One Person at a Time...

This Sunday at New Life!

This Sunday at New Life we're wrapping up our series:  Tough Questions--What Does the Bible Say About ________?  This week's tough question is:  What Does the Bible Say about the Age of the Universe and the Debate over Creation and Evolution?  That is a mouthful, isn't it?  What we're really going to talk about is the relationship of faith and science.  You'll probably be surprised where that relationship leads us.  In the end, the message is about TRUTH.  I hope you'll be there, because all of us need to know what the Bible says--and DOESN'T say--about these important matters!

The Myth of the "Balanced" Life

As I was praying and running this moring a thought reoccurred to me:  A balanced life is not worth living.  The thought was not original.  In fact, it was another thought from John Ortberg's fantastic book "The Life You've Always Wanted."  The other day I spoke of the difference between training and trying.  The concept comes from Ortberg's book as well.  (At the time I knew it came from Ortberg, but I just came across his book on my book shelf and took the time to scan through it.  I found that both ideas came from it.)

The reason a balanced life is not worth living, in fact the reason that a balanced life is--or at least ought to be--a myth is that balance is not a worthy goal in our lives.  Balance is, as Ortberg puts it, "a middle class goal."  The myth of balance tells us that we have "compartments" in our lives.  These compartments are:  recreational, relational, financial, spiritual, vocational, physical, intellectual, emotional, etc...  The problem is to compartmentalize spirituality as one of many "pieces" of the "pie" called life, is to assume that I'm not being spiritual when I'm making money, or playing basketball, or talking with a new acquaintance.  In reality, spirituality is (or ought to be) part of who I am in all areas and aspects of life.  I've found that when I'm living passionately in the name of Jesus that ALL areas of my life reflect Him.  That's also my goal.  I don't want an evenly balanced "pie", with all the "pieces" the same size and shape.  I want Jesus to be pouring in, under, over and through ALL the "pieces" of my "pie"!  The next time you find yourself thinking that you need more "balance" in your life, pause and ask God to give you more JESUS in your life!  What will follow will be way better---and undoubtedly way more challenging than a balanced life. 

Training vs Trying (Revisited)

I'll be forever grateful to John Ortberg for his words about the difference between training and trying.  Trying is simply making an attempt to do something that one cannot do--the usual result is failure.  Training is making intentional effort over time in order to accomplish at a future time what one cannot accomplish now.  The difference between training and trying is nearly always the difference between success and failure.  I'm in the fourth week of my return to training when it comes to prayer and running. (For me the two go together, which makes the results both spiritual and physical!)  The difference I am already feeling and experiencing in both my spiritual and physical well-being are significant.  The key thing that I've noticed is that it's easier to get back in shape--both phyiscally and spiritually, because I was in good shape before taking a rather extended break from my praying/running routine to build our house and then to "recover" from building it!  What I've noticed is that the lungs have come back rather quickly, and that I'm actually able to run a little faster for longer periods of time than I could before I took the break from training.  In the spiritual arena, I've found that my prayers move more quickly to the "4th mile" as I described it sometime back, when I wait on the Lord and listen for His instructions rather than simply laying petitions before Him. 

I would urge anyone who reads my blog to consider areas in your lives where you need to see changes--spiritual, mental, physical--whatever.  Sit down with the Lord and plan a training strategy, and then implement it.  If the plan involves physical training and you're really out of shape, or have never done physical training make sure you get some medical advice before starting.  And remember--you are TRAINING not trying.  Don't go out and try to run five miles if you haven't been walking five blocks a day!  Training is slow, steady, PERSISTENT activity that OVER TIME brings about success where you have never experienced it.  Remember that perserverance is the KEY to training!

Next Step #15 -- Sabbath!

Hi Everyone!  This week’s next Step #15 is titled “Sabbath!”

In the Old Testament God ordered “Sabbath” or a day of rest into the order of creation. God told His people that they were to work six days, but that the seventh day was to be a Sabbath to the Lord. On that day of rest the people were to rest from their work, and focus on the wonder of God, and His presence in their lives. When Jesus came to the earth, the Sabbath had been turned from a blessing into a curse. The religious leaders had defined Sabbath in such a way that nearly no one could keep it. In fact, if a person had a loose thread on their clothing and it was discovered, they would be accused of “bearing a burden” on the Sabbath! Jesus made it clear that such rules were not God’s intent. In fact, when the religious leaders accused Jesus’ followers of breaking the Sabbath when they broke off some heads of grain and ate them on the Sabbath day, Jesus told them that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. In other words, the Sabbath is to be a renewing time, not one more day of rigid rule-keeping.

