At the end of belief

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

As we go through life, we at times encounter places where our faith is stretched beyond its limits. These are the crossroads and crisis times where our trust in God’s ability to deliver us seems to be less than sufficient. These are the hours of desperation in which a person gropes for even the dimmest ray of hope to enter the picture.

Scripture gives us a picture of a father who was at this point. Mark chapter 9 describes the account of a boy who was possessed by a demon. The demon rendered the boy unable to speak and would often seek to drown or burn the child. The father of this boy saw a glimmer of hope when he encountered Jesus’ disciples, but he found only disappointment in their ability to deliver his son.

During this frustrating and desperate hour Jesus appears and the boy’s father makes a desperate plea for the sake of the boy. The father calls upon the compassion of Jesus, but at the same time reveals his uncertainty of there being any resolution. Take note of this father’s plea. It is both a heart cry that is transparent and the petition of a man who has not other answers:

Mark 9:23-24 (NASB)
23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can!’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

Today you may find yourself in a place where your faith is being stretched thin. The solutions you have pursued to date have been only dead ends. You would trade the world for a change in circumstance, but you are not sure how much longer you can hold on. If this describes your situation, I encourage you to make this father’s cry your own: “Jesus, I believe you can deliver me, but help me in my unbelief!”

I leave you with one of my favorite promises of scripture:

Psalm 34:17-19
17 The righteous cry and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

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

Carl

Lonely Times

Good morning! I hope you had a tremendous weekend.

Have you ever spent an extended period of time alone? Most of us are surrounded by the touch and input of others. We can hardly imagine a day without the cell phone, television or conversations with others. I have taken a few extended times in silence and solitude, but never more than a few days, and those were of my choosing.

The times of silence and solitude that push you to the limits are the ones you don’t choose. These are the times when your support system falls apart; the times when no one needs your services; the times quite frankly when you are out of sight and therefore also out of mind. It is during these times that we find out what we are truly made of. We discover whether our faith has foundation and stability.

Some of the darkest hours of life come when the resumes go unnoticed, the social invitations stop coming, those who once journeyed with you are no longer present and the circumstances remain unchanging even after continual fervent prayer. It is in these dark hours that voices declare that hope is lost and shout at you to quit, give up or move on.

The Bible reveals that these dark times are not unique to us. Take note of Joseph’s life:

Genesis 40:23 (NASB)
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Joseph had been sold out by his brothers, sent to a foreign land as a slave, raised to a place of prominence in his master’s home only to be falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Joseph’s life of favor has now been replaced by a life of confinement and solitude. His only hope was a flimsy promise from the king’s cupbearer that he would remember Joseph once he was set free, a promise that went unfulfilled for another two years.

We don’t know Joseph’s private thoughts during that time, but we can only assume they were filled with doubts, despair and a questioning of God’s love. What Joseph didn’t see was the larger plan. He needed to be in prison to meet the chief cupbearer, who would ultimately bring him before Pharaoh. It was his interaction with Pharaoh that would bring him into a place of prominence making famine provisions that would ultimately save his people. A difficult path indeed, but each step was necessary to bring forth the carefully orchestrated plan of God.

Today you may find yourself in a lonely place; a place that in many ways seems desolate and nearly abandoned. You may be questioning why God has allowed you to be cut off and wondering what heinous sin you’ve committed to deserve such a punishment? This is the place where the foundation of your faith will be tested to its limits as you trust in things which at this moment are unknown and unseen. It is upon this foundation of endurance and faith that God will display the beauty of His workmanship in your life.

If you find yourself in a place of isolation this week, I encourage you to spend a few moments thanking God for seeing the bigger picture. Acknowledge that He sees the things that you don’t and as best you know how articulate your trust in His greater plan.

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

Carl

Change of Course

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

This past week I was invited by a friend to go out on the streets with him to share with those we encountered the life changing message of Christ. When we got together, we took a few minutes and prayed, asking the Lord to direct to the place where He could best use us. As we drove around listening for God’s prompting we came upon a small church not far from the Sunday meeting place of the church I pastor. Both of us felt the prompting of God to stop there and join those who had come together for Bible study.

Acts 13:4 (NASB)
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

The other night was a shining example of the mysterious ways of God. Our intention was to go and share our faith with people who were looking for true hope. Instead, God led us to a little church to watch and listen. In fact for me, the journey was not for what was said in the service, but instead for two brief statements the pastor made to me during a 10 minute conversation on the sidewalk afterwards.

