In His Grip

Aug 12, 2011

2011-08-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Lord, I can’t help but to think how we, Your people, fall short so very often in our walk for You. On this day Lord, keep Thomas strong in the midst of adversarial thinking. That no matter what has happened, that You love him completely and that You have Your best in mind for His life. Remind Him of the love You have for Him. Keep is mind sharp and focused that He may honor You on this day.

In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen.

Aug 10, 2011

2011-08-10T13:41:00.001-07:00

My Father in Heaven, I ask this day that is Thomas’ weakness You will be strong. That he will recognize that no matter what efforts he makes for himself, it is You who bless’ because of Your great grace and love that You have for him. Help him to be a witness for You as he carries out his duties on this given day. Wrap Your loving arms of protection around him that he may feel safe and secure.

In Christ name I pray, Amen.

The Older I Get

2010-02-03T21:21:00.001-08:00

Okay, I got a little older this week. The older I get the smaller I get and the bigger God gets. Goals change. Ambitions change. My list of “cannots” increases. My list of “wants” decreases. Pleasures decrease. Things I planned to do change. Things I want to do change. Pace changes. Rate of accomplishment changes. Frankly, at times I hardly recognize me.

I sincerely doubt God’s goals or ambitions concerning us change—ever! While He is incredibly patient with us, what He wants in us and for us is changeless. I sincerely doubt His “to do” list changes. Things that give Him joy are changeless. His plans do not change. His pace and rate of accomplishment do not change because His patience, mercy, and forgiveness are beyond human comprehension. God’s pace is unhurried but certain. God is the same as He was when we were born, or even when humanity began—He is very recognizable.

The older I get the more unimportant I realize I am. At the same time, the older I get the more important I realize God is. I hope in some meaningful way I have been and am useful to God as He achieves His purposes. Yet, I realize that with or without me, God’s purposes will be done. I also realize most of my moments of urgent crises regarding the church are more a product of my fears than God’s realities. After all, God has worked with humans a long time. He knows what to expect from us. As much as we wish it were otherwise, I sincerely doubt that we surprise Him—ever!

To me it is incredible that we humans hold any significance to God. Were it not for us, God would have a lot less heartache and anxiety. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, we are important to Him. How important? Important enough for God to love us when we do not deserve His love or patience.

One of Paul’s favorite illustrations to describe our usefulness to God is the illustration of the body. Among the many points Paul made in his illustration, two stand out to me. First, we serve the role in the body God gave us. The primary thing my large intestine, my pancreas, and my eyeball have in common is, thankfully, they are parts of my body—though you would never know it by looking at each individually. Second, while we are not able to perform the same functions, we each are useful to God’s purposes—if we perform the function He gave us.

Incredibly, to God there are no unimportant people when we as individuals have the courage to be a part of His people. Unlike humans, the issue with God is NEVER on what we cannot do. It is always on doing what we can do by being what we can be.

Thus the older I get, the more at peace I am with being unimportant—as long as God grows in importance to me.

In His Grip,
-Jon

Make Mine the Automatic Version

2010-01-22T21:34:00.001-08:00

I say this to your shame, Is it so that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren ... ? 1 Corinthians 6:5

“Decide????? You mean there are decisions involved in being a Christian? I have to decide? I thought the only decision involved was to say you believed!”

Me, I am an automatic man! I love machines that take the work out of tasks. I do not enjoy the experience but the results! Automatic cameras, automatic transmissions—automatics are my machines! I love good decisions made without my having to choose!

It is so simple to become a Christian that we regard it to be a convenient machine. We express a desire to be baptized. We are asked if we believe that Jesus is the son of God. We are baptized for the remission of sins. We make a congregation our church home. We attend that congregation several times a month. We may or may not get involved in the congregation’s activities. We say (when asked) that we attend “X” congregation.

It is done! We are members! We are Christians! In fact, we are insulted if anyone questions that we are Christians. After all, we attend most of the time. We are on the congregation’s membership list. Our contact information is on the database. Our picture is in the directory. Why would anyone question our Christianity?

Please, do not mistake the point! We are a congregation of men and women who were baptized for the remission of sins because of faith in Jesus as God’s son. We seek to be a community of believers who wish to be known to and contacted by our spiritual family.

