Saturday, October 25, 2008

After the Heart...Time for a checkup

What grabs you? I mean, what really stirs you to the soul? Is it issues around social injustice? How about a compelling story of someone who has overcome something? Maybe it's political or economics? Maybe it's nothing at all...you've grown numb to the world around you.

I've become a big fan Matt Chandler, one of the teaching pastors at a growing church (The Village Church) in Dallas, Texas. And, as I've listened to him labor through Luke (he started over a year ago and he's only in chapter 14--very solid teaching) there have been so many times when I've said, "the Church (Body of Christ) needs to hear this". And the message of this past week was another. The message was about Jesus teaching and, once again, admonishing the Pharisees for their self righteous attitudes as they tried to trap him into doing something "unbiblical" so they could find grounds to crush this "thorn in their side". But, usually, the message turns into not only revealing Jesus teaching principle to those he was addressing but the application to us. That's when it gets personal...that's where he reminds us that Jesus is "gettin' in our bizness".

The main point of this texts' teaching to the Pharisees was that they cared more about their standing than about people and more about following the rules than the Rule-Giver...God. He left me/us with these challenges:
  1. Where is your affection? Do you REALLY pursue God with your affection? I'm not talking about an overly emotional "I really really really really love you God". I am talking about a deep heart change where your obedience is due to your love...not where you think you are loved BECAUSE of your obedience. Are you open for real heart surgery?
  2. REALITY---> Your checkbook reveals your heart. So, what does your checkbook reveal about you?
  3. Do other people around you have souls or are they just on this earth to serve you and your needs, like a bit player in a movie all about you?

Those are real questions that a real God is asking us each day. I'll be thinking and praying about these over the next week. Then, asking God to mold me based on the revelation of my heart attitude. How about you?

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Where Moth and Rust destroy…

When I moved from Minneapolis to Little Rock, I knew that I probably could dispense with the mounds of sweaters and jackets I had accumulated over 40+ years (no---I didn't have my sweaters from high school or anything). For those geographically challenged, the climate is a little different between the two cities. So, as I took out some of these sweaters, I noticed some holes. They were moth-eaten. None of them were in major disarray but there were holes. And, our cars in Minnesota had survived many winters driving on the salt-filled roads and had accumulated a lot of rust. Moth and Rust…hmmm, where had I heard that before?

In times like this, there are significant challenges we face as people and as a nation. When people are seeing their retirement accounts lose in a few days what had taken years to gain, attention is paid. Someone has said that adversity is where life makes up its mind. If your security and hope is in things like retirement accounts, political candidates, pension accounts or careers, you might be feeling a little battle weary.

Those old sweaters that had holes in them were my security for warmth at one time. And those cars that were corroding from the bottom up were shiny new vehicles that I put my travel hope in when I had them. In fact, the car I drove in high school had holes in the top quarter panels in the front so when I drove in the snow, slush would come pouring through those holes, kicked up by the tires, and cake on my windshield. It was pretty funny! Needless to say, that car isn't carrying anyone anywhere anymore.

I find that an often quoted and maybe taken for granted passage of the bible really puts things into perspective:

"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

22–23 "Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!

24 "You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.

Peterson, E. H. (2002). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language (Mt 6:19-24). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.


Whether the burglars are corporate greed mongers, liberal politicians who think everyone is entitled to everything or moth and rust, the reality is, there is only one place to put our trust. I think you know where that is. It's not in people or things on this earth, that's for sure and it's been proven time and time again. Don't buy the lie that it will be different with Senator SO-AND-WHAT in office. It WON'T. Only God can answer life's biggest question---where do I place my trust??

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Whewww? or is it?

OK...so the market shot back up in the largest one day gain ever on Wall Street. Whew....I can hear the sighs of relief all over the world. I don't want to sound like a sour puss but, haven't we been here before? UPDATE...since it took me an extra day to write this...NEWSFLASH ... the DOW JONES lost 733 points today. So, just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water... Here was the point I was going to make: "Some trust in chariots, others in horses" BUT WHO OR WHAT DO YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN?

It's the question I left you with in my last entry. It's being asked a lot but I think it's a legitimate question. We have experienced an historically precipitous drop...that is, the market has been in a free fall (offset by one really good day). For those of us who have placed our lives in the hands of someone who actually knows tomorrow these days of "bad news" shouldn't really be bad. But, for those who have placed all of their eggs in this earthly basket...time to reconsider that choice.

Funny thing is that if the market goes back up tomorrow and the next day, our tendency will be to say, "Whew, I'm glad that's over". But, some day we will all have to face the reality of what the Bible talks about when it says that the things of this earth will be riddled with rust, eaten by moths and generally found to be wanting when all is said and done. So, have you misplaced your trust? Do the times bring you fear? I'll leave you with another question, "Whose your Daddy?"