Many times we set out in a course or direction at God’s leading, believing we are going for, what is in our minds, a clearly defined purpose. As we continue on this journey we realize that our intended purpose was not really the purpose at all, but was instead the means of positioning us for things that God wants us to experience. For example, when I left law enforcement in 1997, I went into banking thinking that this would be my profession for the remainder of my days. In reality, God used the bank to position me in the right place to be groomed for my call to the ministry that would come 2 years later.

Today, you may find yourself in a place where you are asking the question: “What am I doing here? This was not the purpose I came here for.” When you trust God’s prompting, you can always be assured that you are in the right place at the right time; even if you cannot readily see that truth from your current perspective. Realize that God may simply be using this time and place in your life to position you for the things to come.

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

Carl

When All Becomes New

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past Thursday my co-pastor and his wife welcomed their second child into the world. It has been 7+ years since we last had a baby in our lives, so it has been fun watching the commotion around this little fellow. Eyes opening slowly to look around, fingers curling and uncurling, legs extending and bending all displaying the newness of life.

This got me to reflecting on one of my favorite descriptions of life in Christ:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Take a moment to close your eyes and ponder this question: “What would it mean in your life for all things to become new?” Imagine a life where there was no past mistake, error in judgment, criminal record, first marriage, etc… Imagine for a minute that you had not been burned before, wounded by a friend or stepped on thoughtlessly. Imagine a carefree existence where only the future lay ahead, because the past has been put to rest.

I think if each of us is honest there are some things we would like another opportunity to do correctly, some pain we would like to altogether avoid and some guilt we would rather not be saddled with. All too often it is our experiences that are allowed to define us. The promise of this scripture is simple…today is a new day.

Christ expunged our sin record with His blood. What we do with that freedom today is our choice. We can both explore and experience the freedom of that newness or we can allow the past to hold us forever in its captivity.

Today if you are weighed down by the baggage of days gone by, I encourage you to try being a little infantile today. Open your eyes and look around at what has changed in your world. Stretch your fingers out towards the hand of God and enjoy the freedom of motion that He has blessed you with.

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

Carl

Line Changes

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

One of my favorite sports is ice hockey. I love the action of the game and the high level of physical intensity demonstrated by the players. When you watch a hockey game for the first time, one of the unique qualities you notice is the line changes that each team undertakes. Midstream in a game you will see players coming over the boards onto the ice while others go over the boards into the player’s box. The coach directs these line changes to refresh weary players, more evenly match on ice players with their opponents or to focus talent for an offensive or defensive thrust.

Over the years, I have seen God perform many line changes in my life. The team that started an endeavor with me is not the same team that finishes the game. At other times a specialist entered my life for a brief time to help me through difficulties, hone my skills or point me in new directions. We see one of these personnel adjustments take place in the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

Acts 8:39 (NASB)
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.

God placed Philip in the Ethiopian’s life for just a moment in time, but that moment was a critical moment. Philip’s presence was necessary to bring understanding to the man’s search of the scriptures. Philip was God’s specialist for this critical juncture in the Ethiopian’s eternal journey. Philip had been carefully prepared for just such a moment.

Today you may find yourself in the midst of a changing life roster. The support system you thought would always be there have gone their separate ways and new faces are appearing in their place. Don’t be discouraged over those who have gone, but instead thank the Lord for the influence they have been. Thank Him for sending in those new faces who will become the supporting cast members who are necessary for you to make the next leg of life’s journey.

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

Carl

Getting By with a Little Help from My Friends

Good morning! I hope your weekend was tremendous and that you are hitting the ground running.

Over the past several days, my family and I have been in the process of moving from one home to another. Each day last week, I moved a load of boxes from one location to the other. On Thursday I spent the day steam cleaning the carpets in the new house. On Friday, I finished steam cleaning and moved the boxes that were already in the new home from the tiled floors to their respective carpeted locations. Saturday was the major moved of the larger household items, the assembling of beds, hanging of curtains, etc… Sunday was more unpacking and shuffling of furniture.

These things are tiring for even the most energetic person, but for me I face the additional challenge of having an arthritic compression fracture midway down my back. As the day goes by the muscles in my back begin to lock up to the point that I can hardly move or stand up straight. For me to successfully accomplish a major feat such as a household move requires help from my friends.

As I was considering what to write this morning, the following example of scripture was brought to mind:

Exodus 17:11-12 (NASB)
11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.

