Friday, November 28, 2008

Hope Inspires Endurance!

Do you know who my biggest hero is? Joe Paterno. He's the head football coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions. I'm not a huge Penn State fan, but this guy is amazing. He's been on the coaching staff at Penn State for 59 years -- 16 years as an assistant and 43 years as the head coach. He's won more football games than any other coach in history. He's now 81 years old.

One of things I like about Paterno is that he cares deeply about his players, not just how they perform on the field, but how they perform in life. One player who was recruited by a number of colleges said that all the other coaches promised him a position on the team. Paterno said, "If you play for Penn State, you'll leave a better person."

Several years ago, when Paterno was still in his early seventies, he went through a storm. Over a period of five years, Penn State had four losing seasons. Penn State alumni were calling for his resignation, if not his head on a platter. A website even sprung up called firejoepaterno.com!

If he had stepped down at that time, no one would have blamed him. He could have said, "I've had a good run, but the time has come for me to call it a day," and he would have gone out a hero.

But after those four losing seasons, Paterno didn't step down. He decided to stick around a few more years. Why? He believed he could still do what he was hired to do all those years ago: consistently produce winning teams for the Penn State program. He had hope -- not wishful thinking, but a solid sense of optimism -- that there were still some good years to come.

What eventually happened? He turned things around. In the three seasons before this one, Penn State lost only a total of 9 games, and they went to a bowl game each year. This year Penn State is 11-1 and they're going to the Rose Bowl. The firejoepaterno.com website is still up, and if you go there you'll see that they're trying desperately to justify their existence.

Even during those days that must have been the most difficult of his career, Joe refused to quit. When people said, "Your time is up, Paterno. You're old. You're finished. You should quit while you're ahead," he just kept going. It is his hope -- his optimism -- that fuels his endurance.

Paul said, "...your endurance inspired by hope" (1 Thess. 1:13). If you want to develop endurance, develop hope. Develop an attitude of optimism. This idea -- that God is in control and that he is working all things together for good -- needs to be foundational in your attitude at work.

This idea -- that the best is yet to come -- will carry you through those difficult days that come with any and every job. That's because hope inspires endurance!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Crazy Dreams!

Recently, I came aross the story of Ronald Mallet, a man who lost his father to a smoking related illness 53 years ago. When his father died, his lifelong quest began: to build a time machine that would enable him to travel into the past, see his father again, and warn him to change his lifestyle.

It sounds crazy, I know. If Ronald Mallet was a wild-eyed Emmet Brown type (that was Christopher Lloyd in the Back to the Future trilogy), it would be easy to laugh him off as a nutcase.

But he's nothing like Emmet Brown. He is a tenured theoretical physicist at the University of Connecticut, only the 79th African American to earn a doctorate in physics. Why did he choose physics? Because of his crazy dream: he wanted to find a way to travel through time, because he desperately wanted to see his father once again.

He hid his obsession hidden for decades, knowing that if the secret got out, he would become a laughingstock. So he worked at home each night in solitude, and along the way made some amazing discoveries -- discoveries that the academic community is beginning to pay attention to.

It also illustrates how there are many things that drive us to choose the career we choose -- and if the motive is strong enough, it can drive us to do the seemingly impossible.

I can't imagine devoting my life to something as crazy as time travel. Instead, I've devoted my life (we've devoted our lives) to something that many find crazier -- the foolishness of preaching.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Today at CLC I'm going to be talking about the connection between graditude and generosity. The focus will be on the apostle Paul's words of instruction to the church at Corinth. However, you can go back years earlier and discover the principles being established with the children of Israel.

For example, in the book of Deuteronomy is a lesson to be learned about giving. Verses 1-11 describes the Liturgy of the First Fruits, which was associated with each of the Pilgrim festivals. Even though we don't celebrate the same feasts and festivals that they did, we can follow a similar liturgy today when we give. Here are three reminders about how to give:

1. Make giving a priority. (v. 2)...take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. (v. 10) "...and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O Lord, have given me."

2. Make giving an act of worship.(v. 10) Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.

3. Make giving a celebration of thanksgiving.(v. 11) And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.

We express gratitude by recognizing our debt to God (v. 2); by remembering his faithfulness (v.5-9) and by reaching out to to others (v. 11 — "Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among in the celebreation." NLT).

Friday, November 21, 2008

What God Sees

God sees us according to our potential, not our limitations. Jesus called Peter "a rock" long before Peter did anything to deserve the name. God's objective in our life is that we might be conformed to the image of his Son...to become the righteousness of God in Christ. (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

This puts us on a never-ending quest for self-improvement...a never-ending quest for holiness. Our purpose each day is to make an effort toward spiritual growth, to become more like him. That's why at Christian Life Center we've made spiritual formation one of our core values.

