Cheating

photo credit: Legozilla via photopin cc

I bought Andy Stanley's "Choosing to Cheat: Who Wins When Family and Work Collide?" on the recommendation from my friend Russ. With work, ministry and family all getting busier, I felt I needed to address how to separate and view each section of my life.

It is a short book and the premise is basic - choose to cheat work and not family. There are many stories from Andy's life and those that he ministers to that he shares to punctuate this point. What I appreciate the most is the example Stanley takes from Daniel on how he dealt with making a choice to do the right thing.

"But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods." Daniel 1: 8

Stanley does not advocate cutting corners at work or anything like that. But with the demands of the marketplace these days, most people are expected to work overtime, weekends and go on trips that usually take them away from family. But taking cues from Daniel, Stanley encourages those who are faced with choosing between work and family to ask work to put family first.

Each person is in a different scenario, but the basic framework is 1) Make up your mind that you want to prioritize family 2) Develop a plan 3) Deliver the plan diplomatically. Of the third point, Daniel did 3 things:

1. He asked for permission to change
2. He listened to his supervisor's objections
3. He proposed a test taking account of his supervisor's objections

So for those who want to protect family from the demands of work, you can:

1. Address the issue directly with supervisor
2. Ask, don't demand
3. Offer alternatives

Ask for a trial and don't give up. Maybe the first alternative is not accepted, but it may mean another alternative might the right one. I recommend reading the book if you need help on making your mind (preference vs. conviction) to cheat work instead of family. It is a helpful resource to those who struggle with the boundaries between work, ministry (or any other category) and family. 

As Certain as Death

"...and had revealed to him that he would not die until..."

I like certainty.  I can handle a bit of randomness and spontaneity, but in general, I function just fine when things are certain.  However, when it comes to following Jesus, faith is required in daily living and a lot of time, it means there will be a lot of uncertainty.  I guess that is why this verse in Luke 2 stands out to me.  Would it be cool to be Simeon receiving a clear truth that will come to pass since everyone dies?

Spielbrick Films via photopin cc

Thinking back and re-reading the passage in context, I'm not too sure it was entirely cool. God is telling Simeon that he won't die until he sees the Promised One out of a prophecy from hundreds of years ago. Everyone in the culture is looking forward to this One who will fulfill the prophecy. It sounds much like stuff stories are made out of, like our present day Harry Potter, The Matrix or Star Wars. How hard would it have been to wait on this guy to show up?

The nature of knowing God's will and praying/waiting for it to happen is complicated and different for each person. It may require extreme patience or impossible things to happen before the prayer is answered. But I think the outcome is the same if we are faithful to God's process.  Simeon got to see Jesus in his lifetime and I'm sure what God is bringing to pass in your life will be true as well.

Questions that we wrestled through at our small group tonight:  What has God told you that He will totally come through on? Are you finding it hard to believing Him to bring it to pass? 

I Have a $25 Monthly Allowance

... and I'm 34 years old.

I started to have an allowance when I was in Grade 6 (I think) when my parents would give me a dollar a week. It was amazing- a whole world of 10 cent candies was opened up to me.

Life with no budget... you have no idea how things are going financially. Picture by kenteegardin

But now that I am in my thirties, I have a monthly allowance all over again and I couldn't be more happier and content. Why?

1. It means I budget. I didn't always budget - as long as my expenses didn't exceed my income, I was happy. But living without a budget, especially when married and have children, wasn't practical and does not lead to any savings. 
2. It is a guilt-free set amount for my use only.  When we didn't have a personal category in our budget, every line item was shared with the family (ex/ groceries, clothing, eating out budget, etc). This resulted in healthy checks of how my spending impacted the rest of the family.  However, it made me feel guilty when I wanted to buy something just for myself that was more of a luxury instead of a need. Now, there is no such guilt because it is built into the budget. 
3. It helps me practice delayed gratification. In this day and age, advertisers and culture want you to buy things this instant. I have a $25 monthly allowance.  Now, if I want something costing $70, I have to wait 3 months or, if there already, consider if it is worth using 3 months of funds.
4. It helps prioritize my hobbies and interests. With a set amount, I now evaluate whether or not I want to read an e-book (that can take me 3 days to 10 days to finish/enjoy), a video game (months), a board game (years) or buy some comfort food (10 minutes, if that).  