What does that have to do with the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives? Quite a bit, actually!  While we no longer observe the seventh day as the Sabbath, because Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week and the early church changed it’s day of worship to Sunday in honor of that amazing reality, the concept of Sabbath is still part of our heritage as Jesus’ followers. Jesus rose early every morning while it was still dark to engage in time with His Heavenly Father. This was (and is!) Sabbath.  I once heard a church leader say that we need an hour of Sabbath each day, a day of Sabbath each week, and a week of Sabbath each year, in order to maintain our spiritual health. While the observation is not mandated in Scripture, it certainly is in keeping with the biblical mandate for us to observe a Sabbath to the Lord. My Sabbath observation is supposed to be on Fridays.  I say “supposed to be,” because I find it difficult to take a whole day for rest and renewal each week. Yet, the more I have prayed and reflected on the reality of Sabbath as we find it in Scripture, and as it is observed (or more commonly NOT observed) in our own day, the more I have realized how important it is to have that daily and weekly time of Sabbath. (I have not yet taken a week of Sabbath, but hope to do that sometime in the next couple of years!) When we start our day with Sabbath, and when we include Sabbath in our week, what we are saying is that we NEED God, that His Spirit in us is what makes us whole, what makes us followers of Jesus, and not our own effort. If all that was required for us to be more like Jesus was for us to try harder, then Sabbath would make no sense. Sabbath reminds us that it’s NOT about us, but about God! Thus, taking Sabbath renews our dependence on God, and calls us to live in the power of the Spirit.

As we start the fall, why not get out your calendar, look at the “rhythm” of your days and weeks and see when Sabbath makes sense for you? For many Sunday will be the right day for Sabbath—although in my case, as a pastor, Sunday is a full work day, thus the Friday Sabbath. Once you’ve decided, SCHEDULE your Sabbath and then KEEP it.  The results will be a deeper relationship with the Lord, and stronger dependence on the Holy Spirit’s work every day! (One last personal note:  in an effort to keep the Sabbath on Friday, I’m moving the time for writing the weekly “Next Steps” to Saturday. Thus, the shift today, and from this point forward!”) Have a great day, and remember to build Sabbath into your life!

This Sunday At New Life!

"What Does the Bible Say About Sexuality?"  That's this week's tough question as our summer series: "Tough Questions:  What Does the Bible Say About _________? winds down.  We only have two more Sunday's in the series, and this week's message is one you'll want to be there for sure, as we go all the way back to the order of creation, and see what God's intentions were and are for human beings as sexual beings.  Why did God create us with sexuality in the first place, and what was He thinking?!?!  Join us as we address another tough question and challenge one another to respond to God's word in truth and love!

Next Step #14 (Sorry for the Delay!)

One of the most important realities of our lives as those living in the Holy Spirit is that we must START everyday with the Holy Spirit!  What that means is as soon as we get awake--maybe even before we get out of bed--we need to call on the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us.  We also need to submit ourselves to His authority.  In His book, Just Walk Across the Room, Bill Hybels notes that he starts his days by making himself available to the Holy Spirit and whatever He wants to do in Hybels life.  What an importanty reminder for each of us!  Sometimes a day may be so full of activity (and we may want to start be slowing down long enough to ask -- WHY all the activity), that we just jump out of bed, go through our monring routine and move into our days without giving God a second thought.  The longer we live life in the Spirit, the less likely that is to happen.   I've been missing some blogging time over the past couple of weeks, but I have NOT missed my daily start time with God!  The most important reality in life is developing our relationship with God.  As we often remind ourselves at New LIfe, "Unless we seek first the kingdom of God, we won't seek the kingdom of God!"  So, as you go about this day--did you start by asking the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you?  If not, then STOP and ask Him right now.  If you did--praise the Lord!  Make a commitment to start each day with the Holy Spirit, and as you do that, you can be sure the day will bring more fulfillment than any day started and lived without Him!

Even When It's REALLY Bad, God is good...

A week ago Sunday, we arrived in Louisiana for a week of mission work--renovating homes that were destroyed two years ago by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Our first "official" act as a misison team was to attend worship at the relief center where we would be staying for the week.  Pastor Rustin Treadaway spoke about having JOY in the midst of trials and suffering.  Somehow, his message was quite credible!  HIs family's home had been devastated by the flooding, and many of his parishioners homes had been either rendered unlivable or destroyed.  Yet, here he was preaching about God's presence in suffering and the incredible JOY that God gives to those who trust in Him in every circumstance.  Pastor Rustin's congregation is small--and nearly ALL congregations in St. Bernard's parish are much smaller than they were before the flood.  Many folks have not--and will not--return to their former homes there.  Even so, Pastor Rustin preached with power and joy about how God is good even when situations are really bad. He emphasized perseverance as the key to joy.

