Change of Perspective

Good morning! I hope you enjoyed your long weekend and are heading into the shortened work week with gusto.

Today, I want to talk to you about perspective. My father-in-law has been visiting with us these past few days. Last night we took him to Mount Washington overlooking downtown Pittsburgh. This view was once voted as one of the top 10 views in America. One of the things I find striking about the view from Mount Washington, is the change of perspective.

There are times in life, when we need a change of perspective. We may be going through a difficult circumstance, and from our viewpoints in the middle, it looks hopeless, but a change of perspective brings hope. Look at the following passages from the Old Testament:

2 Kings 6:14-17 (NLT)

So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. [15] When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere.

"Ah, my lord, what will we do now?" he cried out to Elisha.

[16] "Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" [17] Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened his servant's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Elisha’s servant thought that all hope was lost. In his mind there was no way out. Only after his eyes were opened, did he see God was already moving on his behalf.

I have often compared the trials of life to driving in the fog. When I drive through the fog, I realize that just because I can’t see the other vehicles, doesn’t mean they are not there. At some point the fog will lift or they will be close enough to me that they become visible. The same is true with life. I may not be able to see God’s movement, but I know He is near. When the time is right, the fog will lift and his presence will become obvious.

Today if you are facing difficult circumstances, I encourage you to do just Elisha did. Pray for an opening of your eyes and a change of your perspective.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Rainy Days

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and the chance to honor your mother this past Mother’ Day.

It has been raining here since yesterday afternoon. At times I love a good spring rain and at other times, like yesterday when I was trying to cook on the grill, I find it frustrating. It is with that thought in mind that I would like to talk about the rainy days of life.

Psalm 65:10 (NLT)

You drench the plowed ground with rain,

melting the clods and leveling the ridges.

You soften the earth with showers

and bless its abundant crops.

Just as it is with the weather so it is with life. Every day is not filled with sunshine and blue skies. Many days are cloudy and rain filled, some are even stormy. But have you ever considered the necessity of rainy days?

Without the rain, the farmer’s crops would wither and die. The ground would become hardened beyond usefulness, parched and cracked. Streams, lakes and rivers would no longer be life sustaining and would ultimately return to dry land.

We depend on the rain to help sustain the delicate balance of nature, but what about those rainstorms of life?

Our lives are dynamic and always changing, much like the weather. Like it or not we will all endure rainy seasons within our lives, but the good news is those seasons serve a purpose.

Look at the first sentence of the Psalm, the rain melts the clods and levels their ridges. We are all guilty of being a little hard hearted at times. The hardened soil of our heart is not conducive to fruitful living and so God allows the rains to come. As we endure the rainy season our heart is softened. We become more open to God’s move and direction in our lives and our heart once again becomes fertile ground.

The rains of our lives also nourish what has already been planted. Through the difficult times we become more aware of God’s presence and his unique nature. When we hurt, we learn of God’s comforting power. When we are discouraged, we learn of God’s encouraging presence. When we are beaten down, we understand the unfathomable strength of God. We would never understand the depth of God’s love or the completeness of God’s power, if we did not face the difficulties that come through the rainy seasons of life.

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life, we neglect our relationship with God. Our souls become parched and well runs dry. The rainy seasons of life, cause us to bring our focus back upon God. We renew our fellowship with Him and in spite of the adversity our soul is quenched.

If you are in a rainy season of life, thank God for his nourishment and nurture. Look forward to the end of the rainy season, because the harvest is just around the corner.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

A Job Well Done

Good morning! I hope your weekend was restful and that you have entered this new week refreshed and energized.

This past week I finally crossed the finish line of a goal I had been working on for the past few years. After years of lectures, research papers and examinations, I finally completed my Masters Degree. The feeling of satisfaction and the knowledge of a job well done has made all of the effort worthwhile.

Today I want to talk about your work ethic. In our society today many people work as hard at getting out of work as they do at doing their work and many others head off to work each day filled with dread and completely unsatisfied. Is this really the way it should be? Consider the following verse:

Galatians 6:4-5 (NLT)

Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. [5] For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

It is important that we not just view our work as “a job”, but instead view our work through the lens of “a calling.” When we understand that God has placed us in our current roles for a reason, then we can find much deeper meaning in our vocations.

When we have a deep sense of purpose in our work then the sacrifice of self to accomplish our tasks is second nature. Our work is no longer drudgery, but instead a cause for which we will gladly give our very best.

One of the traps and excuses of poor work ethic is the comparison game. We look around and set our sights on that one person who is getting more reward than we are. We become critical and negative when we enter into this arena. Comparison is dangerous; it generally leads to either pride or discouragement, neither of which is healthy.

When we do our work well, there is no need for comparison. We take satisfaction in the effort that was put forth and the completion of the task at hand. The work was its own reward.

Today if you are dissatisfied in your work, I encourage you to evaluate your work ethic. Are you viewing your work as a call or a job? Have you given your very best? Have you worked for the glory of the Lord?