Let's keep in mind that God already sees in us the potential to become what he wants us to be. It is we who have a hard time believing in ourselves, and believing in his ability to bring it to pass.

This anonymous Mexican prayer expresses both humility and faith in God's ability to work in our lives. Let's make it our prayer, too.

I am only a spark, Make me a fire.
I am only a string,Make me a lyre.
I am only a drop,Make me a fountain.
I am only an anthill,Make me a mountain.
I am only a feather,Make me a wing.
I am only a rag,Make me a king.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A Week To Live

What would you do if you knew you had only week to live? Would you go away? Would you go home? Would you do some last minute sinning, or some last minute repenting? Would you be sad? Angry? Hopeful? Afraid? How would you spend those final hours?

Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (John 13:1)

When Jesus had one week to live, he chose to wash his disciples' feet. He did the work of a common slave, ministering to those who were closest to him. He washed their feet (John 13), he comforted them (John 14), he encouraged them (John 15-16), prayed for them (John 17), and then he died for them. He spent the last week of his life fulfilling his purpose; he spent the last week of his life being a servant.

...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

You and me, we have a week to live: this week — and most probably hundreds more. I want to spend this week fulfilling my purpose, doing that which is most important in terms of eternity: serving Christ by serving others.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Control

Life isn't easy. We all know that. We all face challenges big and small, and sometimes things seem to spin out of control. The key word is seem.

No matter how things look for you today, you can find a place of peace in the presence of God.

You can get centered in him, because he is for you, and because he is in control of every situation -- including this situation, today. It's a choice you make. A choice to be honest with your situation, and a choice to trust that God will deliver on his promises.

You can celebrate this day, because this is the day that God has designed to change you, to teach you, to help you.

You can ask for more than enough, because God has the ability to help you thrive. And you can look to the light, because in his word and in his presence, you will find all the help you need!

Friday, November 14, 2008

All Because of Grace

The movie "Saving Private Ryan" ends with Captain Miller(Tom Hanks’ character)sitting near a bridge after an attack by German forces. His life is ebbing away as he pulls Ryan (Matt Damon)down toward him.

Struggling for breath he whispers, "Earn this, earn this."

As Ryan stands his face morphs back into the present as a senior adult searching for Miller’s cross in the cemetery. Crying he turns to his wife and says, "Tell me I’m a good man."

Many people may believe that Christ died for them, but they have an attitude that Christ told them, "Earn this." They spend their lives through religion trying to receive validation so that people will tell them, "You are a good man or a good woman."

Grace is realizing that we can never earn Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. Our lives should reflect thanksgiving for what he has done instead of validation for being a good person. We can never earn salvation. We can only receive it.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Ho, Ho, Ho...

Let the record reflect the following action. November 12, 2008 Pastor Del posted his first Christmas blog! Ok, so I'm a bit early perhaps but I'm already hearing Christmas music on the radio!! Geez...at least let me get the turkey digested first! At any rate, my mind is already beginning to fill with thoughts about the holidays ahead.

How do you gauge a good Christmas? Most of us, I would guess, have some type of scale that determines whether or not this Christmas, or any Christmas, goes down as one of the better ones. And, I would imagine, most of us probably already have a pretty good idea of where this Christmas will fit on the spectrum.

We have a bad habit of making Christmas all about “me” -- my expectations, my wants, my needs, my preferences. The result is, often, that Christmas disappoints us or frustrates us in one way or another, year in and year out.

The paradox is that Christmas really is about you -- you are the reason that God sent his Son into the world. It was the only way you could be saved. He sent Jesus to be born in a manger and to die on the cross for your sins so that you could turn back to him, so that you could experience the forgiveness of sin, so that God’s face could shine upon you. Only then can you be saved.

Before you think about what you can give, be willing to receive God’s gift to you. His gift of love. His gift of acceptance. His gift of new life. When you receive God’s gift to you, you are able to give back to him, and give to those around you.

Monday, November 10, 2008

The Grass is Always Greener...

I read an interesting story in the Tampa Bay paper recently. It's about a man who lives Hudson, Florida; his name is Andy Law.

One morning, as Andy was reading the daily news, he came across a story that shocked him. Joseph Prudente, a sixty-six year old man in nearby Beacon Woods had gone to jail for the crime of having a brown lawn. He had received notices from the local homeowners association that his grass wasn't green enough for community standards, but he overlooked them. Prudente has some health problems right now and is struggling financially. He can barely make his mortgage payment; he doesn't have the resources to take care of his lawn.

