Don’t Skip THIS step!


I know, I know...I said on Monday that “tomorrow” I’d give you some thoughts on setting spiritual goals. But this week, I’ve been thinking. Setting direction, planning, and establishing goals are all part of effective living. Strategizing and then taking specific action is vital to accomplishing those goals. But the "why" is equally important as the "how."

In the excitement of moving forward, sometimes the motive of the heart often goes unchecked. In our minds we are easily convinced that our action plan is the right way - especially if things are going well. Yet an impure motive is never pleasing to the Lord. Asking the question, "Why am I doing this?" helps us remember that the ultimate measure of accomplishment comes from the Lord.

Are you trying to get in better shape so that you’ll be more effective in your life (to be nourished) or do you want the attention of others (to be noticed)? Is your goal vitality or vanity?

Do you want to grow spiritually to honor the Lord or to gain recognition? Will your spiritual training please the Lord or puff yourself up?

All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2

So today, let’s work on developing the reasons for change... Why do I want to go there?
Why do I want to make the change? What is the motive? What is the purpose?

We need to be living for a deeper motive, operating from our hearts, not just our heads! 

Smart businesses develop mission statements. Arriving at that statement is usually a process and that process begins with asking some heart questions. Questions like:

What is the purpose of this enterprise? What do we want to accomplish? What is the end-game? 



In business, if its just profits that drive the machine, then ethics, morals, and integrity will probably be negotiable. But when a business is centered around a deeper purpose... a desire to meet some need or provide some dedicate service, then profits will follow.

The same principles are true in our personal lives.

We need to develop a personal mission statement... We need to determine “why” we’re doing the things we’re doing. 

In health, if its just “to attract” others, then it’s a moving target and momentary at best! We’re all aging and the Bible even says this - "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting...” Proverbs 31:30

But, if you determine that you want to be healthy emotionally, physically, spiritually for a deeper purpose... then you might just be on to greatness! When we explore the purpose for which God put us here and we develop into all that He intended, our lives, our relationships, our physical health with be greatly enhanced!



So what are some reasons for getting healthy physically and spiritually?



Maybe for your legacy? Maybe you need to stop today and say, “the choices today will impact my kids for years to come!” I want to be here when my girls are old enough to marry (when they’re 40 or so) ;-) I have an amazing picture in my mind of my children getting married, ONE DAY! I want to walk them down the aisle and celebrate with them! I don’t want to develop chronic problems that would take me out of that picture! I want to be healthy enough to enjoy playing with my grandkids. I want to be able to serve the Lord well into the future.

Spiritually, I want practice disciplines (prayer, Bible meditation and memorization, solitude, journaling, fasting, etc) to align myself with God’s purpose for me. I want to know Him and make Him known. I want to bring Him glory and honor. So, I begin to set spiritual goals... And I WILL tell you how I do that tomorrow!

For articles and resources on spiritual disciplines, check out http://biblicalspirituality.org

Assignment: Determine why you want to change some area of your life. Write it down! Write your top two or three reasons in each area that you want to work on: health, finances, spiritual development, relationships...

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You for a mind that is capable to plan and strategize. Thank You for the energy to take action. Thank You for a heart that longs to serve You. Keep my motives pure so that my actions will bring glory to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

STARTING THE JOURNEY
...taking first steps

I've told several friends lately, and even my small group, that I am burdened about my life. I know there are changes that need to take place. So here goes! When I think about taking a transformation journey, three words keep coming up.


HEALTHY ... HAPPY ... HOLY

These are the key words for my pursuit of a makeover. You might have others, but for me, these 3 will keep me on track. Later on, I’ll share with you how I am setting goals in each of these areas and how those specific goals will help guide me to the ultimate destination of health, happiness, and holiness, but first, here’s how I’ve described each of these areas. I will work to become:

HEALTHY - A state of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. 


HAPPY - When I think about being happy, I think about peace and contentment...deep-seated joy. Not a superficial, emotional feeling, but a state of fulfillment. I don’t want my happiness to be based on external things, but on being satisfied that I am in good relationships and I am fulfilling my purpose before God.


HOLY - Dedicated and consecrated to God. In the book, The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges says this about holiness:

For starters, it doesn't look anything like perfection. And it doesn't necessarily look like victory. Mostly, it consists of effort, prayer, grace, and obedience. "Scripture speaks of both a holiness we have in Christ before God, and a holiness we are to strive after”.

TAKING A STEP


For real transformation to occur, we need to know some simple coordinates... Namely, we need to determine where we are and where we want to go. When I gave you my “rut” list, I was establishing the “where am I” coordinate. When I shared the “healthy, happy, holy” concept, I was establishing the “where I want to go” coordinate.

Without these two key coordinates it would be impossible to measure our progress and success. It also makes it difficult for others to support and help you along the way. But when you are clear about where you are and precisely where you're going, together, we’ll be able to know and understand what this climb is all about for you and we can help you get there.

Where am I now?

Look at various areas of your life... In business or in personal finance, it is important to look at the balance sheet (a simple summary of the balances - assets, liabilities, debt)

This week, you need to inventory your life (create a balance sheet in your marriage, your finances, your physical health) How do you do that?