Friday, October 10, 2008

Predicting the future

When I was a wee lad, I tried to pick the ponies. I admit...not very "Christ-like". Though, I wasn't a follower of Christ then. I would get a daily delivery of the Racing Digest and at the age of 15 and 16 try to pick the horses. Then, the next day I could see how I did. I looked at trends, weather and track conditions, race lengths, etc. And, once in a while I did pretty well by picking the winning horse once or twice out of 10 or so races. It wasn't about the money (obviously since I wasn't running a horse betting ring on the sly :-). It was about trying to "control or figure out the future".

In some ways, isn't that what we try to do every day? We look at trends, surrounding conditions and then make "our picks"--do things accordingly. Here's the truth, though. There are many people saying they "predicted" this recent financial crisis. But, if that is true, wouldn't they have done something about it. Wouldn't they have already pulled their money out of the market and made it known? The world is full of arm chair quarterbacks. It was always easier for me to "pick the ponies" by looking at the next day's results. I was 10 for 10! But, in a day and age when we continue to see formerly predictable institutions (banks, financial institutions, government) and believed to be "rights" as Americans (like owning homes, having health care and insurance) crumbling around us, who or what can we trust that will lead us into the future with any degree of certainty? Who do you put YOUR trust in when everything else is crumbling around you? Let's talk more...tomorrow.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Keep the Fire(proof) going!

OK...so, here's a challenge. Go to the listing of movies currently playing in your area. Now, of all the movies showing in theaters across the country, name or identify which of them can actually make a difference in someone's life or family?

If you're honest, there is only one...FIREPROOF.

I'm not of the camp that says every movie has to change lives. I love movies as an escape, sometimes. I enjoy an engrossing, morally decent film that I can get lost in. Then you have those films that are "RIDICULOUS" or "INCREDULOUS" and not worth the time to preview. But, way too seldom do we have the chance to view a theatrical movie that CHANGES LIVES. Hear are just a few of MANY stories from people across the nation whose lives and even legacies were impacted by the movie FIREPROOF during the opening weekend of the movie:


"After we left the movie, we were both quiet and reflective on how utterly real that movie was to us. We also knew that, just as in the movie, it took Jesus to make us see the truth of where our problems came from. I wish I could say we were perfect now, but I can say that we are not living without hope anymore." (Laura)

"As the movie played, I felt the power of the Holy Spirit come over my wife and me. The movie spoke to me directly about the issues in my life and I was drawn closer to my wife. We were both teary eyed in each other's arms as the movie ended. We went out to dinner afterwards and talked like we were on a first date. ... Like the movie says, it is hard, but our marriage is worth it. ... I haven't felt closer to my wife in years." (Mike)


"As newlyweds, my husband and I are in the beginning stages of growing our marriage. We laughed, we cried, and prayed with one another that God will guide us away from putting our marriage in that situation. Thank you for the blessing of this story ... you are changing the world one marriage at a time!" (Theresa)


"Thanks for showing me what REAL love is! I am still waiting for my special someone and I intend to never leave my partner behind. Thanks for the encouragement through this movie! That is the kind of love I want my future spouse to know from me!" (Ashley)

and


"Wow! This movie was such a Godsend. My friend and I went to see the movie. I cried and she cried for me. The movie was so real it was like it was me in the movie. My marriage was on the verge of divorce after 14 years. We'd given up. Well, before I left the movie theater that day I bought tickets for my husband and me. We went the very next day. He cried. I cried. "While we were walking to the parking lot, my husband took me by the hand and told me he was so sorry for everything he had ever done to me. I know it's not all my husband's fault; we were both to blame. This movie is definitely life-changing. We are on the right track. Please don't give up on your spouse. You don't leave your partner. Thank you for this movie; you have changed my life." (Aimee)

To see other stories sent in from more than 1100 viewers who were impacted by the movie CLICK HERE


To Laura, Mike, Theresa, Ashley and Aimee, FIREPROOF was more than "just another movie"...it changed their marriages and their lives.

So, why am I sharing this with you? Well, FamilyLife has been so privileged to be a major partner with FIREPROOF in the promotion of this film. And, in my role as the Partnership Strategy Director, I had the incredible experience to work with many of the people involved in the making and promotion of FIREPROOF. They are men and women of God who desire to make a REAL and lasting difference in marriages around the nation. So, as a ministry partner, we don't want to "leave our partner behind". And, if FIREPROOF is going to continue to be played in theaters long enough for people to see it and be impacted by it, there needs to be a reason to keep it at theaters...people going.

FIREPROOF is shocking Hollywood and they would love nothing better than to see this movie crash and burn (pun intended...it's also ironic that the ridiculously inane movie, "Religulous" is out at the same time). If we don't continue to go, bring friends, small groups from church, neighbors, family members, etc., they will soon have to pull the movie from theaters.

