Posted by David on March 8, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
The struggle between the spiritual and the physical over control of our lives is real and difficult. In a society “hooked” on “quick fixes,” we discover there is no “quick fix” in this struggle. There is no pill to swallow, no immediate service to demand, or no “I will report you to your boss” threats. In fact, spiritual maturity intensifies the struggle. Spiritual maturity increases the struggle because it brings awareness and growth. It increases Satan’s problems. Thus, spiritual maturity focuses Satan’s opposition.
Some things cause Satan minimal problems. Words and the life of the human speaker are inconsistent. Judging is inconsistent. (We condemn and excuse for the same offense.) Rejection is inconsistent. (Some receive hate, and some compassion.) Satan easily points out the inconsistencies.
Words, judging, and rejection are of minimal threat to Satan. Even the immature can use words, judgments, and rejection. All three are real “turn-offs” to most people. All three make many Christians feel good about themselves [“I did my duty!”], but all three rarely touch the lives of people not in Christ.
However, godly examples cause Satan major problems. Consider the man or woman in Christ (1) who dares know his or her sinful weaknesses, (2) who acknowledges weaknesses, but (3) who is a constant example of grateful service to the God who saves. How does Satan discredit him or her? The influence of a Christian who forgives personal offenders, who loves the unlovable, and who is gracious to the undeserving is an enormous threat to Satan!
Consequently, the more Christ-like we become, the greater threat we are to evil. As we grow in Christ, we allow “God in us” to appeal to Satan’s subjects. The result: we increasingly attract Satan’s attention. God’s influence in human life has enormous appeal to those trapped by evil. Peace in Christ and hope through God are powerful forces!
Do not deceive yourself! You never escape [on earth] the struggle between physical desires that oppose God and spiritual desires to be like Christ! Satan is shrewd and vicious! However, never forget God is more than his equal! Good triumphs through God’s acts! Satan killed Jesus, but God triumphed!
As Paul said to the Galatian Christians, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:9).
Never tire of doing good! Travel to a place where we “fit” (Hebrews 11:14-16). Let’s encourage each other to be real and to walk together!
Posted by David on March 1, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
I merely wish to suggest being God is not nearly as simple as most people think it is. Christians (and many who reject God) conclude being God should be simple-especially if you possess His power and ability to order things be done. Really?
Wonder how many prayers God receives from all over the world in a 24 hour period? If those prayers were divided into requests, appreciation, and angry indictments, wonder what the percentages would be? Wonder if requests far exceed appreciation?
Wonder how often God acts powerfully, and no one sees it (Jesus’ crucifixion?)? Wonder how often God succeeds incredibly, and people wonder, “What good is that (Jesus’ resurrection?)?” Wonder how often God gives a remarkable gift (forgiveness) and people are disappointed (Mark 2:1-12)? Wonder how often a person dismisses God’s act because it does not meet his/her expectation (Habakkuk 1)? Wonder how often God’s acts are dismissed because we conclude, “God would not do that in that way!”
Wonder how often devout people plead with God to use His power in a specified way, while equally devout people plead with God to use His power in an opposite specified way? In such situations, to say, “Yes” to a believer or a group of believers is to say “No” to another believer or group of believers.
Can God use human death, sacrifice, or failure to achieve His purposes? Can He use my death, sacrifice, or failure to achieve His purposes? Are His purposes dependent on our material prosperity? Is faith the result of an adversity-free life or a life of adversity? Is my trust in God dependent on/reflected in success or adversity?
“Thank you, God, for being God all the time! Thank you for not making us dependent on our own wisdom! You love us when we do not know how to love. You have mercy on us when You should be angry with us. You forgive us when You have the right to destroy us. You endure our lack of vision. You do not disown us when we substitute our emotional desires for Your eternal intents. You are patient with us when we are arrogant with You.
“In all matters You are just, even though we do not see Your justice. When we are blinded by our own emotions and ambitions, You see honestly. You can take Satan’s worst efforts against us, and You can use those efforts for our salvation.
