The Habit of Searching

We are told by good leaders to be watchful for opportunities. Many of the missed answers to prayer are a result of a lack of searching. The principle that Jesus gave us is to find by seeking. Many times I live as though I expect to be bowled over by opportunities without the search. I want to make seeking one of those habits that becomes so automatic that I quit thinking of it as an option. A habit is defined as a recurrent, often unconscious, pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition. These conditioned patterns of behavior, at least the good ones, help us function at a high level. When a task becomes a habit it is simply performed without thinking. They help us to live with less stress and greater efficiency.

In the “Leadership Challenge” material, one of the commitments is to search for opportunities by seeking innovative ways to change, grow, and improve. The creative nature of God is in us making innovative concepts exciting and reachable. We know from scripture that the eyes of the Lord are searching.

2 Chronicles 16:9 The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

God wants me to change, grow and improve everyday. Getting into the habit of changing will keep spirituality fresh and my walk with God exciting.

Carpe Diem

The film “Dead Poet’s Society” is a story of an English teacher’s attempt to challenge a class of 1950’s post-depression school boys to grab hold of the opportunities life presents them. In that film, an old Latin phrase was resurrected. “Carpe Diem” means “seize the day”. It refers to living life to the fullest, to get the most out of each day. That concept is held up in the Bible when Paul wrote, ‘Make the most of every opportunity”. Of the many areas for me to seize today it seems that I need to make the most out of my prayer time with God. I am constantly fascinated that thanks to the work of Christ on the cross, every believer has the opportunity to enter into the throne room of God. What a tragedy it would be if that opportunity was ignored. Our human propensity toward preoccupation with activities and responsibilities has a negative effect on our prayer time. I need to create space in my life each day for God to act. If I do not create that space, that time will for sure fill up with other things. This all means I need to shelter space for Him. It matters because we matter to God. Martin Luther once defined prayer as a climbing up of the heart unto God. E.M. Bounds in writing about prayer said, “Prayer is the contact of a living soul with God. In prayer, God stoops to kiss man, to bless man, and to aid in everything that God can devise or man need.” E. Stanley Jones wrote that prayer is a “Time exposure of the soul to God” and Samuel Zwemer brought us the concept that prayer is the “gymnasium of the soul.” We have the invitation let’s “Carpe Diem”.

The opportunity at high tide

There is a scene in Shakespear’s Julius Ceasar that speaks of opportunity that comes with the tide:

“There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea we are now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.”

It is my feeling that the church today is at one of those high tides of opportunity. The economy has brought many to a place of reality where trust in God has come into the mix like never before. In times of prosperity, God gets left on the outside of many decisions. In challenging times, God is given a chance and is turned to as, in too many cases, a last resort. How tragic that we wait until we have exhausted many avenues of opportunity before turning to God. With the high tide come to opportunity to launch the boat. For many that opportunity is spent fastening hard to the old traditions and “safe” places in life. For some, however, the high tide opportunity is the time to move.

Leonard Sweet, one of my favorite authors, says : To be effective in a postmodern world, churches need to transform into an "AquaChurch" capable of navigating uncharted waters ahead. The Bible, tradition, vision, creativity, teamwork, need to relate to today's ever-changing world. Many churches across the country are ministering successfully to the postmodern culture while holding fast to the gospel of Jesus.

As a pastor, I want to be a part of one of those churches.

Weeds in the Driveway

Almost every day something happens that causes me to say “There’s a sermon in that!” It just reminds me that everything that occurs in our lives has potential in it. People are always asking me how I find time to prepare sermons with my sometimes crazy schedule. My response is that life is full of sermon material. Most sermon prep takes place in everyday experience and at some time during the week I actually sit down at the computer and place it on paper. Although as in last week’s, what was said didn’t really “follow the notes”.

For example, last night we were working to get rid of weeds between the cracks in the driveway. These particular weeds were holding on for dear life and not giving me enough stem to pull up. We had to get the shovel to get the job done. The driveway looks much better this morning. But, since we just cut them off with the shovel, they still have their roots and I am sure they will be back. I think I heard them snickering down there. Today, It’s time for “Round up!!!!” Let’s see them survive that.

Back to the sermon thing. There will always be weeds in the driveways of life. We can trim them off to be just below the surface, or we can hit them at the root and be rid of them for good. Jesus tells us to let some weeds be as they might damage the crop if we pull them up. Sort those out at harvest time. But weeds in the driveway? They’re outta Here!!!!!!

Open your wings and catch the wind

One of the areas of focus last night in the evening service at our District Council was the lesson from eagles. It is not a time to fold our wings and lie in the nest but rather a time to go to the edge of the nest, open our wings and catch the wind. It is better to fail trying to fly than to stay in the nest and die. The nest is a good place to be born and a good place to develop but it is also a good place to leave. It is risky and dangerous to go to the edge, but the rewards are bountiful and fulfilling.

