It starts with a clear vision to be more like Jesus.

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Have you been to the optometrist lately?  You know that vision test they do… “How is this?  Better or worse?  Fuzzy or clear?” 

Do you have a clear vision or life target?  This isn’t just a question for college students, this is a question for everyone.  What is your vision?  Or, taking a cue from the questioner in a job interview, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

For some this is an easy question to answer.  For others it might be a real challenge.  I’d like to think I’m a man of vision, but I must share with you that, today, I am no where where I thought I’d be five years ago.  God allowed circumstances in my life to reshape my vision to be more what He wanted for me.  And that’s a very good thing.  

We’ve been saying that we want to “be more like Jesus.”  That’s also a very good thing.  But what does that mean?  How do you plan to get from where you are today to that state of being more like Jesus tomorrow?  Does it mean paying closer attention to various spiritual disciplines like prayer?    Does it mean a major life change or a career altering decision?  Does it mean simply extending a loving, grace-filled hand to someone who needs it?

I believe, at its core, “being more like Jesus” comes down to loving your neighbor. 

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The CHURCH has left the Building

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Twice a year, the congregation where I serve does an event called “The Church Has Left The Building.”  This coming Sunday is one of those days.  We will meet for a shortened time of praise and worship, then leave to go tackle various service projects in our area. 

Why do we do it on Sunday morning?  Mainly because we know that most of our regular church attenders do not have scheduling conflicts.  It’s been on their calendar for weeks, or years, to go to church on Sunday.  If the event was scheduled on Saturday, practically speaking, it may interfere with sports or other family events.  It’s also a great opportunity to get out and meet people who do not typically attend a church function on Sunday morning.

It’s funny, isn’t it?  Thinking about “the Church Has Left The Building.”  The first time I heard that phrase it caught me off guard.  Isn’t that a paradox, like “jumbo shrimp” ?  Growing up going to church every Sunday, “church” was a place, a building.  We went to Sunday School and then to the service.  But it was all at a location that was about 20 minutes from our home.  And we said we were “going to church.” 

But then, about 15 years ago, my pastor at the time introduced the congregation to “the building” — the four walls and the floor and the ceiling — and he called us, the people in the chairs, “the Church.”  Me?  “The Church?”  God bless Pastor Barry Tucker at Valleyview Church for speaking into our lives and showing every one of us the way Jesus sees us!  By 2011, in this day of “the emerging church” you have probably heard it repeated often: YOU are “the Church.” 

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Giving, and Receiving, the Perfect Gift

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I want to talk about gifts and giving.  Yes, I have seen most stores are already setting up Christmas décor.  It’s early October, for goodness sakes!  So, how many of you are done with your shopping?  Most of us enjoy receiving gifts… and I’m thankful that most of the people I know also thoroughly enjoy giving the right gift too. 

Have you ever given the wrong gift?  You know, like giving your wife the “gift” of a new treadmill or a fancy bathroom scale… Not a good idea, guys.  True story: my dad once gave my mom a newfangled “electric broom.”  I think it was for Christmas in 1969.  A great lesson learned for me, at the young age of 10 years old: never get anything for your wife that has anything to do with making the work she does around the house easier as a, insert air quote marks, “gift.”  Vacuum cleaners.  Water-infused-mops.  Carpet steamers.  Something that makes it easier to do laundry…. Nope.  That’s the wrong kind of “gift.”  It kindof says that they need help doing their job… So if they need it to do a better job, just buckle down and buy it. Don’t wrap it up.  Don’t wait for a special holiday.  God bless my dad for trying, but giving the “gift” of the equivelant of cleaning supplies is just not a “gift.”

At least that’s what I took away from the conversation that followed once the wrapping paper and bows landed on the floor.  So, I have adamantly refused to ever give my wife a vacuum cleaner as  a gift… and I’ve taught my kids the same thing.

Have you ever given the right gift?  The perfect gift?  I’ve heard of many people scoring on that one… a piece of jewelry, a vacation, a handmade quilt…

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Act like Jesus?

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What does it mean to “Act” like Jesus?

Do you like to act?  When I was growing up, my middle name was “Ham.”  I have always loved to get in front of a camera or get up on stage and pretend to be someone. 

What child doesn’t like dress up?  We were in a home last week and their 8 year old has this wall of bins in his bedroom that are organized around costumes.

I’ve studied acting and, in fact, for the past several years I teach drama on my day off.   Each semester there are about 15 elementary students and 30 junior and senior high school students that are learning how to act.  We play games like tic-tac-toe stage direction with the younger kids and improv and mime with the older ones.  We put on stage plays and musicals.

At its core, I believe drama is about being creative. And in the drama classes I teach, we celebrate that God is the Creator and creativity is His gift. 

So, when we are encouraged to “act” like Jesus, is it merely a show?  Is it merely pretending? I hope not…

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You are the intersection of the Cross

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My college roommate was the first to introduce me to the key concept of horizontal and vertical relationships.  Even though I had been a Christian all my life and he was a relative new-comer to the faith, Jim had a grasp of the depth of God’s love greater than any of my peers.   

We all understand what horizontal relationships are… those with our friends and family living this life and walking this walk with us daily. 

And the vertical relationship is also easy to see when we look for it… between us and the triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

And all of these relationships intersect in you… in your mind… in your heart.  And really all of these relationships overlap don’t they?  If you have put Jesus on the throne of your life, the relationships you have with people… the love you have, men, for your wives, the love you have women for your husbands and  for your children, are driven by the true source of love, God.  I John 4.  “God is love.”  If God rules your life, it’s all connected isn’t  it?

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Who are you? A child of the Most High, God.

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May I ask you a question?  “Who are you?”  If you’re around my age when someone asks that question you may think of Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend of the rock band, “The Who.”  That’s the song title of a little number that sold 1 million copies in a month late in the summer of 1978.  While simplistic at best, the song has that catchy verse with an echo… Who are you…ooooh, ooooh, ooooh, ooooh. 

But at it’s core, it’s a great question that every single person wrestles with.  Who am I?  I’m a husband.  A dad.  A son.  A pastor.  Okay…. Those are great labels, but who am I really… deep down at my core?

I am a child of the most high, God.  Created in His image, fearfully and wonderfully made.  And I have an incredible inheritance because I belong to God.  And so do you! 

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Jesus says: “I’ve conquered the world!”

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September 11, 2011

Three scriptures to share with you today as we reflect on how our world was rocked ten years ago.

The first is from John 16:33, the words of Jesus. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV) The Message says it this way: “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

Unshakable. Assured. Deeply at peace. It’s sometime very difficult to find peace when our world is being rocked, isn’t it? Other translations say we are to be courageous in the face of troubles. Courageous… that always sounds to me like running full on into a battle, with war paint on our face and screaming like a warrior… Most times I don’t have that kind of courage. But Jesus does.

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Are You Willing to Take a Risk of Faith?

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You know that famous icebreaker question that goes something like “When is the last time you did something for the first time?  And what was it?” 

 Skydiving

 

What comes to mind?

I asked that question recently at a church staff meeting.  Some of the responses included “Meeting my daughter’s boyfriend,” “Taking guitar lessons,” “Riding a john boat through a Louisiana swamp,” and “Going hang gliding.” 

How about you? 

Doing new things… some of us are wired to enjoy doing new things, others of us are wired to loath doing new things…

Continue reading Are You Willing to Take a Risk of Faith?