10 Hard Questions

Tough stuff quoted from Pastor Perry Noble's blog.

June 3, 2010

Too many times we believe that being busy is equal to being godly…when the Bible says quite the opposite.
Psalm 46:10 SLAYS me every time I read it…CONVICTED!

David said in Psalm 23 that the Lord makes him lie down in green pastures and leads him beside still waters.
The LONGEST, most detailed command in the 10 commandments is the one on rest.
Yet, all of us…especially those in the ministry…wrestle with this.  One of our MAIN temptations is being busy…here are a few questions we can wrestle through to see how busy those of us in ministry are…

#1 – How many times a day do you check your email?  Is there really any reason to check it as often as we do?
#2 – How many times a day do you check twitter?
#3 – How many times a day do you check your facebook page?
#4 – When you go home to do spend time with your family…or merely “tweet” about how you are spending time with your family?
#5 – Do you tell your kids you are too busy to go to their game…but then go to the game of the church members kid so you don’t get into hot water with them?  (BTW…good luck explaining that one to your kids in 20 years!)
#6 – Do you have a time during the day when you turn off your cell phone so that you can uninterrupted study time, prayer time and time with your spouse?
#7 – Do you always have to have noise around you…such as do you always have to have the radio on in the car OR the TV on at home, even if you are not listening to/watching it?
#8 – How much time do you spend commenting on blogs and social media sites?  (honestly, don’t know too many certified blog commenters that are actually changing the world!)
#9 – Are you accessible at any time of the day by anyone who needs you?  (LOTS of pastors LOVE to make this claim…usually at the expense of their family and their own walk with God.  If you want to walk with Jesus you can’t do it by always having a crowd around…you’ve got to have some time set aside.)
#10 – Are you willing to make the adjustments that you need to make based on the nine questions above?  If not then you are most likely addicted to noise and being busy…which looks good to others but absolutely destroys our walk with God.

Psalm 46:10!

ONE MORE THING…this is absolutely the most convicting blog post I’ve ever written…He’s PRESSING into me to make some major adjustments in regards to the noise in my life, would appreciate your prayers as I try my best to fully obey Him.

The Sting of Betrayal

I think whether is for this issue or other, as Christians, it is important to regularly examine ourselves, our relationship with our Lord, the motivations of our heart.

Friday, June 04, 2010

Today's Text: John 13:21

 

“Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.’” John 13:21 Most of us are familiar with the events in the upper room, where we see Jesus washing the dusty feet of His followers and preparing them for the drama that was about to unfold in the final stage of His earthly ministry. When Jesus—“troubled in spirit”—predicted that one of them would betray Him, it’s no wonder that the disciples “stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant” (John 13:22). Weren’t they all fully committed to Jesus? For three years they had been in this thing together. Little did they know that there was a traitor in their midst.
Betrayal often comes from those we would least suspect. And—here’s a news flash—the person you might least suspect could even be you. The seeds of betrayal are sown in the unseen world of our hearts. And while the seeds may be unnoticed for a time, left unchecked they will inevitably begin to pop up to the surface of our lives in tragic ways.
Some of us have already betrayed Jesus at the heart-level. Often it is a slow, subtle shift from being fully devoted to Him, to following the seductive lure of personal pleasure or gain. Hearts dedicated to cash and comfort are quick to bail when Jesus calls us to sacrifice and suffer for Him. But, whether the betrayal is “big” or seemingly small, it is always in the face of His love. That’s what makes it so wrong, so brazen. When we lose the wonder of His amazing love for us, when we fail to look at His nail-scarred hands, when we start taking His daily provision for granted, we run the risk of cultivating a compromised heart.
And when we betray Jesus, it also shows how stubborn we can be. Clearly, Judas had already made up his mind, or perhaps the love that Jesus extended to him in the upper room—washing his feet and honoring him with a distinguished seat at the table—might have made him think twice. It’s a reminder that when we have decided that we want to sin—that the wrong in our lives serves some purpose that is more important than anything else—we have the capacity to insulate our choice from any outside influence that would cause us to change. We go to church and essentially say to God, “I don’t care what You or anyone else says today. I don’t plan on changing. I don’t care what my spouse says, what my friends say. I don’t care what it means to my job, to my family, or even to Your reputation.” The resolve to sin is an engine that is powerful enough to drive us past even the deepest love of Christ all the way to betrayal. Sin is often an in-His-face, stubborn enterprise.
It’s what happened to Judas and, if we’re not careful, it can happen to us. But if we carefully cultivate a heart that responds to Jesus’ amazing love, we can find ourselves in the group of followers who will stay true to the end!
So, whose crowd are you in—the 11 who followed Jesus regardless, or the one who wanted life his way regardless? Think about it!

