Why does God allow pain?

By Rick Warren

Pastor, I bet if there’s one question you get more than any others, particularly when you’re ministering to people in times of crisis, it’s “Why does God allow pain?” I can’t count the times I’ve been asked that question. So when you’re asked that question, here are four answers you can give people.

1. God has given us free will.
   
   In Genesis we learn that we were made in the image of God. But how so? God gave us choice. We can choose to do what’s good or what’s evil, to accept God or reject him. Why did God give us that choice? He didn’t want a bunch of puppets. He didn’t have to do that. He could have forced us to worship, serve, and love him. But he wanted us to love him voluntarily. You can’t say you love somebody unless you have the opportunity to not love him.
   
   Free will isn’t only a blessing. Sometimes it’s a burden. Sometimes we make dumb choices. Those choices have all kinds of painful consequences in our lives. I can choose to experiment with drugs. If I get addicted, that’s my fault. I can choose to be sexually promiscuous. If I get a disease, that’s my fault. God doesn’t want us to have this kind of pain, but he allows us to face the consequences of our choices.
   
   Not only do we have free will, but everyone else does as well. Sometimes we get hurt because of other people’s bad choices. We’ve all been hurt by someone else at some point in life. You’ve probably asked yourself, “Why didn’t God prevent it?” He could have. He just would have needed to take away that person’s free will. But here’s the dilemma. He would have needed to take away yours as well!
   
   
2. God uses pain to get our attention.
   
   Pain is a warning light. It tells us something is wrong. Pain isn’t your problem. It’s a symptom. It’s God’s megaphone. As you’ve heard before, God whispers to us in our pleasure, but he shouts to us in our pain. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.”
   
   A number of years ago I had a pair of shoes that I loved. They were made out of deerskin and were real soft and smooth. They were great! But after awhile, I got holes in the soles. Yet they still looked good on top. So I wore them anyway. I just had to be sure that when I sat on stage, I kept my feet on the ground. I wasn’t motivated to buy new shoes until there were seven days of rain in a row, and I had to put up with soggy shoes several days in a row. My wet feet motivated me to changed! Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 7:9, “I am glad not because it hurts you, but because the pain turns you to God.” Sometimes it takes pain to get us to do what God wants us to do.
   
   Remember the story of Jonah? Jonah was going one way and God said, “I want you to go the other way.” So he provided a typical Mediterranean cruise for him – a whale! And, at the bottom of the ocean, Jonah said, “When I had lost all hope I once again turned my thoughts to the Lord.” God uses pain to get our attention.
   
   
3. God uses pain to teach us to depend on him.
   
   You don’t know that God is all you need until God’s all you got. Paul says it this way in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (TLB): “We were crushed and overwhelmed and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves but that was good for then we put everything into the hands of God who could save us and he did help us.”
   
   If you never had a problem, you’d never know God could solve it. God allows pain to teach you to depend on him. The Bible says in Psalm 119:71: “It was the best thing that could have happened to me for it taught me to pay attention to your laws.” The truth is, some things we only learn through pain. Depending on God is one of those things.
   
   
4. God allows pain to give me a ministry to others.
   
   Pain prepares you to serve. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT), “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” Everybody needs recovery of some type. Nobody’s perfect. Who can better help an alcoholic than somebody who has struggled with alcoholism? Who can better help somebody dealing with the pain of abuse than someone who was abused themselves? God wants to use and recycle the pain in our lives to help others, but we’ve got to be open and honest about it.
   
   God did this with Kay and me. The first three years of our marriage were really bad. I understand the guy who says he is miserable and wants out of marriage. I understand because I’ve been there! But through the help of a Christian counselor, Kay and I worked through those problems and now have a great marriage. A few years ago I did a Sunday morning sermon series on marriage where I talked about a different problem we worked through each week. It was a 12-week series, but it could have been 50. God uses your pain to help other people.

