To be blessed, you must be blessable!!
To receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit, remove the lid from your barrell!
Do you have any Isaac's you need to deal with?
There is a healing balm in Gilead!
Holiness is to be Christ-like!!
Thank you Dr. Dabydeen for you obedience during revival this week!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Pain Sharpens Our Eternal Perspective
This week in class we were discussing how pain can actually help us gain and maintain a better eternal perspective.
What is an eternal perspective?
It's is coming to the realization that living for the "here and now" is just one tiny fraction of our journey. It is realizing that what we are facing in this moment may feel like it will never end, but from an eternal perspective, it's very temporary and short lived.
It is really difficult to gain and understanding of eternity.
Remember when you were a kid? Remember how it seemed like forever from the time school started until Christmas. The days would crawl? The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed like they would never end.
Now, as an adult, I'm starting to panic about Christmas because it's the end of October and I haven't begun to prepare. Time is flying faster and faster. Every year seems to go more quickly as I get older. That gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Zoom!
Why is that?
In my opinion, it's all relative. When we are younger, experiencing the passing of a year is perceived as a long time. For a five year old, one year is one fifth of one's life. So it seems really long. As a 38 year old, one year is 1/38th of my life. That's a lot smaller fraction and when stacked up against all my other years, it seems to go faster (based on my experience and perception). When I'm 65, a year will be 1/65th of my life...and so on and so on.
Compare that to eternity. When we've been there 10,000 years, even 10 years of pain and suffering will only seem like (10,000 divided by 10) 1/1000th of our life. Just a very short time.
Does that make sense? To restate my earlier point: what we are facing in this moment may feel like it will never end, but from an eternal perspective, it's very temporary and short lived.
Experiencing pain allows us to develop a keener sense of eternity. For me, it is stirs hope to know that the vast majority of my existence (eternally) will not be spent in pain and suffering, because Jesus is my Savior.
If we were to only experience pleasure, who would want to think about tomorrow. Pleasure blurs our eternal perspective and prevents us from keenly appreciating the eternal promises of glory in Heaven with our Savior.
It's easy, when experiencing pain and suffering to argue that we deserve better than this. But it is important to realize that God can use this current pain to shape and form us into the image of Christ, into the people He needs us to be to build his kingdom.
I like the quote from our book this week: “God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars.”
He'll recognize us by our scars. Someday they will reap a harvest of righteousness for us in Heaven.
What is an eternal perspective?
It's is coming to the realization that living for the "here and now" is just one tiny fraction of our journey. It is realizing that what we are facing in this moment may feel like it will never end, but from an eternal perspective, it's very temporary and short lived.
It is really difficult to gain and understanding of eternity.
Remember when you were a kid? Remember how it seemed like forever from the time school started until Christmas. The days would crawl? The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed like they would never end.
Now, as an adult, I'm starting to panic about Christmas because it's the end of October and I haven't begun to prepare. Time is flying faster and faster. Every year seems to go more quickly as I get older. That gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Zoom!
Why is that?
In my opinion, it's all relative. When we are younger, experiencing the passing of a year is perceived as a long time. For a five year old, one year is one fifth of one's life. So it seems really long. As a 38 year old, one year is 1/38th of my life. That's a lot smaller fraction and when stacked up against all my other years, it seems to go faster (based on my experience and perception). When I'm 65, a year will be 1/65th of my life...and so on and so on.
Compare that to eternity. When we've been there 10,000 years, even 10 years of pain and suffering will only seem like (10,000 divided by 10) 1/1000th of our life. Just a very short time.
Does that make sense? To restate my earlier point: what we are facing in this moment may feel like it will never end, but from an eternal perspective, it's very temporary and short lived.
Experiencing pain allows us to develop a keener sense of eternity. For me, it is stirs hope to know that the vast majority of my existence (eternally) will not be spent in pain and suffering, because Jesus is my Savior.
If we were to only experience pleasure, who would want to think about tomorrow. Pleasure blurs our eternal perspective and prevents us from keenly appreciating the eternal promises of glory in Heaven with our Savior.
It's easy, when experiencing pain and suffering to argue that we deserve better than this. But it is important to realize that God can use this current pain to shape and form us into the image of Christ, into the people He needs us to be to build his kingdom.