This week remember that no matter who signs your paycheck, your work is unto the Lord. Give him your very best and take satisfaction in a job well done.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Commit an intentional act of kindness

Commit an intentional act of kindness

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend. My family and I took advantage of the beautiful spring weather and spent most of our weekend outdoors.

This weekend, I spend some time with a group of men from my church helping others with various projects ranging from moving heavy appliances to wiring up connections for trailer lights.

One of the greatest blessings we have in our lives is the ability to help others. I have some of my greatest personal growth has come from times of selfless service. Unfortunately the majority of the time, we live our lives in a bubble, somewhat ignorant of the world around us and insulated from the needs of others.

But God has a different plan for our lives:

Titus 3:14 (NLT)

For our people should not have unproductive lives. They must learn to do good by helping others who have urgent needs.

The toughest thing about serving is that it takes sacrifice. For me to serve someone is going to require a sacrifice of my time, it may require a sacrifice of my energy and strength and it may even cost me some money (with current gas prices that could be a lot of money).

All of us have been at a place of need, where we needed a helping hand. The challenge or task at hand, was just too much for us to complete on our own. When the help comes, you feel your spirits rise and even your weariness subsides.

A few years ago there was a bumper sticker that said “Commit a random act of kindess.” I would like to make that my challenge for this morning’s encouragement. Ask God to show you those opportunities for kindness this week. When you are presented with the opportunity…go and commit, not a random act of kindness, but instead and intentional act of kindness.

Your act of kindness may change the entire course of someone’s day.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Faith of a Child

The Faith of a Child

Good morning! I hope your weekend was restful and refreshing.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of listening to my daughter pray and talk about Jesus. Her eyes lit up and she prayed with such enthusiasm and wonder. Her prayers were not jaded by life’s doubts and troubles. She prayed with trusting innocence, expecting God to respond.

It is with this thought of child like faith that I bring you this morning’s encouragement.

Matthew 18:2-4 (NLT)

Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. [3] Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. [4] Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

One of the things I appreciate about children who are my daughters age is their honesty. My daughter is at the age where she will “gladly” fess up to being disobedient. There is a transparency in her life good or bad. She has no ego to boost, no corporate ladder to climb, no image to uphold. She is simply Caitlyn and all that being Caitlyn entails.

Unfortunately too many of us have lost our child like faith. We have forgotten what it means to approach the Savior with wide-eyed amazement and wonder. We have become calloused by the hard knocks of life and we have created for ourselves an image we feel we must uphold.

One of the greatest detriments to our faith and our witness is our need to project a certain image. We have settled for living artificially instead of authentically. Unfortunately at some point our image cracks, we let our guard down and others see the real us and not the image we have tried to project. So instead of the image we have sought to portray we instead seem hypocritical or superficial.

Sadly, we forget that God sees right through our facades. He knows what we are truly like and is never fooled by our projected image. One of the most refreshing things I have ever learned in my life is to be authentic. As a pastor it can be a scary thing to let people see your faults and weaknesses. In the long run it creates an environment of greater trust and openness.

If we are to ever experience the fullness of childlike faith we have to learn to be transparent. To let people see us warts and all. It is through this transparency that God’s power and presence become more visible in our lives.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

As you begin this week, I encourage you to strive for authenticity. It takes effort to hold up the facades that we hide behind. Approach God’s throne with a childlike faith and ask Him to reveal His strength in your weakness, trusting that your prayer has already been answered.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Cost of Citizenship

Good morning! I hope your Easter was a blessed time of reflection and celebration with family and friends.

Today is the deadline for those of us in the U.S. to have our income tax returns filed. I always seem to owe some money, so as always I will drop my return in the mail today before the midnight deadline.

This morning I want to challenge us with the thought of obligation and duty. For our backdrop this morning I want to use the following verse:

Mark 12:17 (NLT)

"Well, then," Jesus said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." This reply completely amazed them.

Jesus was being tested with a question of whether it was right to pay taxes or not. This answer goes much further than a simple question of tax management. In America, we enjoy the freedoms to express our views openly and to worship openly. We have an expectation that our nation is defended by our military and that our government is guarding the freedoms we hold so dearly.

There is a cost to being a recipient of those freedoms and benefits. We each are obligated to do our part in supporting that process. Paying taxes is one of the ways that we act in obedience to that obligation.

Jesus of course concludes this answer by reminding us that we are also citizens of God’s kingdom. And with that citizenship comes responsibility as well. Our lives were bought and paid for with the precious blood of Jesus. We have received blessing beyond measure, grace beyond what we deserve and the promise of abundant life forevermore.

The cost of citizenship for us is commitment and obedience. Just as taxes come out of your paycheck before anything else does, God’s will should be the first priority in our lives. Our commitment to him should take precedence over our careers, hobbies, and other interests. When we plan out our day we should “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness” and then fill our calendar in from there.

