One Person at a Time...

This Sunday at New Life!

What is the GREATEST gift of all?  That's the topic of the day this Sunday at New Life!  As we move to the second Sunday in our 40 Days of Gratitude, the message is "Grateful for the Greatest Gift of All!"  If you want to get ready, read 1 Timothy 1:12-17, and find out what the Apostle Paul has to say about the greatest gift of all.  This will be a great Sunday to come if you've never been at New Life before, or if you come to New Life all the time--it will be a great Sunday to bring a friend!  Looking forward to seeing YOU there!

Updating the Address Book...

My daughters have been telling me for a LOOOONG time that I need to switch from AOL to Internet Explorer as my web browser, and to use Outlook instead of AOL for mail.  Over the last couple of days I finally did it.  First, let me say---THEY were RIGHT! 

Next, let me say that because I had trouble getting my address book to transfer from AOL to Outlook, our pastor of administration suggested that I send an e-mail to everyone in my address book on AOL, including myself, and then taking each of the e-mail addresses and add them to my contacts in Outlook.  It worked! AND I received a half a dozen e-mails from folks who haven't been in touch for a while, and I even received one pastor appreciation note!  It was REALLY worth it.  So, thanks Abby and Emmy for the advice, which took me way too long to implement.  Thanks to Pat for the suggestion of how to transfer the address book.  Thanks to those of YOU who contacted me and let me know what's happening in your lives!

Why?

Lately it seems that I've been running into a lot of folks who have the question, "Why?" in their minds--and hearts.  You know how it goes, "Why does suffering exist if God is good and in charge?"  "Why did my Mom have to die?"  "Why did I get fired when I was honest and hard-working?"  The list is long.  Back in the 1970's Rabbi Kushner "answered" the questions in His book WHEN Bad Things Happen to Good People.  Actually, he didn't answer the questions.  Otherwise His book would have been titled, WHY Bad Things Happen to Good People.  He came to the conclusion that God is GOOD, but He's not all-powerful, therefore, He can't help us in our suffering.  Kushner reasoned that if God could help us but doesn't, then He isn't good.

But what if there's more to it than that?  What if God IS good, can help us, but DOESN'T sometimes.  Why would God do that?  The Apostle Paul helps us out through his "thorn in the flesh" situation in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10: "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time he said, 'MY GRACE IS ALL YOU NEED. MY POWER WORKS BEST IN WEAKNESS.'  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  True, Paul didn't die from his "thorn in the flesh," but then again, he didn't get better either.  Eventually, Paul was executed for his faith in Jesus.  Surely a loving and good God wouldn't let folks die for their trust in Him? 

We forget two important realities:  1)  The "thief" (Satan) comes to kill, steal and destroy (see John 10:10)--there IS evil and it is at work 24/7 in our world; and 2) God gives us the opportunity to choose our actions, and many times those actions have negative consequences.  Those two realities account for much suffering and death in our world.  In the cases when they don't appear to: diseases such as cancer, "accidents", "acts of God" and the like, consider this:  If sin had never entered the world neither would disease have entered it.  Accidents are the result of poor decisions on someone's parts, and we can scarcely blame God for our poor decisions.  "Acts of God" may or may not be truly acts of God.  In any case God's use of natural disasters is an act of judgment on sin according to the Bible.  Once again if sin had not entered the world, such acts would not occur.  So, we may trace all suffering to sin--not that of the one suffering necessarily--although sometimes it is.  God created the world GOOD, and put human beings in it to love Him and one another and to care for His good creation.  That we did not follow God's plan is not His fault, but ours.  Suffering then is the consequence of sin, and when "innocent" people suffer we may ask, "Why?"  We may pray for relief as Paul did.  Our faith may be strong, and yet the answer God gives may be, "My grace is sufficient for you."  If Paul's healing would have provided God the most glory in the situation, then he would have been healed.  The same is true in our lives.  Sometimes God grants physical healing, at ALL times He grants grace that is sufficient for us.  That doesn't always ease the pain when we're in it.  Otherwise, Paul would have stopped asking after the FIRST request, right? 

It is never easy to suffer or to watch those we love suffer and be taken from us.  It isn't supposed to be--because God's ultimate will is that we be together forever!  That's why He sent Jesus to DIE on the cross and pay the penalty of death for our sins, so that while the "thief" may have momentary victory here and now, God has the ultimate victory now and forever!

