Be Patient.....With One Another

I have a problem. Actually, you have it too. Well, at least, I’m guessing you have this problem. Most people do.

What problem? Well, it’s kind of embarrassing to tell you, but here it is: I have this tendency to see other people’s faults while ignoring my own.

You too? That’s what I thought.

We all have faults. I do. You do. We all do. But our tendency is to quickly see the faults in others while we conveniently ignore our own faults. Some people are quite gifted at this.

A boss commented to his secretary about one of his men: "Harry has such a bad memory, it's a wonder he remembers to breathe. I asked him to pick up a newspaper on his way back from lunch, but I'm not ever sure he'll remember his way back to the office." Just then Harry burst in the door, brimming with enthusiasm.

He exclaimed, "Guess what, boss! At lunch I ran into old man Jones who hasn't given us an order in seven years. Before he left I talked him into a million-dollar contract!"

The boss sighed and looked at his secretary, "What did I tell you? He forgot the newspaper."

Let’s see this from another perspective.

A speaker held up a blank sheet of paper and asked, "What do you see?"

The reply was, "A piece of paper."

He then placed the paper on the podium, made a tiny dot in the center and held it up again. "What do you see now?"

"A dot," was the unanimous reply from the audience.

"Imagine this blank paper is a person," the speaker said. "The small dot you saw is his/her biggest fault. The white surrounding the dot represents all of this person's worthwhile qualities which we so easily fail to see. Often a fault seems bigger than it really is and we allow it to overshadow the many positive aspects of that person's personality."

We all have different backgrounds and we’re all wired in a unique way. No two people are alike - not even identical twins. That’s why we need patience with one another. God created each of us with different shapes, assigning each of us a different mission in life.

Here’s what the Bible says: Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. (Ephesians 4:2b NLT)

Let me encourage you to look beyond people’s faults. Sure, they have ‘em, and so do you. Try and overlook theirs as easily as you overlook yours. No, it won’t be easy. After all, we’ve become pretty good at finding faults in others while overlooking our own. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Right?

Go Ahead, Take a Risk!

Today I want to encourage you to take a risk. In this culture? Yep. In this economy? Sure. Why would I want to do such a crazy thing? Because you’ll never know if you don’t try.

Let me tell you about a young lady I recently met. She was getting ready to begin her final year of college in preparation for the classroom. She had studied and prepared and was headed toward her goal of being a teacher. But something just didn’t feel right.

Oh, she had done well in her college course work. She had worked hard in preparation for her student teaching assignment. She had listened to and received the encouragement of family and friends who told her that she was on the right track and that she would make a great teacher. But something didn’t settle in her heart.

She had spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in preparation. All that was left was 2 semesters; one in student teaching, the other in the classroom. She would then graduate and be on her way to seeking a teaching position in the fall of 2010. But she just couldn’t shake that uneasiness inside her heart.

She had to do something.

So she took a risk. She made a decision that she would no longer pursue the goal that she had originally set out on. Instead, she made some changes in her focus, in her goals and in her classes. Today, she’s on a different course and is more excited and fulfilled than she’s been for a long, long time. She reached for the brass ring of her dream and she’s pursuing it 110%. She has peace in her heart and a whole new direction and outlook on life. She’s excited! And I’m proud of her!

But not everyone else is excited with her. No, that would be too easy, wouldn’t it? She faced criticism from all sides. Arguments were presented to her as to why her decision was foolish. She was repeatedly challenged to reconsider her decision. Even my first inclination was, "Wow! That takes guts!" She stood her ground.

She took a risk.

What is it that you would like to do that would require you to take a risk? Look into another career? Ask out that girl you’ve had your eye on for quite some time, but have been hesitant to ask? Go back to school and finish that degree you’ve always wanted? What risk do you need to take?

See, friends, life is too short to play everything safe. If you do what you’ve always done you’ll get what you always got. Poor English, but true.

I love this quote: "Until you spread your wings, you’ll have no idea how far you can fly."

What risk do you need to take? If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you attempt? Here’s what God said to Joshua in the Old Testament:

Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't be afraid, because the LORD your God will be with you everywhere you go. (Joshua 1:9)

I challenge you to take a risk. You could fail, but you might succeed. Listen to what God is whispering in your heart......and then go for it!

I leave you with The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto, written by Mark Batterson.

　

Lion Chaser’s Manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God_sized goals. Pursue God_ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.

Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life.

Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks.

Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

(From Mark Batterson’s book: "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day")

A Safety Net of People

We’ve had a beautiful weekend here in southern Iowa, but it’s been a tough few days. A dear friend passed away on Friday, and a child who had battled health issues since birth entered eternity as well.

As a pastor I often see situations that nobody should ever have to go through alone. No one should ever have to wait in the hospital while a loved one is in life-or-death surgery. No woman should ever have to wait alone for the lab report on a problem pregnancy or an abnormal breast exam. No one should ever have to wait for news from a battlefield alone. Nobody should ever have to stand at the edge of an open grave alone. Nobody should ever have to spend the first night alone when their spouse has just walked out. And no one should ever be alone having just lost a loved one.

