Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
I can’t believe 2008 has come and now is gone. I must admit 2008 was a challenging year in many ways. Several things in my life didn’t work out the way I was hoping they would. However, a new year always brings a fresh hope to my soul.
In Isaiah 43:18-19 the Lord says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (19) See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
In this passage of Scripture, the Lord is reminding us to not dwell on the former things, but focus on the new things in the upcoming year. When we only focus on the unpleasant moments of the past, it causes us to not perceive the new blessing that is going to spring up in the future. God has the supernatural ability to make refreshing springs in the desert and wasteland places of our lives. He can turn that which has been barren into a fruitful place in the future.
One of the keys to entering the New Year on a positive note is practicing the discipline of letting go of the bad and holding on to the good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”
Unfortunately, it is human nature to forget the good events and only hold on to the wretched occurrences of life. When we do this, bitterness develops in our soul that poisons us, and causes us to be disillusioned with life.
I am committed to entering into 2009 “holding on to the good” and releasing the disappointments of 2008. I will use them as learning lessons, make the necessary changes in my life, and move forward in faith.
Remember, as you enter into 2009, make sure you leave the old behind and grab a hold of the new things God wants to do in your life.
What old things of 2008 are you releasing, and what new things are you reaching for in 2009? I would love to read about it.
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Purpose of Christmas
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7
I often get asked, “What is the purpose of Christmas?” It is impossible to try to answer this question with a single statement. Of course, the purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But, why is Jesus’ birthday so significant and what does He offer us when we receive His gift?
Pastor Rick Warren was recently interviewed on the television show “Hannity and Colmes”. Pastor Rick’s new book, “The Purpose of Christmas” was the topic of the conversation. As always, Pastor Rick was able to provide an answer that is easy to understand and remember.
Listed below is what we get when we receive the gift of Jesus in our lives.
(1) Jesus gives us a past forgiven.
I recently joined the Facebook universe. It has been a great joy to reconnect with so many old friends. Many of them are old high school classmates. Some of them I haven’t talked to in over twenty years. Connecting with my old friends brings back so many memories of the past. Most of those memories are great ones. However, some of those memories are experiences I wish I never participated in.
One thing for sure is that connecting with old friends reminds me that I am not the same person I used to be. I am so thankful that I am now a Christ-follower and my past sins have been forgiven. When I think about my wonderful marriage and my beautiful children, and what a blessing it is to be a husband and father, I know that none of it would be possible without a past forgiven.
(2) Jesus gives us a purpose for living.
Before I became a Christ-follower I used to live for my own selfish ambitions. Everything I did was all about me. In basketball, it was all about how many games I could win and how many records could I break. In dating, it was all about how many women could I go out with. In education, it was all about getting a degree so I could make money and buy myself stuff. Everything was about me. There is nothing wrong with basketball, women, or having a job, but these pursuits without God are meaningless.
Now I have a real purpose for living. It is to know God and make Him known to people. It is not about my will being done, but God’s for my life. One of the greatest feelings in life is the security that comes from knowing why you were created and what you are supposed to do with your life. Without this, life is a bunch of aimless wanderings and pursuits, or at best, a roll of the dice. Without God, Forrest Gump said it best, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get.”
(3) Jesus gives us a place in heaven.
After a run last week, I cooled down by going on a prayer walk while listening to worship music on my I-phone. Each step reminded me that I am on a pilgrimage here on planet earth. This is not our permanent home. For those who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their final residence is in heaven. I can’t wait until that glorious day.
Jesus is hosting the grandest and greatest celebration of all time. It is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We are going to feast, dance, and sing with the King of kings. No getting tired, no hangovers and no love handles. Praise God!
And, He has asked us to invite as many people as possible to attend. In our Father’s house there are many rooms and Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. We are on a journey to the ultimate place and party the universe has ever experienced. I can’t wait!!!
As you celebrate Christmas this year, remember Jesus has given us a past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a place in heaven. Wow!!!
Merry Christmas!
I often get asked, “What is the purpose of Christmas?” It is impossible to try to answer this question with a single statement. Of course, the purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But, why is Jesus’ birthday so significant and what does He offer us when we receive His gift?
Pastor Rick Warren was recently interviewed on the television show “Hannity and Colmes”. Pastor Rick’s new book, “The Purpose of Christmas” was the topic of the conversation. As always, Pastor Rick was able to provide an answer that is easy to understand and remember.
Listed below is what we get when we receive the gift of Jesus in our lives.
(1) Jesus gives us a past forgiven.
