Saturday, April 28, 2012
Unity
I've been writing and blogging (posting) quite a bit lately about unity in the church, the Body of Christ, and the importance of it for representing our Lord and Savior, and introducing Him to others (evangelism). While more of my personal story and rants can be found at my Facebook page, I found the following to be succinct and right on.
http://carm.org/christianity/devotions/unity-body
Hope you also find this compelling and will share with your brethren in Christ? We all need to do a much better job of this in our lives, for Christ's sake.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Evangelism -
For many, that word conjures up visions of some "in-your-face" obnoxious religious nut. And, there may be some truth to that in some, or many, instances?!
Honestly, the best evangelism for Christ Jesus sake, is to imitate His character, including; humility, grace, mercy, compassion and kindness. It's simple logic. You can talk about Him and His Kingdom all you want, but if people don't see you acting like Him . . . well, would you want anything to do with Him if all you saw in His purported followers was judgmental critical attitudes and noisy obnoxious proselytizers?!
"Lifestyle" evangelism is the best evangelism, because it exhibits His LOVE. Without that . . . it's all "banging gong or clanging cymbal", not necessarily inviting.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Help me imitate You in my life more each day until my life is "hidden" in You, and You draw others to Yourself. Then by Your Spirit give me words of love and grace to share my own story when the opportunity arises.
Amen.
Honestly, the best evangelism for Christ Jesus sake, is to imitate His character, including; humility, grace, mercy, compassion and kindness. It's simple logic. You can talk about Him and His Kingdom all you want, but if people don't see you acting like Him . . . well, would you want anything to do with Him if all you saw in His purported followers was judgmental critical attitudes and noisy obnoxious proselytizers?!
"Lifestyle" evangelism is the best evangelism, because it exhibits His LOVE. Without that . . . it's all "banging gong or clanging cymbal", not necessarily inviting.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Help me imitate You in my life more each day until my life is "hidden" in You, and You draw others to Yourself. Then by Your Spirit give me words of love and grace to share my own story when the opportunity arises.
Amen.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
A story of “community” –
We live in a neighborhood where there are some of the original homeowners (1950’s). We have seen our beloved neighbors leave our neighborhood, but for heaven, not some earthly destination. This story is about two neighbors, Pat and Margaret, who have both lost their lifelong spouses in recent years. Pat and Margaret live across the street from each other, and immediately across and next to us, respectively.
Community is often where you find it (or live). For Pat and Margaret, they continue to live in their own homes, but the tender care they show for each other as widow and widower is a blessing for me to witness, (however discreetly). Pat loves to bring Margaret his morning newspaper, edge her lawns, etc. Margaret for her part is a wonderful cook and baker, visiting across the street to bring Portuguese bread and casseroles, etc.
It is a simple, but oh so beautiful picture of what Jesus Christ said was the second greatest commandment . . . love one another.
Community is often where you find it (or live). For Pat and Margaret, they continue to live in their own homes, but the tender care they show for each other as widow and widower is a blessing for me to witness, (however discreetly). Pat loves to bring Margaret his morning newspaper, edge her lawns, etc. Margaret for her part is a wonderful cook and baker, visiting across the street to bring Portuguese bread and casseroles, etc.
It is a simple, but oh so beautiful picture of what Jesus Christ said was the second greatest commandment . . . love one another.
PnP On The Road - 2012 & new seasons
River Life: Discipleship & Teaching
We have called our approach to discipleship by many names, settling on "anam cara" (Gaelic for soul care) most recently. We apply ourselves using "one-on-one" or "twos & threes" settings that afford greater intimacy than larger groups, (we've found that works best for us). :-). Spiritual direction and/or mentoring is done individually, unless we are doing marriage/couples mentoring. The latter is the one time we use a "team" approach, serving together in a couple to couple setting. All this said, we are both excited to participate in 3DM huddles and become part of that Kingdom movement at River Life.
Teaching: Our teaching “style" is to take what we've learned from others; books, classes, conferences & seminars, then combine with our own experiences to create short classes that attempt to focus on the "nuggets" of truth. We assimilate and condense the material into single (one page) easy to understand (and use) handouts that accompany 1-2 hour classes, which usually comprise only two or three sessions. We also apply an interactive & participatory approach to help people "engage". Our hope is to leave participants with useful, applicable tools for daily living as they follow Christ, without overwhelming them. In both our teaching and discipleship (anam cara, soul care, spiritual direction, mentoring), we try as the Spirit leads to tailor our approach and material to the specific groups or individuals we are meeting with. All of this applies whether we are teaching/discipling as a team or individually.