Imagine the army of ministers you could train in your congregation if you helped people use their past pain as an opportunity for ministry. God never wastes a hurt!

Later On

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. —Romans 8:18

It seems there are two kinds of people in this world: those who have an eternal perspective and those who are preoccupied with the present.

One is absorbed with the permanent; the other with the passing. One stores up treasure in heaven; the other accumulates it here on earth. One stays with a challenging marriage because this isn’t all there is; another looks for happiness in another mate, believing this life is all there is. One is willing to suffer poverty, hunger, indignity, and shame because of “the glory which shall be revealed” (Rom. 8:18); another believes that happiness is being rich and famous. It’s all a matter of perspective.

Abraham had an “other world” perspective. That’s what enabled him to give up a piece of well-watered land by the Jordan (Gen. 13). He knew that God had something better for him later on. The Lord told him to look in every direction as far as he could see and then said that his family would someday have it all. What a land grant! And God promised that his descendants would be as numerous “as the dust” (v.16).

That’s an outlook many people can’t understand. They go for all the gusto right now. But God’s people have another point of view. They know that God has something better later on!  — David H. Roper

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today. —Miller

Live for Jesus, and you’ll live for eternity.

Developing a plan to beat temptation

Simple yet useful questions to ask.

*****************

By Rick Warren

Pastor, temptations can take down any one of us, at any time. We’re human. I’m guessing not a day goes by that a pastor doesn’t have his ministry implode because of falling to temptation. The people sitting in our worship services this weekend are just as vulnerable. The truth is, beating temptation requires a plan. You’ve heard the saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” That’s critically accurate for battling temptation. Each of us has unique patterns to how we live. You have a unique fingerprint, thumbprint, eye print, footprint, and voice print. Nobody’s heart has ever beat just like yours.

That’s true of you emotionally and spiritually too. Certain things tempt you more than other things. We may have similar temptations, but they come at us in different ways depending on our personality, background, and other factors.

For instance, I’ve never been tempted to smoke. It just hasn’t interested me. I can’t stand the smell. But food is a huge temptation for me. I like to eat!

We need to know our own pattern of temptation because the devil knows it. He knows what uniquely tempts you. Proverbs 5:6 says, “The immoral person does not care about the path of life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t even realize where it leads.” If you don't know your path of temptation, you’re headed for destruction.
To figure out what your temptation pattern is, ask yourself these five questions.

1. When am I most tempted?
   
   If you look carefully, you’ll notice that you are tempted on certain days more than others. For instance, on Monday morning when you go back to the office, you may be tempted to be frustrated, short- tempered, and irritated with people. On Friday you may be tempted to unwind from a tough week in a way you shouldn’t. And on Saturday morning you may be tempted to be lazy, waste time, or be irresponsible. What are you tempted to do – or not do –on different days of the week?
   
   You’re also tempted more at certain times of the day – and you need to know what those times of day are. Maybe you’re tempted in the later afternoon when your blood sugar is low and you’re irritable. Or you may be tempted whenever it’s late at night and everyone else is in bed.
   
   I can handle any diet until noon. I have great self-control until noon. But after lunch and after dinner, I’m a goner. I’m most tempted to overeat between 7:00 p.m. and midnight. I can eat more calories in snacks between 7:00 p.m. and midnight than I ate in breakfast, lunch, and dinner combined. It may be a different time for you, but you need to know it.
   
   
2. Where am I most tempted?
   
   Maybe you’re most tempted in a certain restaurant. Or you’re most tempted when you go to the local gas station and see a certain kind of magazine on the shelves. Or maybe you’re tempted when you’re in your neighbor’s house. If you know where you’re tempted, stay away. It’s that simple. If you don’t want to get stung, stay away from the bees. There’s no place you can go that’s more important than avoiding temptation.
   