The second component in good citizenship in God’s kingdom is obedience. True obedience requires a yielding of our will to his. Jesus himself prayed “not my will but yours be done.” The only alternative to obedience is rebellion. Obedience often times is the most difficult assignment for us. We fight daily with our will and our desires wanting to take priority over the will of God. But when we yield and allow ourselves to be truly obedient, we enter into a sweetness of fellowship with God that is intimate and refreshing. As odd as it sounds, in God’s kingdom, obedience will always bring spiritual freedom.

This week I encourage you to look over the tax statement of your life. Are you giving God what is rightfully his? Spend time in prayer recommitting yourself and ask God to help you in the areas of faithful obedience that you most often struggle with.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours today.

Carl

It Was All For You

Good morning! This week many churches celebrate a variety of activities for Holy Week. I hope that as you participate in this time of reflection, you would truly grasp the personal nature of Jesus’ sacrifice for you.

It is with this thought that I bring you this morning’s encouragement. Today as a background verse I want us to look at Isaiah 53:4-6:

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NLT)
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! [5] But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! [6] All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.

During this week it is easy to take God’s grace for granted. We find ourselves getting wrapped up in the purchasing of a new Easter dress or hiding eggs for an Easter egg hunt and somehow the reflection upon the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord slips by without much thought.

This morning I want to bring your attention to the personal nature of Jesus sacrifice. Notice in verse 4 that it was “our” weaknesses he carried and it was “our” sorrows that weighed him down. Jesus bore your burdens. He carried a weight that was not his, but instead he chose to offer himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for you.

Verse 5 reminds us that Jesus was wounded and crushed for our sins. It was his body broken for you that provides you peace and healing. It is so easy to read these verses and gloss over the whole picture. For those of you who saw the movie “The Passion of the Christ” a few years ago, you probably came away with a new appreciation of the brutality that Jesus endured. I hope when you read this you come away with something else, a new appreciation of the ugliness of sin. Each scourge of the whip representing the ugly toll that sin takes upon our soul.

Verse 6 points out the sinful condition of human behavior. Every single one of us has strayed away from God’s standard. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but God laid our iniquity upon Jesus. Our guilt, our shame, our punishment was transferred to our precious Lord.

This week take a few moments and find a place of solitude and silence. Thank God for his love for you. Thank him for the precious gift of Jesus. Acknowledge that it is only by the blood of Jesus that your sin has been forgiven and thank him for his cleansing.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Fear of Change

Good morning! I hope you’ve had a great weekend and that your week is off to a good start. This weekend was a busy one for me and the semi-annual re-adjustment of the clock didn’t help my state of rest any either.

This morning I want to speak to you about being open to change. As people we are most generally creatures of habit. When we go to a restaurant we tend to order the same selections. We take the same routes back and forth to work. We follow the same routine each and every morning or each evening when we got to bed.

This consistent ongoing routine creates an environment of familiarity. When we are then challenged with a new idea or practice we tend to fight, resist or flee. Today I want us to think about being open to the challenge of change.

When I assess potential church planters I often ask this question: “Describe for me a time when you resisted a change that really needed to be made?” Many times God allows us to come to a crossroads of faith or as Henry Blackaby calls it in his book Experiencing God, “A Crisis of Belief.” This is a place where God challenges your comfort and routine with a decision of faith. This decision often requires you to leave your comfort zone and step out with God, trusting in His sovereignty and strength or remaining where you are, “safe” within you comfort zone.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites came to one of these crossroads as well. God had promised to give them the Promised Land of Canaan, but when they spies returned, they gave a report of giants in the land. The people had a choice, take God at His word or give into their fears and stay put.

Psalm 106:24-25 (NLT)

The people refused to enter the pleasant land,

for they wouldn't believe his promise to care for them.

[25] Instead, they grumbled in their tents

and refused to obey the Lord.

The Israelites chose to stay put and because of their actions faced another 40 years of wandering in the desert. They could not see past their fears and discomfort to the promise of deliverance that God had already given them.

So many times I find that when God brings me to these crossroads of faith, He is trying to take my relationship with Him to a new level. What He asks me to give up and surrender is always difficult. Maybe it is a long held belief, a tradition, or even issues of comfort (financial, relational, lifestyle, etc..). What I find is that each time God asks me to give up something, He always has something better that He wants to give in return.

Ultimately my decisions come down to personal obedience. When I refuse to allow this God inspired change to take place in my life, I am refusing to allow Him to mold me as He sees fit.

This week you may find your self having a “Crisis of Belief.” If so I want to encourage you to admit your fears to God. Share with Him your reservations and doubts, but then commit to follow His lead, even though it means change in your life. In the long run you will be blessed by your step of faith and your intimacy with God will increase.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Loving Correction

Good morning! I hope you have had a wonderful weekend and that your week is off to a great start.

This past week has been a difficult week for me, because I have been through a time of “Divine” correction. There are times in our lives when God has to wake us up from our stupor so that He can move us away from the things that are a hindrance in our lives. For me, this correction from the Lord dealt with the issues of living in the fullness of God’s power.