So, if you haven't gone, consider enjoying an afternoon matinee today. I've had a number of friends and family call and tell me they really liked the movie as well as its message.

And, if you have gone, consider going with one of the groups mentioned above. Take someone with you.

As our ministry partner, this is just one way you are helping us, help others! This is why we're here. This is one of those rare opportunities where we can reach millions at one time with the message, "God loves marriage"...He created it and has a plan for it. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of this!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

YOU DA MAN!

A crowd of onlookers stand silently while he tees up the ball. He waggles and wiggles...starts the club back once...twice...places the large driver just behind the ball and stands still...focusing all of his attention on that little white round object. The throng is as quiet as a Vikings fan during a football game...and then...THWACK. A mighty swing from the mighty Tiger Woods and the ball sails seemingly endlessly straight ahead and the crowd yells.....YOU DA MAN!

When they yell that I don't think they're calling into question Tiger's real manhood. At least I've not seen him stop and look down the front of his pants to make sure. No, it's an endearing phrase in our current culture. YOU DA MAN means something like, "I wish I could hit a golf ball like that" or, "WOW, that's amazing. Only a REAL man can do that". But that phrase hasn't always been received with such adulation and reverence.

As I continued reading this morning in 2 Samuel, I read these words, "You are the man!". But they didn't come from a cheering crowd aimed at an incredible athletic achievement. In fact, they were probably the most empty words that one of the most revered Kings in all of history ever heard. They came from Nathan and he said them to King David.

They were said in reference to a story that Nathan shared with David about a rich man who took a poor man's lamb which had been like part of the family...like my dog Ginger is to our family, and killed it for dinner because he didn't want to use one of his multitude of herds or flocks. This jerk took the only little baby lamb from this poor sap and killed it when he had plenty. I get angry just thinking about it. And, so did David. "WHO IS THIS GUY?", yelled David. I'll string him up by his toenails...I'll torture him and use him to make sure everyone knows that this is not acceptable. "Where is he...bring him to me", demanded David. In fact,"I WANT HIM DEAD!" Then Nathan said those 4 empty, crushing, convicting words to David..."YOU ARE THE MAN". I don't think David picked up his Taylor Made behemoth, tipped his hat and began walking down the fairway. Nathan's tale was an allegory that identified what David had just done in real life. They meant, "BUSTED"!

This story is one of the most frustrating stories in all of the Bible. Here's this king, David, who has everything anyone could want. And, he's a man after God's heart. I mean, he's fearless (can anyone say "giant slayer"?), valiant (who else could refrain from striking his murder-minded pursuer dead while he slept?), God-fearing (always asking God what and how he should proceed in conquests) and a leader of men and nations. Yet, here he is on a beautiful day, taking a stroll on the roof of his not-too-small pad. It's spring time. Birds chirping, sun shining, the smell of lilacs all around (I don't really know if they had lilacs in Israel then but that's what I smell in the spring). It's G O R G E O U S. In fact, it was also a time when REAL men went to war. And, this cat has everything a man could want? So, why, David, would you do what you did? Why would you...a man with the world in his hands...look around and fix your eyes on something you didn't need or that could only bring you trouble!!! Think Adam and Eve in the Garden. They could eat from ANYWHERE and from ANYTHING sans one little ol' tree in the middle. Sin. It is so enticing. Why is it that the forbidden draws us to make such poor decisions. Why when there is so much good to look at on the internet, so many turn to pornography? How can a marriage that looked so promising on the wedding day and a couple that has so much in front of them turn into a nightmare of bad, selfish choices? David knows. I know. And, you probably know.

It's SO EASY for me to get angered at David in this story. Man...you are NOT the man, David. You creep. You loser. How could you do that to Bathsheba and Uriah. And, on top of that, Uriah never falls for any of David's ploy. He honors his military comrades and says, "Hey...if they are out there fighting, I am NOT sleeping in a bed with my wife." That makes this even more infuriating to me.

Then, I remember the too-numerous-to-count times when I chose the path of self indulgence. I walked the path of lust-driven, self serving, shameful and making consequent bearing decisions. In fact, that's just about every day.

I'm still mad at you, David for your choices. But, God not only forgave you (though the consequences were pretty stiff if you read on) but continued to use you. That means there is hope for me. God calls me his child. Jesus Christ's death gives me hope that even when I didn't know Him, He loved me enough to die for my sins...sins I hadn't even committed yet. 100% of them.

You know...when I hear that saying "YOU DA MAN" I'll probably think about it a little more intently. It may be that the person that's receiving that deserves to hear it as David heard it as much as he does as an affectionate statement. We are men. That's why we need God!