Disposing of Disposable Living

flash cubeWe live in a disposable world. I shave with a disposable razor, we use disposable batteries in our electronics, when our printer runs out of ink, we dispose of the cartridge and replace it with a new one. Out with the old, in with the new.

One of the first disposable items I remember from my childhood was the disposable flash bulbs in our family camera. It was in the shape of a cube and attached to the top of the camera. When you used the flash, the cube rotated a readied a fresh bulb for the next flash. Once you used it four times, you could pop it out, dispose of it, and replace it with a new one.

One of the greatest disposable inventions is the disposable diaper. Thankfully, I began my parenting responsibilities in the disposable age. I can’t imagine rinsing out a soiled diaper and taking it to the wash pile. Now, when Precious makes a boo-boo, you pop off the soiled diaper, dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Viola! Powder fresh!

Unfortunately, the disposable mentality has bled over into areas of our lives where permanence should prevail. If our car no longer pleases us, all we have to do is dispose of it (via trade-in), and replace it with a new one. Never mind the increasing monthly payments. If we get tired of a relationship or it no longer serves our purpose? Too easily we can dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Never mind the messy emotional destruction left behind. If our religion or church no longer makes us happy, all we have to do is dispose of it, and replace it with a new one.

Let me encourage you not to give up when that seems to be easiest thing to do. When you’re test or tried, hang in there. Stay faithful and let God finish the work He started in you. How many times have we given up on something when God was on the verge of showing us His breakthrough? Hang in there, whatever you are tempted to give up, don’t dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Let God finish.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

Why Jesus Is Better Than Krispy Kreme Donuts

We all find ourselves sometimes dissatisfied and disappointed.  The trick is to make sure we do not develop  a terminal case as have some.  You know the type – never happy about anything, and it is always someone or something else’s fault.  These are the people who are writing sentences in the their life story using nothing but the objective voice.

We develop this dissatisfaction when we seek satisfaction in something or someone other than Christ.  We get dissatisfied in a relationship and we break it off to look for another one.  Our church no longer satisfies, so off we go to one that seems to be more appealing.  We our possessions, so we trade them in on one newer and potentially more satisfying ones.  The trouble with this routine is that the new relationship, church, or possession eventually ceases to satisfy and we start the routine all over again.

Jesus told at crowd who followed him looking for food that He is the Bread of Life.  He compared himself to the manna God supplied his people on their journey through the wilderness. (John 6:31-35) It’s hard to imagine the people growing weary of manna.  Numbers 11:8 describes manna as tasting like a pastry cooked in the finest oil.  Sounds like a donut to me.  Imagine getting to eat donuts every day and not only did they NOT harm you, but rather they benefited you.  Who could possibly grow weary of donuts?   When the people complained God sent them quail, so much so that they soon grew sick of quail.  They sought satisfaction from some other source than God’s provision and it turned out noxious.

If you find yourself dissatisfied, you are expecting someone or something else to fill a role in your life only Jesus can fill.  Return your focus to Jesus. Read His Word, pray, serve Him. Find your sense of belonging and purpose in Him.  Look to Him as the source of all that is right and good in your life.  You will NEVER be disappointed or dissatisfied.

Preaching My Own Funeral

Since preparing to make some remarks at the home-going celebration of a dear saint of God last week, one question has stuck with me, “What do I want the preacher to say about me at my funeral?” 

In the chorus to their hit song “A Good Man,” country band Emerson Drive sings this lyric:

I want to be the one when all is said and done who lived a good life, loved a good wife and always helped someone in trouble, on the day they lay me down I want everyone to gather ’round and say, “He was a father, a brother, a neighbor, and a friend… he was a good man.” 

Preaching in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia, Paul had the following to day of King David: 

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption. – Acts 13:36

We can find a plethora of good things with which to occupy our lives. It is a noble intention to be good spouses, parents, teachers, workers, friends, and citizens.  In the end, however, will we be able to say honestly, “I have served the purposes of God for my lifetime”?  Have we lived our lives in a self-serving manner, doing what we want, when we want, and how we want to do it; or have we given our lives to discovering and fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives?

Take some time today to ponder the direction your life is going.  God has set your life on a trajectory of His choosing.  His purpose for our life has both “big picture” elements as well as everyday carpe diem elements.  Ask God to reveal what He wants from you today, and set about serving His purpose.

Football Coaches, Bad Guys, and Grace

Last week, the University of Louisville hired Bobby Petrino to be it’s football coach…for the second time.

Bobby Petrino was previously the coach at Louisville from 2003-2006, before leaving to coach the 2007 Atlanta Falcons and beginning what would become an incredible story of self-destruction.  Thirteen games into the 2007 season, Petrino abruptly resigned as the Falcons’ coach to become coach at the University of Arkansas.  He left without addressing his players, only leaving them a typed note in their lockers at their practice facility on a Tuesday morning.

He coached for 3 seasons at Arkansas before again being caught up in scandal.  He admitted to an affair with a female staffer after taking her for a ride and subsequently wrecking his motorcycle, and was fired after school officials learned he had engaged in other questionable activities while their coach.

