At what cost would you make your stand

How far would you take it?  How strong are you in your faith?  To what point will you hold your ground against the threat of oppression from someone telling you, you can’t do Gods work.

I heard a story about a little girl (elementary school age) who got in trouble at school for sharing her faith with her classmates. Yes, actually got sent to the principles office.  Good for her!  I pray that Corde has a similar experience… up to this point and here’s why. Her father, a Christian man, didn’t stand up for what she was doing.  Basically he sided with the school and instructed is daughter to not share her faith with her friends at school anymore for fear that she would get into trouble.  (let me interject, because I know what some are thinking… she wasn’t disrupting class. this was going on during recess)  I’m not questioning the fathers relationship with God, that’s not my point.  But, I am questioning his reasoning for not standing up for his daughter and more importantly, seeing the work God was doing through her and not standing up for that.

And here comes all the, “what if…” (what if she got kicked out of school, what if she got suspended).  I don’t have all the answers to all the “what if” questions but I do have a simple comparison that might put this perspective.  History has shown us that there have been people willing to die for their belief in Christ and their willingness to spread God’s word (the Apostle Paul for example).  What are you afraid of? (fear God, not man)

Back to the original story, here is an innocent little girl doing only what she has been taught in Sunday school and a father unwilling to standup for her.  Did he not think that God would take care of one of His children doing His work?

So, how far do you personally take the fight?  I really want to hear from you, especially those that work in an environment where they feel they can’t be too Christian because it’s not “appropriate”.  I’m not picking on you but how do justify that?  Maybe I’m full of it and making a big deal out of nothing… Maybe this really isn’t going on... Maybe we should only display our love for Christ to other Christians on Sunday behind the confining walls of the church (so not to hurt anyone’s feelings).

A personal note to Corde: Baby, daddy loves you and will always fight for you and the work you'll do for God.

What’s missing form that person’s life?

I recently heard about a poll that was done surveying women asking them what they are unwilling to give up. The results revealed that a majority of women are not willing to give up their cosmetics (everything from lipstick to cosmetic surgery). I thought it was funny, and reflective of the society we live in, that in a time when we’re in an economic down fall, with unemployment up, and a stock market down; a majority of women are more concerned with physical appearance than anything else.

This is a good time for me to cover my ass. I didn’t write the article and I did conduct the poll. These are just the results as I heard them. I also believe that a majority of you reading this post don’t fall into this category. So that begs the questions, who are these people and what is missing from their life?

I’m not just talking about those with XX chromosome. Watch the news for just one night or read anyone of the article teasers from the magazines in a checkout line and you’ll see what I’m talking about. This isn’t a new concept or concern; I’m just bringing light to the age-old problem of selfishness. Who feels the need to cosmetically alter their appearance (first being concerned with paying for a physical modification and second providing for their family and others)? Who is so self-involved with work that they need the top 10 tips on how to climb the corporate ladder (doing whatever it take do get ahead of your coworker)?

So what’s missing from the life of the person who feels that hey need an article titled “9 Tricks to Pick Up Any Woman” (Men’s Health), “Looking Gorgeous: What Women Won't Give Up” (Forbes), or “The art of quietly working angles” (Men’s Health)? Jesus had a simple message… Love. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” Once again, I’m not telling you anything you haven’t heard before. I’m just making an observation in the lives of those that probably don’t know Christ. At first you may be tempted to say, “they don’t have the love of God”. But that’s not true. They may not know Gods love but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t love them. I think what they’re really missing is our love. When we show others love, we reflect the love Christ showed us. That’s how non-believers see that Gods love is real (in action through us), not by us calling them out on things we find to be “non-Christian”.

Guys, tell your wife, girlfriend, whatever… that you love her; more importantly show her that you love her (“…love your wife, just as Christ loved the church…”). Maybe if more women felt the love they deserve they wouldn’t feel the need to live up to societies cruel standards. Ladies, tell your husband, boyfriend, whatever… that you’re proud of him, thank him for taking care of your family, and let him know that you appreciate him. More importantly let him know that he is needed and loved more at home than at the office. Maybe if more guys realized the importance of their family they would shift their attention and priorities form the office to their home life (rather than trying fill a void by stepping on anyone just to get one rung closer to the top). Help each other out with this. You won’t be successful loving each other and loving other unless you work together.

What are some of the observations you’ve made in life where you see love missing from others? How do we effectively show our love to others? Any other thoughts… comments… please share.

Faith doesn't take fear away, it helps conquer it

Here are the discussion questions for this week's sermon (May 31st).

Passage: Judges 6-8

God saw who Gideon was and what he was capable of in Christ before Gideon knew any of this was true. God made Gideon into a man of godly valor as he walked with God by faith. Faith means becoming who God created us and saved us to be in Christ as we depend fully on Him.

1. If fear and doubt did not stop you, how would you step out to make a difference for God?

2. What weaknesses, fears or doubts sometims make you hesitate to serve God?

3. What specific truths about your identity in Christ give you hope to rise above your weaknesses through God's power?

Examples: Philippians 1:6; John 15:4-7; Galatians 5:16-25; Romans 8:28; Colossians 1:13-14; 1 John 1:1-10.