YOUR JOURNEY…

• In your opinion, what heart issues may have led Judas to eventually betray his friendship with Jesus? Can you identify with any of those issues?
• You may not be tempted to turn Jesus over to the authorities as Judas did, but in what ways do we betray Jesus in terms of our friendship and devotion to Him? 
• What issues in your heart might threaten to derail your commitment to Christ? If you’re not sure, ask Him to reveal those areas to you—just as He revealed the reality of Judas’ imminent betrayal—and then pray that He will break down any stubbornness that might keep you from responding to His love.
• How can you avoid cultivating seeds of compromise in your heart?

A Quote

	“It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

The Great Race

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Today's Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24

“Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24
The month of June brings many sure signs of summer: the sweet smell of cut grass, soft breezes, picnics, fireflies, thunderstorms—and runners. This unique breed of humanity, forced to run circles in cramped indoor quarters during the North American winter, emerges with the first hint of spring and spends the summer dashing through neighborhoods and parks.
I have nothing against runners. Some of my best friends are addicted runners. Though I have never seen a runner smiling, apparently there is something fulfilling about it. I even tried it once, waiting for that surge of ecstasy that my friends told me I would experience, only to find that the ecstasy came when I stopped running!

So, whatever you think about running, it’s important to note that the Bible often speaks of living the Christian life as if it we were running a race.  Following Jesus is clearly more than a leisurely stroll in the park! And the issue is not whether you will run the race. When you became His follower, you were put in the race. The question is not will you run, but how will you run?

So, here are three keys to running well.

First, stay in shape! I like Paul’s perspective in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” In other words, you need to be in it to win, and, like any race, winning requires discipline. As spiritual runners, we must discipline ourselves in the exercise and dietary habits of prayer and reading God’s Word. Drinking at the fountain of prayer and digesting the food of God’s Word gives us strength and motivation to run and win.

Secondly, obey the rules! Like all races, running to win means staying in the boundaries. Paul committed himself to living his life by God’s rules. He did not want to be “disqualified for the prize” (v.27).  As good runners, we embrace the rules and gladly submit to them.

Thirdly, run light! As Hebrews 12:1 instructs us, we are to lay aside every hindering weight and the sin that so easily besets us. What is it that distracts you and what is the sin that slows you down? Take them off and run light!

And finally, a couple more tips. Hebrews 12:1 also tells us to be willing to persevere. Our race is more than a few laps around the track—it’s a long-distance marathon. And let’s face it, this marathon can be stressful. Sometimes it’s the wind of life blowing against us—or mud kicked in our face from the runner in front of us. But whatever the case, runners that win never give up!
And keep your eyes on the finish line. Jesus is there! When you run for the honor and glory of His name, He reaches out with the victor’s crown and says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
In my book, that’s worth running for!

YOUR JOURNEY…

• Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Would you say that you are running “aimlessly,” or are you competing for the “crown that will last forever”?
• Read Hebrews 12:1-3. What things hinder and entangle you, and how do you intend to throw them off? What does Paul say to do so that you will not “grow weary and lose heart”?
• In Paul’s parting words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, he says that he is not the only one who will be awarded by the Lord. How does that encourage you to keep running for the prize?

THREE MEASURING STICKS OF GODLY CHARACTER

"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"

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

May 05, 2010

Good Morning!
                                              

Good character today is in short supply.  For example, in a recent survey, 61% of college students admitted cheating at least once.  Of them, 73% felt no remorse, and getting caught stopped only 7%.  The IRS claims that 40% of Americans are “out of compliance” – a nice way of saying they are cheating on their taxes. The sacred mantra of postmodern values is not absolute truth, since truth is now what you define it to be, but the twin pillars of independence and tolerance.  Translated:  “I get to do what I want to do, and I allow you to do what you want to do.” 

By way of contrast, godly character is living out biblical imperatives with integrity.  Following are three measuring sticks of that character: +

Core: What you are at the core of your being reveals the essence of your character.  David said of God, “…You desire truth in the inner parts…”  Literally, one’s “inmost thought.” (Psa. 51:6b)   Solomon reminds us that, “as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Pro. 23:7 - NKJV)    Only you and God know exactly who you are at the core, as revealed by your thinking patterns.   