With something that automatically tracks our expense (we use mint.com) it is really easy to track and with the roll over option (results of one months budget carries over to next month) it has been rewarding to do. Keeping a budget actually has been enjoyable.


Do you have a personal allowance and, if so, has it been successful in helping you enjoy being financially responsible?  If not, do you think it will help?

Jesus Changed My Life

How? The best way to describe it would be to list what I would be like if I did not follow Jesus. 

• I probably would be more selfish.  I can honestly say that Jesus changed and continues to change how I view myself and treat others.  If I did not give my life to Jesus, I would only think of me and at the expense of my wife, my daughter, my friends, and, really, everyone I know. 
• I would not be compassionate.  Jesus has caused me to care for people who I do not know in addition to people who I know.  This has led me to be involved in serving the needy in my hometown, to sponsor two children in India through Compassion, to be working with people to help the world to discover Jesus, and to learn more about the needs of the world.
• I would be a bitter man and have an anger management problem.  With following Jesus, I have learned to forgive (meaning I let go of my right to respond with what whoever caused hurt or damage to me).

There are a lot more things that would be different.  For those who know me, if I did not know Jesus, what kind of person do you think I would be right now and why?  

I Do Not Know God

If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is so offensive to God as an idol of the hand.  Knowledge of the Holy, Tozer, pg.8

I have followed Jesus for over 25 years now and I have taken for granted that I know God. But when I read this I am shocked back to the truth that I can not know God completely because he is far, above and beyond like anything on this earth. Anything I use as a reference will be a poor likeness of God.

I do not know God... but I want to.

In fact, I yearn to and it seems that there is a craving in each person to do so as well. They may not label is as wanting to "know God", but it may come out in other forms like craving purpose, meaning and intimacy. "The yearning to know What cannot be known, to comprehend the Incomprehensible, to touch and taste the Unapproachable, arises from the image of God in the nature of man... the soul senses its origin and longs to return to its Source." Tozer, 9.

So how can one know? Is it to read the Bible? Obey it? On its own - no.  We need Jesus. Without Jesus, there is nothing to bridge the gap that separates us from God in the first place - the reason why he is unapproachable in the first place.

But with Jesus we have access to know God. Then we can go on and do what Tozer suggests and instead of asking, "What is God like?" we should be asking "What has God disclosed about Himself that He has declared true?" Specifically, we know him by his attributes.

My plan is:

• Study God's attributes (i.e. read the rest of Tozer's book!)
• Do a word study on God's attributes as I learn about them
• Blog about each attribute
• Identify things I take God for granted for and erroneously applied to Him 

What are some suggestions that have worked to help you know God more by focusing on his attributes?

Photo by kloan

Occupiers, 1% and Proverbs 11

Photo by My Pickz

As I read Proverbs 11 this morning, I was struck how the words strike a chord with current events of today, specifically in the age of Occupiers vs. the 1%.  How much would the world be different if parties on both sides followed and lived out this chapter?

"The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights."
"Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people."
1%: You won't be facing criticism of making your money off the backs of the poor and the oppressed and be accused of using fear to get your way.

"Riches won't help on the day of judgement, but right living can save you from death."
1%: What are you doing with your riches?  Are you using it for right living?  You won't be depending on riches for happiness or fulfillment.
Occupiers: Are you aspiring for the riches the 1% has or are you working like an ant?  You won't be depending on riches for happiness or fulfillment.

"Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers."
Occupiers: Does everyone have a voice or should there be a separation of those who are wise and those who should not be listened to?  Wisdom will shine through in interviews and solutions.
1%: Are you a power hungry CEO or do you have many advisers that you listen to and consult to make great policies and lead well?  By garnering the collective wisdom of a team, you will offset your personal weaknesses.

"Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last."
"Give freely and become more wealthy, be stingy and lose everything."
1%: Who and what are you living for?  Are you leaving a legacy that will help others after you?  The bottom line will no longer just be a personal gain, but a gain for society.
Occupiers: Are you influencing the 1% to live a godly life or are you secretly want to be rich?  Develop a giving attitude early on and you will find it easier to give when you have wealth.

"Trust in your money and down you go!  But the godly flourish like leaves in spring."
All: Are we trusting in money?  Are we thinking that money will solve all our problems?  Are we striving to be more like Jesus?

