Making Resolutions- James 4:13-17

02 Jan , 2011 2 Comments

As we make resolutions at this time of the year it’s important that we do not miss the first step in setting goals. Too often we make plans and then ask God to bless them. James calls this arrogance. It’s a practical atheism (believing in God but living as if He doesn’t exist). Most of us do not think of ourselves as boastful people, because we do not go around making people listen to our bragging. As a good discipler, however, James makes us examine more subtle forms of boasting. Our arrogance is revealed when we assume that we control time and events. By using the categories that James offers in Chapter 4:13 we can see how comprehensively we do this.

James challenges 4 categories that reveal our arrogance when:
1. We name the TIME- “Today or tomorrow”.
2. We state our PURPOSE- “we will go”
3. We name the PLACE “to this or that city”
4. We state our GOALS “to carry on business”
5. We name our REWARD “make money”

What else is there than time, purpose, place, goals, and reward?

So are we not supposed to plan? Notice he does not say “don’t plan”. In vs. 15 he says, “Instead”… plan this way… “if it is the Lord’s will”. As a pastor, of all the questions I’m asked, the most common centers around God’s will. “What is God’s will for my life?” “How can I know God’s will for my life?” “How can I discover God’s will for my life?” This is a question we all ask- but we don’t realize that we’re actually asking the wrong question. This question actually betrays our arrogance and the self-centered nature of prayer. What is God’s will for my life is overshadowed by a more important question. The better question is not, “What is God’s will for my life?” but simply, “What is God’s will?” I’ve discovered this question brings much greater clarity to what God would have me do. Now some may say I’m wrestling in semantics, but I think not…

The KEY question: “Lord, what is Your will?” Here’s the power and greater clarity of this question: We already know what His will is. His will is for you to know Him, to receive His grace and to love Him with all our heart, soul mind, and strength. His will is for you to grow to become just like Jesus. His will is for you to allow Him to continually transform you into His likeness. His will is for you to show His love to the world- starting right where you are. His will is for you to worship Him, become His disciple, and to live as a missionary for His glory everywhere you go.

What is God’s will? To give your life fully to Him- regarding TIME, PURPOSE, PLACE, GOALS, and REWARDS- they are ALL in His hand. That’s His will and that’s His will for your life. As for where you live, where you go, what you will say, and who you will encounter along the way- simply trust Him with all of that. In short, His will is for you to be His disciple.

Read Luke 9:23-25. The call to discipleship is an ever-expanding release of my life to Him. How counter-intuitive this is to our way of living, how counter-cultural. In this upside down kingdom the call is to self-denial and to a glorious release of all we are to become the very best of all that God has created us to be, all to HIS glory. I become fully “me” when I release all things that I have planned for myself.

Read Jeremiah 29:11. “I know the plans I have for you…” Notice: They are His plans and He knows them. So, the key question seems to be “How do I know His plans?” It is by seeking Him with my whole heart. It’s good to note: ultimately the journey is not to a place of position but to a Person. It’s in knowing HIM that I know His ways. In the end- Our calling is not to a place or to a plan or a position but to a Person- Jesus Christ. We can make resolutions but the highest calling of our lives is to Jesus Himself. He said, “Come, follow ME.”

The Gospel alone can empower this kind of shift- from my will to His will. Jesus gave up all control so that we can know everything is under control. When we see the King of creation losing control upon the cross, our fears are destroyed and our courage rises up- because of His love and because of the hope of resurrection!

Here’s my challenge: Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands and step out into an invincible future with Him. Give your life fully to Him.
Why not now?

Missional Church-Simple.

31 Dec , 2010 No Comments

2011 Resolution for pastors and church leaders: Turn your church inside out for the sake of the kingdom, for the sake of the Gospel, for the sake of the mission of Jesus… for the sake of your congregation.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxfLK_sd68]

An Upside Down Under Christmas

10 Dec , 2010 1 Comment

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? For me, it was always Australia. Several years ago Stacy and I experienced a dream come true as we found ourselves in Sydney, Cairns, and the Great Barrier Reef. If you were to go “Down Under” this time of the year- to Australia (or New Zealand)- you would truly experience, what we might call, an “upside down Christmas”. You see, in Australia it’s summertime. December through February is the warmest time of the year and Christmas is right in the middle of summer. Santa is coming to town on a surfboard and Rudolph’s red nose is going to need some sunscreen. The only white Christmas they’ll see is the white sand of the beach and watch for koalas instead of elves. It’s cooler in the south and it’s warmer in the north and the currents flow in opposite directions. Don’t throw another log on the fire unless you’re putting it on the “barbie”. What a strange Christmas that would be for those of us who live on the “right” side of the world.

This year Stacy and I want our family to have an upside down Christmas. In fact, I want to challenge you to have an upside down Christmas as well. We’re going to make this Christmas different in many ways. As you know, Christmas is celebrated differently around the world. No doubt, Christians in America are conflicted about all that this season has become. It is no surprise to any of us that here in America it has become a season of over-consumerism and materialism. So much so that those of us who truly want to celebrate the Savior’s birth need to be very intentional in doing so.

This year I’m devoting myself to an upside down Christmas. I want Christmas to look altogether different from what our world has made it out to be. Instead of the rat race of shopping, I’m going to slow down and spend more time in conversation with those I love. Instead of seeing what I might get, I’m going to focus on the joy of giving myself away to others. Instead of racing through the holidays, I’m going to pause and pray and thank God for His Son, my Savior. Instead of looking through the latest catalog of gifts available, I’m going to look through His Word and discover the gift of His love for me. Instead of peering under the tree to see what’s there for me, I’m going to kneel at the manger and gaze into the infant face of my Redeemer. There will be gifts but I’m having an upside down Christmas.

It’s always been that way you know- upside down. The big God became small. Spirit took on flesh. Holiness came to a sinful world. The perfect was clothed in imperfection. The sinless took on sin. The eternal stepped into time. The One who is life died for me. What an upside down Christmas. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” 1 Corinthians 1:27. What an upside Savior. That’s the God we worship. That’s the God of Christmas. Let’s make this one different. Let’s have an upside down Christmas.

Merry Christmas from the Warren family to you and yours.

The Silence of God- Andrew Peterson

28 Nov , 2010 1 Comment

It’s enough to drive a man crazy; it’ll break a man’s faith

It’s enough to make him wonder if he’s ever been sane

When he’s bleating for comfort from thy staff and thy rod

And the heaven’s only answer is the silence of God.

 

It’ll shake a man’s timbers when he loses his heart

When he has to remember what broke him apart

This yoke may be easy, but the burden is not

When the crying fields are frozen by the silence of God.

 

And if a man’s got to listen to the voices of the mob

Who are reeling in the throes of all the happiness they’ve got

When they tell you all their troubles have been nailed up to that cross

Then what about the times when even followers get lost?

‘Cause we all get lost sometimes…

 

There’s a statue of Jesus on a monastery knoll

In the hills of Kentucky, all quiet and cold

And He’s kneeling in the garden, as silent as a stone

All His friends are sleeping and He’s weeping all alone

And the man of all sorrows, He never forgot

What sorrow is carried by the hearts that He bought

 

So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God

The aching may remain, but the breaking does not

The aching may remain, but the breaking does not

In the Holy, Lonesome echo of the silence of God.

When our worship gatherings and our lives don’t match up…

22 Nov , 2010 No Comments

Isaiah 1:13-17 (The Message)

“Quit your worship charades.
I can’t stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings-
meetings, meetings, meetings- I can’t stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evil-doings
so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.”