We have taught in the areas of Christian parenting (all seasons), marriage (and couples/relationships) including praying as a couple, spiritual formation and more.
And always, all of this only by Grace and as the Spirit leads.
We have called our approach to discipleship by many names, settling on "anam cara" (Gaelic for soul care) most recently. We apply ourselves using "one-on-one" or "twos & threes" settings that afford greater intimacy than larger groups, (we've found that works best for us). :-). Spiritual direction and/or mentoring is done individually, unless we are doing marriage/couples mentoring. The latter is the one time we use a "team" approach, serving together in a couple to couple setting. All this said, we are both excited to participate in 3DM huddles and become part of that Kingdom movement at River Life.
Teaching: Our teaching “style" is to take what we've learned from others; books, classes, conferences & seminars, then combine with our own experiences to create short classes that attempt to focus on the "nuggets" of truth. We assimilate and condense the material into single (one page) easy to understand (and use) handouts that accompany 1-2 hour classes, which usually comprise only two or three sessions. We also apply an interactive & participatory approach to help people "engage". Our hope is to leave participants with useful, applicable tools for daily living as they follow Christ, without overwhelming them. In both our teaching and discipleship (anam cara, soul care, spiritual direction, mentoring), we try as the Spirit leads to tailor our approach and material to the specific groups or individuals we are meeting with. All of this applies whether we are teaching/discipling as a team or individually.
We have taught in the areas of Christian parenting (all seasons), marriage (and couples/relationships) including praying as a couple, spiritual formation and more.
And always, all of this only by Grace and as the Spirit leads.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Prompted by reflection on mortality and a life well-lived . . . or not?
A couple posts of mine today that are related (at least in my own mind and heart)? Throughout the week and at different times and places, I’ve been trying to “listen” more intentionally to what I’m hearing from others, both the words themselves and the “sense” they convey from hearts. From people that are “sold out” for Jesus and living in that “freedom”, from those who are troubled by the world and their own circumstances, from still others who are “self medicating” (buying things, taking vacations, etc.) to numb the pain and brokenness of the world. It all causes me to “examen” (that ancient prayer form) my own life and path, seeking God’s Truth and direction in this season. I’m concluding that the truth of Scripture, lives as living sacrifices, sets apart those truly following Christ; they seem content regardless of circumstances, they exude a “peace” that it is at once contagious and also mysterious, they convey a HOPE that transcends this world and speaks of Heaven itself. I want that, I want what the ancients discovered for themselves and tried as best they could to express in words, while still falling short of the divine voice. I want communion, even union, with the sacred Three in One, here and now.
From Facebook, March 27, 2012:
Mortality wake up call . . . just found out another of my former soccer players' fathers has passed away from a heart attack . . . that's two deaths and one emergency bypass in a month . . . heaven come near, remind us there is more . . . even Eternity . . . LORD have mercy.
prompting a prayer of examen - am I truly living this life or just wasting it?
"Send forth Your Light and Your Truth, let them guide me." May I make a difference for You in this life.
Retirement: a time to indulge in hedonistic pursuits and materialism, OR a new season to seek and serve God like never before.
the "choice" of course is always ours, but the flow of blessings to and from always His . .
I’m certainly no “saint”, but I’m amazed (puzzled?) by the older (“retired” like me) Christians I meet who regularly attend worship services on Sunday, only to drive off in their status symbol vehicles for another week of retreating into gated communities, to status symbol homes, to buying the latest “toy” to appease desires for happiness. When the opportunity occasionally arises for dialog on discipleship, especially the “going” that Christ commanded, I’m further shocked that so few are doing anything in their communities or neighborhoods, even just spending time mentoring another younger person along the journey. It’s as if they feel entitled to this season of hedonism, of pleasure-seeking, like it’s their reward for raising their children or whatever? They’ve finally arrived at a season where they have the freedom and time to really make a difference for the Kingdom and the King, but choose to live shallow, meaningless (at least from a Kingdom perspective) lives. I hear justifications like, “Well, we travel too much to commit to anything,” or similar weak excuses. How sad that those with valuable life experiences, (and supposedly years of discipleship training), choose lives of “seclusion” from the world and those who could benefit from their experience. Lord have mercy indeed on us sinners.
From Facebook, March 27, 2012:
Mortality wake up call . . . just found out another of my former soccer players' fathers has passed away from a heart attack . . . that's two deaths and one emergency bypass in a month . . . heaven come near, remind us there is more . . . even Eternity . . . LORD have mercy.
prompting a prayer of examen - am I truly living this life or just wasting it?