Life’s tough times and tragedies are inevitable – each of us will face them. But we don’t need to go through them alone. Let me remind you of God’s promise.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you. This is because I, the LORD, am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:2 & 3)

That’s a great promise. But let’s get down to the nitty-gritty for a moment. The promise of God’s presence is truly wonderful......but we still want someone "with skin on", too, don’t we? And truly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

See, God knew we’d want that too, which He designed us for relationships. Have you ever wondered why people who live a reclusive lifestyle tend to be a bit "strange"? It’s because their lives are lacking relationships. We were wired for relationships.

Those relationships become even more important when we find ourselves going through difficult times. Face it, we need each other! That’s why the Bible gives us some instructions:

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)

The first part of that verse is easy. When something good happens to someone, it’s often easy to join in on the party. But when someone is having a tough time, it can seem more difficult. But really, it’s simple. When you’re going through a crisis, you don’t want advice; you just want somebody to be there – to sit with you, hold your hand, put an arm around your shoulder, or cry with you.

Here’s another verse:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

As a pastor I've spend many hours in waiting rooms, hospital rooms and funeral homes. Years ago I would worry about having "the right thing" to say. But here's what I've learned: encouraging someone else doesn’t always mean giving a pep talk or words of wisdom. Sometimes the best kind of encouragement is just sitting in silence – waiting and weeping with a friend.

I hope you have a safety net of people and relationships that you know you can count on in life’s toughest times. If not, let me encourage you to go out today and begin building those friendships. The hard times in life are inevitable and you don’t want to find yourself going through difficulty alone.

Slow Fade

Casting Crowns (castingcrowns.com) has long been a favorite music group of mine. I love their music and the genuineness with which they play.

Yesterday I was cutting the grass and listening to some of their music. As I kept going back and forth across the lawn I had to fight the urge to sing along......it's a bit embarrassing to be singing at the top of your lungs with no music playing. Nonetheless, as I listened one line jumped out at me. The song is called "Slow Fade" and it speaks about how the journey into sin isn't an overnight thing, but takes place over time. People don't commit adultery in a moment, the idea gets planted, grows, eventually happens. That applies to virtually every sin. The line that stuck out to me said this:

"The journey from your mind to your hands is shorter than you're thinking."

Wow! Great truth there! How many times have thoughts crept into your mind that ultimately made it to your hands? Probably more times than you or I care to remember. That's why the Bible tells us: Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. (Colossians 3:2)

It's easy to get distracted and in the process have your life torn to shreds. Don't let it happen. Keep your heart and mind fixed on God. Someone once said, "You can't keep the bird from flying over, but you can keep it from building a nest." While that's true, my suggestion would be this: the next time the bird (temptation) flies over, shoot it! There will, no doubt, be more birds to follow, so keep a good supply of ammunition on hand!

Blessings, friends!!!

Here's a link to a great video of Casting Crowns song, Slow Fade:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8SYA6rfbs

Two Pieces of Advice

Although it’s been over seven decades since Babe Ruth played baseball and most of his records have been eclipsed by others, he’s still recognized as the greatest slugger who ever lived. The Bambino is truly an American icon.

Time after time, Ruth stepped up to the plate and hammered one out of the park. He was the first major leaguer to hit 60 homers in one season. His career record of 714 homeruns stood for nearly four decades (without steroids!). Every survey and ranking lists Babe among the "greatest of the greats" – usually at the top of the heap. It’s no wonder the old Yankee Stadium is still known as "The House that Ruth Built."

There’s another major league record holder worth noting. His name was Eddie "Cocky" Collins, who played as an infielder for the Athletics and White Sox. Collins played in the early 1900’s, and several seasons overlapped with Ruth.

Like Babe, Collins was at the top of his game. He led the Athletics to four pennants and three World Series titles. He was selected as the League’s Most Valuable Player in 1914 (Babe Ruth’s rookie season.) One sportswriter recently called him the greatest second baseman in history.

Cocky Collins set a record that still stands today – almost a century after he retired from baseball. He is the all time major league BUNT leader. 512 bunts! That’s over 100 more than the guy in second place, and twice as many as the active bunt leader, Omar Vizqual.

So we have two baseball greats before us – one is famous for home runs and other (not so famous) for bunting.

At first glance, holding the bunting record seems less than inspiring. Who would want that distinction? Home runs are much more exiting! The crowd, for instance, doesn’t go bananas when a player decides to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

With a deeper look, however, a bunt is a many splendored thing! Sacrificial acts for others are, indeed, noble and praiseworthy. We should all assume this posture as we relate to the people around us. The most valuable players in any team, business, or organization are those who ask "How can I serve you?" (Rather than "How can YOU serve ME?")

Those who selflessly invest their lives behind the scenes to help others advance are the greatest heroes – I think of teachers, medical workers, mothers, cooks, technicians, nurses, custodians, mentors, secretaries and other support staff. The world couldn’t exist without these unsung heroes.

This is the Lesson from Cocky Collins: Give yourself away. It doesn’t matter who gets the credit, as long as the team is moving forward in the right direction. There is great virtue in standing aside for the advancement of others. Here’s how Jesus said it in John 15:13: And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

However, we can learn a lesson from Babe Ruth too. Swing for the fence!! The Bambino didn’t hold back. He didn’t hesitate. He went for it and took the necessary risk. He committed himself FULLY and didn’t just play it safe. Sometimes the Babe hit leather and other times he hit air (1330 strikeouts) but all the time, he was swinging the bat!