However, there is more to being a Christian than baptism, declaring membership, attendance, and involvement in church activities. It is a spiritual growth commitment. Increasingly, it involves who we are, how we behave, what kind of single person we are, what kind of spouse we are, what kind of parent we are, how we interact with people, what kind of employee/employer we are, what kind of neighbor we are, etc.

There is no automatic version of Christianity. Yes, faith involves personal decision making! The more spiritually mature we become, the more decisions we make!

In His Grip,

Bro. Jon

His Kingdom Comes First

2009-12-03T22:09:00.000-08:00

Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Jesus made this statement in a sermon (Matthew 5-7). To most Christians, it is a very familiar statement. It is so familiar that rarely does it provoke basic thought. We have heard discussed many times what the kingdom is and when it came. We frequently have heard discussed how a man or woman goes about the process of putting the kingdom first. Truthfully, most of us could lead a discussion on those matters.

Yet, rarely do we note what a strange statement this was. Certainly, Israel's religious leaders discussed for years what the kingdom was and when it would come. To declare that "kingdom understandings" were important to first century Israel is an under-statement. They, like us, had much to teach about the kingdom because their "kingdom understandings" were "excellent." Their understandings were deep and meaningful! They knew all about the kingdom!

Jesus made this strange statement to disciples as crowds listened. He said godliness was not about religious deeds that attracted attention or praise to self (Matthew 6:1-24). He said kingdom concerns were not centered in clothing, food, or the basic necessities for sustaining physical life (Matthew 6:25-31).

Dedication to God's kingdom was not contained in things godless people declared to be priorities (Matthew 6:32). Nor was it found in anxieties produced by life's troubles (Matthew 6:34).

We fail to realize how strange this statement was until we consider to whom it was given. Jesus declared this in a religious nation to people in its religious society. They were so religious that their "civil laws" were based on religious perspectives! They had priests who maintained the temple, elders who made religious decisions, scribes who preserved scripture, lawyers who were experts in scripture, and religious leaders who controlled society. Surely if anyone understood God's rule, they did! Yet, they did not.

How do we seek God's kingdom and righteousness above all things, as life's first priority? Through having right rules and regulations? Through having right forms and methods? Through worrying about things godless people worry about? Through making material needs our top priority in life? No. Then how do we do that?

Jesus said we allow God to rule our lives. We place God in control of who we are and what we do. We let God teach us what righteousness is. Then ... we allow God to provide us the strength to be a godly person who, in compassion, is fair to everyone.

Because we are Christians, who we are as persons is essential to life. That is more essential than what we eat, wear, or drink. Why? God rules us. We are His people. We exist to represent Him well. Who and what we are leads people to God, not way from Him.

In His Grip,
Bro. Jon

Congregational Vulnerability

2009-11-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

Love trusts and nurtures. Fear is suspicious and defends. When love is wounded in a marriage, fear emerges. Trust is displaced by suspicion. Mutual nurturing is displaced by defensiveness.

Can the relationship heal? Certainly! Love can assume again its role of promoting trust and nurturing if fear and its suspicions die. If the couple is afraid to love, they will not risk being vulnerable. Recovery is questionable. If the couple has the courage to restore healthy love, recovery will occur.

Should the couple forget the experience? Should they wipe from memory the events and attitudes that wounded love and created fear? No. If memory is erased, the experience does not teach them. If the experience taught no constructive lessons, the mistakes are likely to be repeated.

Should those memories dominate their awareness? No. If love for each other does not dominate thoughts and emotions, the relationship will not heal or mature.

The same is true in a congregation. Love trusts and nurtures. Fear is suspicious and defends. When love is wounded, fear emerges. Trust is displaced with suspicion, and nurturing is displaced with defensiveness. Relationships heal if fear and suspicions are allowed to die. While constructive lessons must be learned from bad experiences, heartache and disappointment must not dominate thoughts and feelings. The congregation seeks more than healing. It seeks the success only growth and maturity produce.

Help fear and suspicion die. Help restore love's trust and nurturing. Do not fear congregational vulnerability--God is in control. Nurture living relationships that reflect the life and hope found in being God's family and Christ's body.