   
3. Who am I with when I’m tempted?
   
   Some people are more tempted when they’re alone. They’re tempted when they think nobody is watching. Others are tempted when they’re with other people, usually certain people. They’re tempted when they’re out with “the guys” or “the girls.” Some people are the most tempted when they’re around strangers. They think, nobody knows who I am. I can do whatever I want. Others are tempted with family. You’ll act in certain ways with your family that you wouldn’t dare do in public.
   
   A good plan to stop temptation will take into account the people you’re with when you’re tempted. You may or may not be able to completely avoid those people, but you can make sure you’re ready for those situations. You can have friends pray for you when you’re in situations like that. And you can be on your guard.
   
   
4. What temporary benefits do I get when I give in?
   
   Sin always has a temporary payoff. You wouldn’t do it if it didn’t. If sin had the pain of a root canal, it wouldn’t be a problem. There’s pleasure in sin. The Bible says it’s fun. But the pleasure is short-term. When you sin, you’re trading short-term pleasure for long-term damage and destruction. It’s not a good deal.
   
   You've got to figure out what you’re getting when you give in to temptation. Why are you doing it? Sometimes you give in for comfort. Other times you give in to relieve stress. Some people are just looking for excitement. Ask yourself, “When I give in to temptation, do I feel more loved, accepted, or popular?” Then you need to look for healthy ways to get those kind of feelings.
   
   
5. How do I feel right before I’m tempted?
   
   You need to know your emotional triggers. Maybe you get so frustrated that you don’t know what to do and you give in to temptation. Maybe you get mad and that leads to your temptation. Know the emotions that make you vulnerable to temptations. There are good and bad ways to deal with any emotion. Learn some of the good ways to deal with your problem emotions.

Four ways pastoring today is different than 30 years ago

Times are a-changing.

*****************

By Margaret Feinberg

Over the last 30 years, the job descriptions for pastors have shifted. While preaching and teaching are still standards for most pastors, some church leaders are discovering that their roles are evolving as the expectations and needs of their congregations change. What is different about younger evangelical pastors today than a generation before them? Here are a few trends to consider:

Use of technology
One of the biggest shifts is the use of technology. With the age of the Internet, pastors found themselves with a whole new world in which to communicate with their congregations, share their messages, and interact with their world. Today, many pastors use email, Twitter, blogging, and Facebook as tools for pastoring.
A pastor in Denver, Colorado, describes Facebook and Myspace as an effective way to keep up with members of his church. On a Sunday morning, he may ask a member how they’re doing. They’ll claim everything is great, but Facebook will reveal a completely different story. Because the pastor is friends on Facebook, he has the ability to bring up the issue online and in person. The idea of virtual pastoring is becoming more prevalent.

A community of believers
Another trend that is emerging in many churches is a shift from a monologue to a dialogue approach to leadership. Rather than a single person taking the pulpit and carrying the responsibilities, communities are developing a more inclusive and experiential fellowship where the church body responds as a body. Often this translates into a team approach to leadership and fulfilling the roles – pastor, teacher, prophet – of a church.
Within this setting, some pastors of even large congregations are finding themselves as connectors. They are constantly raising up new believers, encouraging active participation, and engaging members to serve and worship as followers of Jesus. This dedication to building a community of believers may mean that a pastor recommends a particular counselor rather than trying to counsel individuals himself. As a result, the pastor can encourage members to pursue their passions and develop the gifts God has given them.

Entrepreneurial hat
A number of young pastors describe themselves as wearing an entrepreneurial hat. They recognize that some of the things that were working in the church are no longer, and they’re committed to developing new approaches, practices, and tactics. They’re willing to take risks, try new things, and think outside the box in the way they share the gospel and build community.
Innovation is a hallmark of many pastors wearing the entrepreneurial hat. Whether growing a network of multi-site churches, planting a new church in an under-reached area, or using technology to draw people into the church, they are willing to go where others haven’t gone before in order to reach those who haven’t heard the Gospel before.