Next Step #22

Next Step #22 – October 13, 2007

Hi Everyone!

As you may recall from the last several next steps, we’re investing some time in investigating the “FRUIT” of the Spirit.  The Apostle Paul writes the following in Galatians 5:22-23:

         ²²But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

     The fifth trait in the fruit of the Spirit is KINDNESS.  Kindness may not seem like a spiritual “fruit.”  After all, isn’t kindness a common, everyday “nicety” that we expect from others?  Actually, kindness is a “sleeper,” when it comes to the fruit of the Spirit.  Everyone is so busy and stressed these days, that when one is NOT operating under the control of the Holy Spirit, kindness goes out the window.  In fact, in my own life, I can tell when the Holy Spirit isn’t leading, because I go into my “kick the dog” mode.  I don’t actually kick the dog—at least hardly ever anymore!—but you probably know what I mean.  I just go around in a general mean-spirited manner.  I don’t offer the common, everyday, nicety known as kindness.  The Apostle Paul’s discernment regarding how the Holy Spirit transforms us was so astute, wasn’t it?  The nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit cover the gamut when it comes to attitudes and actions that are produced when the Holy Spirit is leading. 

     I’ve always said that what I want on my tombstone (not the pizza!) is “He served Jesus, and even his wife and daughters loved him.”  I say that because sometimes in the name of serving Jesus, we can forget the necessity of letting the Spirit fill and indwell us, so that it isn’t our effort, but His that shapes us.  When we “serve” Jesus in our own power the result can be ugly.  That’s why we MUST be filled and re-filled with the Holy Spirit. When we are the common nicety known as kindness will be one of the realities we share with others!  Take the time right now, to pause and ask God to fill you anew with the Spirit that you may exhibit ALL of the aspects of the fruit that comes with His presence.

This Sunday at New Life!

Join us THIS Sunday at New Life as we launch a new series of messages titled "40 Days of Gratitude!"  This 40 day journey comes from a firmly held conviction that as God's people we need to have attitudes of gratitude ALL the time, not just on the fourth Thursday of November.  Sometimes we forget just how many blessings we have received and that on the WORST day of our lives as followers of Jesus we are STILL bound for an eternity with Jesus. 

In addition to the Sunday messages, we'll have 40 Days of daily readings relating to gratitude as well as the opportunity to be part of a 40 Days of Gratitude LIFE (home) Group for the 40 Days.  If you've been thinking about getting back to worship--THIS SUNDAY's a great day to pus some action behind the thoughts.  We'll be glad to see you!

I Didn't Feel Like....

I woke up this morning and I didn't feel like getting out of bed.  I didn't feel like running.  I didn't feel like praying.  I wasn't sick.  I wasn't depressed.  I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep.  I'd gone to be early enough that I knew that wasn't the problem.  What to do?  I got out of bed, got dressed, drove to rails-to-trails and ran and prayed!  One of the most important realizations in our lives as followers of Jesus is that we don't have to be ruled by our feelings.  So many times I've heard someone say, "I don't feel like reading my bible."  "I don't feel like visiting my parents."  "I don't feel like _________." (Fill in the blank with any of dozens of responsibilities we own as followers of Jesus and citizens of this planet!)  The difference between a meaningful life, and a life of good intentions that doesn't fulfill us is CHOOSING to base our life on Jesus' will rather than our feelings.

By the way, AFTER I prayed and ran, I felt like praying and running.  I felt a whole lot better about the day, and right now, I feel happy that I didn't let my feelings determine my activities for the day.  Otherwise, I might still be in bed, and would have missed out on an hour alone with God, prayer walking with Chuck, and visiting and praying with four folks in the nursing home who really appreciated the visit and prayer--one of whom I had never met before today.  What are you basing your life on today?

Great Quote from Aristotle!

Came across this quote from Aristotle, and thought it worth sharing:  WE ARE WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO.  EXCELLENCE, THEN IS NOT AN ACT, BUT A HABIT.  Several other related quotes come to mind:  Rick Warren:  "We become what we are committed to in life."  "Practice makes permanent."  Our ultimate reality in this life comes from TRAINING--from practicing over and over again those things that we want to become, until we become it!  What are you doing today that's forging the habits of excellence for tomorrow?

Next Step #21

Next Step #21 – October 6, 2007

Hi Everyone!