The Amalekites had come to make war with the people of Israel. Whether the people of Israel were to be victorious rested in Moses’ ability to keep his hand held up with the staff of God in it. Naturally, over time Moses strength began to fade and his arms began to drop from weariness. Unfortunately these drops of the arm led to a surge from the Amalekites. The only way for Israel to be assured a military victory was for Moses’ hand to stay airborne. It was the help of Moses’ friends that made this feat possible. They gave Moses a place on which to sit and each man took hold of an arm and held his hands up high.

For me to successfully accomplish the task at hand this weekend was going to require more than my bad back on lone rusty pickup. I need friends with energy, who were willing to sacrifice their time and vehicles to make this endeavor possible. I needed them to step in to help carry the burdens I could not carry alone. The task was simply too big.

Sadly, too many of us are trying to accomplish the major undertakings of life alone. In our solo efforts, we find that we are running out of steam, determination and hope. The task ahead is simply more than one person can manage in their own strength. It is during these times that we begin to see the value of true friendship. A real friend sees the bigger picture. They realize that their hand holding efforts will ensure a greater victory for all involved.

My friends weren’t just responding to a guy with a bad back who needed a few extra pickup trucks. They were seeing the bigger picture. They know that my home is a place of ministry, a place where people find love, shelter and acceptance. My home is a place where others come to discover God’s greater purpose for their lives. It is a place where God transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Today I want to challenge you with this question: “Who is standing beside you?” I hope that you can readily name the men and/or women who stand on either side of you, holding you up when you just don’t have the strength within you to press on. If you can’t name those people, then I encourage you to seek God’s provision for the Aaron and Hur in your life. Their presence may mean the difference between victory and defeat in your next battle.

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

Carl

Trusting Without Understanding

For the last few months Carol and I have been looking for a new place to live. Each time we thought we had our answer we would go down that trail, only to find a dead end. As the clock counted down to our moving day this coming weekend, we found our stress level getting a little higher with each new day. As we would pray over our housing situation, the Lord seemed to always lead us back to these two verses:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight

Every time we would hear these verses we would see so many different ways it could be applied to our search, but we just weren’t getting any further clarity on where we needed to be looking.

A few weeks ago, my business partner asked me if I would consider living in a mobile home and he even went so far as to go on a fact finding mission for me at a local mobile home park. As doors continued to close in front of Carol and I we decided to explore this option. Last Thursday night Carol and the kids toured several parks, but came away without a real sense of peace about any of the trailers they looked at. This past Friday, was our last real day to look at housing options, so we decided to go back to one of the parks after looking at some houses this morning that just didn’t fit our needs.

Carol showed me the trailer she had viewed the night before, but both of us came away with the same sense that this particular trailer wasn’t our answer either. As we were driving away, she pointed out an attractive double-wide that was for sale by owner at the far end of the trailer park. We called the number on the sign, and low and behold they were home (I must warn you, there is a twist in the unfolding of events…you haven’t solved the case yet Sherlock Holmes). We went inside and met the owners who were moving due to the husband’s terminal illness and his need for in home care. As I looked around, the trailer was nice, but there were large gaps between the two halves of the trailer and part of the ceiling was breaking away.

Carol and I left, dumbfounded and asking ourselves “now what?” As we were driving away, the phone rang. It was the wife from the trailer we had just been in. She told Carol that her sister, who had been at the trailer when we were there, had a house on Padre Island that had been wrecked by the previous tenants. She said that if we were willing to paint and clean carpets she would be willing to reduce the rental. As we turned back around, I told Carol: “this sounds like a God thing taking shape.”

When we returned to the trailer, we were met by the sister of the trailer owner’s wife. She jumped in the van and said, “Let me show you the house.” As we drove towards Padre Island, we learned that her husband had passed away a couple of years ago and that she didn’t want to live there anymore. She said the previous tenants had ruined the carpets and the walls, requiring a lot of elbow grease.

When we arrived, we found a 4 bedroom brick home with a pool and ample space for our house church ministry. The work needed was primarily clean up and cosmetic. When I asked her what she wanted for rent, she named a figure in our price range. When I asked her what the work was worth, she indicated that it was worth at least one month’s rent, but she also stated her need for some rental income from it. I told her what we were currently paying and asked her if we could pay her that same amount for February and March, discounting for the clean up work. We agreed to begin paying the full rental amount in April. She suggested we put it in writing, so on a notepad we drew up those terms and she handed us the key. No pet deposit, no rental deposit and just what we needed when we need it.