Pray for others by name. Let them know that they are in your prayers. Help them form relationships. Be as warm, excited, and helpful as is our Father. In other words, continue to encourage one another.

In His Grip,
Jon Lanier

Moving Forward

2009-11-03T12:30:00.001-08:00

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.

They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

How do you react to Paul being "disqualified"? Unthinkable? Not to Paul! Paul understood the distinction between "knowing" and "being." Unfortunately, it is not difficult to encounter Christians who do not understand that distinction.

"Knowing" enables us to do many things. We can judge--declare others lacking, inferior, deficient, pathetic, ungodly, unrighteous, or outcasts. We can teach--"here is how you need to change!" We can criticize--"you need to know, to realize, to focus, to redirect!" If we are not extremely careful, we allow what we "know" to serve as the foundation of an "authoritarian complex." That complex frequently declares decisions God did not declare or establishes criteria that God did not present.

Paul frequently challenged Christians to evaluate their lives and their motives. However, Paul also did two other things. (1) He made it quite clear that he genuinely loved those he challenged. (2) He was very open about his own weaknesses and struggles. Paul "knew" in order that he might "be." He did not say, "You need to run with God's goal clearly in mind." He said, "I need to run with God's goal clearly in mind." He did not say, "You need to stop fighting the air and calling it boxing." He said, "I must not flail at the air and call it boxing." He did not say, "You must discipline your body!" He said, "I must discipline my body."

Why that emphasis? He understood he could present a needed message to others and experience no personal benefit. Paul "knew" in order to "be." Regardless of what he knew, if he did not use "what he knew" to "be," his knowledge did not profit him.

Never forget you do not "know" to teach, but to "be." The foundation of what we teach must arise from what we are instead of what we know. When we belong to God, we never "arrive." Instead, we always mature and grow toward God's nature and character.

Philippians 3:12 "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Why did Jesus Christ "lay hold on you"? Are you pressing on? Are you moving forward?

In His Grip,

Jon Lanier

The Power of Christian Encouragement

2009-10-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

Pictured, our new family room.

Wow, I didn't realize it's been this long. Alot has happened since the last post. We took on a new ministry and in the middle of the move. New church is Christian Church of Seaford. One of the first things on the agenda here in Seaford is in the area of encouragement.

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13).

“Those were the good old days! Ah, what wonderful memories of past times! When only Jews and proselytes were Christians (Acts 2:10), there was not all the 'baggage' those gentile Christians who were former idol worshippers brought into the church. There were only us Jewish and proselyte Christians who knew who God was and understood His spiritual priorities! Now those were the days when you understood the need for suffering and solidarity with fellow believers (see Hebrews 10:32-34).

“But times change! Now the Jewish community wants to force us Jewish Christians completely out! Back in the ‘good old days’ it was tough, but we could be both Jews and Christians! No more! Now we must make a choice—we must be one or the other, but not both! There surely is a lot to lose if we are ostracized from the Jewish community!

“We separated ourselves from the Christian community—we did not associate with Christians, go to Christian fellowships, or even worship where Christians were (Hebrews 10:25). Though we were sacrificial Christians, it reached the point it just was not worth it. We were so discouraged we seriously considered quitting the Christian community completely!”

There has never been an age or a culture/society in which it was simple and easy to commit to Jesus Christ! In all ages at all places there were moments of powerful discouragement—even in the early church!

Every Christian has two responsibilities to fill in commitment to Jesus Christ. The first: be a living example of what it means to place faith in Christ. Let your life be a model to those who do not believe, do not just tell them or say “Amen” when others tell them. The second: encourage those who are committed and those who struggle with their commitment. We struggle in an evil world that at times seems to have the advantage. We have enough to contend with without having to contend with each other. All of us need encouragement from each other, not discouragement.

In His Grip,

-Jon Lanier

God Cherishes Our Faithfulness

2009-07-31T20:53:00.001-07:00

(a follow up from last article)

It is true that our struggles sometimes seem more than we can bear, but it is of utmost urgency that we remember; during our struggles that God cherishes our faithfulness.