God put it this way in Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might...

Bottom Line?

Have a heart like Cocky Collins with a faith like Babe Ruth..

When it comes to serving others - make the sacrificial bunt.

When it comes to taking bold steps of faith – swing for the fence!

Out of the mess..........

I heard the story of an elderly minister who liked to visit people in hospitals. He often would take along a little, embroidered bookmark that he carried in his Bible. On the back of the bookmark were a group of tangled threads with no apparent pattern. He would hand this bookmark, with the back facing up, to those who were hurting or upset and say, "Look at that and tell me what it says."

As they looked at all the tangled threads, they would say, "I have no idea what it says. It doesn't seem to say anything."

Then he said, "Now, turn it over." As they would flip that bookmark over, they saw the words, "God is love." The minister would say, "Many times as we look at what God is doing, we just see tangled threads with no rhyme or reason. But from God's perspective, He is dealing with us in love, and He knows what He is doing."

The next time you think it is all over for you, open a Bible and read about Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of rape and imprisoned, yet became the second most powerful man in all of Egypt. Read about Daniel, a young man who feared God and because of it was thrown into a pit filled with hungry lions. Yet, God closed the mouths of the lions and they didn’t lay a paw on him. Things looked hopeless as well for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed_Nego when they refused to deny God and were thrown into the fiery furnace, yet God Himself was right there with them and they walked out unscathed. Things looked pretty grim for Peter when he was in prison, and for Martha and Mary when their brother died.

There’s no guarantee that your difficult situation is going to end up like these, but there is something you can count on. When you’ve placed your life in God’s hands, He’s promised: I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) And when things look impossible, which sometimes happens, remember what Jesus said: Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible. (Matthew 19:26)

You see, things can look bad at one moment, but then God will step in and turn events around. Then suddenly you'll look back and say, "Now I understand what God was doing."

Let me encourage you to move forward, even in the difficulties. Even when they look impossible......God can make the impossible possible.

Be Patient....God Hasn't Forgotten...

Andy Stanley makes a great statement about God's timing. He says, "We look at our watches; God looks at the calendar."

Waiting on God is a difficult habit to develop. By nature we're not patient, and our culture offers little encouragement to develop the habit. We want, we need, we think we deserve everything now.

In the Old Testament, Abraham’s wife, Sara, waited until she was very old for the son she had always dreamed about; Moses waited 40 years on the backside of the desert for God's call; Joseph languished in prison 13 years before God vindicated him. Even Paul spent 17 years in preparation before he began the ministry that God called him to on the road to Damascus. But you can be sure that each of these saints would say it was worth the wait. It always is.

But we don’t like to wait. We want things to happen now.......in fact, if things could happen yesterday it would be even better!

No doubt you're waiting for a number of things, too: direction in your life, healing of a broken body or a broken heart, peace, growth, vindication, success, go ahead....add to the list.

Today I encourage you to remember one thing: God is on his way.

Sometimes the night seems to last forever. Sometimes His silence seems permanent. That's because we look at the clock while He looks at the calendar.

Solomon wrote, "God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

We can’t see the whole scope of God's work, but the scope exists. And we may not see the big picture, but there is one. Today might be just another day of waiting for you, but here's how you can make it better: Take your eyes off the clock and turn them toward Jesus. Spend this time waiting in expectation rather than desperation. God is at work in your work in life, making all things beautiful in their time.

A Parable.....

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and 4 yr old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together every night at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl!

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Jesus often used parables to illustrate the lesson He was wanting to teach. Sometimes He would explain the parable, other times He did not. With that in mind, I’ll let you derive your own lessons from the above parable. I’m learning a few things.......yes, learning. I don’t have it all figured out...... Here are a few things I’m learning:

I’m learning that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and tomorrow will be a new day.

I’m learning that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I’m learning that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

I’m learning that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I’m learning that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I’m learning that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’m learning that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. (I’m not learning this one fast enough.......but I’m learning.)

I’m learning that I still have a lot to learn!

And you?

What Are You Thankful For?

If you’re like me there are areas in your life you are constantly working on. One area for me is the area of being thankful. I’m a generally thankful person, at least in those areas where it’s easy to be thankful. I’m thankful for an amazing wife and two outstanding kids; I’m thankful for the opportunity to lead a phenomenal church, I’m thankful for great friends and a great community to live in. But it’s easy to be thankful for those things.....but sometimes there are things that are hard to be thankful for.

In her wonderful book, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsy were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbruk, where they lived in barracks that were plagued with lice. Lice were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies.

One day, Betsy said to her, "Corrie, we need to give thanks to God for the lice."

Corrie said, "Betsy, you have gone too far this time. I am not going to thank God for lice."

Betsy said, "Oh, but Corrie, the Bible tells us, 'In everything give thanks.' "

Still, Corrie did not want to thank God for the lice. As it turns out, Corrie and Betsy were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the Gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. Corrie found out later that because of the lice, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, they were able to have their Bible studies. So it turns out that God can even use lice.