I recently joined the Facebook universe. It has been a great joy to reconnect with so many old friends. Many of them are old high school classmates. Some of them I haven’t talked to in over twenty years. Connecting with my old friends brings back so many memories of the past. Most of those memories are great ones. However, some of those memories are experiences I wish I never participated in.
One thing for sure is that connecting with old friends reminds me that I am not the same person I used to be. I am so thankful that I am now a Christ-follower and my past sins have been forgiven. When I think about my wonderful marriage and my beautiful children, and what a blessing it is to be a husband and father, I know that none of it would be possible without a past forgiven.
(2) Jesus gives us a purpose for living.
Before I became a Christ-follower I used to live for my own selfish ambitions. Everything I did was all about me. In basketball, it was all about how many games I could win and how many records could I break. In dating, it was all about how many women could I go out with. In education, it was all about getting a degree so I could make money and buy myself stuff. Everything was about me. There is nothing wrong with basketball, women, or having a job, but these pursuits without God are meaningless.
Now I have a real purpose for living. It is to know God and make Him known to people. It is not about my will being done, but God’s for my life. One of the greatest feelings in life is the security that comes from knowing why you were created and what you are supposed to do with your life. Without this, life is a bunch of aimless wanderings and pursuits, or at best, a roll of the dice. Without God, Forrest Gump said it best, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get.”
(3) Jesus gives us a place in heaven.
After a run last week, I cooled down by going on a prayer walk while listening to worship music on my I-phone. Each step reminded me that I am on a pilgrimage here on planet earth. This is not our permanent home. For those who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their final residence is in heaven. I can’t wait until that glorious day.
Jesus is hosting the grandest and greatest celebration of all time. It is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We are going to feast, dance, and sing with the King of kings. No getting tired, no hangovers and no love handles. Praise God!
And, He has asked us to invite as many people as possible to attend. In our Father’s house there are many rooms and Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. We are on a journey to the ultimate place and party the universe has ever experienced. I can’t wait!!!
As you celebrate Christmas this year, remember Jesus has given us a past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a place in heaven. Wow!!!
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Judging Without Being Judgmental (Part 2)
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." John 7:24
Is it possible to judge without being judgmental?
My answer to this question is a resounding yes. Listed below are my top four ways on how to judge without being judgmental.
(1) Refer people to the model of Jesus Christ.
I have found that many people don’t actually know what Jesus and the Bible have to say about moral living. Give them a Bible and teach them the Holy Scriptures. It is hard to argue with the one who lived a sinless life—Jesus.
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15These, then, are the things you should teach. Titus 2:11-15
(2) Recognize your own need for grace and truth.
This is the key to staying humble. I have never forgotten that Christ died for sinners of whom I am the worst. In high school, I would have been voted least likely to become a pastor. When I talk with people who are not living according to God’s truth, I always remember that I used to be one of them. Love, not pride or hatred, must truly compel us when talking with others. Trust me, they will know the difference. The verse of scripture I identify with the most in the Bible is 1 Timothy 1:16.
It says, "16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."
(3) Remove any sin from your life first before you talk to others about their sin.
Is your faith worth emulating? Christ-followers should judge themselves first by living a life of self-examination. Insincerity is so unattractive. Nobody wants to listen to someone who is a hypocrite. Too often Christ-followers are more concerned with the sins of others and don’t take care of their own moral failures. For example, people speak out against homosexuality while getting a divorce. Or, others condemn abortion while engaging in sex before marriage. This is what Jesus was talking about in his teaching on the plank and the speck.
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5
(4) Reveal to others what God is doing in your life.
People love to hear personal stories. Make sure you tell them how Jesus has changed your life for the better. When our lives reflect a Christ-like example it is compelling and attractive, not judgmental. Remember, a person with an experience is never at the mercy of a person with an argument.
Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to testify about the Lord to other people. In 2 Timothy 1:8-9 he writes, “8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”
Does this help you speak the truth in love?
Is it possible to judge without being judgmental?
My answer to this question is a resounding yes. Listed below are my top four ways on how to judge without being judgmental.
(1) Refer people to the model of Jesus Christ.
I have found that many people don’t actually know what Jesus and the Bible have to say about moral living. Give them a Bible and teach them the Holy Scriptures. It is hard to argue with the one who lived a sinless life—Jesus.
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15These, then, are the things you should teach. Titus 2:11-15
(2) Recognize your own need for grace and truth.