If you had been Job, what would you have done? You lose all of your precious children; you lose your wealth; you are struck down with severe illness; and you have a spouse who is telling you to just die and get it over with. What would you do? It would be very easy for us to just sit back and start blaming God, wouldn’t it?

What did Job do? Scripture tells us that he fell to the ground and worshiped God. He held on to his faith – even in the wake of great calamity and despair. When we go through the tough times in our lives, we must also be faithful and keep our trust in God.

In Hebrews 11:6, it says, ‘Without faith, it is impossible to please God.’

It is so easy for us to give up when we don’t see quick results. In Revelation chapter 2, we are even told to be faithful “even to the point of death.”

An old preacher was faithful unto death. He found out he had cancer and was quickly dying from it. I want to read to you what he said in his last sermon.

“Some of you have asked me if I am mad at God for this disease. I have nothing but love in my heart for my Father. He didn’t do this to me. We live in a sinful world where sickness and death are the curse that mankind brought upon himself. “For years, I have taught how my Savior suffered and died. Am I better than Him, that I should ask not to suffer? I am glad to suffer if it means going home to Jesus. Please don’t feel sorry for me, but rejoice with me.” Then, in old and broken voice, he began to recite a poem, ‘Must Jesus bear the cross alone – while all the world goes free? No, there’s a cross for everyone – and there’s a cross for me. How happy the saints above – who once went sorrowing here But now they taste unmingled love – and joy without a tear. That consecrated cross I’ll bear – till death shall set me free, And then go home, my crown to wear – for there is a crown for me.’

Those were his last words from the pulpit that he loved so much. He slipped into a coma shortly after church that morning, and passed over the Jordan a few days later.

This old preacher left an example of what true faith looks like and how it works. The faith, that no matter what the problem, no matter how much the burden, it will pull us through and keep us whole in Christ.

And so let us remember that we will suffer many times between today, and the day we cross the Jordan. During our storms, let us remember that:

• God is walking beside us, even when we can’t see Him
• God’s timing is perfect, even if it seems that He is slow
• During the worst of storms, God cherishes our faithfulness

Some of you might remember a family of tightrope walkers. They were billed as ‘the Flying Wallendas.’ One of their special stunts was to use members of their family to make a four level pyramid - high atop a platform that they would then cross the tightrope with. They performed this stunt for several years.

But one night, about ¾ the way across, one of the young men of the family was on the bottom row of the pyramid and he yelled out, “I cannot hold any longer.” And with that, his knee buckled and the entire family fell the pavement below. Many were crippled for life and one died. All because the pressure was so much on one person that his entire world around him collapsed.

Have you ever felt like you were under such a great pressure that your world could collapse at any moment? Whether it be the pressures of school, a job, family pressures, or anything else, those are the moments when to cry out, “I can’t do this any more! Lord, I can’t do it without you!”

During the stress of our storms, it is of crucial that we remember what Jesus told us in

Mathew 11:28 ‘Come to Me, all you who are weary and, burdened, and I will give you rest.’

In His Grip,
-Jon

It's a God Timing Thing

2009-07-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it seems that when we go to God with an emergency prayer for help, His help is agonizingly slow in getting to us.

You know, we forget that God’s timing is perfect and ours is not.

Do you remember the story of how Jesus’ close friend Lazarus got sick and his sisters, Mary and Martha summoned Jesus to heal him? What happened? They asked the Lord for help in a problem. So far, so good.

But then… before Jesus got there, Lazarus died. Mary and Martha thought Jesus had waited too long, didn’t they? But Jesus didn’t wait too long. He came at the perfect time. The perfect time for God’s purpose, not necessary the most convenient time for Mary and Martha. Yet the prayer was answered and Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead.
God is never late. However, God’s timing is different than ours, and so is His focus.

He is focused on what is best for us “eternally” and we are focused on what is best for us “instantly”.

God ultimately knows what is in our best interest, and we only think we know what is best for us.

In Romans 5, we learn that suffering builds our character. In James, we are told to consider it pure joy when we have troubles of many kinds, because it builds perseverance.

Our suffering is uncomfortable, but it is for our own good.

Have you ever taken the time to see how a butterfly comes out of a cocoon? It is a very slow and very tedious operation. It seems to take forever, and all the while, the poor butterfly is struggling to free itself of that covering.