The verse Betsy referred to is in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It says: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

If the Bible said, "In some things give thanks," I would say, "No problem there!" But it says, "In everything give thanks." That is not an easy thing to do.

This verse doesn't say we should give thanks FOR everything. I cannot give thanks for rapists, murderers, abusers and the like. It does, however, say to give thanks IN everything.

Bible commentator Matthew Henry, after being robbed, wrote this in his diary:

Let me be thankful...

* first because I was never robbed before.

* second, because although they took my wallet they did not take my life.

* third, because although they took my all, it was not much.

* fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.

He wasn’t thankful FOR being robbed, but even IN the robbery he found reasons to be thankful.

There are some things that happen, and I'm not glad they happened. But I’m working on being thankful in spite of the tragedies and asking God for His help.

And you?

One thing I AM thankful for, and that’s all of you!!!

Be The Best

Jeremiah was a prophet in the Old Testament. In the book that bears his name, chapter 19 & verse 11 it says: I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

Have you ever wondered "when your ship is going to come in?" Maybe you haven’t put it that way, but I’m sure the thought has crossed your mind a time or two. Well, hang in there friend, because God definitely knows what He’s doing.

Satchel Paige threw his first major league pitch at the age of 42. Actually, he was good enough to play in the majors at the age of 18, but he couldn't: Satchel Paige was black. Seven years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, Paige, an undisputed superstar everywhere but in the major leagues, finally got his chance.

Cleveland owner Bill Veek was criticized for adding such an old man to his roster; some sportswriters and critics called it a publicity stunt. Others said Paige was finally getting the break he had deserved for years, though most doubted his ability to compete effectively at his age.

Paige silenced the critics when he won his first three games as a pro, shutting out Chicago twice in the process.

All along he knew he was good enough to pitch in the major leagues, and when he finally got his chance, he proved it. He went on to win 28 games during his pro career, and even made a brief comeback at the age of 59, pitching three innings for the Kansas City A's.

He approached his major league pitching debut no differently than he approached any of the 2,500 games he pitched during his career. "It was just another game," he said. "And home plate was where it always was."

Though Paige had the ability to make throwing a baseball look effortless, he spent his life perfecting the art. And, eventually, he got his chance to show the world he was capable of competing with the best.

King Solomon wrote this in Proverbs 22:29: Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

Solomon is emphasizing that commitment to quality is more important than self-promotion. Do your job well, he says, and you'll get your chance to serve before the best.

In the work that you do, you may have to wait years before you get your chance to play in the big leagues. And the fact is, the chance may never come in the way you would like. But you can be sure your time will come.

Your job? Work hard at what you do. Be the best. I spent some time with a great friend last week and we talked about some of the stresses of work. My advice to him is the same I’m giving to you: every day go to work for a new boss. Do your work as though you are working for God Himself. Always do your very best and put forth a first rate effort. Pursue excellence in everything because I can assure you, friends, your efforts do not go unnoticed!

Your time will come; never give up on the dream of being the best.

Never, Never Give Up!

There is a drawing of a pelican swallowing a frog. However, the frog, head first in the pelican’s mouth, has used it’s front legs to grab the pelican by the throat to keep it from swallowing him.
The caption reads, "Never, Never Give Up!" That’s pretty good advice.

During a dark period of Abraham Lincoln's life, at the young age of 32, he wrote:
"I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on earth. Whether I shall ever be better I cannot tell; I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better, it appears to me."

It's hard to believe these words were written by one of our nation's most significant leaders. And it's hard to believe that years later this same despairing man was able to write: "The year that is drawing toward the close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. These bounties are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come."

Abraham Lincoln's early years were filled with failure. Yet, the final years of life, though certainly not free from struggle, were years of happiness, fulfillment, achievement, and success.
Because of his capacity to outlast the blues, Lincoln experienced - in this life - the enormity of God's blessing. He didn't give up hope, even when it seemed he had no reason to hope.

The same could be said for King David who reigned as the king of Israel for many years (you can read about his reign in the Old Testament). As you read through the Psalms (most of which he wrote), you get a glimpse of his struggles and heartaches. And though his life was not without tragedy, David ended his days enjoying the benefits of God's blessing in his life. In a phrase, David outlasted the blues.

His final words, recorded in 2 Samuel 23:5, were: God made a lasting agreement with me, right and sure in every way. He will accomplish my salvation and satisfy all my desires.

It's almost as if the reward for tenacity is that our problems eventually give up and leave us alone. We certainly see in scripture that clinging steadfastly to hope in God's mercy ultimately pays off far beyond our greatest hopes.

Today, you may be facing some difficult, some challenge, some uphill battle. But there's more to your story than just what you are experiencing today. Put your hope and your faith in God and He will bring to fruition your salvation, full and complete, and He will grant your heart's desires. This gives us a reason to keep on...to outlast the blues.

Let me encourage you, like the frog in the mouth of the pelican, Never, Never Give Up!