Look at specifics... I want you to list three objectively verifiable and measureable statements which reflect your condition and health right now. Today, we’ll focus on the physical.

Bill Phillips, author of Eating for Life and Body for Life says that scale weight, measurements, cholesterol, blood pressure, even a “before” picture might be a good way to get a picture of where you are.

Your 3 goals might look like this:

1) First A.M. scale weight: 217 lbs. mid-section measurement at the widest point: 42 inches. Bodyfat: 31%.
2) Cholesterol: 234 ng/ml. Blood pressure 142/87 as measured by my doctor.
3) I'm attaching my before picture taken from the front and another from the back.

You determine what they look like, but get an honest look at yourself.

I also want you to set a goal for where you want to be. Write them down! I am reaching out 12 weeks with my “end result”. I will reevaluate things then. But between now and then, I want to lost 2 pounds a week and I want to lower my cholesterol by 5%

You determine yours. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about some of the spiritual & relational dynamics that I plan on tackling!

Oh, and once we know where we are and where we want to go, then we can begin putting together the road map of how to get there! Happy Traveling. I’m praying for you!

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. Psalm 119:59

STUCK IN A RUT


Have you ever felt stuck? Bogged down? Spinning your wheels? Getting / Going nowhere?

If so, I want to invite you to join me on a journey! Over the past few months, I have started taking stock in where I am in life. Looking at my health, my relationships, my work, my purpose, etc...

In the coming weeks, I want to begin a journey toward transformation! Not just a “do-over” or a “do-better” or a “try-harder” I really want to look at life from a new perspective. God’s perspective! I want to look at some tough life questions and seek answers for those questions.

I guess I need to tell you where this journey started...You see, lately, I’ve been kinda restless. I recently turned 40 and I started noticing some changes in my life. First, I saw a little grey hair...actually, a little less hair, too! I noticed that some of my clothes have begun to shrink. Ok, ok, I know, I’ve gained some weight over the years, but it could be our dryer, right?

Let me put it this way: As I reflected on my life, I realized that almost every area of my life has been in neutral lately! Here’s what those areas look like one by one:

My PHYSICAL rut - Over the past several years, I’ve felt increasingly fatigued and I sensed lower and lower levels of energy. I knew I haven’t been taking care of myself like I should, but I’ve blamed it on busyness and scheduling. But more than these physical signs of aging, I also see that changes are going on in my inner-life. My spiritual development has been slowing down. I found myself on autopilot in so many ways. 



My SPIRITUAL rut - I started following Christ my freshman year of college and was on fire! I surrendered to ministry, went to Seminary and learned and grew a lot! Yet more and more, I caught myself relying on my memory of Bible studies past more than digging in daily for a fresh word. I found that my prayer life and devotional pursuits were lacking!

My MENTAL rut - I’ve always loved learning, but when I finished my doctoral studies two years ago, I rationalized that I deserved a break! Consequently, I haven’t had any major hills to climb on the academic or intellectual front!

My RELATIONAL rut - I’m happily married to a wonderful woman who is also my best friend and we have three amazing kids! Have you ever heard that familiarity breeds contempt. Sometimes we take relationships for granted and don’t invest in them. That is precisely what was happening to me! My relationships with my wife, kids, and friends were ok...but just ok. Again, autopilot set in! I was going through motions without investing the time, effort, and care needed to cultivate deep relationships.

My MINISTRY rut - I was starting to see my work in ministry as a “profession” as much as a calling. I knew what details were important and dotting i’s and crossing t’s became a measure of success rather than encountering Christ and working to see lives changed.

Because of this evaluation time, I’ve started thinking about making some needed adjustments to the way I live my life. I’m not talking about major life changes or some mid-life crisis...I simply want to evaluate where I am, where I want to be and put a plan together to get me there!

I don’t know about you, but I want the rest of my life to count, big time! I want to know that I am fulfilling the purposes for which God put me here. I’m talking about an extreme makeover scott-edition! Maybe you need one, too. I say let’s tackle it together.

Each week, I am going to put some assignments together for us to work on. I am also going to use this blog page as a place for discussion! Hope that you’ll come along!

DISCLAIMER: Some of you that will read this will have no problem with me talking about faith. You know that I am a Christian, you know Christ and you have embraced His way. I also know that some you aren’t yet convinced that God is even real, or that He has any purpose or plan for your life... That’s ok. I want us to take an honest look at every area of our lives and move forward together! Regardless of your faith position, I think we can begin some healthy activities in our lives that will spark really cool dialogue and will challenge all of us to grow!

Let me know if you are in! I dare you to take a step!

WHO DAT?!?

Hannah and Haley, our two oldest daughters were both born in New Orleans while I was in Seminary. Stephanie and I spent a great deal of our lives there! We love the food, the culture, the music, and the Saints! Our family has deep roots in that wonderful city!

Part of the lore of the community has always been that if the Saints ever won a Superbowl, it would be a very cold day... (you get the rest)...Anyway, we woke this morning to 7" of snow in North Mississippi! So here's our lil' tribute to the Black and Gold Superbowl!

New Leaves, New Lives

I recently read an interesting article about predictions for this new decade that came just ten years ago for the world of 2010 — and unless something drastic happens in the coming months, they're looking a bit optimistic.