It is so easy for us at times to get wrapped up in things that don’t matter. We become distracted to the point of indifference and ineffectiveness. God, however, has a greater plan for our lives, for our home and for our churches. God intends for us to live our lives with focused passion and in the fullness of His strength, relying not upon ourselves, but fully on Him.

I want to share with you the following verse about the correction of our Heavenly Father:

Revelation 3:19 (NLT)

I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.

Even in the midst of God’s discipline, I find comfort in the fact that God disciplines me, because He loves me. I can remember a similar sentiment coming from my own dad as a kid. Of course at the time I didn’t believe him, but I look back and see that his discipline was most certainly out of love for me. My dad was interested in the type of person I would become, and so he disciplined me accordingly.

God is also interested in my personhood. He wants to see my life become a pure and blameless vessel through which His presence is seen. God wants my church to truly reflect the majesty of His Son, Jesus. In fact this verse is actually written to a church, God wanted them not to be complacent, mediocre or lukewarm….He wanted them focused.

The great thing about the Lord’s hand of correction is that it is followed by sweet and intimate fellowship. When we yield our will to His and turn from the errors of our ways, we experience a closeness that makes it all worthwhile. Look at the next verse:

Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.

You become like the people you spend time with. When there is intimacy with Jesus, your life becomes a reflection of His majesty. You begin to live in His power. Your life begins to change. You pray differently, relate differently, care differently and your life bears evidence of divine power at work.

This week allow God to examine the condition of your heart. If you are facing His loving correction, be thankful that He cares enough to discipline. Accept his loving discipline and look forward with expectancy to the intimate fellowship that follows.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Have You Ever Needed a Second Chance?

Good morning! I hope your weekend was restful and that you find yourself rejuvenated as you enter into this new week.

Today I want to challenge you with the thought of second chances. This past week I have had the opportunity to interact with several people who were going through a time of deep spiritual struggle over whether to give another person or group a “second chance.”

Think back with me if you will to the school playground that you played on as a kid. When I was young, I played rousing games of kickball, four square, tag and whatever else imaginative little minds could think of. I was not always the most coordinated kid and so there were times when I would ask for a “do over.” Did you ever ask for any “do overs?”

As I go through life, I still find that I don’t always have it together. There are many times that I fail not only myself, but others as well. I struggle with self doubt or I say an unkind word only to be filled with a suitcase full of regrets and overwhelming thoughts of how this all could have turned out so different. Fortunately for us, the forgiveness of Christ allows us to experience “do overs” on a regular basis. Here’s where I want us to focus in though. Even though we regularly experience the freedom of forgiveness that we receive in Jesus Christ, we are not always ready or willing to extend that to others.

Let me share with you a brief passage of scripture:

Philemon 1:15-16 (NLT)

Perhaps you could think of it this way: Onesimus ran away for a little while so you could have him back forever. [16] He is no longer just a slave; he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord.

The book of Philemon is a letter from Paul to his friend Philemon. Philemon had owned a slave named Onesimus who had run away. Now in the day and time of this letter the penalty for a slave who had run away could potentially be death. But during Onesimus’ time on the run, something amazing had happened. Onesimus had encountered the Apostle Paul and through their interaction, Onesimus had become a follower of Jesus. He was a changed man and because he was a changed man, Paul in the verses above asks for Philemon to give Onesimus a second chance.

Paul admonishes Philemon not to receive Onesimus back as a returned slave, but instead welcome him home as a Christian brother. When someone hurts us or fails us it is hard at times to offer those second chances. We say “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me,” and we take on the heart of a cynic. But we must remember we serve the God of transformed lives. Transforming us from sinful people into radiant reflections of His glory is His specialty.

This week God may be showing you that its time to give someone or even a group of people a second chance. Remember changed lives are the greatest testimony of the Lord’s handiwork. If you are able to see His transforming touch in your life, then trust that He can transform those lives around, that He can transform a bad situation and use it for His glory. Remember God is still in control.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Got Synergy?

Good morning! Are you familiar with the word “synergy?” Synergy is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as “The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.” It is this idea of synergy that I would like to focus on this morning.

Over the weekend, we had a workday at our church where we undertook a long list of spring cleaning chores. Now we have had workdays before and have always been able to accomplish quite a bit of work, however; this time was different. We were joined by a group of 15 or so college students from South Carolina for the day. With the addition of this group of individuals our spring cleaning also became a spring cleanout and we were able to distribute 300 fliers to our community.

When a group of people work together, utilizing their individual strengths and gifts for the larger of good of the group amazing things can happen. The idea of “synergy” has floated around corporate circles for many years, but it shouldn’t be a new idea, because God created us to work in unison with others. Look at the following passage from 1 Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)

Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.