Making a Fresh Start, Part 5

So far we've looked at:

S - Stop making excuses

T - Take stock

A - Act in faith

R - Refocus

Today we wrap it up with the final letter: T - Trust God

I must Trust God to help me succeed. Depend on Him, not on yourself. You've already proven you can't do it on your own. That's why you failed. Some people just don't get it. They stumble and fall and then they get up and say, "I'll just try harder!" It's like you go up to a wall and bang your head against it and the wall doesn't fall down. You try it again and Bang! Again. You keep doing it thinking, "Maybe it will fall over this time." That's the definition of insanity _ doing the same over and over and over and expecting different results. You can't change on your own. You don't get a fresh start by trying. You get a fresh start by trusting.

Zechariah 4:6 (NCV) says, "You will not succeed by your own strength or power but by My Spirit, says the Lord." The secret of success isn’t trying, it’s trusting. Trusting God. Would you like to wipe the slate clean? Have you ever thought "I'd like to redesign my life from the ground up"? Who hasn’t thought, "I wish I could just go back and start over"?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) addresses that. It says, "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" God specializes in new beginnings. Jesus Christ has the power to do that. It’s the chance to start over. A fresh start. God says, "I don't want you to turn over a new leaf. I'm going to give you a whole new life."

God takes the negatives in your life and turns them into a positive by making a cross. Jesus Christ was hung up for your hang-ups. He died on the cross for everything you feel bad about. He was crucified between two thieves so you could stop crucifying yourself over those past failures. That's called grace.

You say, "But I’m not sure I deserve that." Let me clear that up for you. You don’t deserve it. None of us does. You say, "Sounds too easy." It is easy. Why does everything have to be hard? God didn’t want it to be hard, He wants you to be forgiven, not frustrated. Forgiveness, grace and a brand new beginning are all God’s gifts to us. The question is, what will you do with those gifts? My suggestion is to receive them into your life and begin over again!

"But I’ve made so many bad choices and so many mistakes." Listen, God is far more concerned with your future than He is with your past! The past can’t be changed, but the future hasn’t been written yet. When you make a fresh start it’s like God giving you a clean slate to begin again.

Need a fresh start (and who doesn’t from time to time)? Take the final step here. Trust God. He won’t let you down!!

Making a Fresh Start, Part 4

This morning we're moving on in the series on how to make a new start, utilizing the acronym, START. So far we've looked at:

S - Stop making excuses

T - Take stock

A - Act in faith

So today we move to: R - Refocus

If I want to get going again, if I want a fresh start, I need to change the way I think. Proverbs 4:23 (GNT), "Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts." The way you think, determines the way you feel. And the way you feel determines the way you act. If you want to change your actions change the way you think and it will inevitably change the way you act. If you are acting in a depressed, discouraged way as we start this new year, it's because you're thinking depressed, discouraged thoughts. That's your choice. You don't have to think those thoughts. If you're acting in fearful, worried ways it's because you're thinking fearful, worried thoughts. Change the way you think because it effects everything else in your life.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

If I have to refocus my thoughts to start over to get a fresh start, that means I have to stop thinking some old patterns. Let go of those things you regret that have happened in your life. There are mistakes, failures, bad, dumb decisions. But every time you think them over and over again, you're just reinforcing them in your mind. Your past is past! It's over, done. It's never going to be with you again. The book is closed, the door is shut. You have to change your mind and let go and get rid of those painful, hurtful memories of shame and guilt and other things.

How do you do that?

First, confession. Confess it to God and leave it with Him. You were never designed to carry it around, so leave it with Him.

You say, "I've confessed to God but I still feel guilty. How do I get rid of a painful memory?" That’s the second step:

Replace it.

If you say, "I'm not going to think about it! I'm not going to think about it!" What are you doing the whole time? Thinking about it. Stop focusing on what you don't want and start focusing on what you do want. Replace those memories by thinking about something else.

What's the best thing to focus on? God's word. The truth. Psalm 1:1-3 (GNT) says, "Happy are those who are always meditating on God's word. They're like trees along a river that do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do." Those are the two things that everybody wants in the new year. We all want to be happy and we all want to succeed. The antidote, the answer, the way we get those is the phrase right in the middle - "... meditating on God's word." That's the answer. The more you meditate on God's word, the more happy and successful you'll be. It's a promise from God.

What does it mean to meditate? Meditation is not just put your mind in neutral, sit in a lotus position and go, "Ahhmmmm!" If you look up the word meditate in a dictionary, it simply means "to focus, to concentrate, to think about something over and over in your mind." As you fill your mind with God's word, it begins to change your mind, your thinking. You stop seeing yourself as other people see you or as you have seen yourself and begin to see yourself as God does.

Philipians 4:8 (NLT) reminds us of what to think about, "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Replace the old way of thinking with the priorities God says are important.

If there's anything I want to say to you, it's this: Regardless of the failures you've had in your life, there is hope. It is never too late to start over. You are never a failure until you give up. Jesus Christ says you matter to Him and He can make the rest of your life turn out in a whole different way if you give Him the pieces of your life.

Let me give you an incredible verse from the book of Jonah. You know the story of Jonah. God told Jonah to go one direction and do something. He decided he'd do the exact opposite of what God wanted for his life. So God had to take him on a little Mediterranean cruise. After that cruise was over in Jonah 3:1(NIV) it says "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah a second time." I'm so glad for that verse. Aren't you glad we serve the God of the second chance? And of the third, the fourth, the fifth and the tenth, and the 25th and the 100th. He is the God of grace who says, "Come to Me with your brokenness, come to Me with your failures, come to Me with your shame, come to Me with your guilt, come to Me with the messed up things you're done in your life and I can turn them around because I love you and I made you for a purpose."