God being the loving Father that He is, went far above what we needed. We are now 3 blocks from my favorite fishing spot, I have a place to exercise daily with my favorite activity…swimming! And by positioning us on the Island, our ministry now has placement in 3 key areas of Corpus Christi.

These past few months have been a practical exercise in not leaning on our own understanding. This housing scenario could not have been designed by us on our best day. Maybe today you find yourself in the middle of a lengthy search for answers. Your best guesses and efforts are falling short. I encourage you to let go of the wheel and watch where God takes you. You may find that the answer had never even crossed your mind.

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

Carl

Loving Your Enemy

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Last night I was watching the AFC Championship Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Late in the game there was a devastating hit between a Steelers’ player and a Ravens’ player. The Ravens’ player laid motionless on the ground for a number of minutes and was ultimately placed on a stretcher and carted off of the field.

In football the rivalry between the Steelers and Ravens is generally described in these terms: “A bitter rivalry” or “these two teams hate each other.” Anytime these two rivals play, the energy level increases and the players dig a little deeper for every hit. In a game as big as the conference championship, no one holds back; yet, last night as a wounded warrior lay motionless on the field of battle, rivalry was set aside and compassion took over. All around the injured athlete, members of both teams gathered, many dropping to one knee with heads bowed. As I watched the scene unfold on my television screen, my mind went to the following admonition from Jesus:

Matthew 5:43-44 (NASB)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.’
44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you

Last night on that ball field, every athlete took pause with the realization that it could have been them lying motionless out on the turf. Life has a funny way of bringing us back to the simple truth that we are not as strong as we often think we are.

Times like these allow us to see our own frailties and shortcomings. Our first impulse may be to celebrate the misfortune of our rival, but soon enough we find ourselves remembering our own vulnerability, past injury or current challenges. Many times God has allowed me to watch my opponents stumble, only to use their fall as a reminder to me that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. What I mean by that statement is this: When it comes to being worthy of God’s favor, love and blessing…I am totally undeserving. In fact, I no more deserve than anyone else, no matter how bad their life and actions may seem to me. The only reason I am even a recipient of His goodness and grace, is because of the price Jesus paid, something I had no part in to begin with.

Having this realization, makes it much easier to endure those who adversaries in my life. Recognizing that from God’s perspective, we are equally in need of His grace and mercy, allows me to switch from adversary to advocate. I find myself bowing my head to pray for the needs of my greatest rivals.

Today you may be in the midst of the greatest battle of your career, education, or even life. Take time today to pray for the well-being of those who battle against you, because chances are the battle will expose their frailties as much as it will expose yours.

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

Carl

Trusting Your Guide

Good morning! I hope you had a terrific weekend.

Last week I went on a deep sea fishing charter in the Gulf of Mexico with my wife. After 2 hours of travelling across the water, our captain brought the boat to a stop and told us to let our lines out 80-90 feet.

Within a matter of moments the words “fish on” were heard up and down the deck. Fishing rods were seen bending and bouncing as our enthusiastic group of amateur anglers began reeling in their catch. Before long large game fish were seen coming out of the water and onto the deck. Before the day was over we had reached our limit of King Mackerel and Atlantic Sharpnose Shark.

The success of the trip had nothing to do with our skill, ingenuity or hard work. The real determinant of our productivity was the wisdom of our charter captain. He was the one who knew the waters, the behavior of the fish and the right fishing techniques. Without his guidance the outcome of our journey would have been much different. Our day to day lives are really not that different either.

John 21:6 (NASB)
And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch .” They cast therefore, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

In many ways our success in life is more about our dependency upon the Lord’s direction and less about our talents. When we trust His guidance to the right prospect, conversation or client, we see our efforts multiplied exponentially. Unfortunately, too many times we become overly confident in our own skills and abilities. We assume we have grown beyond the need for guidance, only to find in the lean times, that we need guidance more than ever.

Because God sees the past, present and future, he has perspective that you and I do not. He sees the storms, the mountains and valleys that affect our journey. He knows where the bounty is located and how to grab hold of it. Our only responsibility is to follow his lead. It is when we trust in him with all of our heart, leaning not on our own understanding, that we experience the limits of his abundance.