God did not create cookie cutter people. Each of is uniquely individual with unique gifts, talents and abilities. On our own, we can accomplish some things, but we fall far short of accomplishing monumental things. However, when we are coupled with the uniqueness of others our effectiveness is not added to, but multiplied.

Think of an orchestra that was only made up of trumpets. That might be ok for a song or two, but it would be missing something. Now when the strings, percussion, woodwinds and other pieces of brass are added there is a beauty that the trumpet alone could never match. It is only when these separate instruments are played at their individual best in the context of a group that beautiful music is made.

Unfortunately, too many of us try to live like Lone Ranger Christians. How quickly we forget that even the Lone Ranger needed his trusty horse Silver and his faithful companion Tonto. The Christian life was never meant to be a life of isolation. God never intended for us to try to be the complete fulfillment of the body of Christ on our own. To be truly effective in the Christian life, we need the uniqueness of those God has placed around us.

This week take time to give thanks to God for the individuality of those around you. Recognize the way their presence makes you better and realize that when God asks you to accomplish “God-sized” tasks, He has already surrounded you with the people who will help make it possible.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Truth Hurts

Good morning! This morning I want to talk to you about allowing others to speak into your life. Today we live in a world where finding the truth can sometimes be a difficult proposition. From corporate scandals, to government spin everywhere we look the truth seems to be the last thing anyone cares about.

Unfortunately, many people live their lives in a similar fashion. We all know of people, maybe even you, who live their lives in denial. When we think of denial, we tend to think of someone struggling with alcohol or drugs, but what about the day to day things?

You may be in denial over the quality of your performance at work, you may be in denial about your spending habits or the amount of debt you carry, you may be in denial about the neglect of your walk with God.

When we get into these issues of personal denial, we begin to live in a self-created fantasy world. We convince ourselves that everything is ok, but we ignore the proverbial 900 pound gorilla sitting in the corner of the room.

One of the things that is most valuable to me is having people in my life who have permission to expose the truth. I have for many years maintained accountability relationships with other men. These men have permission to ask the hard questions about my marriage, my parenting, my personal walk with God and my ministry.

When they see me living a manufactured reality or ignoring the existence of problems, it is their role in my life to expose the truth.

Look at what Proverbs says:

Proverbs 27:6 (NLT)

Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Unfortunately for us too many people are willing to sidestep delicate issues in our lives, because they don’t want to hurt our feelings. They will dance around the problems never forcing us to face reality.

A true friend, however, will not beat around the bush. They will speak the truth in love, because they care for you. Think of it this way….if your Doctor knew you had cancer, you would want him or her to be honest with you. Suppose now that your Doctor didn’t want to tell you the truth, because they didn’t want to hurt your feelings. They just told you that you had a virus or a bug or perhaps they just talked about the symptoms. In the end you would be upset that the truth had not come out.

This week I want to challenge you to find someone who can tell you the truth, good or bad about your life. Allow yourself to be examined on a regular basis. God will use these times to deal with the issues that hinder your service to Him.

My parents used to tell me at times: “The truth hurts.” It is in these times of brutal honesty that your character will be developed and the quality of God’s workmanship will shine through.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Wisdom for Dummies

Good morning! This morning I want to start by asking this question: How do you make decisions? Everyday we are faced with choices, some major and some minor. Some of these choices are clear and take little consideration, while others are deep and take much contemplation.

Today I want to focus on those more difficult decisions of life. In many of these cases there is no clear cut answer. There may be pros and cons to any foreseeable outcome. These decisions may include such things as job changes, relocation, relationship challenges or financial choices.

In my mind, one of the greatest promises of scripture for times like these comes from James 1:5:

James 1:5 (NLT)

If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.

I affectionately call this verse “wisdom for dummies.” It is reassuring for me, that when I am at the end of my human capabilities of human discernment, I am able to turn to my Heavenly Father and tap into His infinite wisdom. The Apostle Paul was glad that he had weaknesses in his life, because God’s strength was revealed in those weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

When we are faced with difficult decisions our immediate response should be recognition of our weakness to effectively discern appropriate actions. We should start any decision making process by seeking out God’s perfect wisdom and will. If we will diligently seek God’s guidance, He will give it in abundance. Unfortunately far too often, we put off seeking God’s wisdom until we find ourselves at a stalemate.

This week, I encourage you to take your decisions before God’s throne each and every day. Allow His perfect wisdom to be displayed in your life and your decisions.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessing be yours this week.

Carl

Getting Rid of "StinkingThinking"

Good morning!!! Today is President’s Day. For those of you who are fortunate enough to have the day off, I hope you have a great day!

How many of your have ever heard the term “stinking thinking?” This is a description of allowing your thoughts to become completely negative about everything. These thoughts may be inwardly focused thoughts of failure or not being quite good enough or they could be outwardly focused thoughts of criticism and judgment towards other people or circumstances.

Have you ever noticed that when you are around negative people it becomes very easy for you to become negative as well? The negativity affects everything in our lives. Now the glass is half empty in every situation, we lose sight of hope and optimism.