I encourage you to re-focus, friends.......and let God help you with the process.

Making a Fresh Start, Part 3

Let's continue our series on how to make a new start, utilizing the acronym, START. We started with:

S - Stop making excuses

T - Take stock

Today we move to A - Act in faith

This is the third step in getting a fresh start. Act in faith. If you’re going to make a fresh start you have to launch out into new territory. The Bible says that the key to changing anything is faith. If you want to change your circumstance, it takes faith. If you want to change your personality, it takes faith. If you want to change anything in your life, you have to have some faith.

Jesus says this in Matthew 9:29 (NIV), "According to your faith it will be done to you." That is a very simple, yet powerful statement. That means we tend to get out of life what we expect. What are you expecting? "I think it's going to be another tough year, depressing, rigorous. It's going to be a real bummer." Guess what your year is going to be? A real bummer!

What do you expect for your life? "The same old, same old. Nothing's going to change in my life." Guess what? Nothing's going to change in your life.

The person who says, "I can!" and the person who says, "I can't!" are both right. We get out of life what we expect because "According to your faith it will be done to you."

So you need to start expecting more. Start expecting more of yourself, start expecting more from God, start expecting more out of life. That's the principle of faith. Learn from the failures of the past and move ahead in faith. . Let me give you the real secret of success. Every successful entrepreneur knows this. Real success is built on failure. Failure is the way you become a success. You figure out what doesn't work. When Edison figured out on the 200th or so time, what would make a light bulb stay lit, he did that because he knew 199 ways that didn't work. You never call it a failure in your life. Call it an education. You learn from it.

You may have heard about a guy by the name of Bill Gates. He runs this little company called Microsoft and he’s supposed to be some kind of genius because he's the richest man in the world so he must be the smartest man in the world. Anybody who knows anything about Microsoft knows they never get it right the first time. They get it right on the third time or the fourth time. Windows 1.0 was a fiasco. Windows 2.0 was a disaster. Windows 3.0 was a little bit better. It was Windows 3.1 that became the instant hit. Explorer 1 and 2 programs were terrible. Explorer 3 was a little better. Explorer 4 is pretty solid. Never buy anything from Microsoft the first time they put it out. The genius of Microsoft and Bill Gates is that they don't give up. They put a product out then look around and see what everybody else is doing and add it in. Pretty soon it's better than anything else and the leader. They rarely invent anything on their own. That's why the competition fears them so much. They know they may have started but Microsoft is going to catch up and about the third or fourth time they're going to get it right.

God wants you to get on with your future. Proverbs 16:9 (LB) says, "We should make our plans, counting on God to direct us." Have you made any plans for 2009 yet? When are you going to get around to it? March? Some of you are still planning 2008. It's over! The door's closed on that one.

You're going to go move forward either by design or by default. That means you're either going to have a plan or you’re going to drift through life. God says we should make plans, counting on Him to direct us. He wants you to do your life by design, not by default. The point is you’ll have something to head toward so your life has direction.

There's one thing that will keep you from acting in faith. It's worrying about what other people think. When you worry about what other people think, you're not going to do what God wants you to do. Instead, you’ll do what’s convenient. Don't make that mistake in. Instead, listen to God and act in faith.

Making a Fresh Start, Part 2

We began with the letter S in the word START. S....Stop making excuses. That can be easier said than done sometimes, but it’s necessary. Here the second step:

T - Take stock

If a new start is going to take place you have to know where you’ve been and where you are at the moment. That means I need to evaluate all my experiences. I need to look at what I have left after the failure. If I've had a financial failure, I need to take stock of what finances I have left. If I've had a relational failure, I need to take stock of what relationships I have left. Whatever the failure that necessitates a new start, I need to look and say, "What is God still doing in my life? What are the options? What are my talents? What are my assets? What are my connections?"

Regardless of what's happened in the past, one of the things you have more of today is experience. God wants you to use those experiences, to learn from them and capitalize on them.

Galatians 3:4 (NCV) says, "Were all your experiences wasted? I hope not!" God never wastes an experience. He uses them to shape our lives. He uses personal experiences, vocational experiences, educational experiences, spiritual experiences and most important of all, He uses painful experiences to shape you. So as you take stock of your life in starting over, you need to ask yourself three questions.

1. What have I learned?

I know people 40, 50 years old but they don't have 40 or 50 years of experience. They've had the same year of experience 10 times or 20 times over. They've never learned anything. What did you learn from last year? What are you learning right now? If you don't sit down and think it through, you'll probably end up making the same mistakes over and over again because you didn't learn from them.

2. What are my assets?

What have I got going for me? Do I have my health? Do I have my freedom? Am I mentally sound (those of you who know me know that’s a loaded question)? Do I have friends? Is my family in my corner? Do have a relationship with God and a church family? What do I have that I can count on?