“Lord, we are not incredible, but You are. You are never encompassed by our knowledge, but You know us inside out. May we never forget that You never depend on us, but we always depend on You. Thank you for being our God!”
Posted by David on February 22, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
Recently, life has provided me different opportunities to be with people I knew in the past and had opportunity to know again. Something repeatedly “jumped out” at me in different contexts. Some people I met again changed from the person they were when I first met them and are still changing. Some people changed and reverted back to the person they were. Some people resisted change of self years ago and continue to resist any changes in self. With some, redirection was permanent. With some, redirection was temporary. With some, redirection never occurred.
Stated in another way, some found a new direction and continued in it. Some found a new direction, but also found a convenient detour route back to the old self. Some “is” what they always were, only “is-er.”
Most (not all) who found a new direction and continue in it are people who had major discouragements or powerful temptations to revert to old ways. Some who reverted or did not consider changing did not have any visible discouragements or temptations. I constantly am amazed at people who find redirection of life a helpful friend, and those who find the same redirection a feared enemy. Some passionately grow spiritually, and some passionately refuse to grow spiritually.
To me, such observations are frightening. I have no interest in judging people-I have not lived their lives. My interest is in observing. It goes in two directions: (1) Why do people have different attitudes toward personal redirection? (2) Which kind of person am I? Do I fight the need to redirect me, or do I embrace the need to redirect me?
The essence of repentance is personal redirection. While repentance may demonstrate itself in events, repentance is not an event but an attitude that produces events. When “planted” in a person’s life, it grows until, with time, it fills the person’s life.
The attitude of repentance expresses itself in the behavior of the penitent. The person’s behavior constantly seeks to be true to the attitude. It refuses to seek self-justification.
The truth is whether you do or do not repent is not my issue. Surely, your repentance may encourage me. However, your lack of repentance never justifies me. My issue remains the same: Am I willing to redirect my life? Can I admit it when I am wrong? Can I embrace needed changes in me? Will I continuously allow my penitent attitude to reflect itself in my behavior?
The repentance of just one person causes heaven to rejoice! Does your attitude and behavior increase heaven’s joy?
Posted by David on February 15, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
I increasingly notice a concept that promises a lot but causes pain. The concept: “We can have it all!” It promises we can have everything without making choices. We can have “it all,” and no one will suffer. Values will not be diluted. Priorities will not be altered. Relationships will be blessed. Individuals will flourish. Families will remain intact. Everyone will be “happy”-whatever that is.
“Having it all” requires adjustments, but the exchanges are okay. Thus, we exchange spiritual existence for a “going to church” habit. We exchange family time for couple of weekly meals together. We exchange “My word is my bond!” for “Can I legally contest that contract?” We exchange “it is needful” for “it is pushing.” We exchange relationships for lifestyle. We redefine success: success is what you possess instead of who you are as a person.
What results from seeking it all? Parents try to prove love by giving instead of being. Lonely, suffering children turn to anything that offers escape from loneliness. Divorce is expected. Religious habits replace spiritual development. Few are trusted [even in families!]; motives are doubted [what are they up to?] Boats dry rot in garages. Credit cards are over extended. We live today on what we hope to earn next year. We work too hard to enjoy each other. The gap between poverty and the middle class increases. Those with much seek more in the fear of not having. The definition of “rich” constantly changes. Remember when rich was having a few thousand dollars?
As the transition continues, two things are striking. (1) How easy it is to become selfish is striking. The question seems to be, “Am I happy?” The answer seems to be, “No, but I will be when I get …” (2) The confidence “we can have it all” without having to make choices is striking. According to today’s reasoning, responsibility destroys happiness!
Choices are inescapable! We cannot have it all! One huge self-deceit of evil is, “We should never have to exclude anything.” Perhaps we exclude God! If so, that is sad beyond description! Following God is about unselfish choices-always! It is unselfish choices that define God’s concept of righteousness.