The Apostle Paul recognized the root of these thoughts…the mind. Look at his words from Philippians chapter 4:

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Our minds are the most wonderful information processing tools on the planet. With them we can dream, create and put into motion the innovations that take us farther, faster and higher. On the flip side, our minds can be filled with “junk.” Thoughts that draw us away from God, that causes us to diminish our own self worth, to make decisions that are harmful to our overall well being.

Paul recognized that every action begins with a thought. The seeds of sin are planted in the soil of the mind. In our day and age we are bombarded with a continual barrage of messages that run the gambit from the comical to the criminal and from the pure to the putrid. Each of these messages plants the seed for thoughts and ultimately can plant the seed for action.

As I spoke of before, if we bombard ourselves with negative influences we tend to become negative people. If we don’t shelter our minds and only allow the seeds of sinfulness to be planted, then we will find our struggles with the flesh become more difficult. When you allow the field of the mind to only be seeded with messages of selfishness, sexual desire and one upsmanship then it should be no surprise when you constantly struggle with selfishness, lust and haughty arrogance.

Paul is encouraging us here to lock our thoughts in on what is true, honorable and right. We are exhorted to think about those things that are pure, lovely and admirable. I find that when I lock my thoughts into these types of things, my whole outlook on my day and those I come into contact with is much better. I began to see life through eyes of purity and not eyes of sin.

So how do we fix our minds on those things that bring life? Evaluate the TV you watch, the music you listen to and the influence of the people you surround yourself with. Life is too short for “stinking thinking” so today I encourage you to look for life giving influences. Fill your mind with the seeds that bring a harvest of purity and allow you to see your world through God’s eyes.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

What Are You Doing for Valentine's Day?

Good morning! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, a celebration of “love.” Love is an amazing thing and beauty of true love is certainly something to behold. Now love is a topic that I could speak on for hours, but you don’t have time for that today and neither do I.

At its core, love is all about sacrifice and service. Our love flourishes when we give 100% of who we are to another person. Today though, I want to talk more about the passion of love.

The Song of Solomon is one of the most passionate and romantic books within the Bible. It’s vivid descriptions of romance, intimacy and passion are display the true beauty of a love relationship. I remember a few years ago taking our church on a mission trip. Two of the teenage girls riding in my vehicle were studying this book of the Bible and the giggles were plenty as they read the sensual descriptions of lovers’ passions.

Now I will admit, I am unfortunately a typical guy. When my wife and I were dating, I was a true romantic. I wrote letters and whispered sweet nothings (you know...nothing covered in chocolate, nothing with powdered sugar), but now after 17 years of marriage, I get romantic in short bursts usually around our anniversary or Valentine’s Day. To continue to be romantic I have to work at it. Remember love is all about sacrifice and service. When I take the time to build my wife up, to cherish her, to praise her beauty…I bring out the beauty in our relationship, because we are one. I already know she makes me look better…but when she radiates, I radiate. Consider this example of cherishing words:

Song 4:10 (NLT)

How sweet is your love, my treasure, my bride! How much better it is than wine! Your perfume is more fragrant than the richest of spices.

Guys, how many times do we remember to tell the ladies in our lives that we think they are stunningly beautiful. Ladies, how often do you tell the men in your lives that they are handsome and strong. We forget over the years how much words mean and how they fan the flames of passion. Guys when did you last open the door for that special lady or offer to do the dishes…when you were dating acts of sacrificial service were a joy, because you wanted to impress her…but do you still want to impress her? And the same is true for the ladies as well. Unfortunately over time we allow our love all too often to become one sided.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. This year don’t settle for the boxes of chocolates, roses or teddy bears, but give of yourself and sacrifice a little. Let the love of your life catch you checking him or her out. Write a letter or a poem. Whisper a few sweet nothings. Above and beyond all else…pray. God created love, it is His very nature. Ask Him to fan the flames of passion within you and to help you lift up your loved one to a whole new level.

Carl

Motivation for Finishing Well

Good morning! Well it is official…the Pittsburgh Steelers are Super Bowl champions once again and thankfully the alcohol fueled revelers didn’t burn the town to the ground last night.

Today I want to talk about inspiration to finish well. For the Steelers there came a point in this season where they had been counted out. Those in the media doubted that they would even make the playoffs. The team made a commitment within themselves to go all the way to the Super Bowl and finish strong. They rallied around the ideal of getting Jerome Bettis a Super Bowl championship in his hometown.

Each of us is involved in this endurance race called life. Sometimes the race is easy and at other times it is all we can do not to quit. So what should be our inspiration and motivation for finishing well? Look at the following passage from Hebrews:

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

Anytime in scripture we come to the word “therefore” we need to be asking: “What is it “there for?” In Hebrews chapter 11 we are given what you might call the “Faith Hall of Fame.” The faith of some of the most prominent Biblical figures is laid out for us. This is where the inspiration comes into play. The thought here being, that since we are surrounded by the faith of these great men and women of faith from the past, we are bound with them by our own faith. Think of it this way…we carry their legacy of faith. The way we live out our faith will be witnessed by future generations and will have a direct impact on how they live out their faith.