This week you may be wondering why the journey is taking so long. You may be unsure of why you have been given the tools that are currently in your hand. It is at these times that you rely upon the wisdom of God as your guide, knowing that he is leading you to the fullness of his blessing.

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

Carl

Remembering the Covenant

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week is an exciting week for my wife and me. On Wednesday we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Each year on our anniversary we go away by ourselves to reflect on our journey, dream for the future and remind ourselves of the covenant made on January 7, 1989.

Over the last 20 years things have changed. My hair no longer hangs down to my shoulders, nor does it completely cover the top of my head. My waistline left the 30’s years ago and now lives in the 40’s. Carol and I are no longer referred to as that “precious” newlywed couple, but instead we are “mom and dad” to three children ages 7 to 18. 20 years ago I sold water softeners in Wichita, KS today I plant churches and encourage pastors around the world.

Indeed, many things have changed over these 20 years, but one thing remains constant…the covenant. On that blustery day in January of 1989, Carol and I stood before God and man, pledging our commitment to one another through the covenant relationship of marriage. In that covenant we spelled out the lengths we would go to in expressing our undying love for one another. Words like “for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part” were used to define this covenant.

God established covenants throughout scripture. They are His promises to His people. Our very redemption at the cross of Christ is the embodiment of our covenant relationship with God. It is no wonder that God was constantly instructing us to remember His covenants.

1 Chronicles 16:15
Remember His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations

When my wife and I stood at the altar 20 years ago to exchange vows and make our covenant with God and one another, the only thing we could see was love and happiness. Eventually life brought the twists, turns, hardships and triumphs that we all face, turning the euphoria of getting married into the daily challenge of making it through another day. It is during the ups and downs of life that we often forget why we entered into that covenant in the first place. Each wedding anniversary becomes a regular time of remembrance that allows us to go back to day 1. In fact, we often will pull out the aging video tape of our wedding ceremony and reception to help relive the moment.

Taking time to remember the covenants of God remind us why we need those covenants to begin with. So often we get caught up in the crisis of the moment and forget the miraculous provisions of the past. It is only when we take the time to remember and reflect that we once again reconnect with the strength that is needed to face the challenges of today.

This week I encourage you to take some time to reflect and remember the promises of God for your life. Pull out the old photo albums, the long forgotten diary and remember where those promises have taken you over the years and gain strength for the places those promises will take you in the years to come.

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

Carl

Availability

Good morning! I trust you had a very Merry Christmas and were blessed by your time with family and friends.

Each year in the days between Christmas and New Years, I take a prayer retreat. Some years I have been able to go deep in the woods to a secluded cabin, other years I stay close to home, but seclude myself. It is during these times that I reflect on the year past and listen for God’s direction for the year ahead.

One of the issues that surfaces often during these times is the issue of availability. It is so easy to become worried about my abilities and how God is going to use them, but what God is truly interested in is my availability. Take a look at this passage from Isaiah:

Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?”

And I said, “Lord, I’ll go! Send me.”

More than God cares about my leadership skills, my speaking ability or my people skills He most cares about my willingness to go. Many of us say that “Wherever He leads I’ll go.”, but would we really? In one of the books I read on a past retreat the author mused that for every person who says they will go “wherever”, how many of them have their passports stamped and active? Do their actions really bear out their words?

There are many reasons that we unfortunately say “no” to God. God leads in a certain direction and we begin to withdraw our commitment. “I can’t afford it!” “I don’t know enough!” “I couldn’t leave my friends and family!” Do any of these sound familiar?

To follow where God leads requires complete surrender and a sold out commitment. In the story of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds were compelled to see Jesus. Nothing else mattered at that point. Are you in that same place, where following Jesus is the greatest passion in your life. I sometimes wonder what blessings I have missed out on by not going where I have been led.

This week I want to challenge you to be available. Are you willing to truly say, “Wherever He leads I’ll go?” Make yourself available to God and His purposes. Ask Him to invite you into the midst of His activity.

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

Carl

Don't Forget

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Luke 2:8-11 (NASB)
8 And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

This morning you may find yourself having trouble focusing on the work in front of you. For many of us, our minds have already drifted to our travel plans, incoming guests and the plans of the Christmas holiday. The busyness of last minute shopping, hosting and wrapping of gifts occupies our time. If we are not careful, it can even become a Christmas without Christ.