Forecaster Faith Popcorn said 90 percent of all consumer goods would be home-delivered. The World Future Society said you'd have a wristwatch-type device that monitored your blood chemistry, while an implanted microchip in your forearm adjusted the lights and heating systems of any building you walked into. Arthur C. Clarke predicted we'd have portable quantum generators that drew on the power of space to give us unlimited clean energy.

Also predicted: school would be year-round and pre-school would be universal, everyone would have wearable computers and 7 percent of cars would be internet-enabled, and "Smellyvision" would allow you to smell cooking shows.

The funny part is, Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn starts out by saying these predictions are all for "the next ten years" — without mentioning they were made ten years ago. So as you read the list of predictions, you're left wondering just how plausible these predictions are for the year 2020. And in many cases, they seem at least somewhat believable. Does that mean the predictions were possibly accurate, but just too optimistic time-wise? Or are we just incurably optimistic ourselves?

So now that we’ve reached 2010, I have to admit that I find myself thinking along the same lines as these prognosticators...I am a little disappointed that we're not farther along!

When I was seven, I went to the Field Museum in Chicago. My parents took me there and I was blown away with a display of “Future”gagets! Now this was a long time ago, and much of what I saw was unheard of in that day and age! I saw a video phone that blew me away. Now such an admission probably dates me because I know that a videophone is no big deal in this day of Skype and smart phones and other communication tools. But to a seven year old, that video phone was straight off of an episode of the Jetsons. (Sadly, a reference that dates me as well) Anyway, I thought that we’d be flying around in our cars by now and enjoying other futuristic creature comforts.

So far, I am not seeing too much that is overwhelming me as more impressive in this new year than last! And while I am disappointed in where we are in technology and culture, what I am most disappointed with....is myself. I thought I would be further along. I thought I’d be much different. In better shape physically, A more loving husband, A more patient father, A more balanced life. A bettter grasp of God’s Word! At a deeper level spiritually, so there is this deep sense of disappointment.

As I reflect on my progress, or lack thereof, in this new year (physical, spiritual, etc...) I am reminded of a song by the CCM group Caedmon's Call. The song is titled, "THANKFUL"

It's a simple reminder that God's grace is what brings us along. Instead of trying harder and mustering up will power to be better, I need to surrender to Christ and allow His life in me to make the changes that He desires.

By the way, here are the lyrics to Thankful!

You know I ran across an old box of letters
While I was bagging up some clothes for Goodwill
But you Know I had to laugh at the same old struggles
That plagued me then are plaguing me still
I know the road is long from the ground to glory
But a boy can hope he's getting some place
But you see, I'm running from the very clothes I'm wearing
And dressed like this I'm fit for the chase

'Cause no, there is none righteous
Not one who understands
There is none who seek God
No not one, I said no not one

So I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause we're all stillborn and dead in our transgressions
We're shackled up to the sin we hold so dear
So what part can I play in the work of redemption
I can't refuse, I cannot add a thing

'Cause I am just like Lazarus and I can hear your voice
I stand and rub my eyes and walk to You
Because I have no choice

I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own
I'm so thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause by grace I have been saved
Through faith that's not my own
It is a gift of God and not by works
Lest anyone should boast

What's in a Name?

J. Hampton Keathley talks about the significance of the names of God in a great article for Bible.org

From that article, Keathley asserts that, "The great purpose of man, especially the believer in Christ, is to glorify God. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Essential to our ability to glorify God is the knowledge of God and knowing Him personally in view of that knowledge."

So you might ask...is God "knowable". Throughout Scripture, God is revealing Himself to mankind. Sharing His personality, His nature, His character, His plans, His purposes...and His names!

The Lord Jesus said in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” The many names in Scripture constitute additional revelation of God’s character, His works, and His relationship to us based on His character and works. The names which God chose for Himself and which are ascribed to Him in the Word of God are additional revelations of the who and what of God that we may know and relate to God.

Note David’s declarations about God’s name and word in Psalm 138:1-2. God’s name declares much about His person, but it is God’s Word that reveals God and His name.

We know what God is like, not only by His perfections and works, but also by His names. They tell us many things about God’s care and concern for his own.

The Name of God in General

There are a number of instances where no name of God is employed, but where simply the term “name” in reference to God is used as the point of focus:

(1) Abraham called on the name of the Lord (Gen. 12:8; 13:4).

(2) The Lord proclaimed His own name before Moses (Ex. 33:19; 34:5).

(3) Israel was warned against profaning the name of the Lord (Lev. 13:21; 22:2, 32).

(4) The name of the Lord was not to be taken in vain (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11).

(5) The priests of Israel were to minister in the name of the Lord (Deut. 18:5; 21:5).

(6) The name of God is called “wonderful” in Judges 13:18.

(7) To call on the name of the Lord was to worship Him as God (Gen. 21:33; 26:25).

(8) Salvation is through His name (John 1:12).

(9) Believers are to gather in His name (Matt. 18:20).

(10) Prayer is to be made in His name (John 14:13-14).

(11) The servant of the Lord who bears the name of Christ will be hated (Matt. 10:22).

(12) The book of Acts makes frequent mention of worship, service, and suffering in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:18; 5:28, 41; 10:43; 19:17).