Posted by David on February 8, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
Fortunately my week began typically. I got my half cup of coffee, sat at my computer, and read my e-mail messages. As usual, Monday’s messages were over 75% spam. Most of them wanted one thing-money. The authors of the messages frequently promised me (whom they do not know) incredible sums of money if I give them information that allows them access to my money. Or, they promise me great monetary success if I will buy a product. Or, they challenge me to generosity that benefits them.
In most of my spam messages, people are confident that if they can stimulate my greed nerve, they can soothe (for a moment) their greed nerve.
Though I have witnessed it many times, I never cease to be amazed at the people who are convinced that money is the answer–the answer to problems; the answer to indebtedness; the answer to a desire for pleasure; the answer to significance; the answer to security; etc. Name the need, and someone thinks money is the answer [even in spiritual matters!].
Too little do we realize that money brings new problems–new forms of indebtedness that dig new, deeper holes [he or she who cannot manage little cannot manage much]; common substitutions of indulgence for pleasure that create enslaving addictions; a frequent introduction to despair.
This is not intended to be a slam on wealth! Some early Christians had wealth! Paul said to them (1 Timothy 6:17-19)–Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
He or she who can escape greed while having money is wise. He or she who defines self by relationship with God is wise. He or she who understands how to use wealth for God’s purposes rather than allowing wealth to use him or her for its purposes is wise. He or she who lets God’s values determine how wealth is used rather than allowing wealth determine how he or she is used is wise. He or she who refuses to measure self by “what I have” is wise.
May this be our ambition: “Who I am is determined by God. What I have is determined by God. How I use what I have is determined by God. Only God’s will measures me.”
Careful: Money does not offer us everything. To many, money gives only an internal emptiness and coldness. To the unwise, money costs rather than gives. “God, deliver us from the deceit of our own greed. Help us listen to You instead of deceiving ourselves.”
Posted by David on February 1, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
I suspect every flock had some contrary individual sheep. This one tended to wander off and get lost. This one tended to fall into trouble regardless of how hard the shepherd sought to produce a safe environment. This one looked at the shepherd as an enemy, no matter how hard the shepherd tried to befriend it. This one never understood a dangerous situation. It constantly was in life-threatening situations.
Congregations are no different. This member consistently wanders off and gets lost. This member forever gets himself/herself into trouble. This member always sees any leader as an enemy. This member never sees danger.
A hard question: Does a man willing to be an elder, be a congregational shepherd, do so in spite of you, or because of you? Though never an elder, I spent a segment of my life in elders’ meetings. Once when asked to speak to a gathering of elders, I started by noting that I likely had attended more elders’ meetings than most of them had.
With that exposure, I have seen a bit of everything. A tragedy I witnessed [more than once] involved caring elders seeking to address trying members without all the facts. Congregational leaders are at a disadvantage when they know confidential things they cannot reveal. Nothing is ever as simple as it looks on the outside!
I once knew a group of men who were to be new elders. They were certain they could make needed changes in 6 months. When they became elders, they became aware of conditions they did not know. The only answer for their changes was to slaughter some sheep. Is it the role of the shepherd to destroy the flock? Thankfully, the chief Shepherd seeks to save, not destroy!
Selecting additional elders is a time for personal reflection as well as evaluating lives. It is too easy to expect others to do and be what we never intend to do or be! It is too easy to criticize and hard to be encouraging! It is too easy to discourage and hard to be a source of the joy!
We do not need to decide we, personally, will make leadership more difficult! Satan will take care of that! We need to be part of the joy! Only we can take care of that.
Posted by David on January 25, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
God loves sinners! Incredible! He always has! He asked Jonah, “Why should I not love the Assyrians?” (Jonah 4:11). Isaiah said Israel was to be a light to the nations [non-Jewish people] (Isaiah 42:5-7). Jesus said there was more rejoicing in heaven over 1 sinner who repented than 99 righteous people who needed no repentance (Luke 15:7). Paul said Christ died for people while they were still sinners (Romans 5:8). God loves sinners!