I am reminded that in writing this that this is just not for two sectors of society - the 1% or the Occupiers, but for all of society - for me.  I believe that if these proverbs are followed, there will be an acceleration of the shrinking gap between rich and poor.   Society as a whole will be caring about the lives of people because they hold onto the sanctity of life.

But it will take more than just living a lifestyle - because it is evident through history that we can not do it with ideals.  This can only happen if we follow Jesus.

There are obvious many more ways to apply these verses - these are just my personal thoughts.  What do you think would the world look like if we applied Proverbs to our lives and followed Jesus' teaching?

Be Like an Ant

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and become wise!  though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.  But you, lazybones how long will you sleep?  When will you wake up?  A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.  Proverbs 6:6-11 (NLT)

Photo by grytr

This was part of my daily reading plan and it struck me how relevant this passage is to today's current reality.  In the midst of economic hard times, political upheaval and revolutions, this lesson struck a cord with me - be like an ant.

Regardless of who is in power or leadership over me (be it a prime minister, a boss, another authority figure or lack of ), I need to be working hard and doing what I need to do to bring food to the table.   And I can't help wonder if these instructions were followed by the masses - would it solve some of the problems that we are collectively facing?

The problems are multi-faceted and more complex to be solved in any one way, but I think an ant work ethic would do away with an entitlement attitude, excess spending on luxurious items, and a proper focus on human life over materialistic things.  More importantly, the church needs to have an ant work ethic in focusing on what Jesus is all about - His mission to bring that one lost sheep back into the pen.  

Think Rightly About God

Photo by jardek

Where do I get my concept of God?

In reading through The Knowledge of the Holy by AW Tozer's first chapter, I am challenged to think about how our concept of God is being shaped.  More specifically, how is my concept of God being shaped?

In my earlier years of following Jesus, I would say the physical local church that I attended fed my concept of God with small doses of the media.  They often competed, but I came out knowing God as a friend and forgiver.  But is that who God really is?

As I have been journeying through life and (hopefully) growing in my knowledge and relationship with God, I am realizing that I usually depend on other people's opinion and teaching to inform me of who God is.  Although this is not a bad idea in itself (after all, that is what pastors do for a living - tell others about who God is and those listening should be better for it), I do need to learn about God on my own.

But why do I need to know God on my own?

"Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow; they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts if they were true." Tozer

My belief in God will influence how I live and represent Him.  In the past, I didn't think much of developing my personal, right thinking of who God is.  I have realized the error in that and trusting God know Him in the right way.

My plan is:

• read the Bible regularly - God has revealed himself in his Word.  I need to read the Bible through once every 2-3 years
• James 1:17 - thank God for every good and perfect gift.  This helps me to acknowledge the truth of God's blessing and takes my relationship with God to the realm of experiencing Him
• take faith steps that rely on God (i.e. I can't do it on my own).  Again, this takes my faith to the experience realm. 

What do you do to help you think and know God rightly?

Psalm 27: Boldness

Recently, my church finished a 41 days of prayer and at the heart of it was this prayer:

Our prayer is to be at the epicenter of an unprecedented move of God in the city marked by glorious conversions and supernatural life transformation. To this end we ask for: faith- to believe it is possible, passion- to care about lost people, and boldness- to play our part.

Although we have finished, it is a prayer that I still pray from time to time and adopted it for other groups of Christians I work with.  While I was spending time in the word today, I came across Psalm 27 which includes, 

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid?  The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?  When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.  Though a mighty  army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid.  Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident."

Even though many us may not have enemies like David, there are spiritual forces at work that do not like  that I am a follower of Jesus Christ.  It is verses like these that give me the boldness to represent Jesus and follow the example he set out in the Bible.  As I trust God for boldness, I am looking forward to what is in store.

Wait patiently for the Lord.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Image courtesy of Official Blackberry Images

The Pursuit of God: Chapter 1- Following Hard after God

We have almost forgotten that God is a Person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can.  It is inherent in personality to be able to know other personalities, but full knowledge of one personality by another cannot be achieved by one encounter.

Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.  

The evil habit of seeking God and effectively prevents us from finding God in full revelation.  In the "and" lies our great woe.  If we omit the "and" we shall soon find God, and in Him we shall find that for which we have all our lives been secretly longing.