Notice the next thing that this passage spells out for us. We have to drop the excess baggage. Thoughts of being a “loser”, a “failure”, “worthless” and any other lie that we buy into, must be discarded. Most importantly though, we must deal with sin in our lives, because it “so easily hinders our progress.” Think about this thought for a moment. The weight of sin is easily identified in feelings of guilt, remorse, shame, etc… Those things cause us to always look over our shoulder…to live in the past and to lower our heads in shame. The good news is that God forgives and the even better news is that in His eyes, once it is forgiven it is forgotten. When you confess your sin to God, He wipes your slate clean. We are the ones that seem to want to carry the burdensome baggage of our past with us.

Notice the final thought of this verse. The theme here is endurance. Life is not a sprint it is a marathon. Endurance is the key to finishing strong. What helps us to endure? That huge crowd of witnesses does. God has put people all around you to encourage you, to dust you off when you stumble, to pray for you, to cheer for you when times get tough. In football, a noisy supportive crowd of fans is called “the 12^th man,” their very presence gives the team extra motivation to do well.

Today thank God for the “12^th man” in your life. Ask him to help you finish your race with excellence.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

40 Years and Counting

Good morning! This morning I am writing you from Wichita, KS where I have spent the weekend celebrating my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary.

Today I want to talk about how a couple makes it 40 years in marriage. Longevity in marriage has become sadly, almost a rarity in this day in age. Many each day are affected by the pain of divorce and left with many questions of “why?”. So why can some marriages last and go the distance?

To answer that I want us to consider the words of the Apostle Paul as he admonishes husbands:

Ephesians 5:25-33

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 to make her holy, cleansing her in the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh, but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 32 This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

As you consider this set of verses there are two words I would like you to focus in on: “sacrifice” and “selflessness.” In verse 25 Paul commands husbands to love their wives, just as Jesus loved the church. Jesus loved the church so much that he died on a brutal Roman cross. He shed his blood for the sake of the church. He exchanged his life for ours. This love is sacrificial love. What Paul is saying here is that a husband should be willing to lay down his very life.

That begs the question of “why?” Look at verse 26, Jesus did this to make the church pure, holy and blameless to “present” the church in splendor. Jesus gave his life, so that we would “radiate” in holy beauty. A husband who truly understands this principle will stop at nothing to see his wife radiate within and without. The more his wife shines the greater glory the man receives. When the wife is honored, the husband is also honored.

Selflessness is evidenced when the husband cares for his wife with the same fervor that he looks after himself. He makes sure that all of her needs are met physically, emotionally and spiritually, because any lapse in her needs is viewed as a failure to meet his own needs.

When a man and woman come together as husband and wife they are joined and become “one flesh.” When this occurs a husband and wife become “us” and there is no longer room for “I” and “me.” Everything is now viewed from the perspective of one flesh. The questions are now, “What is best for us?” “How can we grow?” “What should we be doing?”

To make a marriage last it takes sacrifice and selflessness. When a husband and wife learn to be servants of each other they remove the opportunity for selfishness and control.

My parents would be the first to tell you that staying together 40 years is no easy task. But they will also be the first to tell you that the rewards of sacrifice and selflessness are incomparable.

This week tell your husband or wife that you love him or her and look forward to growing old together.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Preparing for the Big Game

Good morning! As this new day begins there is an excitement here over the Pittsburgh Steelers. After an unheard of three straight playoff wins on the road, the Steelers will make their first Super Bowl appearance in a decade. With so many dreams, aspirations, and sentimental motivations for winning on the line, the Steelers will be under pressure to perform at the peak of their abilities. Over these next two weeks the coaching staff will reinforce the basics of ball control, timing, clock management and everything else that goes along with winning football games.

In life we often face Super Bowl sized challenges. Times when ever ounce of our being is required to see us through successfully. Fortunately for those times, we have been given a powerful coach. Look at the words of Jesus:

John 14:26 (NLT)

But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.

Superstar athletes do not become that way by themselves. It is the constant feedback and motivation given by their coaches that takes them to the top of their game. In the Christian life we cannot make it in our own strength, but we have been given the Holy Spirit and His power indwells us.

The Holy Spirit constantly reminds us of the basics….”Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”…”Loving your neighbor as yourself.” In those clutch times He empowers us with strength and abilities that are beyond us. We have the right words to comfort a friend in need. We find a wellspring of peace when we are in the midst of turmoil. We find the strength to press on in spite of personal pain and loss. Instead of calling in a play, the Holy Spirit brings a passage of scripture to mind that is a perfect fit for your situation. At other times He places a song in your heart that changes your perception of the situation at hand. At other times He sends in different personnel to walk along side of you to mentor, encourage and strengthen you.