The message of Christmas is the greatest message the world has ever known. God sent Jesus, His one and only child, to offer himself as an atoning sacrifice for all men. Jesus was born to do that which you and I are incapable of, by bringing us into a right relationship with God. The sacrifice of the manger foreshadows the sacrifice of the cross, where Jesus would complete His atoning work for you and I.

This Christmas season take time to reflect on the One who stepped away from the glory of heaven to take upon himself human flesh. He wasn’t obligated to enter this scene, but He willingly chose to do it out of love for you. You’ve been given the greatest gift man has ever known, the gift of new life, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

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

Carl

Examining Your Foundation

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past week I spent some time with a man who is both a friend and trusted advisor. He has taken a great interest in my work over the past 18 months, but has taken particular interest in the church planting ministry that I launched in November. As we were talking, he addressed with me his concern over my foundation. As I probed into his statement, he accurately assessed that I was beginning to rapidly put together a structure, but my foundation was not set. He further elaborated that I may even need to pull back the reigns on the ministry, because the monthly provisions for my family were not fully in place.

There was great wisdom in those words. A structure is only as good as the foundation it is built upon. The foundation determines to what degree and at what pace the structure can be erected. It also determines the longevity of what is built, and the types of adversity the structure can withstand.

This conversation has had me thinking about the following passage of Scripture:

Luke 6:47-49 (NASB)

47 "Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49 "But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."

The greatest detriment to the lives we are building is the poor foundation work, we all too often settle for. We may hear the words of God, but how often do we fail to implement those very things into our lives. We know we are cutting corners, but we don’t think anyone will ever notice the shortcuts. Unfortunately turmoil has a way of exposing our frailties, shortcuts and shortcomings. The places we chose to hear, but not obey become glaringly obvious as we watch the structures of our lives come crashing down on the shifting foundations upon which they were built.

Today, I encourage you to evaluate your foundation. Have you taken the time to dig deep and lay your foundation on the bedrock principles of God? If you have, the storms may be fierce, but they will not topple the things God has directed you to build. In the end the structure will stand, unmoved by the tempest, because the foundation never shifted.

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

Carl

Living a Life of Honor

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and find yourself fully energized today.

One of the things my dad instilled in me growing up was the importance of a good name. I watched him over and over again make choices that were not always the easiest, but were the choices that were honorable. When opportunities were presented to compromise his principles, he always stood his ground on the convictions that were deep within him.

In one of our most memorable conversations before I left home my dad told me: “I may never leave you vast wealth, property or fortune, but I will leave you a good name.” Those words penetrated deep within me and have taken up residence. I have tried diligently to pass this same value of integrity on to my children.

Every day we are bombarded with opportunities to compromise our principles. People ask us to stretch the boundaries or turn the other way. At first glance it may seem harmless enough, but ultimately those compromises have a lingering effect on our character and reputation. The stench of compromise stays around long after the compromise has been made.

It is no wonder that God led the writer of Hebrews to pen these words:

HEBREWS 13:18 (NASB)
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

One of the most valuable assets we have is our reputation. A reputation can open doors of opportunity or slam them just as quickly. A reputation may be the difference between advancement and resistance and our reputations move beyond us. Our spouses, children, co-workers, employers and even the God of our faith are labeled by our integrity or lack thereof. It is no wonder that the writer of this verse requested prayer over this issue of honorable conduct.

Today I encourage you to evaluate your own conduct. Would you be described as a man or woman who operates with honor and integrity? Perhaps you find yourself this morning being faced with an opportunity for compromise. Consider the cost, shore up your defenses and remember it is your reputation at stake. Ask God to direct your conduct that you may always be known as a person of honor.

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

Carl

Preparing for the Unseen

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with friends and family.

The talk on the lips of the American public these days is the economy. I’ve been chuckling every weeknight during The Tonight Show as Jay Leno breaks into a short burst of one-liners that begin with “The economy’s getting bad I tell you…” The forecasts for the next 18-24 months do not look good for the American economy to say the least.

So the question becomes this, “what preparations have you been making with the resources God is making available to you?” This question got me reflecting upon the story of Joseph this morning. Joseph was sold into slavery, jailed under false accusation and generally mistreated, but Joseph never lost sight of God. Joseph’s faithful service to those who held him captive ultimately led to his rise to prominence in Egypt. It was through this rise to prominence that Joseph was able to provide for his people during 7 years of famine. Look at Joseph’s words as recorded in Genesis:

Genesis 45:5-7 (NASB)
5 “And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 “For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
7 “And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

Sometimes in life we get so self-absorbed with what is wrong in our own piece of the picture that we fail to step back and look at the bigger picture. Joseph heeded the warnings of famine and made adjustments in the land of Egypt that ended up being the provision for the inhabitants of the land when food was scarce. He got beyond the “wrongs” of the past and turned a negative into a positive.