We live in difficult times that are likely to become more difficult. The times create enormous concerns for us. We are more likely to demand that our leadership be more concerned about our anxieties than God’s priorities-especially when our anxieties clash with God’s priorities.
God’s priorities demand that leadership be concerned with two matters: (a) rescuing those outside of Christ and (b) spiritually preserving those in Christ. Elders should be spiritually mature! Elders should think! Elders should grow!
If elders do that by virtue of study and exposure to people problems, what will happen? If you take the most spiritually mature men in the congregation, and stimulate them to continue to mature, they often “out grow” the majority in a congregation. When a congregation confuses faithfulness to championing anxieties rather than faithfulness to promoting God’ priorities, major problems develop. That is why (a) elders never cease to communicate with a congregation and (b) constantly seek to explain “whys” for their decisions. Never make elders of men you do not trust! Always make men you can confidently follow elders! Just as in good parenting, trust issues are enormous!
It is not easy to let God be the model of concern for people! It is not easy to incorporate and involve the penitent lost in a congregation! If we grow, there will be those whose backgrounds are different, whose values are different, whose problems are “messy,” whose lifestyle is different, whose “spiritual learning curve” is challenging.
Leaders must realize what was successful 50 years ago may be irrelevant now. They must understand the difference between fads and substance. They must search for ways to help us effectively “love the unlovable”-because that is what God does!
Posted by David on January 18, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
The leadership style of shepherding is an ancient emphasis on godly leadership among God’s people. God wants His people to be led by those whose focus is on God, not controlled by those who are focused on human priorities or human agendas.
This leadership style always was God’s leadership style. In 1 Samuel 8 when Israel wanted a king, their desire was (a) for the wrong motives and (b) a distinct change in leadership styles. God never tolerated leadership over His people by evil men. The key solution to Samuel’s sons being evil (verse 3) was national repentance, not a change in leadership styles. God led. Humans dictated.
After God explained that kings were (a) expensive and (b) easily corrupted, Israel still insisted that the answer to their problems was a king-he would make them like other nations, he would judge them, and he would choose their battles and lead them into battle [they would become aggressors, not victims].
Their solution became their disaster. King Saul became blinded by dedication to his own power. His fears and insecurities determined his policies. King Solomon was blinded by his building programs and foreign wives. He lost sight of the needs of God’s people. Rehoboam committed to Solomon’s leadership style, not the needs of God’s people. The result: in only 120 years, Israel permanently divided.
The only exception was King David [not our choice because he committed adultery and murder]. When Israel came to David in Hebron (2 Samuel 5), they asked him to be their king. King Saul was consumed with himself. They wanted a change in leadership style. They wanted a shepherd. Before David was pursued by King Saul, they said Saul was king, but David was their shepherd. They considered David’s leadership style a mandate from God (1 Samuel 5:2). The fact that God’s style of leadership over Israel was that of a shepherd is inferred in 1 Samuel 7:7.
The emphasis on elders leading in the style of shepherds was [is] ancient, not new.
God has tremendous interest in people. Good shepherds have tremendous interest in the flock. God wants men to lead His people out of concern for the righteous well-being of the people. The church is God’s people. It is not about money, property, or society’s dictates. It is about the well-being of people. The “bottom line” always is this: what is in the best interest of people.
Blessed is the congregation who is led by men who are concerned about people. This is a difficult age often consuming people with society’s values instead of God’s. It is easy to tell people what they should do. It is demanding to be concerned for them in their struggles when they fail. “Do not be content to tell me I messed up! Love me when I fail [just as does God] and show me how to recover in Christ.”
Posted by David on January 11, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
I was asked to share my insights on congregational leadership. I was not provided thoughts–the insights are my own. If you disagree, disagree with me.