(13) It is at the name of Jesus that every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).

Early in Scripture, God revealed much about Himself through His name. In Genesis, we find the name "El Shaddai" The timing of this revealed name was impeccable! Abram and Sarah were promised a son, but were far beyond the child bearing years in life... A child would require a supernatural miracle... and so God reveals Himself as THE ALMIGHTY!

A.W. Pink, in Gleanings in Genesis says, "The revelation which God here made of Himself was well suited to the occasion. This was the first time that He revealed Himself as "the Almighty." None but One who possessed all power could meet Abram’s need at this time. Ninety and nine years of age, his body dead; Sarah barren and long past the age of child-bearing - how could they have hope to have a son? But with God all things are possible. And why? Because He is El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One."

THE NAMES OF GOD

The Name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous run into it and are safe."

Proverbs 18:10

Yesterday in our small group, we were studying Psalm 135. The Biblical writer exclaims, "Praise the name of the Lord". I asked our group a very simple question... when you pray, how do you begin? Some said, "Dear God" others "Our Heavenly Father" some just began by saying, "Dear Jesus".

I challenged our group and I challenge you to think about how you address the Lord. Maybe in times of confusion, you might address him as the Wonderful Counselor who can give you insight, wisdom, and direction. Names are significant indicators of a relationship! On a first-time encounter, I am liable to be formal with someone, calling them Mr. or Mrs. so and so.... Upon building a relationship (or even by their permission) I begin to call them by their first name.

With some relationships I have have, I use nicknames or pet names. These terms of endearment show a level of closeness in the relationship. They convey love, admiration, and trust.

Our names are precious to us....they reveal who we are. They are a personal connection, a unique part of us. Names in Biblical times were very important, they revealed a person's character. As we read through Scripture we can see the importance of names, therefore, I think it should be a priority in our lives to learn the Names of God, and call upon Him by these unique and varied names. He has been given many Names and each reveals Him in a different way. God's Names represent His attributes, His nature. I think it is important that we know God by His many Names. I hope that over the next several days that you are encouraged and uplifted as you learn about these Names of God. Take time to worship Him daily by calling upon Him using His various Names... to do so will be an awesome experience in knowing God.

HEAVY METAL, HEAVY THOUGHTS

So a few weeks ago, my neighbor approached me and asked, "hey, are pastors like you ALLOWED to go to rock concerts?" I chuckled and said yes. He said "good, because me and you are going on a road trip! I bought tickets for us to see a rock concert in Nashville."

I was fired up...this was going to be out of the normal routine for me as an Associate Pastor, it’s been a really long time since I’ve been to a concert. And besides that, I really like this neighbor! He’s a great guy and we’ve been building a friendship! He is a believer, but young in his faith. This trip was a big deal to him and I knew that coming and going, we'd have over five hours in the car together for quality conversations about faith and life and whatever else, so I said sure...before I asked who we were going to see.

It turns out that Metallica was on the docket for that night! At that point, I was hesitant to say the least. Don’t get me wrong, I love most all kinds of music and even listened to Metallica “back in the day”...but the “day” was a long time ago and in a galaxy far, far away from my life now!

I knew that it would be a rough and rowdy environment. I knew that I would see, hear, and smell things that were not in line with my faith walk. I also knew that it would be loud! Very loud! (well, I thought I knew that, BUT HAD NO IDEA WHAT LOUD REALLY MEANT!) But what I didn’t know was how deeply impacted I would be from the event, and on so many different levels.

Here are a few casual observations from Monday night's Metallica concert (some are a little tongue in cheek...but all seasoned with truth)

1) Theological take-away...I’m not saying that I’ve become a Calvinist just because of a Metallica concert, but I am convinced that TOTAL DEPRAVITY IS REAL (there are pretty freaky people in this world and most of them were all huddled up in the Sommet Center in Nashville last Monday night) More about this one later... But for now, suffice it to say that I was pretty shocked and amazed by some of the tattoos, piercings, mohawks, make up, and behavior that I saw... All of that leads to #2

2) Curiosity take-away...WHERE DO THESE PEOPLE WORK? AND LIVE? AND DO THEY COME OUT DURING THE DAYTIME?

3) The "People will overstate the obvious" take-away... "I BET THIS WILL PROBABLY BE PRETTY LOUD", I overheard that from a mom who brought her young teens. She said it just before the opening act came on...

A) There are 10 STACKS OF 17 SPEAKERS EACH HANGING AT EYE LEVEL and a wall of speakers on the stage and

B) ITS A METALLICA concert! duh...

4) Reality check take-away... Me and the balding guy in the polo shirt and khaki dockers behind me are probably too old for Metallica concerts!

5) Parental instinct take-away... At some point in our lives, we shift into parent mode and I am so there because I kept hearing myself say, "someone's gonna get hurt in that mosh pit."

6) Application take-away...I’m thinking of locking my kids up and never letting them out of my sight! :-) Mark Twain was right!!!!! "When a child turns 12 you should put him in a barrel, nail the lid down and feed him through a knot hole. When he turns 16, plug the hole!"