There are many quotes in the first chapter of The Pursuit of God that I wrote down to comment on or to guide my first response to this amazing book.  I think I wrote down 7-8 of them.  I think 3 will suffice to help me respond to this first chapter.

I am guilty of complacency.  I have been that person that lived like I only had one encounter with God and thought that was enough.  I have bought the lie that I needed God and...  

I have many "and"s, but at the forefront is convenience.  I think inside of me, I believe that God and convenience will give me the satisfaction my heart is looking for.  But convenience is just the desire in me that leads to complacency - I just do enough to get by and I am content.  But I usually don't realize that I miss the opportunity and the joy that comes from going further to experience God.  My end goal was really convenience and not God.

picture by JPhilipson

I have not grasped what Paul said when he writes, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3

Like a friend taken for granted, I do not cultivate my relationship with my Friend - I only do enough to get by.

So what needs to change?  I need to cast off complacency, not settle for convenience and be intentional in my communion with God (3 C's... that could be a sermon).  That is why my church's Prayer 41 is such a challenge and a great channel to break out of complacency. It is my hope my church's small group can hold me accountable to.

Prayer 41

Our prayer is to be at the epicenter of an unprecedented move of God in the city of Halifax marked by glorious conversions and supernatural life transformation. To this end we ask for: faith- to believe it is possible, passion- to care about lost people, and boldness- to play our part.

What I first made as a casual commitment to prayer is quickly becoming something that is forcing me to be more serious in prayer.  I have always prayed, but praying for one thing over a specific period of time in a community of like-minded people via different avenues of praying that prayer is new.  And I am liking it more and more.

Praying for a one hour period is part of this commitment and as I was praying this morning, I wondered why God "waits" for prayer before acting.  This was evident in the Bible when God waited for Elijah to pray for no rain (James 5:17, 1 Kings 17:1), and then for rain (James 5:18, 1 Kings 19:42-44) even though he declared rain was coming (1 Kings 18:1).  

I wondered because I was praying that there would be "an unprecedented move of God" - why do we have to pray it?  God is capable of doing this on his own.  But I realized that even though God can do so on his own it is for our benefit that we are included in God's work.  By praying, we have a whole lot to gain - faith, passion and boldness.  Why do you think God wants us to pray?

Merry Christmas

Photo courtesy of hellosputnik

Christmas is the best of times and the worst of times for people.  "Best of times" because family and friends get together and traditions are borne and followed.  "Worst of times" because of the memory of lost ones or events that have passed that don't result and family and friends getting together.

But Christmas isn't only about family and friends - it is about acknowledging and remembering that we are not alone in this world and that we are pursued by Love and offered Grace and a Relationship with Jesus Christ.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I admit this is a hard thing to do during this season.  I worry about getting gifts for people and navigating the different things to do and events to attend.  I admit it is a struggle to celebrate why Christmas is recognized and marked as a holiday in the first place - the birth of Christ, but I hope and pray that I will not let the distractions blot that out.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and may it be a time to reflect upon Jesus Christ and why He came.

David's Mighty Men

Wouldn't it be great to have a novel based upon the exploits of the Mighty Men of David?  This probably has been done already, and from my limited experience in book stores, probably written and marketed in the romantic vein.  I'm not talking about that kind of book.

I'm talking about a book more in the epic fantasy vein that follows the reign of David and the development and exploits of him, the Three and the Thirty.  I would buy a well written book or book series based on this.

10 Personal Growth Questions via Perry Noble Answered

In spending time with the Lord today, I decided I would go through Perry Noble's 10 Personal Growth Questions I found via my pastor's Twitter post.