A boy once saw this and after a long while, he felt so sorry for what that butterfly was going through that he helped open the cocoon to free the insect faster. What do you think happened? The butterfly was able to get out in less than half the time it would normally have taken, but when it did, it couldn’t fly. Why? Because it is during the time of struggle that its wings are strengthened enough to carry him off. But when the boy took the struggle away, the wings didn’t get strengthened.

The hard time the butterfly was going through was for its own good, wasn’t it? Without the struggle, the butterfly could not realize its purpose in life.

And without our struggles, we cannot realize our purpose in the kingdom of God. It is true that our struggles sometimes seem more than we can bear, but it is of utmost urgency that we remember; during our struggles that God cherishes our faithfulness.

Up, Up and Away!

2009-06-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

Some years ago David Reisman wrote a book, "The Lonely Crowd." As a part of his research, he interviewed some children about comic strips. He asked one twelve-year-old girl, "What comic strip do you like the most?" After a bit she confessed that her favorite was "Superman." He then asked, "Why do you like Superman?" After thinking for a moment she replied, "I suppose I like him because he can do so many things that other people can't do… he has X-ray vision and his hearing can pick up things miles away, and I suppose because he can fly." The interviewer then asked the girl, "Well, would you like to be able to fly like Superman?" The girl thought a moment and replied, "I think I would - if everybody else could too. Otherwise it might be a little conspicuous, don't you think?"

She liked Superman because he was different; but she wasn't sure she wanted to be different, even though it would be a thrill to fly. Being different does have a way of making one conspicuous, doesn't it!

I do believe this is a difficulty many Christians seem to wrestle with. Christians know that they are not to be conformed to this world, but rather to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, yet it is difficult for many to do. It's so conspicuous! Thus the temptation is always there to fall in with the crowd and thereby augment the power of evil through our tacit approval, if not through outright applause. Christians hate to be a "kill joy" or take an unpopular stand. So, to be safe and inconspicuous, Christians go along with sheer silliness, vulgarity, or immorality.

Should Christians dare to be different, and take their Christianity seriously, there is no doubt. It will cause the Christian to stand out in the crowd. Come to think of it, do you suppose this is what Jesus had in mind when he called upon us to be light in the darkness? Or the salt of the earth?

The question which haunts me is, "Am I as conspicuous as Jesus wants me to be?", even if I can’t fly without an airplane.

In His Grip,

-Jon

The Gospel Disturbs our World

2009-06-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have a friend that asked a rhetorical question that made me start thinking. So I’m going to throw some thoughts out there and see where they land over the next few articles. The question/statement was this:

What is the rationale of people who do not attend Bible based Churches?

God has never opened a door that Satan has not sought to close. Strange way to start a look at this question I know, but think about it, Paul saw the opposition in Thessalonica as a result of the work of Satan. He expresses this in his first epistle to the Thessalonians.

But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while--in person, not in spirit--were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, more than once--and yet Satan hindered us. (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18)

Wherever the gospel is preached the natural order of things is turned upside down. Since Satan is the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:1-2), God’s power turns Satan’s world on its head. Luke writes, "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." The King James Version indicates the trouble caused by preaching the gospel turned the world upside down.

The gospel disturbs our world and sometimes it disturbs Christians. Initially, the gospel is disturbing. The gospel reveals God’s desire to enter our lives for the purpose of reordering our lives.

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)

The gospel is a two-edged sword, which cuts both ways. Jesus came to bring peace to the world, but it also divided his family.

Therefore His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. "For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." For not even His brothers were believing in Him. So Jesus said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. "Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come." (John 7:3-8)

We know that Jesus had at least five brothers and sisters, but only his mother was standing at the foot of the cross. There at the cross Jesus committed the care of his mother to John, which indicates that his work had divided his own family.

However, the gospel also brings peace.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:26-27)

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

We may feel like quitting when we discover peace isn't the absence of conflict. Jesus doesn't promise us a trouble free life. Quite the opposite is true. He promises us that we will have trouble, but he promises us peace in spite of trouble. Jesus promises us that the gospel will disturb our world. I believe that part of the reason don’t like or want a true Bible based church is simply this; they don’t want their world disturbed.