Speak Up!

Calling all readers- we want to hear from you!  We love that you have been reading the blog and that you keep telling us your thoughts.  Now it is time to get your fingers to the keys... start leaving comments!  We really want this blog to be a discussion board.  So leave your mark, tell us you were here, make a comment, make a joke, share a story, share and opinion, play devils advocate, give testimony, ask a question, share an insight, interact, get involved!  And while your at it, please pass on the site to everyone so we can reach more people, get more ideas and keep the conversation going!

How far out on the branch have you ventured?

A short summary and follow up questions to Pastor John’s sermon “Faith Means Step” from the Invading Faith series.

In this portion of the series Pastor John shared with us the story of Joshua and the Israelites crossing the Jordan.  This story is a great depiction what it means to step out in faith.  I can’t even begin to imagine the incredible amount of faith the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant and the nation of Israel had while crossing the Jordan.

Pastor John’s sermon helps explain to us that faith “…calls us to go to places we would never go and could never go without Him.  He calls us to do things we would never and could never do apart from Him…”

My favorite description of making that step in faith is “…stepping out of our comfort, beyond the so called security provided by this world and placing our confidence in God in order to experience the fullness of His kingdom (life with Jesus Christ).”

Follow up questions:

What are some comforts you find a false sense of security in? Why? Can you let them go?

Has there been a time when you felt God calling you to do something but do to feeling uncomfortable or not in control you ignored His request?

Share with us an example of when you trusted God, stepped out in faith and accomplished something that you could have never done apart from Him.

What can you do with a $100

Prayer is an interesting think.  I’d encourage you to practice it everyday but be careful; you might just get what you ask for.

Last week I participated in a drawing in which I won an iPod Nano.  Now, I didn’t need the Nano but I was excited to have it.  A gentleman at the raffle offered me one hundred dollars for the MP3 player but I selfishly turned it down.  I’m not sure what hit me but latter that night I was thinking about prospect of having an extra hundred dollars and what I would do with it.

So I tried a funny thing.  I prayed that if someone was willing to purchase the iPod for a hundred dollars, I would in turn use that money in someway to serve others.  God must have been listening and willing to put me to the test because the next morning I was offered the desired amount.

Here’s the problem and the assistance I need.  I made an agreement with God right; I can’t go back on that.  And I truly have a desire to use this small amount of money to serve others.  But how?  I’d prefer if it just didn’t end with this hundred-dollar bill. While there’s nothing wrong with buying “x” amount of meals for some homeless people or giving the total amount to someone in need; I’d really like to see it grow into something more than that. 

Here’s what I mean... I would like to see this “idea” grow into a self-sustaining charity/service/investment. I wont even begin to pretend to know what that will look like in the future or how it will grow.  I fact, I don’t even know where to start.  But what I do know is that God can see beyond our puny dreams.  In fact He desires for us to live out the God size dreams that He has planned for us.  I think that together, with His help, we can turn this into something that when later reflected back on we will have no other choice but to admit that Gods work was at hand.

So please comment with any ideas, let us know if you have a desire to help,  and as always keep us and others in your prayers.

 

Remembering Who and What You Represent

A couple of days ago I was helping a coworker (Marty) tile his house.  Why he thought I would be of any help I don’t know but there I was.  On one of our many breaks that morning I was talking with another coworker (Tony), who was doing yard work for Marty that day, about an upcoming deep sea fishing trip we’re going on in about a month.  Tony, a three-year veteran of this annual trip, was informing me of all the important details about our approaching voyage like the daily gambling pool, the alcohol involved and the typical crude “male humor”.  Within a few minuets of our conversation Tony must have remembered that I was a Christian because he began to act as though I would have a problem with the events that were to take place.  I assured him that I would not spoil the fun but that’s not the point for this entry. 

My first point is, Tony and I haven’t ever had a conversation about my faith so I can only assume that he knew of my relationship with Christ through word of mouth or by my actions.  Either way it made me feel good.  I either made a good impression on someone or said something in passing that made him think I was a Christian.  And I’m proud of that.

As Paul Harvey would say, “Here’s the rest of the story”.  A couple days latter at the fire station I said something in a conversation with Marty that disturbed him.  What I said isn’t important but the effect it had on him was.  Marty stopped mid conversation and called me out. Something to the effect of, I’m not allowed to say stuff like that... I thought you were a Christian...  Marty was right.  I apologized to him and made a commitment to work on that.

And for my other point.  That conversation made me think.  It’s not fair to those that know of my faith to see two sides of me.  I know I’m not perfect and I defiantly know that I will fail at times.  But it is my responsibility to represent God and His love for me the best I can, admitting when I’m wrong and being open and honest to non-believers.  Someone once told me that I might be the only Christian that those I encounter in life may know.  So, remember who and what you represent.

Please feel free to comment and share you own experiences with this.