Now to the real lessons:

1) People are starving for a sense of community! The fan base for this band is intensely loyal and cemented together by a common love for the band's music. The culture of the concert was electric and fans were amped up with a common anticipation! I watched 20,000 people, with voices and arms raised, join in a collective effort of connecting...and for those two hours, there was a deep, unbreakable bond. They were family, the Metallica family. In fact, lead singer, James Hetfield dedicated a song to the fans and said, “I know that many of you have been through hard times and you made it through with friends, with family, and (screamed) WITH METALLICA! At those words, the family roared! The room was filled with people in black Metallica t-shirts (some of which were from concert tours of 20 years ago) and the lines were long to buy new t-shirts...for thirty-two bucks, I might add! People want to belong! It’s a need that is implanted into the human heart by God!

2) We could learn some things about worship from Metallica fans! There was a tremendous anticipation...people wanted to be there and were excited about what was coming. (often lacking in our churches) There was great participation - singing, waving arms, fists pumped into the air in unison, shouting and more. (I have seen shouting and fists pumping in churches, but it was usually in a business meeting and not in a spirit of worship) There was a strong sense of unity around a higher purpose. People giving high fives to others they didn’t know, simply because a song they loved was starting. (worship has become such an individual search for “what’s in it for me” and not an emphasis on a higher purpose that serves as a unifying factor)

3) People ARE depraved but are created with a need to worship God...and everyone will worship something! Deep in the heart of every person is a need to worship Him...most often, that worship is misguided and placed upon some other object. During one song (interestingly titled “Sad, But True” ) My eyes welled up with tears as I looked out over a sea of lostness. I saw so many people putting their hearts and souls into that concert. Whether trying to escape pain or seek pleasure or just get lost in the music, they offered up empty acts of worship venerating the band they love. Many sang or danced and some turned to drugs and alcohol.

Ultimately, I would sum up that part of the concert by saying:

great worship...terrible god!

4) I am insulated! My friends are Christians, they go to church with me, they believe like me... I need to get out more...and so do you! I’m not proposing that you run out and start following the concert tour series or go clubbing and some local night spot...but I am saying open your eyes to those that are around you and pray for opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Now that the concert has come and gone, it really has evoked an amazing mixed bag of emotions for me. I really enjoyed the time with my friend, I enjoyed our conversations and I really enjoyed the skillful guitar and drum playing of the band. The music was good... LOUD, but good! In the next several days, I imagine that the ringing in my ears will stop, but I hope that the lessons learned will linger!

Rock on! ~Scott

REAL HOPE

Earlier this year, my pastor friend, Ryan Whitley, posted an article about Hope. The article came on the heels of an ABC interview with Actor, Patrick Swayze. News reports that Swayze died yesterday, so I am reposting that article.

Patrick Swayze spent the last year battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The actor disclosed his personal battle during an ABC News 20/20 Barbara Walter’s Special last Wednesday.

I admired his moxie. The interview was raw, emotional and real. Swayze is a dying man, and he knows it. Yet there was one thing missing – at least in what I viewed.

I never heard any words of hope.

If Swayze ever expressed his faith in God, I never heard it. Perhaps he did earlier, when I was not watching. But in the 30 minutes I watched it I never heard a word of trust in the Lord.

Later that evening Bill O’Reilly on Fox News devoted a segment of his news broadcast to the 20/20 interview of Swayze. Ironically, he asked his guest, Dr. Anna Paulick, Medical Oncologist of the NYU Cancer Institute, how she offered hope to her terminal cancer patients. The doctor’s response was deficient.

Dr. Paulick tries to remind her patients to take hope in some quality of life and in the research that will some day find a cure. Make note: hope in quality of life and research. That is not hope. That is uncertainty.

For Barbara Walters, Patrick Swayze, Bill O’Reilly, Anna Paulick and anyone else searching, true hope lasting hope is found only in Jesus Christ.

What is hope?

Hope is an essential and fundamental element to the Christian faith.

The FOUNDATION of hope is found in the DEATH of Jesus Christ.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32-33

The SECURITY of hope is found in the SOVEREIGNTY of God.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Romans 8:35-39

Hope is SECURED in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

1 Peter 1:3

Hope is FROM God.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

Hope is a GIFT of God’s grace.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Hope is PEACE with God.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1

Hope is ACCESS to God.

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand…

Romans 5:2a

Hope is the GLORY of God.

and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:2b

Hope is the LOVE of God.

3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

Hope is found in the WORD of God

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

Someone once said, “You can spend a lifetime without sex and go almost 75 days without food, and ten days without water and almost six minutes without oxygen; but it is impossible to live without hope.”

Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, we have hope.

When Ball Becomes Baal

By Jim Elliff

It's rare to see kids playing sports in the neighborhood anymore. We're now organized and "professionalized"—including uniforms, state-of-the-art facilities, endless trips to the field, competitive coaches, equally competitive parents, and the after-season tournaments designed to give parents "bleacher bottom." In addition, you've got to pay to play—and when you've paid that much, you'll be sure to play.

It is also fun, and it can be instructive. I love to watch my kids play sports. In fact, they need to play—some. But, it's not so easy as handing over seventy bucks and saying, "Sign up Johnny and Susie this year." Making that decision means that you may be out four to five times each week during the season. Soon sports becomes all about calendarization and control of your life—especially if you have more than one kid. Perhaps nothing outside of a change in your job has so much potential to turn the family schedule upside down.