3. Who can help me?

When you need a fresh start, you need somebody by your side _ a friend, an accountability partner, a support person, a support group. Get in a small group. You need other people because you don't start over by yourself after a major failure. You need somebody else to walk along with you.

At my highest weight, I weighed 340 pounds. About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the doctor told me to lose weight. I’ve been big all of my life and have fought the battle of the bulge all of my life. But I buckled down and got busy......and lost 120 pounds.

But then I began slipping backwards. My weight went back up, very slowly, until I’d gained back about 60 pounds. I needed a fresh start. So I set out on the weight loss journey again.....and had a modicum of success. I used what I had learned in the past and what I had going for me and made some progress. But then it stopped. I needed some more help.

Enter an incredible friend. I prayed and thought about who to ask to help me, and his name came to mind, so I asked him. He agreed......and has been an encourager in the process. He’s offered great help along the way, challenged me to get more exercise and kept me accountable......and it’s working. Since I asked him to help me I’ve lost more than 25 pounds. There’s still quite a ways to go, and it’s going to take time, but with God’s help and the help of my friend, I’m going to make this happen!

Let me encourage you to Stop making excuses and to Take stock of your experiences. These are the first two steps on the road to a fresh start. And friend.....I know you can do it!

Making a Fresh Start - Part 1

Today I want to begin a bit of a series on how to make a fresh start. I’ve talked with many people who want to give up, to throw in the towel. They’ve failed at something (or several somethings) and they feel like there’s no hope. So for the next few weeks I want to walk you through the acronym: START

Let me begin by telling you this: God is far more interested in your future than He is in your past. Some of you think God is fixated on your past. All He wants to do is remind you of the things you've done wrong. That’s not the case. God isn't interested in your past. He's interested in your future. That's where you're going to spend the rest of your life. So today we’re going to begin with the letter S:

Stop making excuses.

We could talk today (for several weeks) about what causes failure in people's life. Let me give you three of the most common reasons.

1. The number one reason we fail in life is we don't plan ahead.

We make decisions and don't look at the consequences of them. Proverbs 20:7 says, "The wise see danger ahead and avoid it, but fools keep going and get into trouble."

Was it raining when Noah started building the ark? No. He had to plan ahead. In fact the rain didn't come for 120 years. But that's how long it took him to get the thing built.

Jesus spoke often about the importance of planning. He said there was a guy who goes out and starts to build a tower but he can't finish it because he doesn't have enough money. He failed to plan. He tells the story about the king who went out to battle but he lost because he didn't count his soldiers; he didn't plan ahead.

It's the old cliche "If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail."

2. The second reason we fail is because we don't listen to others.

We don't listen to good advise when it's offered. Proverbs 15:22 (NCV) tells us, "Plans fail without good advice." You need to get all the advice you can.

Why don't we listen to the advice of other people? Because we think we don't need it. It's called pride. Ego. Ego stands for "Edging God Out." When you think you know more than God and you push Him out of your life, you're on an ego trip and that's a trip that leads to a dead end. When I think I know it all and I can figure it all out myself, I'm setting myself up for failure. You're never going to get anywhere if you think you've already arrived. The guy who gets too big for his britches, will eventually be exposed in the end. That's the problem with pride.

3. The third reason we fail is we give up too soon.

Proverbs 24:10 (NCV) says, "If you give up when troubles come, it just shows that you are weak." Failure is the path of least persistence. The problem is that often during trying times we stop trying. We give up.

If at first you don't succeed, welcome to the human race, you're normal. Very few people make it on the first try. Oftentimes, we give up just when success is around the corner. It's always too soon to quit. You're never a failure until you give up.

There was a guy, a general, who lost two_thirds of all the battles he fought in the American Revolution. George Washington. He won the war.

There was another guy who graduated 42nd out of a class of 43. Then he went out and conquered Europe. Napoleon.

Edison tried over 200 different elements before he figured out what was the right element to use in the light bulb. Over 200 failures before he had a success. It's always too soon to quit.

The Bible says we need to stop making excuses, admit when it's our fault and get on with life. I've discovered that people who are very good at making excuses are rarely good at anything else. They spend all their energy thinking up reasons why they can't do what they're supposed to do.

Proverbs 28:13 (LB) says, "A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confess and forsakes them he gets another chance."

If I want to start over, start fresh, I have to stop making excuses for my failures. I've got to stop blaming other people; I've got to stop using rationalizations. I've got to stop seeing myself as the victim of my circumstances. So "S" in START stands for Stop making excuses.

My encouragement to you today is simple: Get Started....by stopping the excuses. Make some changes and watch God do some great things in your life.

Brand new.....ending

As we come to the beginning of a new year and the ending of an old one, you may be wishing you could just turn over a new leaf or gain a fresh start.

I once read about a man who was reading his morning newspaper and was shocked to find his name listed in the obituary column. He called up the newspaper and was outraged that they had made such a mistake. "This is terrible," he screamed, "How could you do this to me?" The newspaper's explanation did not satisfy the man, so he stormed down to their office and demanded to see the editor.

After some time of screaming and yelling, the editor grew frustrated and said, "Look buddy! Cheer up. I'll put your name in the birth column tomorrow and you can have a fresh start."