Spiritual shopping
One of the challenges that is emerging with young pastors is the spiritual shopping of many believers and seekers. Because of the high mobility of our culture, people are constantly on the move. The idea of living in the same town, let alone the same area of town, is becoming a foreign concept for millions. Meanwhile, the consumerism found throughout our culture is seeping into the church.
Christians are becoming choosy about church and their spiritual shopping sprees are challenging for church leaders. If a church isn’t meeting a person’s needs, they’re likely to leave and simply keep on shopping. Or if a person is challenged in an area where they need to grow, they may opt for the easy solution: switch churches. The result is that many pastors are struggling to keep church members long enough to grow them into disciples of Christ.

DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONTROL

August 19, 2009

Good Morning!

“People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.” 1

Like it or not, discipline and self-control are basic to spiritual growth and maturity: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…But the fruit of the Spirit is…self-control” (I Tim. 4:7b NAS; Gal. 5:22a, 23b).

If we in our world of touchy-feely me-centered Christianity resent and resist restrictions in the name spiritual liberty, we may want to consider St. Paul ’s analogy of spiritual maturity to two great Greek festivals, the Olympic and Isthmian games: “You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself…“ (I Cor. 9:24-27 Msg. Trans.). (See 2 Tim 2:5)

Paul implores us to “run to win.” Unlike the Greek athletes, ours is for an imperishable prize: “…God…has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you…I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (I Pet. 1:3, 4; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8 - Selected).

Athletes in training gain control over their minds and bodies and place themselves on a strict regimen. Paul, in like manner put himself on a rigorous routine of discipline, lest he be shelved (in terms of effective service.) (I Cor. 9:27) In Romans 8:13 the Apostle gives us the means by which winning over the flesh is possible: “If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

The reality is that the imperishable requires discipline and self control just as the perishable: “…Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us” (Heb. 12:1b NLT). As followers of Christ, whatever good we may accomplish, whether in education, business, the arts, our marriage, sports, our walk with God - you name it, can only be achieved through these twin virtues as we are led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. (See Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16)

Many of us started out on our pilgrimage with Christ with enthusiasm and a deep sense of devotion. Somewhere along the way however, we “broke training” as the flesh, the world, our daily concerns and personal interests - and laziness, choked our spiritual growth: “…The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Mk. 4:19). (See 1 Jn. 2:15, 16)

Look around you at your fellow believers. Many are slaves to their bodies, which tell their minds what to do. Their impulse is to eat and drink what they want, when they want; to sleep as they please; to indulge in whatever entertainment crosses their path, etc. It behooves us to consider Paul’s caution: "Everything is permissible for me--but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me--but I will not be mastered by anything” (I Cor. 6:12 ). (See I Cor. 10:23)

QUESTION: So tell me, my fellow brother or sister in Christ, how are you doing in the discipline and self-control departments? Do you view yourself as a person of excellence? Do you respect yourself? Are you choosing to prioritize and focus your life? Are you choosing to order and discipline your mind and your world so that you make time for God, your kids, your spouse, and serving others? Jesus, our model and standard, had a reputation for excellence: "He has done everything well" (Mk. 7:37). How about you?

1 D. A. Carson , For the Love of God

My prayer is that you are having a great week!

R. Dwight Hill

FOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WALK WITH GOD

"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"

"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"

August 12, 2009

Good Morning!

LET ME ASK YOU FOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WALK WITH GOD:

In an age of casual Christianity and mediocre spirituality, it behooves us to take careful stock of our lives, asking the penetrating, hard questions, with the understanding that one day we will give an account to a holy God who reminds us that “without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14) “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5) (See Matt. 5:20; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10)

Are you going deep with God? By that I mean, are you studying God’s word regularly, carefully, and in depth? How about memorizing key passages and praying them into your life? Are you internalizing quality spiritual material in the vein of Elizabeth Elliott, Richard Foster, Cynthia Heald, C. S. Lewis, George McDonald, Henry Nouwen, J. I. Packer, John Piper, John Stott, A. W. Tozier, Dallas Willard, and Philip Yancy, etc? Or are you only reading light weight, quick fix religious fast food caliber material that is so prevalent today? Are you choosing to associate with men and women of spiritual substance, who challenge you to the core to be hard after God; to be great for God?