Consistency: “A person’s core character is seen best in what he or she reveals consistently, rather than in a single statement or random act.” (Tocqueville)  Tocqueville referred to this consistency as “the habits of the heart.”  Said King David, ^“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast…”  (Psa. 57:7a)  And the man who fears God? “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”  (Ps. 112:7)  Nietzsche referred to consistency as “a long obedience in the same direction.”   Observe the centrality of consistency in both the life and teaching of Jesus: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  "…Because lawlessness will abound (in the end times), the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”  (Heb. 13:2 (NIV; Matt. 24:12,13 NKJV)  (See Psa. 37:24 Isa. 50:7; Rom. 12:12; I Cor. 13:7; 2 Tim. 2:10, 12; Jms. 1:12)

Cost:  The test of our consistency of character is determined by what we are willing to suffer for our convictions.  If our core values are not worth dying for, they certainly are not worth living for.  It is not true that every man has his price. Consider the life of St. Paul: “…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... I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race.”  (Act. 20:24; Act. 9:1-3) (See Phil. 1:20, 21; 2:27; Col. 1:24)

QUESTION:  Based on these three measuring sticks, how would you evaluate your character?  Is there an area where change is needed?

Wake Him Up!

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Today's Text: Hebrews 4:16

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Eloise worked the cash register in the food court at Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute. She was, by far and away, one of my favorite people. I liked a lot of things about Eloise: her happy smile, helpful spirit, and love for everyone. But what I liked best was her down-home, streetwise wisdom that came out in some of the most memorable quips. I could give you a bunch of them, but here’s one that just might be a good word for you.

One morning, as I reached into my pocket to pull out the cash for my breakfast, I asked Eloise how she was doing, to which she replied, “Not all that great.”

“Really?” I asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Well,” she quipped, “I had to wake Him up this morning!”

I wasn’t quite getting where she was going with that, so I asked, “What do you mean? Wake who up?”

“Don’t you know your Bible?” she teasingly said with an obvious sense of joy at stumping the Moody president. To save me any further embarrassment, she went on to say, “When the disciples thought they were going to die in the storm at sea, they had to wake up Jesus so He would help them. I had to wake Him up this morning,” she said, “’cause I needed His help!”

See why she’s one of my favorite people?
What she didn’t say, though, was that it seems like Jesus was the last resort for those panicked disciples. Luke tells us that it wasn’t until the boat was nearly swamped, and it was clear that they were in great danger, that someone had the brilliant idea to wake up Jesus.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we are usually pretty slow as well to wake Him up. Well, actually, we don’t need to wake Him up since the God who watches over us neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:3)! In reality, we’re the ones who need to wake up. We need to wake up to the truth that we are not as capable as we think we are to deal with life’s challenges; that our wisdom and instincts are flawed; that trying to manage life by the seat of our pants usually gets us into a heap of trouble.

So, thankfully, the writer to the Hebrews assures us that we can come to Jesus with what the text literally says is “unstaggering confidence”—confidence that He understands our plight and is ready to help us in our time of need. And, in case you’re wondering how He will help you in your time of need, think about His grace that will help you endure, His mercy, His power to overcome, His wisdom to show you the way. And don’t forget His calming presence and His peace that passes understanding in the midst of life’s storms. They are all available for the asking!

So, next time you are overwhelmed with life and don’t know what to do, take a little advice from my friend Eloise: wake Him up! And don’t wait until He is your last resort. You’ll get exhausted and disheartened if you try to bail out your boat all by yourself!

Which reminds me of a wonderful old song that we used to sing in church when I was a boy. It goes, “I need thee, Oh, I need thee! Every hour I need thee! Oh, bless me now my Savior, I come to thee.” You’ll need Him sometime—probably today—so make that the theme song of your life.

YOUR JOURNEY…

• Would you say that Jesus is your first option when life gets in your face? Or is He your last resort?
• What specific steps can you take toward being aware of God’s presence and desire to step in and help you?
• At least once today, plan to intentionally call on God. Ask for His wisdom to know what to do and His grace to do it in a way that would be pleasing to Him. Make it a daily, lifelong habit!

 

Myths vs Opportunities by Dr Ian Jagelman

Thought there were some good key points from this morning's sermon.

1. Some opportunities occur because of the actions of others. But, we should not be controlled by the actions of others.
2. Some opportunities are God given. God can and does intervene in our lives.
3. Other opportunities are created by our own actions and attitudes.


Some pointers:
1. Taking seriously our stewardship of God's grace; both the Saving and Enabling grace that He bestows on us.
2. We need to stay focus on God's purpose
3. Investing some of the present (time) now to make the future possible
4. Learning to know who not to trust (cos many people want to affect or speak into our future and they may not be right or know God's purpose for our lives)
5. We need to learn from past experiences
6. To make the future possible, continue to believe that everything that God says to us is possible.