This morning you may find yourself in the middle of life’s Super Bowl. Take a moment to look at all God has done to prepare you for such a time as this. Look at those who surround you and have made you better. Recognize God’s touch in every part of your circumstances.

Until next Monday may God’s richest blessings be yours this week. Go Steelers!

Carl

Loving Your Neighbor

Good morning! I hope you’ve had a great weekend. If you were like me you watched the Pittsburgh Steelers/Indianapolis Colts playoff game and probably felt your heart skip a few beats in those final few minutes.

Today is the celebration of the life of civil rights pioneer Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King saw the inequality in our nation and knew that it was unjust. In reflecting upon his life and work I find myself drawn to the words of Jesus.

In Matthew chapter 22, Jesus is being put to the test by a group of religious leaders on everything from paying taxes to issues of the afterlife. Finally one scholar asks him to identify what is the greatest commandment in all of scripture. Jesus’ response is found in the following set of verses:

Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)

Jesus replied, " 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

I would like us to focus in on the second thought of Jesus’ response…loving your neighbor as yourself. Unfortunately we are flawed people. We have a sin nature and with that nature come biases that are not only uncivil, but ungodly as well.

So what does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? The word love used here comes from the Greek word “agape.” This word describes God’s perfect love and it is sacrificial in nature. To truly love someone else we must be willing to give everything we have for their benefit.

Now the next issue is this idea of neighbor. In the book of Luke a man questions Jesus about the issue of “who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds by telling the story of the Good Samaritan. Through this story Jesus shows that everyone is our neighbor. Unfortunately we are biased people. We find so many reasons to fear, distrust, or dislike others. We separate between skin color, cultural differences, religious practice or ethnic heritage. Sadly even in America, “the land of the free,” we still stereotype and discriminate with such ease.

What Jesus is truly saying to us is this. If you would do it for your own well being, do it for anyone else, no matter whom they are. Let’s bring some practical application home. If you take the time to make sure there is food on your table, you need to make certain that you neighbor is also fed. If you take time to make sure you have a roof over your head, you need to make certain that your neighbor has a roof over his head. If you take time to pray for your own needs, take time to pray for the needs of your neighbor.

The work of Dr. Martin Luther King is still not completed. The years of racism and bias have left a legacy of mistrust and fear, but Jesus died for every race, color and creed. In Christ we are all sinners saved by grace and by his power we can truly learn to love our neighbor as our self.

Until next Monday, may Gods’ richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Power of Conviction

Good morning! As I write this I am aboard an Amtrak train traveling back from my anniversary trip to Washington, D.C.. I have enjoyed the time away with Carol and it is fun to reflect on these first 17 years of our married life. Of course, time away brings a desk full of mail and a couple of days worth of returning phone calls and answering email. Refreshment does come with a price, doesn’t it?

At this time of year people are eagerly undertaking the resolutions of a new year. You know the list...”This year I am going to _________________________ (lose weight, get out of debt, exercise, take a trip, etc...). So why don’t people follow through with these things? I would like to suggest you the issue comes down to two simple words: “Conviction” and “Commitment.”

Conviction comes from within. It is more than ideals, but instead is a set of values and principles that remain constant even in changing circumstances. You might call this your internal compass or gyroscope, your convictions keep you pointed to your true bearings. Let me give you an example of how your convictions come into play. Saying that I need to lose weight, because I’ll look better and feel better about myself is an idealistic train of thought. However if I say that my body is the “temple of the Holy Spirit”, I have just identified a core conviction. So now when I talk about losing weight I am drawing upon my core conviction and not my preferred ideal. Because I recognize my body is a temple, I want to maintain that temple in a manner that brings honor and glory to God. From this will come the external things such as better health, improved appearance, etc..., but the key underlying motivation is to honor God.

The second key ties into the first one. We are more committed to those things that we hold core convictions about. For example, I would not risk bodily harm for the sake of standing up for my favorite football team (although some might say that I do), but I would without hesitation risk my life to stand up for my wife and children. The difference in my level of commitment is the depth of my conviction. Commitment however operates on two levels, my personal commitment and then my commitment to God’s will and direction for my life. Consider the following passage of scripture:

Proverbs 16:3 (NLT)

Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.

All too often we fail to commit our way to the Lord first. We try to undertake goals, objectives and dreams, but fail to ask for God’s sustaining hand in our efforts. Many of the things we are trying to change in our lives are huge mountains. I have been trying to lose weight all of my adult life and it is a real challenge trying to get and stay healthy. If it were not for God’s strength and life changing power I would fail everyday. I have to trust God to strengthen me when I am weak. I have to rely upon his encouragement when I don’t want to continue. I have to let Him impress His perfect convictions upon my imperfect heart.

If you haven’t done so yet this year, write down your top 2 or 3 goals and/or priorities for 2006. Spend a few moments in prayer seeking God’s guidance and direction for those items. Surrender yourself to his strength and empowerment and give Him permission to redirect the passions and convictions of your heart.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl