reading and on the home page they list a verse of the day.  Yesterday’s verse was this:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,   1 Peter 3:15.

What an amazing reminder.  Our entire approach to how and why we should share our story is found here.  We share our story to explain the hope that we have in Jesus.

I don’t know how often you stare hopelessness in the face, but when you do, there is no mistaking it.  You can see it in a person’s eyes.

The writer of 1 Peter reminds us that for those who follow Jesus all out, we have a hope that makes a non-believer curious.  A hope that allows us to hear a bad report from the doctor and yet still know that God is in control.  Don’t think for a second that the hope you have is not obvious to others.  It is obvious because it is not the cultural norm.  It doesn’t make sense to a person who doesn’t follow in the Way.

So this verse tells us that we should be ready when someone asks us how on earth we can still have hope when the world around us is falling apart.

But don’t miss the final instruction from this verse.  The writer says we must be ready and willing to share our story and to do so with gentleness and respect.  I have used this cliché before, but it is true – people don’t care what you know if they don’t know that you care.

Our sharing of our stories must be done through a relationship.  We must be gentle and show love and respect to others.  Quite honestly, just as much hope will be communicated through that gentleness and respect as will be relayed through your telling of your story.

As St. Francis is credited with saying, we should tell others of the love of our Savior and when necessary, use words.

Show hope through gentleness and respect today.

Be a blessing!

Posted in Grace, Hope | Leave a Comment »

How Do You Use Technology?

March 9, 2011 by jbrianhill

On Monday, I talked about how we sometimes need to disconnect from all the things that pull at us and spend time with God.  (You can see that post here).

Today, I am going to a workshop dealing with how to use FaceBook as a tool.  At the risk of sounding contradictory, there is no question that we need to get away from technology at times in order to meet with God.  But the reality is that technology is a huge part of our lives now.  And it is becoming more so all the time.  Technology is changing at the speed of light.  I just saved enough money to buy an iPad and already, the next generation is about to hit the stores this Friday (YES!!!!).  10 years ago, the most common use of a cell phone was to actually punch in numbers and call someone.  Today, a smart phone can do just about anything – and yes, even make calls!

Social networking has become a secondary life for many people.  There are online communities that, for some, have taken the place of real community.  In fact, can I just get something off my chest here?  I really wish the people caught up in Farmville would actually move to a farm and quit inviting me to play – sorry, don’t mean to offend but enough is enough.  OK, I feel better.  In a world in which we are more connected to one another through social media, people suffer from being more alone than they have ever been.  How often do you meet people in person anymore?  Much of the communication we engage in on a daily basis is via email or FaceBook messaging.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the age in which we live.  But how can we use this technology to actually engage one another more fully?  How can we use technology as a tool to build real community – to build the Kingdom?

How are you using technology to make a difference in your world?

Posted in Community | Leave a Comment »

Visionary Leader or ADHD Idea Generator?

March 8, 2011 by jbrianhill

The other day, a friend of mine described a few leaders she has known as ADHD Idea Generators.  You may know the type.  They have a new idea for every staff meeting.  The staff leaves each meeting not knowing if they should complete the steps to carry out the vision of three weeks ago, or move to tackling last weeks big idea – or simply can it all and start on this week’s brain child.  The problem is that many leaders with this approach see themselves as visionary.  But in reality, they are, as my friend described – ADHD Idea Generators.

The difference between an idea generator and a visionary leader is that a visionary leader not only has vision, but also the strategy to see that vision come about.  The visionary leader also must possess the patience to stick with it to see it through.  So a visionary leader is more than an idea person.  A visionary leader sees where the organization needs to be and then puts together a plan to get it there.

Which describes you?  A visionary leader or an ADHD idea generator?

Posted in Leadership | 2 Comments »

Sometimes We Need to Disconnect

March 7, 2011 by jbrianhill

I had to be in Dallas this past week for a few days for a board meeting.  Over the last few years we have become a family and the three times per year we are together is always a blessing.

It used to be that returning home from being out of the office for a few days was always a killer.  There would be phone calls to return and email to contend with along with the piles of mail that accumulate.  But now days it is much different.  My email comes to my cell phone and laptop.  My voice mail at the office is forwarded directly to my cell phone as well.  The only thing to deal with on return anymore is the piles of mail (I am not sure how to remedy that situation).

There are certainly benefits to being connected.  But it can also be a drain.  There is never a point that I am not connected.  Sure, I suppose it is a choice – I could turn off my cell phone and leave my laptop at home.  Honestly, I have improved my ability to manage this connectivity, but the reality is that it is always there.  As long as we have it hanging over our heads, it is hard to be alone with God.

We need times in which we can disconnect from all of the things pulling at us so that we can focus on what really matters – our relationship with Jesus.

Find some time this week to disconnect and focus on Jesus.  The other stuff isn’t going anywhere anyway.

Be blessed.

Posted in Formation | 1 Comment »

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