There are many areas of life that this lesson applies to. If we are stuck in a rut today, it may be because we have gotten too comfortable with the way things are and we simply need to try new packaging of our product. There may be nothing wrong with the product, it just needs a new box around it. That new box will generate interest from new people. New relationships bring in whole new vantage points, one of which may change your life.

Make the connections

One of the signs of a healthy team of believers (church) is a high level of involvement in ministries outside of the church walls. Last night was one of the highlights of the year for us as we hosted the annual “Relay for Life” spaghetti supper fundraiser. It was exciting to see people from all over the community come through our doors to support the cause of fighting cancer. Every family has been touched in one way or another by this disease that takes lives every day. The Relay for Life event coming in June is a time when we see the community band together in walking to raise funds for cancer research and education. Our church team “Walking in faith” will once again be “prayer walking” the track. This is one of the events that makes it possible for everyone who can breathe to be qualified to be put face to face, shoulder to shoulder with people of the community. It requires us to broaden the definition of ministry. Meaningful opportunities for service exist all around us. People may not be able to lead a Bible study, but they can minister to others through the gifts God has entrusted to them. It is under the heading of “making connection with the community”. The two great commandments in the Bible are : Loving God, then loving people. A big sign on the wall of our church sanctuary reads: Who will you serve today?”

Another new sigh in the sanctuary reads like this:

Dance like no one is watching
Sing like no one is listening
Love like you have never been hurt

I am thrilled in my spirit when I watch God put that kind of thinking into people around me.

I am Blessed !!!!

Keeping "cause" in view

Monday morning thoughts-
I am heading out into a new day today full of opportunities and divine appointments. By the end of the day I will have connected with hundreds of people in one way or another. Some of my opportunities today will happen because I have purposely orchestrated them and others will be a surprise. The surprise ones are the things that keep me on my toes. I will need to make immediate decisions today as to which directions to go based on what is important. I need good links today. In computer talk, it means I will look at the links I have been given and choose where to click my mouse. I need to keep my filter unclogged to let the good stuff in and keep the bad stuff out. To me that means starting today with a review of what is important. Monday is one of the days I especially need to be careful. It was a very full weekend. I prayed with people, laughed with people and cried with people. Excitement level was high and we were reminded that serving God can be fun and fulfilling. My Bible verse for today comes from John chapter 18, verse 37, "For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world.” It was spoken by Jesus referring to the crucifixion and resurrection. When I read that verse, I am reminded that I need to keep my cause in view. My life needs to be filled with purpose and direction. It keeps my past in perspective. It also keeps my focus clear. Life is a buffet. Today is a gift.

The Tulip

From Dr. Wess Stafford in his book, “Too small to ignore”, comes this story that I read in my devotional time this morning. I hope it blesses and challenges you as it has me.

“ I remember as a young child in Africa coming upon a wild tulip in the jungle at the side of the road. A cement block had apparently fallen off a truck and rolled down the embankment to the jungle’s edge. Now the stem of the wildflower was twisted and gnarled as it had struggled to grow from under that cement block. It had contorted itself first this way and then that, seeking the light of day, until it had at long last found the edge of the blockage. Once freed, it had taken off as best it could in an upward direction. Its struggle had produced a tulip, but it was stunted, small and weak, exhausted. A flower alive, but barely, Its early struggle to overcome its blockage had sapped its strength, potential and growth.

As I think about that tragic flower, I now realize that God had done his part. He built a perfect design into the DNA of that little tulip bulb, a potential for beautiful color size and fragrance. The Bible tells us God has also done that in the life of each child. Each is beautifully knit together in the mother’s womb. Though some children are born with defects and imperfections that break a parent’s heart, none are beyond God’s ability to work in that new life and receive great joy and glory from what He has created. No Mistakes!

Likewise children were made to grow, develop, thrive and reach the fullness God knit into them. He lovingly said in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you….plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Having read that this morning, I am wondering what cement blocks I might find today to move off of the lives of people who are struggling to find some light.

Just under the surface

It was an exciting day at church yesterday as we celebrated the fact that the reports that Jesus was dead were no longer correct now that He had risen.
Things sometimes are not as they seem.

