Promise = battles

 

When God gives you a promise, he invites you into battle.

When David fought Goliath, there were at least 1000 to 1 odds that he would survive.

Noah had to fight everyday for nearly 100 years to build the ark, working hard physically while enduring the ridicule of people and most probably the waning faith of his family.

Jesus lived 30 obedient years in the shadows of his own creation. Then, he launches his own ministry. The ministry that creation had literally been waiting for, he was mocked, questioned, cornered and eventually killed. And that was by the ones that were trained to be looking for him.

His followers? Scared, cocky, narcissistic, selfish and immature.

From the disciples then apostles standpoint, they were under trained, under funded, persecuted on every side and had to constantly fight the battle against disunity.

In each instance, God had given a promise but the road connecting the current position to Gods promise was one that demanded intense resolve, discipline, fight and passion.

There was no time for lollygagging, self infatuation, procrastination or whining.

Ask the Israelites. What happened after they entered the promise land? War.

The idea that we can do damage for the good of Gods mission by listening worship music and being good is not reality or bible. It may be western church, but it’s not helpful.  Show me someone who is successful, and you’d most likely see someone who has fought far past many quitting points.  Show me someone who has quit their entire lives and you’d see a life that you wouldn’t want to emulate.

Here are a few questions I want you to consider.

1) I want you to think about the last year. What were your battles? What was your response? Did you fight or did you quit? Was it worth it?

2) I want you to think about the battles that may lie in your future. What will your response be? Why will you fight?

It’s important that you determine why you will fight. The obligation to be a good person will fade when emotions do. There has to be a bigger WHY to fighting. Family? Mission? What is it for you?

Two last questions…

The times when you quit, were you ever glad you did? The times you pushed past quitting points, did you ever regret it?

2012
05/09
CATEGORY
Life
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Represent

1 Thessalonians 1.7 – You have turned into a model of faith yourselves for all the believers.

All of us have influence on those around us.  We influence both up and down.  If we really believe leadership isn’t merely positional, but more accurately based on persuasion, than we have to embrace the fact that our life is communicating….constantly.  It’s easy to think that the only time we are transferring life lessons to those around us is when we are “on” but what we need to accept is the fact that even when we think we are “off,” we are not.

I would argue that we communicate more practically and helpfully when we are not on a stage or holding a microphone. Those are times that we “tell.”  The more valuable lessons come when we can “show.”

Show how to live generously.
Show how to live honorably.
Show how to live patiently.
Show how to live passionately.
Show how to live intentionally.
Show how to live well.

 

My challenge is that we would continue to prepare thoroughly for the moments we TELL, but realize that the vast majority of the time, we are not on a stage.   Our normal, everyday lives lived well can be an incredible and practical resource to those we influence.

 

You are a model of faith.

 

They are watching.  They are following.  Let us influence well.
2012
02/22
CATEGORY
Life
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Mirror Time

Image

Over the past couple months, I’ve started a weekly thing that I’m simply calling personal development time. It’s time that I take each week for couple hours and totally focus on keeping me on track, studying, sharpening and improving myself. Taking some time to look in the mirror and honestly ask:

-what do I need to focus on in my life?
-honestly, am i focusing on those things?
-am i moving forward and in the right direction?
-am I adding up to the sum I want to be?

At first glance, it seems selfish and non-work related, but I look at it as creating margin so that I can be the most valuable to the team long haul. A better father, pastor, christian, husband, friend, leader, and thinker.

Time to take my hand off the plow, look up, and see:
-if I’m working in the right direction.
-If what I’m doing is actually making a difference.
-if the context has changed without me shifting my strategy.
-am I as God would want me to be?
-is the culture I’m creating as God would want it to be?

Time to ask God to develop:
Depth. Authenticity. Thoughtfulness. Focus.

I don’t want to be the guy that just DID much, but who WAS much.   Who called others to BE significant. BE authentic.  Live with DEPTH.  Love with a RICH LOVE.  Work with a FRESH ZEAL.

Yes, I want to be extremely productive.  Not just extremely busy.

Many times they are not the same.

How about you?  BUSY?

2012
01/24
CATEGORY
Life
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Ignoring God.

There is so much in my life that is out of line with the person that I know Christ wants me to be, but I’ve dismissed them largely due to my ever increasing ability to ignore the voice of God in my life. That is a skill that I’d rather not have, but the hard reality is that I’ve developed it one decision at a time.

In contrast, I’d rather have a surrender reaction to what I believe is right, true, and God-led.

I want God to be ever adjusting, tweaking, and searching me. I don’t want to be … done.

But the fight is there, isn’t it? The fight to remain what you are … what you’ve been. It’s safer there, more comfy. It may NOT be who you desire to be, but it IS what you already know and that’s paralyzing.

But you hear the Voice too don’t you?

“You can be more.”

“You are not fooling me.”

“You cannot allow that sin to grow any longer.”

I want to challenge you to join me in the fight. The fight against giving in to easy and self. Let’s really be honest, it’s the fight against the sin of IGNORING GOD.

I don’t want that on my epitaph, do you?

Here lies Taka. He was proficient at ignoring God.

Let’s, one more time, engage in our faith walk and choose to both LISTEN and OBEY.

2011
10/11
CATEGORY
Life
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So what?

Have you ever had someone try to sell you something?  Cutco knives, pre-paid legal, Kirby vacuum, or supplements?  At the end of the presentation, you have cut pennies or a clean square of carpet, but then comes the sticker shock.  When confronted with the cost of the item you ask yourself..

So What?

How will that affect my everyday life?  When was the last time I wanted to cut a penny with a pair of scissors or took 8 pills a day? In other words, what ACTUAL difference will it make in my life?

We should take a moment and ask that same question about arguably the most important facet of our lives, our faith.  In the book of Acts, they said this about Peter and John…

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

There was a huge “so what?” in their actions and conduct.  It was easily recognizable that they had a connection to their creator.  So the question for us is simple.  Can people tell any difference?

This is far different from just trying harder to be nicer, more tactful, or a better friend.  Anyone can do that.  I really believe that this happens when we loosen the grip on our lives and submit our minds, passions, and fears to God.

Let’s try that today.  Take a moment and honestly ask yourself, what difference has Christ made in my life?  Not your church or small group, but the living Christ?  Then ask, what difference would he want to make in your life if you allowed him to?

2011
05/19
CATEGORY
Life
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