So what has God been doing to prepare you and your family for the things that lie ahead? Perhaps it is time to step back and look at the greater picture. God may have allowed you to go through a job change you didn’t want, because your industry was getting ready to fold. He may have moved you to another part of the country, where the provisions of life are not as difficult to come by. He may have denied you the loan, so you wouldn’t be weighed down by a debt you couldn’t maintain. Of course the preparations are not all negative. Perhaps the bonus or raise you received was given so you could build a cash reserve if things get lean. Maybe that same windfall was given so you could provide more fully for those in need.

Whether the worst fears of the economic forecasters come to pass remains to be seen, but no matter what the outcomes may be, God is already putting the resources and people in place to see His people through the lean times. Today, I encourage you to evaluate the tools that God has given you for provision and care. Thank Him for already making the adjustments in your life that are needed to whether the storms of the future.

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

Carl

Being Transparent

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past week, I was asked a question that on the surface didn’t seem that penetrating, but in the end was life changing for me. The question was simply: “What do you need from me this week?” Now this wouldn’t seem like a difficult question to answer, but for me it was. After a few seconds of thought I gave the standard surface answer: “You can pray for me.”

It was from this exchange that God began to unravel my inner wiring and identified a short circuit in the system. The friend who had asked me the question seized the opportunity to speak truth into my life. He elaborated that his prayer for me was a given, but that his question was an offer to walk beside me as a brother.

GALATIANS 6:2 (NASB)
Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

My friend was seeking to help me carry the burdens of my life, there was just one problem. I was not allowing him to walk with me through my journey of life. The truth of the matter was that I had many needs. Let’s be honest, I just left a salaried ministry position to start a church and live by faith. The problem was, I didn’t want to be totally transparent. Something inside of me wanted to hide the fact that I had needs…some of them pressing in quickly.

When I got home that afternoon, my wife could see I was grinding on something deep within me, so she asked. I told her about my interaction earlier in the day and she immediately informed me that I had taken the easy way out. She elaborated that God was trying to provide for our needs, but I was allowing my pride to thwart those very provisions. Ouch! She was right; my pride was hindering the very thing I was seeking from God. I wanted to simply tell God all of my problems and sit back and wait for the provisions to flow in.

Unfortunately, that is inconsistent with the way God chooses to work in our lives. He has joined us with others who were put into our lives to help us carry our burdens. The channels of blessing are those who walk along side of us. We are truly dependent upon the other members of Christ’s body, if we are to function at a peak level.

The next time you are asked “what do you need from me?” Don’t pass off the question with a quick “pray for me.” Choose instead the route of transparency; allow others to see you needs and burdens. You will find that their presence beside you brings God’s comfort and blessing. God never intended for us to walk alone, so take joy in those who care enough to ask the “tough” question.

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

In Christ,
Carl

Under Your Nose

Good morning! I hope that you had a refreshing weekend.

I meet with a friend of mine every Thursday for lunch. During our time we talk about life and he allows me to challenge him in his Christian walk. Often times I am the one getting challenged as we dialogue back and forth. This week was no exception, as our dialogue helped me to see an opportunity right in front of my nose.

Two weeks I ago I began a new ministry called Simplicity. The basic concept of Simplicity is to develop a network of groups that meet in homes, offices, coffee shops, etc… as macro level church bodies. As my friend and I were talking I was discussing the groups that we have already established and the opportunities we had on the horizon. As part of that conversation I mentioned that I would like to have a group going in the downtown area for business people by January of 2009. That’s when I had my “duh” moment. My friend said, “Why don’t we make our meeting that group?” My friend was seeing the obvious that for some reason wasn’t even crossing my mind.

Numbers 22:31 (NASB)
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.

There are times in our life, when we simply don’t see the opportunities right in front of us. I find that the reasons for this come in a variety of forms. At times it is my preoccupation, tunnel vision or lack of awareness of my surroundings that is the issues. Other times it is not the right time for God to reveal those opportunities, or, as in the case of my friend, God wants to use someone else to speak into my life.