1. Am I reading my Bible for information or transformation? (James 1:22-25) There have been times when I have caught myself reading the Bible just for the information.  I confess, this happens mostly when I prepare for a sermon or a workshop I am doing.  But my small group and the discussions we have force me to be in a place to allow transformation.  They hold me accountable, even if at times indirectly.
2. Am I allowing people or circumstances to steal the joy that Jesus promised to me?  (John 10:10) More recently, this has been true.  I have let people and circumstances get the better of my emotions and my joy that I should have through Jesus.  I have allowed frustration to turn into distrust and cloud my judgment and conduct.  I need to see the best in people and pray that the Spirit enables me to extend grace and forgiveness readily.
3. Is there anything in my life that God is consistently dealing with that I am trying to ignore?  (Ezekiel 14:1-5) There are many answers to this question as I believe being refined is a life time achievement so that there will be constantly things God will bring up in my life to deal with.  One current one is a prideful attitude.  Although it can be said pride relates to all sin, the issue I'm wrestling with is just pure pride.  How do I look?  Do people know I am a somebody?  What can I do to "matter" in the eyes of this world?  I try to ignore it by writing it off as something noble or "for the Lord", but, recently, have been convicted as just plain ol' pride.  
4. Who are the people in my life that God has placed around me for the purpose of me sharing Christ with them and/or inviting them to church?  (II Corinthians 5:16-21) Recently, God has been placing the poor in the downtown core in my life as I interact with them more day to day, week to week.  I have been able to learn a couple of names and I hope to continue the relationship that leads to Christ.  
5. Is there anyone I need to apologize to?  (Ephesians 4:25-27) Not that I know of right now.  This may change before this post ends. <update: yes, there is!  Just found out via email>
6. Is there anyone I need to forgive? (Ephesians 4:32) Not at the moment.  However, my thing has always been can I truly forgive someone who doesn't think they need forgiving?  Jesus paid for the sins of all, but forgiveness is only there if the sinner realizes they need it and the experiences the forgiveness as their heart is transformed by Christ.  Those who reject it, don't experience the forgiveness because they are not forgiven.  I believe this is the same for human relationships.  I still have to wrestle this thought through - can I truly forgive someone who does not recognize that they have wronged me or disagrees that they have wronged me?  There is no one currently in the scenario I described - but I need to wrestle through this thought more to be ready when the scenario becomes a personal reality.
7. Is there a sin I need to confess to others and ask for help? (James 5:16) There has been sins I have already confessed and have asked help from others, but do I have unconfessed sin? 
8. Am I fully utilizing the gifts and abilities that God has blessed me with…or am I simply choosing to waste my life?  (I Peter 4:10) With the current opportunities and responsibilities at church and with work, I believe I am using the gifts and abilities that God has blessed me with. 
9. Do I know more lines from the movies that I love than verse from the Bible that I read? (Psalm 119:11) Considering that I am horrible with my memory of lines or verses, this will be a poor comparison.  However, I can say with confidence I know my Bible more than a movie, even if that movie is based on a book (i.e. Lord of the Rings). 
10. Is there anything going on in my life privately that, if it became public, would cause me and/or the body of Christ to be embarrassed? (I John 1:9, James 5:16) Nothing I can think of.  This doesn't mean I don't have sin (i.e. in regards to what I shared above).  

Didn't realize that these questions can be quite personal.  Now to follow up on action points resulting from these questions.

Things I'm learning from David's life

I have been going through 1 and 2 Samuel lately and today I finished 2 Samuel.  Things I am learning from David:

God is honoured when we honour His choice of leadership
Even though David was chosen to be the next king, David showed respect and dignity to Saul on a continual basis, even when Saul was against God and was trying to take David's life. 

God is honoured when we worship Him from our heart and not based on other people's expectations
David danced with only a linen cloth in front of the Lord in front of all of the people.  He was not hindered by other people's expectations on how he should act, not even when his wife opposed his actions. 

There is always consequences to sin and disobedience to God
Although David was a man after God's own heart, he did sin and the consequences were serious.  From death in his family to pestilence to the whole country, David's action affected others.

2,222 out of 6,838

Recently, I found something out that staggered my mind. 

• There are 6,838 unreached* people groups in the world which represents 2.74 billion people in this world.  
• In one South Asian country alone, there are 2,222 unreached people groups (32% of all unreached people groups) representing 1.1 billion people (40% of all people who are unreached in the world) who don't know the truth about Jesus Christ

Find out more at:

www.joshuaproject.net

*"Unreached" means that the indigenous people do not have enough people or resources to help their own people hear and discover Jesus Christ.