I was humbled by the message, because I realized how easily my joy turns to frustration, or impatience, or anger, or discouragement, and I"ve never gone through anything like what the folks of the Gulf Coast went through.  God has been teaching me a lot about His joy and maintaining it in ALL circumstances, particularly over the past year or so, but the best illustration I've experienced is the faithful folks in that worship service, who sang of God's power, love and grace, of His BLESSINGS, and Pastor Rustin's message of God's goodness in ALL circumstances.  I'm grateful to God for the powerful message that NO MATTER WHAT happens He is good and our joy may be complete! 

How Long Does It Take To Get In Shape?

I've literally written this post three times.  Twice last week as I wrote it my internet connection was interrupted.  I was at one of those places that had a "wi-fi" connection, but obviously it wasn't overly connected.  ANYWAY, I took Abby to the foot doctor last Tuesday, because we were concerned that she may have had a stress fracture in her left foot.  Thankfully, she didn't, but she was told to take it easy for a couple of weeks--no running, jumping or any "high impact" activity.  I asked the doctor what that would do to her ability to be in shape for basketball.  How long would it take?  He's a friend, who I've known for a while.  He looked at me and said, "For Abby? 3 days.  For you and me about 3 years."  It was a bit of an exaggeration on both counts, but his words struck a nerve.  The older we get the longer it takes to get in shape.  I've never been a "health freak," but over the past couple of years, I've sought to take better care of myself.  Particularly, in 2006, when I got in shape and ran the Cleveland Marathon, I was "in shape." But then in the fall, we built our house and I stopped my daily prayer/running training, and assumed that because I was "working hard," that all would be okay.  Four months of construction work made me a lot more "solid" than I'd been for a while, but in June I stepped on the scales and got a real shock--I'd gained back ALL the weight I'd lost during my half year of praying/running in getting ready for and running the marathon.  I made sporadic attempts to get back in shape in June and July, but as I left for Louisiana on July 28, I made a commitment to get back into shape starting August 6 (the monday after we were to return from the trip.)

So far, so good.  I ran nearly 20 miles last week, and got in 4 this morning.  The 4 this morning were four minutes faster than my four last Tuesday. (I'll run a marathon this week, but it'll take me six days instead of 3-4 hours!) In another several months (not years!) I'll be in shape again.  I'm already "getting my lungs back."  The point?  I'm not 18 anymore, and getting in shape is HARD.  Staying in shape is a lot easier.   Application for you:  if you're 18 get in shape or stay in shape NOW!  If your 38 or 48 or 58 and you're not in shape -- physically or spiritually -- put a plan together (you may want to see your doctor if you haven't been doing anything for a long time!) and work your plan. 

How long does it take to get in shape?  Longer than we think, but not as long as it will take if we wait another month, year or decade to get started!

T-Minus 9....

In just 9 days, Abby leaves for college.  She was ready----well, she's been ready for a looooong time!  Mom and Dad aren't there yet.  Yesterday in worship, as I offered the prayer for all the students who will be starting school at whatever level, it hit me that I have seen some of these "youngsters" born, grow up and now go off to kindergarten, elementary school, middle school and NOW college.  It's a blessing to be able to minister in one area for so long, and a privilege to see God work in people's lives over their entire lives!

A handful of our young people are heading off to college in the next few weeks, and it was they who looked the most eager when they came down front for prayer yesterday.  They're ready--or at least they think they are ready--for life on their own, for making their own decisions, for taking on the world!  I pray that Jesus will hold each one close as they go off to this new adventure, and that as they go out from New Life that they will continue to do their part in sharing the new life of Jesus on their campuses.  It's a lot more personal for me this year, but that's my prayer every year.  I urge everyone who reads this blog to take some time over the coming weeks to lift up our young people, that their return to school may be a blessing and may provide them opportunities to live out their faith in vital ways!

Welcome Brad French!

Just got back from my first meeting with Brad French our new Youth Guy, Worship Coordinator, and Preaching Assistant---and WOW is he going to be a great addition to New Life!  I already knew that from our interviews with him and a few phone conversations, but Brad loves Jesus, is already seeing WAY down the road, and is making suggestions that will make New Life more effective in sharing the new life of Jesus Christ with the world--one person at a time in no time.  His energy and passion for Jesus; his eagerness to develop teams and to encourage those already serving on teams; his knowledge of technology, not to mention his gifts and skills in His areas of ministry are way beyond his years!  I hope if you're part of New Life that you'll take the time to welcome Brad personally this Sunday at worship.  Brad starts officially on Wednesday, but he's not waiting until then to become part of New Life. Those of you who are going to the Pirate game tomorrow night will have the opportunity to meet him there.