On the way to work this morning, one of the local Christian radio stations was playing an old interview with Bill Bright, who was talking about the unimaginable majesty of Heaven, and the unshakable certainty of our place there as believers.
As I was running errands during lunch, I listened to James Dobson interviewing Steven Curtis Chapman. They were discussing the death of his five year old daughter year ago, and his assurance that she is in Heaven.
Dr. Dobson hammered this all home for me when he commented that many Christians are so so so focused on the here and now, when really eternity should be our focus. The day is going to come when all this world will fade away: the pains, the worries, the doubts, the fears... What is going to matter is eternity. Not the bills. Not the kids. Not whatever we strive for on this earth. Heaven is what matters.
Ponder that. It should put our troubles and anxieties into perspective. Focus on the vital, and ask God to handle it all.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." - John 14:1-3 (NIV)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
THE PREEMINENCE OF LOVE
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
I have a challenge for you. Grab a notebook or journal and your favorite Bible. Take a few minutes to read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Love is patient, love is kind... but love is also the mark of the mature Christian (see 13:11-12). As you read these passages, prayerfully ponder this question: what does a Christ-centered life look like? How would my life look like if it were more Christ-centered? Where would my focus be? What would be important? Write down your reflections.
Tomorrow, do it again.
And the next day.
And the next.
For one week.
Drop me a line (or comment) and let me know what you learn. I'd love to hear!
I have a challenge for you. Grab a notebook or journal and your favorite Bible. Take a few minutes to read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Love is patient, love is kind... but love is also the mark of the mature Christian (see 13:11-12). As you read these passages, prayerfully ponder this question: what does a Christ-centered life look like? How would my life look like if it were more Christ-centered? Where would my focus be? What would be important? Write down your reflections.
Tomorrow, do it again.
And the next day.
And the next.
For one week.
Drop me a line (or comment) and let me know what you learn. I'd love to hear!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
You Are Go For Launch!
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
When Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders flew on Apollo 8 in December 1968, they could not see where they were going. Even after leaving Earth's gravitation field for that of the moon, the lunar surface was out of sight for them. As the spacecraft rotated, they could see where they had been. As time went on and they sped further away, the details of Earth grew fuzzier. But they had a better view of the bigger picture.
Still, their destination remained out of sight until they actually arrived. Smudged and defective windows hindered their ability to see anything. Not only that, they had no sense of speed or direction in the zero-gravity vacuum of space. All the astronauts could do was trust Mission Control (some 200,000 miles away) to get them there.
Yet arrive they did. The Apollo 8 astronauts orbited the moon for some 20 hours before returning home, taking pictures and scouting landing sights that would enable men to actually land on the moon nearly seven months later, and Ron Howard to one day make a great movie starring Tom Hanks.
Here's my point: a lot of things can stop people from doing great things. And I believe God has placed within each of us the ability to do great things for others, great things to further His kingdom. We have ideas, plans, thoughts, visions. But when we can't see where we're going - when we feel like we're going nowhere ad have no sense of acomplishment or even direction - we can get discouraged and stop (if we even tuly started down the path at all).
Let me encourage you today to forge onward with whatever good plan God has put on your heart. Don't worry about the results. God takes care of that end of the deal. He will get you there. You just have to go.
And, who knows, maybe one day Ron Howard will make a movie about you. Not that I would set that as a goal.
When Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders flew on Apollo 8 in December 1968, they could not see where they were going. Even after leaving Earth's gravitation field for that of the moon, the lunar surface was out of sight for them. As the spacecraft rotated, they could see where they had been. As time went on and they sped further away, the details of Earth grew fuzzier. But they had a better view of the bigger picture.
Still, their destination remained out of sight until they actually arrived. Smudged and defective windows hindered their ability to see anything. Not only that, they had no sense of speed or direction in the zero-gravity vacuum of space. All the astronauts could do was trust Mission Control (some 200,000 miles away) to get them there.
Yet arrive they did. The Apollo 8 astronauts orbited the moon for some 20 hours before returning home, taking pictures and scouting landing sights that would enable men to actually land on the moon nearly seven months later, and Ron Howard to one day make a great movie starring Tom Hanks.
Here's my point: a lot of things can stop people from doing great things. And I believe God has placed within each of us the ability to do great things for others, great things to further His kingdom. We have ideas, plans, thoughts, visions. But when we can't see where we're going - when we feel like we're going nowhere ad have no sense of acomplishment or even direction - we can get discouraged and stop (if we even tuly started down the path at all).
Let me encourage you today to forge onward with whatever good plan God has put on your heart. Don't worry about the results. God takes care of that end of the deal. He will get you there. You just have to go.
And, who knows, maybe one day Ron Howard will make a movie about you. Not that I would set that as a goal.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Think About It...
"...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
We are bombarded with messages that drag us down. Everyday, we see commercials on television and hear ads on radio that make us feel somehow inferior. If I would only use the shampoo they're advertising, my hair would be soft and radiant and wave just right in the wind. If I drove a particular automobile, I would have the freedom I've always wanted. If I change my deodorant, I'd get the beauiful model I think I want. If I sign up for this business "opportunity," I'll be rich beyond my wildest dreams!! Their message: you are inadequate. But, for only twelve easy payments of $--.--, we can give you the life you deserve, the ie you always dreamed of, a way out of your dreary existence...
Baloney.
Much of what is crammed down our throats by the media is designed to make us feel inadequate. If we feel bad enough about ourselves, perhaps buying what they're selling will make us feel better.
Spending hard earned money on goodies to make us feel better may give us a temporary boost (like the heady buzz from cappasnappacinalatte grande with whip). But, in the end, it won't satisfy. If you want to "feel better," ponder what is good in life. Be thankful for what God has done. Put down the phone and the credit card and grab your Bible. Read - better yet, absorb - God's promises for your life. Soak in the richness of His grace and mercy and love. Don't get tripped up by your perceived failures or short-falls. Ponder what is true, good and beautiful. See yourself as Christ sees you, not as some ad agency says you should look like.
We are bombarded with messages that drag us down. Everyday, we see commercials on television and hear ads on radio that make us feel somehow inferior. If I would only use the shampoo they're advertising, my hair would be soft and radiant and wave just right in the wind. If I drove a particular automobile, I would have the freedom I've always wanted. If I change my deodorant, I'd get the beauiful model I think I want. If I sign up for this business "opportunity," I'll be rich beyond my wildest dreams!! Their message: you are inadequate. But, for only twelve easy payments of $--.--, we can give you the life you deserve, the ie you always dreamed of, a way out of your dreary existence...
Baloney.
Much of what is crammed down our throats by the media is designed to make us feel inadequate. If we feel bad enough about ourselves, perhaps buying what they're selling will make us feel better.
Spending hard earned money on goodies to make us feel better may give us a temporary boost (like the heady buzz from cappasnappacinalatte grande with whip). But, in the end, it won't satisfy. If you want to "feel better," ponder what is good in life. Be thankful for what God has done. Put down the phone and the credit card and grab your Bible. Read - better yet, absorb - God's promises for your life. Soak in the richness of His grace and mercy and love. Don't get tripped up by your perceived failures or short-falls. Ponder what is true, good and beautiful. See yourself as Christ sees you, not as some ad agency says you should look like.
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