On January 9, 2014, Louisville announced Petrino had been hired again to coach their football team.  So…why the blog about him?

One side of me cynically cries “foul” that one with such a nefarious track record could be given this opportunity.  It just doesn’t seem fair that one of the “bad guys” caught a break.  In reality, however, I’ve come to remember that we are ALL “bad guys.”  Romans 3:10 reminds us that there is none righteous.

God’s grace gives all of us bad guys a shot at redemption.  The Petrino hiring serves as a vivid reminder of the grace upon grace that I have received from God.  God gave me a second shot… and a third shot… and a fourth shot…and  a 5000th shot.  I now must learn to extend grace to other bad guys like me.

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared. – Psalm 130:3-4

Shrinking Me

January is the most profitable month for fitness centers and other health related businesses. Many people flock to the gym to pursue their New Year’s resolution to rid themselves of the additions gained during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

Truth be told, though, there needs to be a lot less of me. Not just in weight, but in actions, attitudes, affections. One verse weighing heavily on my heart already this year is a very simple one, yet very convicting:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30

John’s disciples were beginning to feel a little threatened by Jesus’ new ministry that was on the rise. However, John had spent his entire ministry preparing for this time, and reminded his followers that now was the time for all of them to become Jesus’ followers. After all, it wasn’t about John, it was about Jesus.

I am still struggling to remind myself of a similar truth as well: it is not about Jim, it is about Jesus. If I am not careful, I fall into a deep “me” pit. I begin to view my life as if I am the central point.

These attitudes and all other selfish thoughts are as dangerous to the spiritual heart as cholesterol, triglycerides, and trans fats are to the physical heart. They weigh us down with excess spiritual fat and jeopardize our health.

The four most dangerous people in my life: I, me, my, and mine.

The fact remains – we cannot look inward and upward at the same time. How about you? Have you gotten spiritually fat and out shape from overindulgence in selfish pursuits and perspectives?

Resist the urge to be self-seeking, but rather seek nothing less than to please HIM with everything you do.

My New Year’s resolution for this year – MORE JESUS, less Jim. What about you?

Thankful for My Limp

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You would have thought he had experienced enough pain. Because of his deceitful ways, Jacob had infuriated his family and had to run away from home to escape his brother’s wrath. He went to live with a distant relative, fell in love, and planned to marry, only to experience deceit himself when his uncle tricked him into marrying the older, less attractive sister. Finally, he got the wife he wanted, but after fourteen years of living with his uncle, the tension was already at a boiling point and it was time to leave again.

He took his wives and his belongings and decided to head home hoping to make amends with his family. This man who took pleasure in getting his way by deceiving others now bore the soul pain of being deceived. For once in his life, he knew how those he had deceived felt, and finally he was remorseful. Nevertheless, he wondered if his brother would be gracious or vengeful.

The evening before the last leg of his trip home, he sent his family, his possessions, and the peace offering to his brother on ahead, and he stayed back to prepare himself and to reflect. As he slept that night, a stranger awakened him and a wrestling match ensued that lasted the whole night. Jacob held his own, and his sparring partner finally asked to be released. Jacob refused to release him without a blessing. This wrestling match changed Jacob’s life; a change signified by a name change from Jacob, which means “deceiver” to Israel, which means “one who struggled with God.” The rest of the story of course is that Jacob and his descendents finally settled and inhabited Palestine and became the nation of Israel.

However, if we read the story too hastily, we miss a subtle blessing in the story. During the wrestling match, Jacob’s opponent dislocated Jacob’s hip. Genesis 32:31 tells us that Jacob was “limping because of his hip.” He got his blessing, but in the process, he received a permanent reminder of this encounter with God: a gimpy hip. Every step he took, he lived with the memory of this life-changing encounter. I could think of a better souvenir – maybe a tee shirt, mug, or pin, but Jacob had a painful and constant reminder of the struggles he went through, lest he forget that the blessing of God comes at a cost, the cost of humility and sacrifice.

I have a few gimpy joints in my soul too. People have hurt me, circumstances have disappointed me, sins have beset me; but through it all, God has brought me through and given me a blessing while in the struggle. I am learning to see my limp as a reminder of the goodness and grace of God. Yes, I am thankful to walk with Jacob’s limp. It reminds me that I am not what I want to be, but praise God, I am not what I used to be.

Before You Give Up, Read This

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What tempts you to give up?  In whatever desired activity – fitness, sports, reading, relationships, getting your life in order, anything that requires a sustained effort – we all face the occasional temptation to give up.

The same holds true of our Christian life.  Most of us meet the subtle opposition and obstacles of our enemy as he tries to derail our Christian life.

In just 52 days, Nehemiah and his helpers rebuilt from rubble the broken down walls of the once great city Jerusalem. You can read the story in Nehemiah 6.  From his experience, let me offer three challenges to help us face our opposition.

First, don’t be DISTRACTED.  Nehemiah had work to do, and to meet with his enemies, as they offered, would mean he would have to stop working.  Beware of the devil’s attempt to get you busy doing so many good things that you have no time, energy, or resources to do what God specifically wants you to do.  Every good thing is not necessarily God’s thing for you.