As you may recall from the last several next steps, we’re investing some time in investigating the “FRUIT” of the Spirit.  The Apostle Paul writes the following in   ²²But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!Galatians 5:22-23:

The fourth trait in the fruit of the Spirit is PATIENCE! Let me say that over the years, patience has often been the most challenging aspect of the fruit of the Spirit for me.  I’m right there with the folks who pray, “Lord, give me patience—and give it to me NOW!”  Patience is referred to as “long-suffering” in the King James translation of the Bible, and I’ve often thought that they got it right.  Patience is so much more than just enduring suffering, though, or waiting out a situation.  Patience is really living in God’s timing.  After all, when we wait for any good thing in life, it must be because God knows that waiting will be a blessing to us in the long run, right?  Since God knows everything, and since His desire is to do good to us ALWAYS, then waiting for anything means that the blessing will be all the greater for the delay. It’s in those times of waiting that we exercise the fruit of patience.  As with every aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, patience can only ultimately be experienced in our lives when we give up control to the Holy Spirit.  As long as we are holding onto control, impatience will be the order of most days.  We want everything NOW, and our culture certainly promotes instant gratification.  The challenge, then, is to wait on the Lord, to give up control so the Holy Spirit can fill us anew, and then to trust that God’s timing is ALWAYS right.  As we do that we’ll find that patience is the natural by-product.  When we demonstrate patience, everyone around us is blessed, not just us.  Patience is one of those qualities in our lives that shows others God IS in control, and may open doors for conversation about His leading in our lives.  So take some time right now, to give up control, and to ask God to work in you in EVERY situation in His timing today!

This Sunday at New Life!

Join us this Sunday at New Life when we'll be looking at what it means to SEE with the eyes of Jesus the needs of the least, the last and the lost in our community and culture!  The message is titled:  Extreme Makeover--World Edition.  What will it take for our world to get the "makeover" it needs?  Simple answer: Jesus.  When Jesus is first in our lives, our lives change, plain and simple.  In this Sunday's message we'll open Matthew's Gospel to chapter 25 and hear Jesus' own words about what it's going to be like when He returns.  One word on that--SURPRISING!  If you read Matthew 25:31-46 you'll find that both those Jesus INCLUDES in His line-up for heaven and those who are excluded are surprised.

The reality is being included in the line-up for heaven is all about seeing Jesus in those around us that we may often ignore.  Plan to be there Sunday as we wrap up our series on being "magnetic" followers of Jesus. Everyone who comes will have an opportunity to renew our commitment to Jesus and to living out our lives in the real world in ways that will draw others to Him!

Finishing Strong

The longer I live, the more important FINISHING STRONG becomes to me. This morning as I was running and praying, I felt a "twinge" in my left ankle at about the 3 mile mark of my run. (I was running a 10K -- 6.2 miles).  My first thought was, "I may need to shorten the run, this morning."  The second thought was, "Those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint."  My third thought was it's easy to finish when everything is EASY.   As I continue to run and pray, monitoring the pain in my ankle, I determined that it was soreness in a tendon, not an injury per se.  I also noticed that I was starting to run "stiff," that I had tensed the muscles in both legs as a response to the pain.  Once I realized that, I relaxed, and the pain eased noticeably. 

What's the point of all that?  The point is that in life we experience "twinges" ALL the time.  The twinge may be an actual injury, but more often it's "soreness," it's a temptation to take the easy way rather than continuing to rely on the Lord, and let Him lead us and strengthen us to make it to the finish line.  As a 50 year old I've said many times that pain is part of life.  I wake up with "twinges" every day.  Does that mean I ought to stay in bed?  Of course not.  Sometimes it's only after moving around that the twinges subside, and even if they don't subside the Apostle Paul reminds us that God's strength, God's grace is demonstrated in our weakness.  Quitting is the world's way.  Persevering is God's way.  Certainly, we all need to rest sometimes, and injuries may "sideline" us for a time, but even when we're on the sideline, we can pray, we can live with the peace that passes all human understanding, and thus bear witness to God and the faith that lies within us.  If we do that day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, year-by-year FINISHING STRONG will be a given.  After all, everyone gets to the "finish line" the same way:  one step at a time!  When God is guiding the steps the outcome is assured, so finishing strong is really a matter of making sure that we always "run" with God!