I like the quote from our book this week: “God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars.”
He'll recognize us by our scars. Someday they will reap a harvest of righteousness for us in Heaven.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
It's about Character, Not Comfort!
Angie L. shared this with me by email...a great read...and right on point for what the class is studying right now:
AN INTERVIEW WITH RICK WARREN (AUTHOR OF "A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE")
Interview with Rick Warren , author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California .
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a
nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last
forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body--
but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions
of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life
isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just
coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character
than your comfort.
God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making
your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of
life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the
toughest, with my wife getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark
time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe
that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of
like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something
good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something
bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something
good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,
"which is my problem, my issues, my pain."
But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off
yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of
thousands of people, God was not going to heal my wife or make it easy
for her.
It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her
character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a
testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For
instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million
copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.
It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with
before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego
or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety
and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide
what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our
lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from
the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace
Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the
sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since
I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be
able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions?
Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness?
Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God,
if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and
love You better ...
God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more
interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human
beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD
AN INTERVIEW WITH RICK WARREN (AUTHOR OF "A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE")
Interview with Rick Warren , author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California .
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a
nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last
forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body--
but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions
of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life
isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just
coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character
than your comfort.
God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making
your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of
life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the
toughest, with my wife getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark
time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe
that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of
like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something
good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something
bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something
good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,
"which is my problem, my issues, my pain."
But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off
yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of
thousands of people, God was not going to heal my wife or make it easy
for her.
It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her
character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a
testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For
instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million
copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.
It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with
before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego
or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety
and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide
what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our
lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from
the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace
Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the
sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since
I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be
able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions?
Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness?
Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God,
if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and
love You better ...
God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more
interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human
beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Heavy Lifting!
We really did some heavy lifting in class this week! Our discussion around the perfect nature of Jesus was excellent. If I can do anything in our class-time, I desire to engage your mind to explore the depths of the Word and it's Truth. When we do theology in community (as we did Sunday morning), it challenges us to listen to one another, to identify and confirm truth, and to still be able to leave the discussion loving each other. Thanks to everyone for the great participation.
We discussed how Jesus lived his life "down-side up". In other words, Jesus lived life not quite the way the world does.
And when it came to pain, instead of avoiding pain, Jesus embraced pain.
Why did Jesus embrace pain? Why did he choose to suffer?
In his suffering, he was made complete. Ironically, the more He became just like us, the more completely He was and is able to save us.
Consider this: God became like us through the suffering of Jesus. We become more like Jesus through our suffering.
The fact that Jesus embraced pain and suffering doesn't mean that we should go out looking for more agony in our lives.
So what does it mean to embrace pain?
To embrace pain is to:
Aren't you glad Jesus embraced pain and suffering! He did it for you and I. He did it because He loved us so much. He embraced pain and suffering....even to the point of death...yet HE LIVES!!!! Can you say "Resurrection"?
As we learn to embrace pain....we need to remember Resurrection is on the horizon.
Joy comes in the morning!!!
We discussed how Jesus lived his life "down-side up". In other words, Jesus lived life not quite the way the world does.
- When wronged, he forgave rather than seeking revenge.
- When hated by his enemies, he loved them, rather than hating them back.
- Instead of seeking credit for good works, he sought no recognition at all.
- Instead of valuing money and materials, he sought to store up riches in heaven.
And when it came to pain, instead of avoiding pain, Jesus embraced pain.
Why did Jesus embrace pain? Why did he choose to suffer?
In his suffering, he was made complete. Ironically, the more He became just like us, the more completely He was and is able to save us.
Consider this: God became like us through the suffering of Jesus. We become more like Jesus through our suffering.
The fact that Jesus embraced pain and suffering doesn't mean that we should go out looking for more agony in our lives.
So what does it mean to embrace pain?
To embrace pain is to:
- Acknowledge that we are fully human. The author of our book correctly observes that humanity seeks a life without pain, but that is a false pursuit. Pain is a part of being human.
- Adopt a realistic attitude about pain. We can react two different ways to pain and suffering. We can be angry, resentful and bitter, seeking to cover up and deny the fact that we've ever bee so weak as to have had to experience pain. OR we can accept the pain that life brings and learn to love and grow in spite of the burden. Which attitude do you have about pain right now?