I read a report about an archeological dig where the flooring of a wealthy home was unearthed still intact. The archeologists found one of the floor tiles was loose and lifted it gently. Beneath the tile was a small hole dug out of the earth. Inside was a container full of coins and jewels amounting to great wealth. The riches of God are at arms reach. How tragic that we could be walking on our provision and not know it. As we go through this Resurrection celebration week, we are reminded that those who crucified Jesus did not know what they were doing. They were blind to the fact that God himself was there. Jesus Himself asked the father to forgive them for they “know not what they are doing”. I wonder how many things I miss that would give me great blessing if I would look for it. I’m going to dig today. I have a full schedule but if I find a loose tile I’m checking it out

A Path Through the Wilderness

On old chorus we used to sing says:

“My Lord knows the way through the wilderness
All I have to do is follow.
Strength for today is mine all the way
All I have to do is follow”

As a pastor, I get calls occasionally from people in panic mode over situations that seem impossible to them. It may have to do with finances, relationships or health but the dynamics of the situations are similar in nature. They need solutions that go beyond what they think they have. Generally our lives are a series of breakthroughs and we soon forget that God got us through the last one when we reach the next.

Everything in me wants to jump in and “fix” these situations for people who get impoverished by their problem. Henry Ford once said, “The only thing you can give a man without hurting him is an opportunity.” Doing things on a person’s behalf doesn’t get to the heart of the matter, which is usually an attitude issue of “just give up”. An opportunity says, “ I believe in you, you can do it. Don’t you dare give up.”

But where do I find opportunity for someone in such a hole that they don’t see light any more? It is at those moments that I must turn on the faith mode and decide if I am going to believe God or not when He promises a “Way”. Panic doesn’t work, fretting doesn’t work, tantrums don’t help, the world’s welfare system falls short, and we are left with our “last” resort (which should have been our first resort), God.

I have learned to give hurting people an opportunity to have faith in God and I have seen the good hand of God rescue them.

Try God first instead of last today. He will give you a path to follow.

The Valley of Change

The 2008 Sermon series on Discipleship moved into the third month yesterday. The topic was "Sojourning". This world is a temporary stop for us in our eternal existence so we are just sojourners. We always have transitions ahead and we must not get too comfortable with the status quo.

From page 4 of my sermon notes of yesterday:

The cause of the Lord is a cause that requires a change in us for success.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3 that we would be changed as from glory to glory. Change will be a constant process. No matter how high we are on the mountain, there are valleys of change.

Jeremiah was not as popular as some prophets because he was more comfortable with change than some others.

Look at Joshua and Caleb pushing for change:

Numbers 13: 25-26


Things you need to get you happily through the valley of change:

The innovative urge
The above average passion for principle
A need for affirmation that is lower than others
A high level of curiosity
A track record of mastering failure.

Jazz players are great examples of this principle:
Doug Murren says: “ The distinguishing mark of great jazz players is that they can take familiar themes and do things with it that no one has ever thought of doing.

Binoculars and telescopes help you to discover things on the horizon that might otherwise go unseen.

Change comes from dissatisfaction
Change takes energy
Change requires insight.

You could wake up in your caccoon as a beautiful butterfly.

Risks and costs

John F. Kennedy once said, “There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” We have today in which to be active. I cannot be active any more in January. If I do it now, it will be stamped with a February date. I sent in a report in yesterdays mail that was due by January 31. I had run out of tomorrows to put it off to so I just sat down and did it. It really didn’t take all that long to do but for some reason I waited until the last minute. Now at the threshold of a new month, I am looking at my February assignments and planning to do them early. However, I am sure that on February 28th, I’ll be burning the midnight oil on something that I procrastinated in. All of this reminds me that organization is a key to peace. If I am organized, the risks and the costs are lowered because efficiency is higher. The Bible mentions iron sharpening iron as a picture of how we are to help each other. If I am helping you today, you need me to be sharp and operating at a high level. In the book of Numbers in the Old Testament, you can read about the organization if the people of God as they traveled through the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. There were many risks and costs, but God provided strong leadership for them to follow. It was their day to head off to the promised land. They each had their assignments and although they were far from perfect in their journey, they eventually got there and enjoyed the blessings provided for them.

Have enough passion about life today to get over the risks and costs problem and do what needs to be done. Have a great journey today.

Behind Door Number 1

It is fun to look back and see what I was writing about a year ago. It was about doorways. Through the course of life we find many portals of entry that take us to different rooms. Yesterday as I was in a lumberyard, I spent some time looking at the doors that were on display. They were set up so that they could be opened. They led to nowhere except to the next door. Sometimes life is like that. We go through a door only to find ourselves in a place with more doors to choose from.

Think about this quote:

The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met an open doorway with an open mind”
E. B. White (American writer 1899-1985)

I counted them. Fifteen already!!!!. It is only 5:45 am and I already have walked through fifteen doorways! I wonder how many I will walk through before the day is over? Each time I went through a door this morning I entered a room with opportunity.

What triggered this thinking was a line I read about standing in the doorway of the presence of God and spending some time there doing praise and worship. Worshipping in the doorway moves us away from self pity and depression. Sometimes people become doorways to better thinking and perhaps today I will be a doorway for someone to use to come to understanding about something important.

Jesus in the book of John chapter 10 talked about doors:

“7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Take a risk today. Pray in the doorway and walk into something new.