The truth of the matter is that we are surrounded by opportunities every day. These opportunities have the potential for lasting impact on our lives and the lives of others. The only barrier is our ability to recognize them. Unfortunately we miss some of our best opportunities, simply because we are not looking for them.

This week ask the Lord to open your eyes, so that you see the landscape of your life and surroundings as God sees them. Listen carefully to the conversations that you find yourself involved in and listen for the open doors of opportunity. You will be amazed at the opportunities you have been missing that have been in front of you all along.

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

Carl

Grounded in Faithfulness

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past week we finally brought the 2008 election process to a close. Over the past 20 months we have heard candidates making pledges and promises on a wide variety of issues ranging from the economy to the Iraq war. Unfortunately, every campaign season brings promises that for the most part will never be realized.

The weakness of a campaign promise is the ability of the candidate to bring it to fruition. A politician is always dependent upon the consensus of others. Even if consensus is given, it is often given with compromise and strings attached.

The strength of pledge, promise or covenant lies in the ability of the promising party to deliver on the promise. As we see from the political process, even an upstanding candidate has at some point failed to deliver on a promise. Ultimately the credibility of a promise is grounded in the prior faithfulness of the one making the promise.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NASB)
“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments…”

Prayer is a place of covenant relationship. You and I come to God with our petitions and requests, because we trust in His ability to meet the needs in our lives based upon the promises of scripture. We come to God with the confidence that because He has been faithful in keeping His covenants throughout history, He will continue to be faithful to His promises in our day.

The power of prayer is not based on your ability to pray eloquent prayers, but instead it is based in the very character and nature of God. It is God’s faithfulness to His character that allows His promises to be rock solid. God does not have to compromise on His promises, for they are complete in every way.

This week as you pray over the concerns and cares of this life, remember that your prayers are anchored in the foundation of faithfulness through the ages.

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

Carl

Misunderstood

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week is an exciting week for me and one of the milestones of my life at the same time. This next Sunday I will be launching a new church and church planting ministry. For me the opportunity to turn my entrepreneurial leanings towards greater purposes than simply making money is a thrill.

There is a flip side to all of this excitement though. It is the misunderstanding of others who do not see the picture as you see it. This past week I had emails that questioned the wisdom of my walking by faith in this venture and even one that accused me of starting a cult, sent by a man who has never even met me or known me.

I find it interesting that Jesus encountered the same types of issues in His own ministry.

Mark 4:21-22 (NASB)
21 And when His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”

Misunderstandings are often not borne out of ill will or malice, but instead are birthed out of the compassion and concern of others. In Jesus’ case his family and friends were concerned because He was so busy ministering to others He was not even allowed to eat. His family and friends didn’t want to see Jesus trampled on by the demands of others.

On the other hand, the scribes wanted to discredit Jesus, because they could not explain His actions without attributing His work to God. Jesus’ “brand” of religious practice was not comfortable for them, because it challenged their methodologies and practice. In their ignorance they made false accusations towards Him.

Today you may find yourself in a place of being misunderstood. Remember God hasn’t given everyone around you the same picture that He’s given you. Be patient with those who don’t understand and answer gently those who attack out of ignorance. In the end the course God has put you on will be revealed. The picture once obscure to others will come sharply into focus. What once was viewed as foolishness, oddity or rebellion will finally be seen as it has always been….simple obedience.

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

Carl

It is well

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

This morning I woke up with a song playing over and over deep within me. The song is actually on old hymn entitled “It is Well With My Soul.” The words were written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. Spafford was a wealthy American businessman who went through a series of devastating events. In 1871 Spafford was financially ruined by the devastation of the great Chicago fire. Within a few months Spafford’s family was crossing the Atlantic when their ship collided with another vessel. Spafford’s wife survived, but his four daughters perished.

It was only a few weeks later, as Spafford’s own voyage across the Atlantic neared the spot where his daughters had died that Spafford was given these words:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

So how does a man like Horatio Spafford come away with the strength to say “it is well with my soul?” Look at the following promise from scripture:

Psalm 34:17-18 (HCSB)
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.

You see Spafford realized that God was much bigger than fortune, life or even death. Spafford knew that his current lot in life was not the end of the story. His soul could rejoice, because eternity was before him. There would come a day when money would no longer be needed and death would no longer separate him from his loved ones. All was well with his soul, because he walked day by day with God, the one who transcends time and place.

Today, you may be facing peace like a river or perhaps it is the sea billows of life. So I ask you the question: “Is it well with your soul?”

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

Carl