- Become familiar with heroes who achieved pain in spite of what they suffered. History is replete with people who suffered great pain and suffering, yet were able to overcome and impact their world. They didn't allow their pain and suffering to push them into defeat. In spite of their pain, the overcame. Who are your pain heroes?
Aren't you glad Jesus embraced pain and suffering! He did it for you and I. He did it because He loved us so much. He embraced pain and suffering....even to the point of death...yet HE LIVES!!!! Can you say "Resurrection"?
As we learn to embrace pain....we need to remember Resurrection is on the horizon.
Joy comes in the morning!!!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Worthy of Our Worship Regardless
This past week, in class we focused on the issue of justice and suffering.
I'll have to admit that leading these classes has been difficult, especially knowing that so many folks in our church family have been traveling through deep valleys.
How can a just God allow suffering? In our study, you will recall we spent some time look at John 9:1-5. In that passage we saw that Jesus pointed out that suffering isn't the result of God throwing down judgment on humanity. Rather, suffering provides God the opportunity to heal and restore those who are broken.
From an eternal perspective, our current suffering will not last, but for those who suffer here and now that can be a bitter pill to swallow.
My biggest concern is that after taking multiple punches, it is easy to get discouraged, depressed and to even become apathetic to God and God's presence in our lives. We can become so spiritually dazed by overwhelming suffering that we become numb to God's presence.
I can't stress enough that Scripture strongly encourages the Body of Christ to help each other in instances of suffering. We need to exhort each other to remain faithful, to get up on our feet, and to continue on the journey of faith.
People are hurting all around us. If you aren't hurting, consider yourself blessed.
Count your blessings. But don't stop there.
Look beyond yourself. Look for those who are suffering.
Reach out to those around you who are suffering and share the Hope of Heaven with them.
I really like the story in the book for this weekend about the Jews who put God on trial in a Concentration Camp during WW II. They held a public trial in the midst of their suffering and, after much deliberation, found God guilty for allowing suffering and pain in the World. As they dispersed from the session, a senior member of the group basically said, "Now it's time for evening prayers."
And they all worshipped together.
We can't explain suffering. We can convict God for allowing it.
But God is still worthy of our worship and our adoration, regardless.
Note: Just a reminder that there is no Sunday School class this Sunday, October 5, 2008. Instead, plan to come and join us for the Centennial Breakfast in the Family Life Center as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Church of the Nazarene.
I'll have to admit that leading these classes has been difficult, especially knowing that so many folks in our church family have been traveling through deep valleys.
How can a just God allow suffering? In our study, you will recall we spent some time look at John 9:1-5. In that passage we saw that Jesus pointed out that suffering isn't the result of God throwing down judgment on humanity. Rather, suffering provides God the opportunity to heal and restore those who are broken.
From an eternal perspective, our current suffering will not last, but for those who suffer here and now that can be a bitter pill to swallow.
My biggest concern is that after taking multiple punches, it is easy to get discouraged, depressed and to even become apathetic to God and God's presence in our lives. We can become so spiritually dazed by overwhelming suffering that we become numb to God's presence.
I can't stress enough that Scripture strongly encourages the Body of Christ to help each other in instances of suffering. We need to exhort each other to remain faithful, to get up on our feet, and to continue on the journey of faith.
People are hurting all around us. If you aren't hurting, consider yourself blessed.
Count your blessings. But don't stop there.
Look beyond yourself. Look for those who are suffering.
Reach out to those around you who are suffering and share the Hope of Heaven with them.
I really like the story in the book for this weekend about the Jews who put God on trial in a Concentration Camp during WW II. They held a public trial in the midst of their suffering and, after much deliberation, found God guilty for allowing suffering and pain in the World. As they dispersed from the session, a senior member of the group basically said, "Now it's time for evening prayers."
And they all worshipped together.
We can't explain suffering. We can convict God for allowing it.
But God is still worthy of our worship and our adoration, regardless.
Note: Just a reminder that there is no Sunday School class this Sunday, October 5, 2008. Instead, plan to come and join us for the Centennial Breakfast in the Family Life Center as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Church of the Nazarene.
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