"This man understands," you say.

Now comes the part you won't like: "Behold, I say unto you, you have made sports the household god." Too strong? OK, not all of you. But the deification of sports is happening to many.

How does ball become Baal? Answer: When it controls you, and you give it devoted worship. It is around your god that you order your life—and you can almost never say "no" to it.

Like "athlete's foot" on the hygienically-challenged teenager, sports has taken over more and more of the life of believers. Almost overnight we have awakened to the sad fact that, in many communities, sports has even usurped the hours believers meet on the Lord's Day. All too often members are saying to church leaders, "We'll be gone next Sunday because of the soccer tournament." In turn, leaders are supposed to acquiesce humbly. After all, we can't afford to appear "legalistic;" everyone knows that the greatest crime a church can commit is to demand something of someone.

You'll hear, "But the team needs all the players. We can't let the team down." It never occurs to them that the church Body is being deprived of a necessary body part, or that God is marginalized and disobeyed. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, states God in Hebrews 10:25.

Devotion is the operative word. When the team says, "We need you," we sacrifice to do it. But when it crosses the time allotted to spiritual edification and worship, the Ruler of the universe is often sent to the bench. In the process, we teach our children that devotion to sports is more important than both devotion to God and loyalty to our spiritual family. Have you considered that you may be teaching your kids to worship sports?

Here are some ways to put sports in the proper place:

First, decide beforehand that there will be no contest between the church's essential activities designed for your family's spiritual growth and what the team plans for your lives. If you will talk this over ahead of time with your child and then the coach, there will be no confusion. Through the years I've found that many coaches respect that decision. But, it must be a prior decision, not one made on a case by case basis. When sports conflicts with Sunday worship or youth camp or a special spiritual activity, the decision has already been made.

Secondly, determine that your children cannot play every sport. There is a sanctity to the home life that must be protected. You need quiet evenings at home. You need meals together. Just let your children know that you are excited about sports, but there are limits. You then determine what those limits are. For us, we attempt to have only one sport per year for each child.

Finally, think about some creative choices. One of my sons played basketball, but the season was interminably long. I was also traveling. So, I would be gone speaking over the weekend, then, when I was home, I was out two or more nights sitting on the sidelines watching my son practice. It was not really "time together." This wasn't going to work.

The solution came to me after prayer. I asked him if he would be willing to learn golf in the place of basketball. We could play together, along with his brother, and we could do it whenever we wanted. We could enjoy this for the rest of our lives. I've paid some extra money, but I've bought back some time with my sons and some good exercise for me also. It's a bargain.

God Himself uses sports language in the New Testament. He's not against it, unless it steals the devotion belonging to Him. All other gods have to go!

Copyright © 2004 Jim ElliffPermission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright. Other uses require written permission. Write for additional materials.www.BulletinInserts.org

EMBRACING
ACTS 1:8


Leading a church is challenging! The task of guiding a volunteer-intensive organization is daunting. Success almost seems to be a moving target in ministry... What is the measure? Nickles and noses? Buildings, bodies, and budgets? Should we focus on numeric growth, or depth, or the scope of our reach as a standard metric? Is it better just because it is bigger...or busier? Should or emphasis be on reaching those "outside" the church or do we concentrate on building up those already "on board"?

All of these thoughts swirled around our leadership team as we sat down to pray through how to best move forward. How do you mobilize a 170-year-old church to be on Mission? Well, there is no hard and fast formula, but here's what God impressed upon us to do.

1) First, we revisited the mission of the church! The short answer... Love God, Love People!

We studied the New Testament and determined that the church's emphasis should be upon worshiping God, making disciples, and becoming a redemptive community! The early church enjoyed worship, fellowship, prayer, and the Word as vital dynamics. Out of their relationship with God and with one another, they became a force in their world!

In fact, the New Testament has a lot more to say about the kind of community the church ought to be before the world than it has to say about its mission to the world. However, Jesus made it abundantly plain that the reason he wanted his people to develop true community was "so that the world may believe" (John 17:21).

This is his ultimate goal. There is no doubt that it is when the church most clearly lives out the gospel in the relationship of its members, it becomes the most powerful force for attracting non-members. It was so in the early church in Jerusalem.

Take, for example, the following passages in Acts:

" They all joined together constantly in prayer..." (1:14).

" ...they were all together in one place" (2:1).

" Every day they continued to meet together...They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people" (2:46, 47).

" ...they raised their voices together in prayer to God" (4:24).

"All the believers were one in heart and mind" (4:32).

" And all the believers used to meet together..." (5:12).

It is no wonder that "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).

2) We looked to see where life change was happening. Every year for the past several years, a limited number of people were engaged in short-term missions overseas. In particular, a medical mission team to Honduras had become a major emphasis for our missions efforts. This team came back telling stories of salvation and ministry. They were so excited, yet no one around them had context to absorb these stories, so excitement slowly waned.