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart…Train yourself to be godly…Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth...He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Jer. 29:13;1 Tim. 4:7b; 2 Tim 2:15; Pro. 13:20 )

Do you possess a passion for holiness? By that I mean a passion for Christlikeness. An exercise to help you intelligently answer that question is to prayfully review Galatians 5:19-23 as to where you really stack up. Tell me, do you gravitate toward what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise? (Phil. 4:8) Or are you inclined toward that which is sensual, pride-based, and materialistic? Does your heart truly yearn for God? Does your daily schedule and check book strongly suggest that the knowledge of and service to the Holy One is your top priority?

“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God… One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple…To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” (Psa. 84:2; 27:4; Pro. 8:13)

Are you a broken vessel before God? Or does your pride rule your life? Are you grieved over your attraction to sin? Do you have a tendency to react whenever someone crosses you, challenges your authority, or corrects you? Do you secretly pride yourself on your achievements, ministry, financial success, and social status? If you are truly honest, are you focused primarily on yourself or on serving others?

“The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise… All who fear the Lord will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech…Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Psa. 51:17 NLT; Pro. 8:13; Phil. 2:3, 4)

Are you intentionally engaging with the lost (the “unconvinced”) with a view toward influencing them toward Christ? Or are you hunkered down in your holy huddle, safe among the churched? "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men…When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some… " (Matt. 4:19; Lk. 14:12-14; I Cor. 9:22b)

My prayer is that you are having a great week!

R. Dwight Hill

FEAR

FEAR (Alarmed concern, anxiety, apprehension, consternation, dread, fright, panic, terror, timidity, trepidation, unease)

Fear is like back pain: Paralyzing. Immobilizing. Consuming. Certainly it is not God’s idea of how we are to live our lives. Rather, it is God’s intention that we be free from fear: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline...I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears…” (Isa.41:10; 2 Tim. 1:7a; Psa. 34:4)

The raw truth about fear is that it is the absence of faith in not believing God:

· [Jesus] said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mk. 4:40)

· “[Jesus] replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matt. 8:26)

· “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” (Psa. 112:7)

What is it that we fear the most?

* Failure: “I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground…” (Matt. 25:254b) (See Psa. 42:5; Isa. 31:1)
* The future: “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” (Psa. 112:7)
* People: Isaac lied to Abimelech that his wife was his sister. (Gen 26:1-11) (See Gen. 12:20-20; 20; Pro. 29:25)
* That God is not with us: “O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.” (Psa. 30:7) (See Psa. 10:1; 13:1; 143:7)

Even some of the best people in the Scriptures stumbled in fear. For example:

* Elijah, after courageously confronting and destroying the prophets of Baal, fearfully runs from Jezebel, who threatens his life. (I Kin. 18:16-19:3)
* Peter boasts that he will lay down his life for Christ and then fearfully denies him. (Jn. 13:37; 18:15-27)

The Enemy of our soul wants us immobilized by fear. God, however, implores us to trust him and be free from fear:

* “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you." (Deu. 3:22)
* “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Jos.. 1:9) (See Jos.. 1:5-9)

* "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." (Isa. 35:4a)
* “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (Psa. 46:1,2) (See Jos.. 8:1; Matt. 10:28; Psa. 23:4; 1 Jn. 4:18)
* “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn. 14:27)

May I entreat you to join the company of courageous people who believed God and overcame their fears:

* Peter and John defied the authorities’ prohibition in witnessing for Christ. (See Act. 4:7-13; 5:17-32)
* Paul in facing trial and probable death: "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem , not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Act. 20:22-24)


My prayer is that you are having a great week!

R. Dwight Hill