This is the key to staying humble. I have never forgotten that Christ died for sinners of whom I am the worst. In high school, I would have been voted least likely to become a pastor. When I talk with people who are not living according to God’s truth, I always remember that I used to be one of them. Love, not pride or hatred, must truly compel us when talking with others. Trust me, they will know the difference. The verse of scripture I identify with the most in the Bible is 1 Timothy 1:16.
It says, "16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."
(3) Remove any sin from your life first before you talk to others about their sin.
Is your faith worth emulating? Christ-followers should judge themselves first by living a life of self-examination. Insincerity is so unattractive. Nobody wants to listen to someone who is a hypocrite. Too often Christ-followers are more concerned with the sins of others and don’t take care of their own moral failures. For example, people speak out against homosexuality while getting a divorce. Or, others condemn abortion while engaging in sex before marriage. This is what Jesus was talking about in his teaching on the plank and the speck.
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5
(4) Reveal to others what God is doing in your life.
People love to hear personal stories. Make sure you tell them how Jesus has changed your life for the better. When our lives reflect a Christ-like example it is compelling and attractive, not judgmental. Remember, a person with an experience is never at the mercy of a person with an argument.
Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to testify about the Lord to other people. In 2 Timothy 1:8-9 he writes, “8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”
Does this help you speak the truth in love?
Monday, December 01, 2008
Judging Without Being Judgmental
Malachi 2:7 says, "For the lips of a priest (pastor) ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction—because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.”
One of my responsibilities as a minister of Jesus Christ is to preserve knowledge by speaking truth according to God’s word—the Bible. That is why I blog about hot button issues like gay marriage rights and abortion. When pastors abdicate this duty churches loose their power to influence culture. When religion is weak in a nation, its morals become confusing and its institutions become corrupt.
One philosophy that is destroying America today is the relativity of moral values.
Chuck Colson says, “This myth hides the dividing line between good and evil, noble and base. It has thus created a crisis in the realm of truth. When a society abandons it transcendent values, each individual’s moral vision becomes purely personal and finally equal. Society becomes merely the sum total of individual preferences, and since no preference is morally preferable, anything that can be dared will be permitted. This leaves the moral consensus for our laws and manners in tatters. Tolerance substitutes for truth, indifference for religious conviction. And in the end, confusion undercuts all our creeds.”
Moral relativism makes it extremely difficult to communicate truth without people thinking you are a mean and narrow-minded person. Since I was a young kid, my parents taught me to tell the truth, and to only trust those who were truthful. Moral relativism is deceptive because it causes us to despise the people we should value the most—the ones who will tell us the truth.
Ephesians 4:15 says “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Unfortunately, many Christ-followers have not done a good job speaking the truth in love. It takes wisdom, social grace and interpersonal skill to do this well. Too often Christ-followers have deep convictions but lack compassion for people who are living in sin. Also, too many Christ-followers live a hypocritical life, and therefore, lose their moral authority to speak truth to others.
Is it possible to judge without being judgmental? If so, how?
Before I write my thoughts, I would love to read how you would answer this question. I look forward to reading your response.
One of my responsibilities as a minister of Jesus Christ is to preserve knowledge by speaking truth according to God’s word—the Bible. That is why I blog about hot button issues like gay marriage rights and abortion. When pastors abdicate this duty churches loose their power to influence culture. When religion is weak in a nation, its morals become confusing and its institutions become corrupt.
One philosophy that is destroying America today is the relativity of moral values.
Chuck Colson says, “This myth hides the dividing line between good and evil, noble and base. It has thus created a crisis in the realm of truth. When a society abandons it transcendent values, each individual’s moral vision becomes purely personal and finally equal. Society becomes merely the sum total of individual preferences, and since no preference is morally preferable, anything that can be dared will be permitted. This leaves the moral consensus for our laws and manners in tatters. Tolerance substitutes for truth, indifference for religious conviction. And in the end, confusion undercuts all our creeds.”
Moral relativism makes it extremely difficult to communicate truth without people thinking you are a mean and narrow-minded person. Since I was a young kid, my parents taught me to tell the truth, and to only trust those who were truthful. Moral relativism is deceptive because it causes us to despise the people we should value the most—the ones who will tell us the truth.
Ephesians 4:15 says “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Unfortunately, many Christ-followers have not done a good job speaking the truth in love. It takes wisdom, social grace and interpersonal skill to do this well. Too often Christ-followers have deep convictions but lack compassion for people who are living in sin. Also, too many Christ-followers live a hypocritical life, and therefore, lose their moral authority to speak truth to others.
Is it possible to judge without being judgmental? If so, how?
Before I write my thoughts, I would love to read how you would answer this question. I look forward to reading your response.
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