In His Grip,
-Jon

Total Access To My Heart

2009-06-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

The human heart is comprised of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. Blood flows from the lungs into the left atrium. From there it flows into the left ventricle from which it leaves and flows through the body, delivering life-giving oxygen to the tissues of the body. The blood makes its return trip into the right atrium and flows into the right ventricle from which it returns to the lungs to receive more oxygen. In order for the heart to function correctly, all four compartments must be intact.

If I were to take a scriptural view of the heart as the seat of my thoughts and emotions, there should be no compartments. A compartment in this case would be a part of my heart that I shut off from the Lord and don't allow His Word to have access to work. It generally is something that we are not willing to do away with for the Lord's sake.

Solomon had such a compartment -- his wife.

Then Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house which he had built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy where the ark of the LORD has entered." 2 Chronicles 8:11

Notice that he would not allow Pharaoh's daughter to live in what he considered a Holy place because she was a pagan who did not worship the God of Israel. Solomon felt that he could keep his two lives separate, worshipping the Lord on one side and keeping a pagan wife on the other.

It didn't work out so good for Solomon as we learn from 1 Kings 11:1-10. That Lord became angry with Solomon because he turned his heart away from God.

Trying to lead a double life didn't work back then and it doesn't work today. We must allow the Lord access to all of our heart. It's the only way to live up to our fullest potential.

I need to make sure there are no locked chambers in my heart. In that way I have God’s power and grace flowing more freely.

In His Grip,
-Jon

Learning Lessons from Leia

2009-06-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

Our dog is 6 months old now. Outside of having farm dogs, this is my first house dog experience. Leia was born on Thanksgiving Day and she has truly been that, a dog to be thankful for. I know dogs get pretty much a bad rap in the Bible, but I’ve been learning quite a bit about life habits that a Christian ought to develop.

The thing is, Leia doesn’t have to really learn these habits. She is an overall natural. Sure, we need to teach her to sit, stay, shake paws, lie down and the dreaded go outside to do your business thing. By the way, why do they call it house training when in reality we are trying to teach to go outside for that?

Yes, I’m getting off my topic. Leia instinctively does some things that I think I need to learn to do more of in my Christian walk:

When a loved one comes home, she always runs to greet them. I want to do that! Be earnestly excited about seeing my friends and loved ones, run to them and lick their face! Okay, maybe not lick their face, a good hand shake or hug would do just as well. I remember seeing something like that in the Bible, “Greet one another with a Holy Kiss.”

Leia never passes up the opportunity to go for a joyride. How many times have I felt the overwhelming burden to do work and not enjoy life? To take the breaks I need to refresh myself with my friends and family. Maybe even stick my head out the window and let my tongue flap in the breeze.

Leia is a people dog. She loves people! When we go to the dog park, she not only wants to meet and play with all the other dogs, but she has to go meet all the people in the park as well. She lets people touch her. I need to let people touch me more. I need allow myself to be more open and vulnerable. In that way, I may be able to build their trust and share my walk and faith with them.

Leia takes naps, a lot of them. I know I need to get my rest, but I don’t. I know there are times I’m physically running down but won’t listen. I too, need to take naps.

Here is a good one that I’ve learned, avoid biting when a simple growl will do. Perhaps I should do what Leia does, go off into my den and quietly growl to release the tension. That way I don’t bite the ones I love.

A few quick things I’ve learned from Leia:

· On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

· Always try to get a good belly rub.

· On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

· When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

· Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

· Be loyal.

· Never pretend to be something you're not.

One day I was physically sick and emotionally hurting. Leia for some unknown reason, realized I was having a bad day. She was just quiet, sat close by and nuzzled me gently. All while looking at me with sad puppy dog eyes. “Bear one another’s burdens and in that way you fulfill the love of Christ.

To live a dog’s life just might be a good way of putting some Christian principles back into our life.

In His Grip,

-Jon

That's One Weird Dude!