3) We challenged EVERYONE in the church to get involved in local missions. We knew that the more people were engaged in serving, the more they would experience the same things our First Baptist Church Olive Branch began embracing Acts 1:8 with a 3 year ramp up! Here's what that looks liked:

HERE -2009, FBCOB will emphasis 100% local missions participation by the membership. Doctors reaching doctors, coaches reaching coaches, teachers, housewives, students all reaching their peers. We don't ignore National and International missions...but we emphasize opportunities here! Resources (people & dollars) are allocated right HERE in Olive Branch and DeSoto County.

THERE - 2010, FBCOB will emphasize 100% missions participation with 50% of our congregation serving somewhere outside our local area. Through strategic ministry partnerships with church planters in North America, we will reach out, beyond our own "Jerusalem".

EVERYWHERE - 2011, FBCOB will emphasize 100% missions participation with 25% of our congregation serving overseas! WOW, What A Goal!!! That's roughly 400 people serving internationally in 2011!

What would it look like?

Last Spring, I was asked a question by a friend who is also a leader in our church. His question was simple, but quite profound...here it is, "What would it look like if we put together a mission trip to Olive Branch (our hometown)"?

I joked and said, "WHAT, would we drive to the city limit sign and turn around"? His reply was emphatic and focused... There are so many needs in our community that we need to target energy & resources right here at home... we need to view our own community through a missionary lens.

Now some might hear a question like that and think...there's someone who doesn't have a heart for the nations. There is someone so insulated or isolated that they cannot see the needs of the world. Perhaps you judge my friend and say he is clouded by an "America first" mentality, or prejudiced against other nationalities, or both.

I can say without question, he is neither! He asked this question during a season where he was helping to raise support for an international mission project that involved sending 40 of our members overseas, including his wife! His heart for engaging the nations was never in question. Yet his obvious passion for our "Jerusalem" was shining through.

The question grew in my mind...My friend planted a seed that quickly germinated and sprouted other questions.

Questions like:

1) How in the world can we reach 160,000 + people in a week?
It will take longer than that!

2) How in the world can one mission team make a difference in our community?
It will take more people than that!

3) Where do we start?
It will take people from all walks of life using their skills and experiences to reach into all of the streams of culture in our community!

The idea was born... One Church, One Year, One Commission - OBey '09

• We will trust God's promises to bless obedience!
• We will own our portion of the Great Commission
• We will concentrate on Olive Branch and DeSoto County for one year
  (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2009)
• We will challenge every member of our church & track participation
  (100% local mission participation)
• We will look at various streams of culture as outlets for engaging our community.
  (Healthcare, government, education, sports, arts, neighborhoods, community events, etc...)

For the next several weeks, I will share the plans for OBey '09. Ultimately, we are challenging our church to obediently fulfill the Great Commission. To view their world through Missionary Eyes.

MISSIONARY EYES

Lord, give me missionary eyes To see the lost and dying,
To see their pain and crying.
Lord, give me missionary eyes.

Lord, give me missionary hands
To selflessly serve in any way I can.
Knowing that my reward will be
eternity spent next to Thee.
Lord, give me missionary hands.

Lord, give me missionary feet
to take your precious gospel down the street
to those who need to hear today,
to those who need to know the Way.
Lord, give me missionary feet.

Lord, give me missionary zeal
for there's a dying world that needs
to feel that someone cares about their soul,
Loosen my tongue, Lord, make me bold.
Lord give me missionary zeal.

Lord, give me missionary eyes
to see the lost and dying,
To see their pain and crying.
Lord, give me missionary eyes

~Author Wayne Talley ~

No Title Necessary

THESE THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED

A pastor friend helped me process the state of affairs in our nation with the following list of things that haven't changed:

1. God is still seated on His throne.
2. Man is still unable to save himself.
3. Jesus Christ is still the only way to heaven.
4. The Holy Spirit is still calling men and women to repent.
5. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will still be saved.
6. The Bible is still the sole authority for life.
7. God will still inhabit the praise of His people.
8. The church of Jesus Christ is still in business.
9. There is still room for others in the family of God.
10. The heavens still continue to declare God’s glory.
11. The joy of the Lord is still my strength.
12. The fear of the Lord is still the beginning of knowledge.
13. The peace of God will still transcend all understanding.
14. The world is still passing away along with its desires.
15. The fool will still say in his heart, “There is not God.”
16. The righteous will still live by faith.
17. The cross is still foolishness to those who are perishing.
18. The cross is still the power of God to those who are being saved.
19. The Kingdom of God is still advancing forward.
20. The return of Jesus Christ is still forthcoming.

THE GREATEST CHANGE NEEDED IS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE TO PRAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

In the midst of all of the political fireworks and rhetoric, it was hard to discern exactly how to pray. I watched friends lob cyber grenades at one another through Facebook status updates...I listened to Christian friends cry that the sky was falling and that all hope was lost...Ultimately, it boiled down to praying that God's will and purpose would be done and that His name would be glorified. Our church held a prayer vigil lasting throughout the time of open polls. As I knelt to pray last night It also was a time of deep introspection. Looking within in repentance and contrition. Asking for forgiveness and grace to move forward. I also asked the Lord to forgive us for not being showing such great concern over the past several years. It seems that the "crisis" of a critical election jarred the people of God to pray... Of all that comes from a presidential election, one wonderful by-product has been a call to prayer.