"Send forth Your Light and Your Truth, let them guide me." May I make a difference for You in this life.
Retirement: a time to indulge in hedonistic pursuits and materialism, OR a new season to seek and serve God like never before.
the "choice" of course is always ours, but the flow of blessings to and from always His . .
I’m certainly no “saint”, but I’m amazed (puzzled?) by the older (“retired” like me) Christians I meet who regularly attend worship services on Sunday, only to drive off in their status symbol vehicles for another week of retreating into gated communities, to status symbol homes, to buying the latest “toy” to appease desires for happiness. When the opportunity occasionally arises for dialog on discipleship, especially the “going” that Christ commanded, I’m further shocked that so few are doing anything in their communities or neighborhoods, even just spending time mentoring another younger person along the journey. It’s as if they feel entitled to this season of hedonism, of pleasure-seeking, like it’s their reward for raising their children or whatever? They’ve finally arrived at a season where they have the freedom and time to really make a difference for the Kingdom and the King, but choose to live shallow, meaningless (at least from a Kingdom perspective) lives. I hear justifications like, “Well, we travel too much to commit to anything,” or similar weak excuses. How sad that those with valuable life experiences, (and supposedly years of discipleship training), choose lives of “seclusion” from the world and those who could benefit from their experience. Lord have mercy indeed on us sinners.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Borderlands
The young lad o'th' loch, becomes the old man o'th' moor.
Happy in the glade be he tho he be poor.
Touched by God in this life his spirit rich beyond compare.
Knowing what lie ahead he doth happily journey the borderlands there.
Happy in the glade be he tho he be poor.
Touched by God in this life his spirit rich beyond compare.
Knowing what lie ahead he doth happily journey the borderlands there.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Suffering – a Christ-like perspective:
Take some time to meditate on the wisdom of God as He works out His perfect will through our suffering. No wonder James, the brother of our Lord, commanded us to “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2)!
1. Suffering is used to increase our awareness of the sustaining power of God to whom we owe our sustenance (Ps 68:19).
2. God uses suffering to refine, perfect, strengthen, and keep us from falling (Ps 66:8-9; Heb 2:10).
3. Suffering allows the life of Christ to be manifested in our mortal flesh (2 Cor 4:7-11).
4. Suffering bankrupts us, making us dependent upon God (2 Cor 12:9).
5. Suffering teaches us humility (2 Cor 12:7).
6. Suffering imparts the mind of Christ (Phil 2:1-11).
7. Suffering teaches us that God is more concerned about character than comfort (Rom 5:3-4; Heb 12:10-11).
8. Suffering teaches us that the greatest good of the Christian life is not absence of pain, but Christlikeness (2 Cor 4:8-10; Rom 8:28-29).
9. Suffering can be a chastisement from God for sin and rebellion (Ps 107:17).
10. Obedience and self-control are from suffering (Heb 5:8; Ps 119:67; Rom 5:1-5; James 1:2-8; Phil 3:10).
11. Voluntary suffering is one way to demonstrate the love of God (2 Cor 8:1-2, 9).
12. Suffering is part of the struggle against sin (Heb 12:4-13).
13. Suffering is part of the struggle against evil men (Ps 27:12; 37:14-15).
14. Suffering is part of the struggle for the kingdom of God (2 Thess 1:5).
15. Suffering is part of the struggle for the gospel (2 Tim 2:8-9).
16. Suffering is part of the struggle against injustice (1 Pet 2:19).
17. Suffering is part of the struggle for the name of Christ (Acts 5:41; 1 Pet 4:14).
18. Suffering indicates how the righteous become sharers in Christ’s suffering (2 Cor 1:5; 1 Pet 4:12-13).
19. Endurance of suffering is given as a cause for reward (2 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 2:12).
20. Suffering forces community and the administration of the gifts for the common good (Phil 4:12-15).
21. Suffering binds Christians together into a common or joint purpose (Rev 1:9).
22. Suffering produces discernment, knowledge, and teaches us God’s statutes (Ps 119:66-67, 71).
23. Through suffering God is able to obtain our broken and contrite spirit which He desires (Ps 51:16-17).
24. Suffering causes us to discipline our minds by making us focus our hope on the grace to be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:6, 13).