Starting all over again isn't possible. We can't go back to the beginning for a brand new start. However, with Jesus, you can start where you are and create a brand new ending. 2009 is still a blank slate. There are opportunities ahead of you. You decide which course you are going to take.

In Jeremiah 6:16, God says, " 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.' " You decide which path you are going to walk in this coming year. You decide what your priorities will be and what direction you will take. Those are decisions that each of us will make each and every day. In 2009, choose the good way and walk in it. Only there will you find peace.

Happy New Year!

Rose

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends.

Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us.

She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around whom are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older.

That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

Thoughts.......

Remember, growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Proverbs 18:24 says: There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

My prayer for you is that you have many friends like Rose who come into your life....and that you will be a friend like Rose to everyone you come into contact with!

Happiness or Joy?

In 1776, our country's founding fathers signed a document at Independence Hall called the Declaration of Independence. I think it's an amazing document for a number of reasons, but chiefly because it says something that is different from any other foundational document for any other country on the planet.

You probably know at least a few of its famous words:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The last phrase in this sentence particularly catches my attention: "the pursuit of Happiness." It was the intent of our founding fathers that we, as Americans, be happy people.

A lot of time has passed since that document was signed. Could we be described as a happy people today? I would have to say "no." Americans, as a whole, enjoy a higher standard of living than anyone else in the world. Yet more Americans go to psychologists and psychiatrists than any other people on the planet.

So what is the problem? Simply put, we are pursuing happiness, but we are going about it in the wrong way. For most people, their happiness depends entirely on good things happening in their lives. When things are going well, they are happy. When things are not going well, they are unhappy.

This can cause us to become caught in an endless cycle, because no matter how much we accumulate or how much we accomplish, we always will feel as though there is something more. Our clothes aren't fashionable enough. Our cars aren't fast enough. Our houses aren't elaborate enough. Our jobs aren't rewarding enough. Our relationships aren't romantic enough or fulfilling enough. Life can become a never-ending pursuit of something just beyond our grasp.

In the New Testament, the Book of Philippians talks about something better than happiness. It's called joy. In Philippians' four chapters, the words joy, rejoicing, or gladness appear at least 19 times. This joy to which Philippians refers was not something available to the first-century. It is available to us in the 21st-century as well.

We find an important word throughout Philippians that shows us the way to experience joy. That word is: mind. It appears 10 times in Philippians, while the word think occurs five times. Add to this the number of times the word remember turns up, and you have a total of 16 references to the mind. Are you picking up on a theme here? The secret to joy is found in the way we think; in our outlook or attitude.

The Apostle Paul, the writer of the book of Philippians, said this: In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. That is the mind of a person who puts the needs of others above his own. It stands in sharp contrast to our self-centered attitudes of today, yet, if you want to experience joy that’s what is required.

See, joy doesn’t come from what you have, it comes from Who you know. So let me encourage you today, turn your heart to Jesus to find the joy you’re looking for. When we begin to think and act like Him (which is no small feat, mind you....) we will begin to understand that happiness doesn’t come from acquiring more, but from knowing Him better.

Laugh!!!

Someone asked me recently, “Why do you put the funny stuff at the end of the Monday e-mail?” There’s a two part answer to that. First, I love humor. I always have. I like to laugh and I like to make other people laugh. But there’s a bigger reason.

Did you know that people who laugh live longer? It’s true. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life.

Humor is an amazing thing. It’s a tension dissolver. It’s an antidote to anxiety. It’s just like a tranquilizer, but without any troublesome side-effects. And it’s free! You don’t even need a prescription!

Laughter is life’s shock absorber. If you want to have less stress in your life, learn to laugh at your circumstances.

Someone once asked U.S. President Abraham Lincoln how he handled all the stresses of the Civil War. He said, “If it hadn’t been for laughter, I could not have made it.”

Many famous comedians grew up in poor neighborhoods with lots of problems. They coped with their troubles by learning to laugh and making others laugh.

So learn to laugh. If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. And besides, if you learn to laugh at your troubles, you’ll never run out of anything to laugh at! Life is full of funny situations. The cowboy comedian Will Rogers once said, “I don’t know any jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.”

And if you’re wondering what God thinks about laughter, check out this verse in Psalm 2:4, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs.” Isn’t that a great verse? God has a sense of humor. God laughs! Proverbs also says that a merry heart is good, like a medicine.

I loved a story a friend told me recently. She and her husband had gone on a trip and were miles from home. All of a sudden, with absolutely no warning, their car quit. The transmission just quit working. They were on their way to a wedding, they were running a little late and they were in the middle of nowhere. That’s where their car quit.

What would your reaction be? Do you know what my friend did? She started laughing......and not a little snicker, mind you. She busted out laughing! Her husband had already started turning red with anger when he looked at her in wide-eyed disbelief. She simple said, “What other option do we have?” and within a brief moment both of them were laughing. If you ask me, that’s what this laughter thing is all about. It changes things.....it’s contagious......it’s good for you......and God loves it!

Have you ever seen the face of an orangutan? God thought that one up! The duck-billed platypus? Hey, that was His idea too! That proves he has a sense of humor. Do you want to be more like God? Let me encourage you......learn to laugh. It will bless your soul.....and probably those around you, too!