Selecting elders is a unique moment in a congregation’s history. It can be a great affirmation of God’s goals. It can be a tragic commitment to human agendas that change a congregation’s focus for decades. It is always a courageous commitment to faith in God, or a commitment to convenience that seeks comfort. Amidst swirling fears, it can be a time of fear rather than an opportunity for faith. If Christians hold genuine confidence in God, it should be a unique moment of faith.
Among the many challenges confronting those who lead is the challenge of congregational diversity. Younger and older Christians hold different perspectives. The struggles of Christians from non-spiritual backgrounds are often distinctive. Christians from differing heritages and traditions do not have identical concerns as Christians from three [or more] generations in churches of Christ. Christians with differing ethnic or national backgrounds view this world and its problems from differing views.
A remarkable thing about this congregation: the ability to respect Christians whose faith and repentance led them to baptism into Christ EVEN IF WE DISAGREE LATER. Quickly additional elders will confront this diversity. Soon they will decide if God’s purposes are achieved through unity in diversity or conformity to demands.
The problem is not new. In fact, it is as old as the church. Diversity between Jewish and Gentile Christians created enormous first century church problems. You can see this problem in Scripture. Consider Jewish Christians’ reaction in Acts 11:1-3 to the conversion of the non-Jewish Cornelius in Acts 10. Not even a vision from God altered their distaste for any non-Jewish person! Consider the conflict between Jewish and Gentile Christians in Acts 15:1-5. This dispute had to be referred to the Jerusalem leadership! Consider the resentment of Jewish Christians toward Paul because he dared convert Gentiles (Act 21:20-22). Their elders could not prevent the explosion fueled by Jewish false rumors targeting Paul! A core issue prompting Galatians was this conflict between Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ. Consider more about first century “in church” conflicts by reading, Unity and Uniformity in the Early Church, on our Web site.
We are a diverse congregation. A leadership that respects this diversity is essential to spiritual success as we seek God’s goals. God’s purposes, not human agendas, must guide us as God’s people.
Posted by David on January 4, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
When frustration overwhelms you, when negative emotions consume you, force yourself to take a moment to remember Him to whom you look for salvation. Remember the One who is your pathway to God. Remember the One who is your door from blinding darkness to guiding light.
From the day He was born, He never slept on a pillow-top mattress. He never lived in a house with running hot and cold water. He never took a hot shower. He never turned on a light switch. He never had a kitchen with a microwave oven, a toaster oven, a mixer, or a refrigerator. He never once rode in a car, or on a bicycle, or in or on a truck, or on a bus, or in a train or airplane. He never spoke on a phone, or sent an e-mail, or received an e-mail, or mailed a letter, or read a newspaper, or watched T.V.
He never saw a hall, read a typeset book, took a “course,” or examined a library. He never shot a gun, cast a reel, put a model together, saw a movie, read a comic, went to a rodeo, or played a video game.
One of our vacations might finance Him for His adult lifetime. The money we often spend in “downtime activities” would likely take care of His whole life needs for months. Though He walked miles every month, he never owned a pair of boots. His life was simple — eat what you can get when it is available; walk a lot; sleep where you can when you can; talk to those who will listen; pray a lot as you honor God for His blessings.
As simple as His life was, some things have never changed. Relationships are still difficult. Injustices still hurt. Expectations still collapse. People still hurt you. Rejection is still hard to take. Being misunderstood still grieves you inwardly. Evil still exists. Bad things still happen to good people. Frustration and disappointment can still destroy us. It is easier to be a pessimist who gives up than a person of faith who makes a difference. Progress still must be measured in persons, not nations.
The next time you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself, think of Him. Doing without Him would mean losing life’s focus and meaning. Your life is changed, not because of what He had, but because of who He is. Your life will change others for good, not because of what you have, but because of who you are. Dare to let His image become your image!
The fact that He died for us will never be fair, not even in the final judgment!