This morning as I prayed for our president to be and prayed for our nation, I was reminded of the sovereignty of God and of our need to be salt and light wherever we go!

Al Mohler has written a thoughful perspective of the election...I offer it here. Blessings to all of you

America Has Chosen A President

Written By Dr. Al Mohler

The election of Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States came as a bang, not a whimper. The tremors had been perceptible for days, maybe even weeks. On Tuesday, America experienced nothing less than a political and cultural earthquake.

The margin of victory for the Democratic ticket was clear. Americans voted in record numbers and with tangible enthusiasm. By the end of the day, it was clear that Barack Obama would be elected with a majority of the popular vote and a near landslide in the Electoral College. When President-Elect Obama greeted the throngs of his supporters in Chicago's Grant Park, he basked in the glory of electoral energy.

For many of us, the end of the night brought disappointment. In this case, the disappointment is compounded by the sense that the issues that did not allow us to support Sen. Obama are matters of life and death -- not just political issues of heated debate. Furthermore, the margin of victory and sense of a shift in the political landscape point to greater disappointments ahead. We all knew that so much was at stake.

For others, the night was magical and momentous. Young and old cried tears of amazement and victory as America elected its first African-American President -- and elected him overwhelmingly. Just forty years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, an African-American stood to claim victory as President-Elect of the nation. As Sen. Obama assured the crowd in Chicago and the watching nation, "We will get there. We will get there." No one hearing those words could fail to hear the refrain of plaintive words spoken in Memphis four decades ago. President-Elect Obama would stand upon the mountaintop that Dr. King had foreseen.

That victory is a hallmark moment in history for all Americans -- not just for those who voted for Sen. Obama. As a nation, we will never think of ourselves the same way again. Americans rich and poor, black and white, old and young, will look to an African-American man and know him as President of the United States. The President. The only President. The elected President. Our President.

Every American should be moved by the sight of young African-Americans who -- for the first time -- now believe that they have a purchase in American democracy. Old men and old women, grandsons and granddaughters of slaves and slaveholders, will look to an African-American as President.

Regardless of politics, could anyone remain unmoved by the sight of Jesse Jackson crying alone amidst the crowd in Chicago? This dimension of Election Day transcends politics and touches the heart of the American people.

Yet, the issues and the politics remain. Given the scale of the Democratic victory, the political landscape will be completely reshaped. The fight for the dignity and sanctity of unborn human beings has been set back by a great loss, and by the election of a President who has announced his intention to sign the Freedom of Choice Act into law. The struggle to protect marriage against its destruction by redefinition is now complicated by the election of a President who has declared his aim to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. On issue after issue, we face a longer, harder, and more protracted struggle than ever before.

Still, we must press on as advocates for the unborn, for the elderly, for the infirm, and for the vulnerable. We must redouble our efforts to defend marriage and the integrity of the family. We must be vigilant to protect religious liberty and the freedom of the pulpit. We face awesome battles ahead.

At the same time, we must be honest and recognize that the political maps are being redrawn before our eyes. Will the Republican Party decide that conservative Christians are just too troublesome for the party and see the pro-life movement as a liability? There is the real danger that the Republicans, stung by this defeat, will adopt a libertarian approach to divisive moral issues and show conservative Christians the door.

Others will declare these struggles over, arguing that the election of Sen. Obama means that Americans in general -- and many younger Evangelicals in particular -- are ready to "move on" to other issues. This is no time for surrender or the abandonment of our core principles. We face a much harder struggle ahead, but we have no right to abandon the struggle.
We should look for opportunities to work with the new President and his administration where we can. We must hope that he will lead and govern as the bridge-builder he claimed to be in his campaign. We must confront and oppose the Obama administration where conscience demands, but work together where conscience allows.

Evangelical Christians face another challenge with the election of Sen. Obama, and a failure to rise to this challenge will bring disrepute upon the Gospel, as well as upon ourselves. There must be absolutely no denial of the legitimacy of President-Elect Obama's election and no failure to accord this new President the respect and honor due to anyone elected to that high office. Failure in this responsibility is disobedience to a clear biblical command.
Beyond this, we must commit ourselves to pray for this new President, for his wife and family, for his administration, and for the nation. We are commanded to pray for rulers, and this new President faces challenges that are not only daunting but potentially disastrous. May God grant him wisdom. He and his family will face new challenges and the pressures of this office. May God protect them, give them joy in their family life, and hold them close together.
We must pray that God will protect this nation even as the new President settles into his role as Commander in Chief, and that God will grant peace as he leads the nation through times of trial and international conflict and tension.

We must pray that God would change President-Elect Obama's mind and heart on issues of our crucial concern. May God change his heart and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn, to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of issues in a new light. We must pray this from this day until the day he leaves office. God is sovereign, after all.

Without doubt, we face hard days ahead. Realistically, we must expect to be frustrated and disappointed. We may find ourselves to be defeated and discouraged. We must keep ever in mind that it is God who raises up nations and pulls them down, and who judges both nations and rulers. We must not act or think as unbelievers, or as those who do not trust God.
America has chosen a President. President-Elect Barack Obama is that choice, and he faces a breathtaking array of challenges and choices in days ahead. This is the time for Christians to begin praying in earnest for our new President. There is no time to lose.