2009-06-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

Peter describes children of God as “A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people who belong to God.” Many of us resist being called Weird, right? The word peculiar has come to mean one who is strange, unusual and my favorite ‘weird.’ When we consult the idea of weird with other synonyms we find:

- Weird means belonging exclusively to another. As Christians we certainly do! "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

- Weird means being distinctively different. Oh yea that is for sure. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

- Weird means adhering exclusively to the character of another. That is what should make us different from the world. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5 that we should “have the heart, the mind, the attitude, the disposition of Jesus.”

- Weird refers to one whose interest is singularly focused. Indeed ours ought to be. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)

I think we Christians go to great lengths to blend into the crowd and become neutral, conforming to the mold of this world in order to be anything but weird. However, Paul declares that "Jesus came to redeem us, and to purify for Himself a peculiar (weird) people, eager and zealous to do what is good." So what should be some of the characteristics be seen in me if I’m going to be one of these weird people?

Weird people place people before things. What counts in this life is what I do for others. The good Samaritan gained permanence in history because he was willing to place people before his money. The treasures I lay up in heaven are those given in service to others--not what I’ll grudgingly use to serve ourselves, and not what I’ll hold onto for my future. You know, the future is now; I need to live for today. When Jesus comes, what will I do with the money in the bank, or things I have accumulated, or those things I seem to hold so dear? C.S. Lewis said, "We have become a nation that loves things and uses people." This is not Jesus in me, but the world in me. I want to be weird, different and peculiar by loving people and using things.

Weird people deal with their prejudice. When we speak of the character of God, we usually mention His holiness, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, and sovereign nature. But when Moses wanted to show the Israelites what God was like he pointed to His impartiality! "For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows not partiality." Prejudice is simply pre-judging people based upon their riches, education, color, social status, disability, etc.,--rather than seeing them as one made in the image of God, one who can be saved by the blood of Christ. Prejudice cannot be justified as a mere cultural misunderstanding; it cannot be excused as the way we were taught. Prejudice is a sin! God calls me to be different than those around me by willfully rising above my prejudice. I want to be weird by my lack of prejudice.

Weird people are always forgiving. Jesus taught that our forgiveness is contingent upon our willingness to forgive others. Later, He put His own teaching into practice. Hear the words as they tumbled from his lips: "Father forgive them; they know not what they do." Revenge and retaliation is the order of the day in our society, but not in God's economy. Jesus taught that we are to forgive those who have offended us, seventy times seven. Limitless forgiveness! I want to be weird in my quickness to forgive.

Weird people cultivate meaningful relationships. God created us for relationships. Nothing is more important than my relationship with Him and others. My happiness depends upon it. Sometimes we sing Blest Be The Tie and then allow the slightest offense to sever it.

I must always remember, nothing, NO THING is more important than relationships in this life. Things are temporary, relationships are eternal. I will be therefore, weird in my cultivation of relationships! The next time someone says of me, “That’s one weird dude!” I’m going to smile and say, “I sure hope so.”

I think I've Been Pruned

2009-05-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

I think I’ve been pruned, and the process might not be finished for this season.

In John fifteen we find the story of the Vineyard. In the second verse it reads, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit."

We each have experienced God’s working in our lives. We have all experienced change. Sometimes we feel that we take three steps forward and two steps back. Sometimes we may need to be taken back even further.

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:13, "It is God who works in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure." Also in Ephesians 3:20 we are promised that "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly all that we ask or think, according to His power that works within us." The pruning process is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that continues to prune our thoughts, attitudes, commitment, behavior, service, passion and willingness as we are further and further conformed to the likeness of Jesus. If this is the case I say, “Amen.” I am trying to take advantage of this time to learn, grow and commit myself further into the service of Christ.

I am constantly reminding myself that God is in control. This is a very important detail. HE is not only the Potter to the Clay, molding and making me. But HE is also the MASTER GARDENER. Managing HIS family tree. HIS desire is that as a branch I will produce fruit and in pruning to produce more. In all honesty I feel like the last few years have been non-productive. That I had done all I could do with what was given to me. And I think this is why this season of pruning is upon me.

Pruning is necessary to remove any dead wood, which can harbor disease and decay. The pruning of live wood improves the vines potential for fruit-bearing. Untrimmed vines develop unproductive growth--long, rambling branches that produce few grapes because the strength of the vine is given to growing wood. (And we all know that there is a lot of old wood out there that just doesn’t want to budge from its old way of growing.) Fruit contains the seed for more fruit, so the process continues on and on. I think it was time for me to move on to the next great planting season that the Lord has in store.