25. God uses suffering to humble us so He can exalt us at the proper time (1 Pet 5:6-7).
26. Suffering teaches us to number our days so we can present to God a heart of wisdom (Ps 90:7-12).
27. Suffering is sometimes necessary to win the lost (2 Tim 2:8-10; 4:5-6).
28. Suffering strengthens and allows us to comfort others who are weak (2 Cor 1:3-11).
29. Suffering is small compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ (Phil 3:8).
30. God desires truth in our innermost being and one way He does it is through suffering (Ps 51:6; 119:17).
31. The equity for suffering will be found in the next life (Ps 58:10-11).
32. Suffering is always coupled with a greater source of grace (2 Tim 1:7-8; 4:16-18).
33. Suffering teaches us to give thanks in times of sorrow (1 Thess 5:17; 2 Cor 1:11).
34. Suffering increases faith (Jer 29:11).
35. Suffering allows God to manifest His care (Ps 56:8).
36. Suffering stretches our hope (Job 13:14-15).
Out of His deep love for us God is more interested in making His children like Christ than He is in making us comfortable. The glory He receives from redeeming depraved sinners like us and remaking us into His image will be the song that fills the halls of heaven for all eternity (Rev 5:9-10). Since that will be the case in the future, let us pursue joy in the Lord here in the present.
Tautges
1. Suffering is used to increase our awareness of the sustaining power of God to whom we owe our sustenance (Ps 68:19).
2. God uses suffering to refine, perfect, strengthen, and keep us from falling (Ps 66:8-9; Heb 2:10).
3. Suffering allows the life of Christ to be manifested in our mortal flesh (2 Cor 4:7-11).
4. Suffering bankrupts us, making us dependent upon God (2 Cor 12:9).
5. Suffering teaches us humility (2 Cor 12:7).
6. Suffering imparts the mind of Christ (Phil 2:1-11).
7. Suffering teaches us that God is more concerned about character than comfort (Rom 5:3-4; Heb 12:10-11).
8. Suffering teaches us that the greatest good of the Christian life is not absence of pain, but Christlikeness (2 Cor 4:8-10; Rom 8:28-29).
9. Suffering can be a chastisement from God for sin and rebellion (Ps 107:17).
10. Obedience and self-control are from suffering (Heb 5:8; Ps 119:67; Rom 5:1-5; James 1:2-8; Phil 3:10).
11. Voluntary suffering is one way to demonstrate the love of God (2 Cor 8:1-2, 9).
12. Suffering is part of the struggle against sin (Heb 12:4-13).
13. Suffering is part of the struggle against evil men (Ps 27:12; 37:14-15).
14. Suffering is part of the struggle for the kingdom of God (2 Thess 1:5).
15. Suffering is part of the struggle for the gospel (2 Tim 2:8-9).
16. Suffering is part of the struggle against injustice (1 Pet 2:19).
17. Suffering is part of the struggle for the name of Christ (Acts 5:41; 1 Pet 4:14).
18. Suffering indicates how the righteous become sharers in Christ’s suffering (2 Cor 1:5; 1 Pet 4:12-13).
19. Endurance of suffering is given as a cause for reward (2 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 2:12).
20. Suffering forces community and the administration of the gifts for the common good (Phil 4:12-15).
21. Suffering binds Christians together into a common or joint purpose (Rev 1:9).
22. Suffering produces discernment, knowledge, and teaches us God’s statutes (Ps 119:66-67, 71).
23. Through suffering God is able to obtain our broken and contrite spirit which He desires (Ps 51:16-17).
24. Suffering causes us to discipline our minds by making us focus our hope on the grace to be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:6, 13).
25. God uses suffering to humble us so He can exalt us at the proper time (1 Pet 5:6-7).
26. Suffering teaches us to number our days so we can present to God a heart of wisdom (Ps 90:7-12).
27. Suffering is sometimes necessary to win the lost (2 Tim 2:8-10; 4:5-6).
28. Suffering strengthens and allows us to comfort others who are weak (2 Cor 1:3-11).
29. Suffering is small compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ (Phil 3:8).
30. God desires truth in our innermost being and one way He does it is through suffering (Ps 51:6; 119:17).
31. The equity for suffering will be found in the next life (Ps 58:10-11).
32. Suffering is always coupled with a greater source of grace (2 Tim 1:7-8; 4:16-18).
33. Suffering teaches us to give thanks in times of sorrow (1 Thess 5:17; 2 Cor 1:11).
34. Suffering increases faith (Jer 29:11).
35. Suffering allows God to manifest His care (Ps 56:8).
36. Suffering stretches our hope (Job 13:14-15).
Out of His deep love for us God is more interested in making His children like Christ than He is in making us comfortable. The glory He receives from redeeming depraved sinners like us and remaking us into His image will be the song that fills the halls of heaven for all eternity (Rev 5:9-10). Since that will be the case in the future, let us pursue joy in the Lord here in the present.
Tautges
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