Mobile Jesus

Helping hand by Andrew Dallos

Last night I went out with my church to walk around downtown to pray for, care for, and give sandwiches to those in need or for those who asked us to.  It was an amazing time - here are my thoughts on the night:

• I found it hilarious that people thought we were on a pub crawl because we all wore the same t-shirt that said Deep Water (our church name) on the front and "Ask us how we can pray for you" on the back.  It started up a great conversation.  It was a great way to redeem the we all wear the same t-shirt phenomena.
• Being out there creates opportunities to share Christ.  As we prayed for people, listened to people's stories, they reciprocated by asking questions on why we are doing this.  
• Doing it for one night reminded me that this shouldn't be a once a week thing, but a lifestyle to love and care for people with the love of Christ
• I can't love people without the love of Christ because I know that on my own, it will become a duty and something I may resent to do day in and day out
• The more people, the better!  

Definitely will do it again.  You want to join me?

Sinner

Over the past 3 years I have discovered a rising star (now established writer) in writer Ted Dekker. It started with a free book I received that he co-authored with Bill Bright, the founder of the organization I work for and then, more recently, buying his books outright. His books have great conflict, action and edge of your seat turn of events. He writes in different genres including fantasy, horror, and action/adventure. And at the foundation is good story telling based on relevant themes of today.

Sinner is the latest book I have read, the third book in the Paradise Novel series and a great end to the trilogy. One theme in the book that I appreciated was the theme of tolerance. In the book, it paints a scenario in the future where race and faith relations are, by law, required to be tolerant of each other and if broken, would be considered a hate crime.

Dekker points out that in passing such a law would defeat the definition of tolerance to begin with because followers of Jesus (Christianity), by the basic beliefs it holds, clashes with the popular notion of tolerance (i.e. people who passed the law are not tolerant of Christianity's exclusive clams). Jesus states, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father (God) but by me." Pretty exclusive (or inclusive, depending on how you look at it, but that is for another post).

Tolerance, by definition, is a fair, objective and permissive attitude of other ideas that differ from your own. But when it comes to Jesus and His teachings, there usually is no permissive, fair and objective attitude towards His exclusive claims even though by standing by these claims, Christians usually are tolerant of other views (note, to be tolerant, means that you need to disagree and don't hold to differing beliefs, but you have a fair, objective and permissive attitude towards them). Although fictional, Dekker's characters who follow Jesus find themselves breaking the law by the simple statement of beliefs they adhere to and face the consequences of such a stance could be an accurate of where Western society is going.

Where do you think popular views on tolerance are leading to? Do you think followers of Jesus are tolerant?

Learning a few things about grief

Today is the 2nd anniversary of Abel's passing. Last year, I learned to grieve as a parent who didn't know what to do with reoccurring grief. This year I learned to grieve in the midst of being a father to a second child. There is still a lot to learn.





A few things I pondered this year as I spent time remembering Abel:

1. The quote from Lord of the Rings kept returning to me the past 5 days - "No parent should have to bury their child" - Theoden. Normally, that would be a very sad thought to dwell on and at times it is, but I also know that Abel is heaven and that I will see him some day. As well, I am comforted that he has been spared all the evils and suffering that comes with this life.
2. Today, I spent some moments at his grave and on his grave marker is the inscription James 4:14 which reads, "How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone." I am reminded that life is short and that I have no control what comes next - much like Abel's life. The reminder has given me renewed determination to be wise with my time and not take it for granted.
3. Mischaela, my 4 1/2 month old, is an absolute joy and she is a beautiful gift to us from God. She has not replaced Abel in any way, but has given me more perspective in the grieving process. Although I know God always has given good gifts, she is a great reminder that in the midst of a world that has been messed up by us humans and sin, God brings good still into this world.
   

Church is Not for You

Truth, when heard in clear, biblical context, is beautiful - even when it may be hard to hear. My pastor laid it out to us today - church is not for the saved, the Spirit-filled, the Bible verse memorizer, the ones who know they are going to spend eternity with Jesus in heaven.

No, church is for the lost because "the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." Often times churches are planted, continued, and programed to keep the "flock" happy. As a result, what is bred are self-centered "Christians" who seek out churches who meet their needs. And the church who does that has lost what churches are called to do in the first place - to be seekers and searchers for those who are lost - just like Jesus who sought and found Zacchaeus.

What amazed me was that my pastor then went to challenge those who are not a seeker or a searcher to find another church. I am glad to be part of this community of Christ followers.

Is your church for the lost? Is your church made of seekers and searchers of the lost? Am I/you a seeker and searcher for the lost?