But no matter how you put it or for whatever reason(s), it hurts when pruned. Amidst the pain of the wounds it may inflict, I must remember the root! It is easy to find myself in a state of self pity when I hit a wall in life’s pathways. But I have got to keep to the root, to keep my focus upon the Lord, and draw strength from HIM.

Romans 8:28 reminds me, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Something I read is that the gardener prunes the branches to protect itself from self-destruction and to produce aggressive growth. The Father does this for us. The Greek word for ‘pruned’ here is kathairo and is similar to the word ‘clean’ in verse 3: John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. The Greek word for ‘clean’ is katharos. There seems to be a relationship with being clean and being pruned.

Okay, so what’s going to be my goal: comfort or to bear fruit? Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Without a doubt, God is more interested in me producing fruit, than my comfort. That is why He prunes! And pruning hurts!! It’s not comfortable! The goal of my life should be bringing glory to the Father by bearing fruit.

To close this long thought out I’ll just share with you: John 15:16-17 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. We are chosen by God to go and bear fruit. That’s all of our purpose!

What Are The Odds?

2009-05-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

I’ve been dreaming a lot lately. Dreaming of what God has in store for the family and me. I keep playing out every possible scenario with every possible Church that I have sent a resume. The more I hear back from them, the more scenarios I see happening. With that the more I keep praying that God will just make this a simple thing and let me (us) get going into ministry. But …

In the Scriptures I’ve come to appreciate a blueprint of sorts to God’s way of doing things. I think it is easier to see in the Old Testament, but it is everywhere. This is it: God loves impossible odds. Here I am waiting on His will in my life. Trying to do whatever I can on my end of things to make it happen. Or help Him out since things seem to be moving to slow. Obviously with the economy the way it is, God is busier than normal. So, I must help and when He is ready, all He has to do is make it happen.

I tend to pray and plan out for the easier things to happen. I pray for something that would be in my comfort zone. A prayer, which for all intensive purposes, will put all the odds in my favor. Maybe God wants to stack the odds against me? Maybe He wants me to experience His work in my life and not my own. So that when He does move, I’ll know it is Him doing the work and not through my own devices. Perhaps that is what faith is, trusting God no matter how impossible the odds are.

God did this with Gideon and the army that was dwindled down to 300 soldiers. And then he had them use trumpets and jars. Couldn’t it be a little easier with the 32,000 men he started out with? Sure would! And God may have gotten partial credit for the victory.

God told them, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.”

God deserved better, so the odds kept going against them. God deserves all the glory, simply because a victory like that defies the odds.

Here is a crazy idea: Maybe the impossible situations are actually opportunities to experience a new way of God working in my life. A way in which, He will receive all the Glory. Maybe I ought to be praying bigger than I have before and dream bigger than I ever have before? To dream dreams and have a vision of what God can do in and through my life.

I do believe that the size of our dreams is one of the best barometers of spiritual maturity. People with a big God have big dreams! I’ll keep dreaming but just a little differently. I’ll keep doing the things I can to do on my end, but rest assured the dreams are going to be so big, that without God, I’m doomed to failure.

In His Grip,

-Jon

Why, "In His Grip?"

2009-05-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

The key to the golf swing always starts in the grip. If you go to a swing doctor the first thing they look at is to see if your grip is in the right position. Making sure it is not to loose or to tight. To loose and your swing becomes hazardous, not only to your fellow players, but even to your self. To tight of a grip on the golf club creates less potential for power and control. The Grip is the key. The Grip is what will help you get the maximum benefit in your golf swing.

In life we need to let go and let God grab a hold of us. When I try to grab the club of life, eventually I hold on to tight or let loose. Either way, my own grip never gets me to where God wants me to go. He has a vision of what He can do in and through my life. He knows exactly the right grip to have on my life to get the maximum benefit. Therefore, I want to always strive to be, "In His Grip" and not my own.

And that is where I shall begin this Journey into the blogosphere.

In His Grip,
-Jon