Second, don’t be DISCOURAGED.  Nehemiah’s enemies started a nasty rumor about him, intending to get him in trouble with the Persian king.  Nehemiah recognized their attempt to intimidate him and halt his work.

Winston Churchill famously said, “You have enemies?  Good.  That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” 

The Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all who desire to live Godly lives for Jesus will be persecuted.  Nehemiah did not pray that God would deliver him FROM the opposition but that God would strengthen his hands to keep working IN SPITE OF the opposition.  Good advice for us.

Finally, don’t be DECEIVED.  Nehemiah’s hired a local to convince Nehemiah to hide in the temple.  The problem with that was that Nehemiah wasn’t a priest and didn’t belong in the temple. His enemies tried to make him become something he was not.  Don’t allow your enemy to use subtle rationalization try to get you to deviate from who God is making you.

Even after the project, Nehemiah’s enemies didn’t give up.  Our enemy doesn’t give up either.  But then . . . neither should we.

For Those Who Hate to Wait

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waitI am by nature an impatient person.  I hate to wait.  Doesn’t matter if it is a traffic light, check-out line, delivery, or even a date on the calendar; I find waiting to be one of my life’s most difficult tasks.

Yesterday morning while reading in Genesis 7, I came across something I have missed in my previous readings, something that made me stop and think.  There it was in black and white in Genesis 7:10 –

And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

For seven days after Noah, his family, and all the animals boarded the ark they had to sit there on that waiting for God to deliver on a promise.

  • Just like the blind man to whom Jesus restored sight could only see men looking like trees walking about and had to wait a little longer for his full vision to come to him.
  • Just like Mary and Martha had to wait four days for Jesus to come to Bethany while their brother laid in a tomb developing the stench of rigor mortis.
  • Just like Jesus’ disciples had to wait three days after His death to see the fulfillment of the promised resurrection.

Waiting is never easy and seldom fun, but we can rest assured that while we wait God works.

  • Perhaps we wait while God prepares us for the greater work He desires to do in us.
  • Perhaps we wait while God arranges circumstances so that He will receive greater glory.
  • Perhaps we wait while God tests our faith and in that testing strengthens us.
  • Perhaps we will NEVER know why we wait, but if He says wait, then wait we must, and that waiting is good.

So on what promise of God do you wait today?  Don’t get bored, distracted, or discouraged.  Trust God and seek Him all throughout the moments of your wait.  AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME God will deliver the goods.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

Who Are You Trying to Please?

Who are you trying to please? Trying to please people – including ourselves – provides one of life’s greatest frustrations.  Trying to please a group compounds the frustration.  Pleasing others is frustrating because it is impossible to accomplish.  Once you capitulate to someone’s conditions, you find they bar has moved and they desire you to do something further to please them.

We can say the same about trying to please ourselves.  What we think we want usually does not ultimately satisfy.  The truth is that we will never be satisfied with what we want until we are satisfied with what we have.  Self-satisfaction works for a period of time, but ultimately the newness wears off and what we thought was the secret to our satisfaction becomes another in our roster of mundane and unsatisfying.

So what do we do?  Stop seeking to please others and/or ourselves and devote ourselves to pleasing God.  God is easier to please than are others, and pleasing Him yields much greater benefit.  In fact, we find that we are most pleased when we please God.

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. – Galatians 1:10

…try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. – Ephesians 5:10

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him (God). – 2 Corinthians 5:9

Read God’s Word regularly to learn what He desires of you.  Let Scripture be your guide as you seek God and His desire for your life.  As you obey Him by obeying His Word, He will grow increasing pleased with you and you will find great pleasure in Him.  Quit trying to please others and yourself, and please the one who matters most. The road home will be much smoother.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. – Colossians 1:9-10

A Lesson from The Other Father Who Had Two Sons

We are all familiar with Jesus’ parable about the man who had two sons: the younger who wasted his inheritance playing and partying before repenting and returning home, and the older son who childishly pouted over his brother’s coming home party.

You can read about another father with two difficult sons in Matthew 21:28-32.  The gist of the story is that the man told both of his sons to go work in the vineyard.  The first son said NO, but later felt bad about that, and went to work as his father requested.  The second son told his father that he would do it, but never did get around to it.  Jesus asked the crowd around Him which son actually DID what the father requested.  Of course, the answer is the first son who initially refused but finally went.

The immediate context of that parable is the failure of the religious establishment of Jesus’ day to do God’s will and the openness to God’s will of the ones those religious people considered vile and sinful.  An overarching principle, however, emerges that challenges us in our relationship with God.  The greatest value arises not from what we say we will do, what we think we should do, or what we want to do, but from what we actually DO.

So, let me ask you.  Not what are you saying about it or planning to do about it, but what are you actually DOING about your walk with God?  Are you reading you Bible?  Are you praying? Are your serving God? Are you exercising an increasing amount of faith?

What has God told you to do that now is the time to stop thinking about it, praying about it, and considering it, but to start DOING it?  Live intentionally. Start yesterday.