So the homeowner's association did what was in their power: they filed a court order against him and had him arrested, without the option of posting bail.

Here's where Andy comes in. He has troubles of his own. His business is failing, he is on the verge of losing his own house, and he is considering bankruptcy. But as he read Joseph Prudente's story, Andy decided that something must be done. "This," he thought, "is a problem that can be solved."

He began calling everyone he knew to help. Soon the yard was full of people working. Others dropped off gifts. Another man came to repair the sprinkler. Andy borrowed some lawn equipment and convinced a nursery to donate sod. By the end of the day, the yard was done: covered with new green grass, red mulch, flowers, and a working sprinkler.

At this time, the Tampa Bay paper reports, there was a sudden, thick downpour. Jennifer Prudente, Joseph's wife, stood in the rain with her arms open wide. "Our luck is changing," she said.

The next day Joseph was released from jail. Though he still faces fines and court costs, he is a free man today ... as long his grass stays the right shade of green. (And you thought your neighbors were picky.)

As far as I'm concerned, this story is more about Andy than it is about Joseph. Yes, it's outrageous that you can go to jail in America for having brown grass; I realize that some will see only this aspect of the story.

More impressive is the fact that one young man, also down on his luck, put his own problems on the back burner long enough to make a difference in someone else's life. This is an example of Paul's words in Philippians being put into practice: "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

100th Posting

Someone once said that wisdom is to live your one and only life in such a way that when it comes to an end, and it will, God looks at it and says, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done."

This is wisdom. From the moment you wake up in the morning until you go to bed at night, you love God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength, and then you walk through the day and love the people that you see. Love them like you love yourself. Then become a servant of the world.

Not a bad way to live!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

MISSIONAL LIVING AT IT'S BEST!

It's hard to believe but the holidays are upon us...again! I've already heard Christmas music on the radio...unbelieveable!

One of the great outreach ministries at CLC this time of the year are the boxes of love. I hope you have picked one up. It's a simple yet effective way of showing compassion to a less fortunate family.

Former Ambassador for Humanitarian issues, Tony Hall reminds us: "There's over 2500 verses in the Bible that deal with the issue of helping the poor, the sick, the hungry. God set it up that we are to address this issue and that he works through us. His Plan B? Well, I don't know what Plan B is. Plan A is the way he set it up."

God's plan goes back to the first books of the Bible. Deuteronomy 15:4 sets the standard: There should be no poor among you. A few verses later the acknowledgement is made: There will always be poor people in the land. [v.11]

What then is our response? Our responsibility?

Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

Pastor John Ratz commented recently on the CLC Group Life Blog that "Living an others-centered life is truly the mark of a Christ-follower. Sharing the message of God’s love to a lost and dying world is of prime importance. Serving those very people, rather than judging and condemning them, is a bridge that earns us the credibility in their eyes."

Missional living at it’s best is being God's hand reaching out to others.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Things That Still Stand!

Today is an historic day in our nation. Today we decide who will lead us as our president for the next four years. I fulfilled my obligation and voted, and surprisingly no one was in front of me...I walked in; cast my vote and walked out. It took all of 5 minutes.

Later tonight the results will be known. Regardless of who does or does not win some things will remain the same:

1. God will still be on the Throne.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Bible will still have all the answers.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed men and women proclaiming the Truth.
6.There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out His Spirit upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will continue to save the lost when they come to Him.

He's got the whole world in His hands!

Living Without It

In an article in Christianity Today, Philip Yancey wrote...

"I've become more convinced than ever that God finds ways to communicate with those who truly seek him, especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static.

"I remember reading the account of a spiritual seeker who interrupted a busy life to spend a few days in a monastery.

"'I hope your stay is a blessed one,' said the monk who showed the visitor to his cell. 'If you need anything, let us know, and we'll teach you how to live without it.'"

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age... (Titus 2:11-12)

Sunday, November 2, 2008

What Is and What If

A couple of years ago Fellowship Church in Dallas used a great theme for their "C3" church growth conference: "Turning What If Into What Is." This is the goal of every leader. It should also be the goal of every believer.

We need to learn to ask "What if?" in every area of life: our spiritual growth, our work, our family, our marriage, our ministry, our sphere of influence.

However, in order to turn your what if into what is, you must first turn your what is into what if.

In other words, instead of simply accepting things the way they are, consider the possibilities of the "what ifs" in your most challenging situations. Take some time to ask, "What are the possibilities here? What is the best that could happen? How could things change, and what could I do to initiate the process?"

Don't settle for what is. Explore the world of what if, and see what new dreams God can inspire.