Month: January 2013

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Dark Ages?

I had an interesting conversation with my eldest son on the way home last night that circled around how much bad for the name of Christ the church of the middle ages did and how today’s ‘über conservative controlling’ churches don’t help much either.

It was good to see that he didn’t think the church was about a group of people gaining power and authority here on earth, but that it was more about a group of people who want to love and serve each other, and bring glory to their creator.  Sort of like this…

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)

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An Example to Follow

As a follow-up on yesterday’s post about seeking the good of others,  take a peek at the concluding words written in that same section of the letter to the Corinthians.

31 The answer is, if you eat or drink, or if you do anything, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Never do anything that might hurt others—Jews, Greeks, or God’s church— 33 just as I, also, try to please everybody in every way. I am not trying to do what is good for me but what is good for most people so they can be saved. 11 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 (NCV)

There it is.  Do everything for God’s glory, and follow the example of the writer, Paul, who is following the example of The Christ.  You remember him? He’s the one who left heaven and come down to the Earth and became a man.  Sort of a humbling experience I would imagine!

Let us be free!  And let us bring glory to the Creator!  and let us follow in his footsteps and seek others!

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Giving up Freedom

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 10:23

Everything is Permissible

I mean, what’s not to love there!  That frees us from so much of the bondage of the make up do’s and don’ts that we wrap ourselves up in.  This type of freedom, is really unimaginable, especially considering the traditional and political-correct  boundaries that strip us from freedom.

But of course, that sort of freedom really requires some sort of guidelines – doesn’t it?  That is what the rest of the verse does, as it bounds the freedom of the grounds of positive benefit.

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive (NIV)

That’s good advice.

However, I  find the next verse to actually be the thing that binds up the freedom in a way that is even more of a challenge.

24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Hm.. there’s that concept of good again, and not just mine, or being good, but others good.  Not mine but yours. That’s the challenge.  Look at the way the New Century Version words this, it’s even more plain and straightforward

23 “We are allowed to do all things,” but not all things are good for us to do. “We are allowed to do all things,” but not all things help others grow stronger. 24 Do not look out only for yourselves. Look out for the good of others also.

Are we willing to give up our freedom for the good of others – to help them and make them stronger?

 

 

 

 

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Do You Have a Mission?

Over the course of a few days back in October of 2011, I heard several people talk about mission.

The first was a sales guy during a software presentation for us, and for some reason, he got off talking about mission.  The thing the makes this otherwise bland and boring presentation memorable was he comment about the word mission.  He said that mission was really a military term.  For some reason this caught me off guard and I actually wrote down a note to check that out.

In a course of a few days that week, I was presented heard with the idea of having a mission in my life a few times. So much so, that I started a draft blog post that has sat in my draft list all of this time, staring at me each morning, asking me ‘do I have a mission?’.

Yesterday, the idea was presented to me again, as I lead the small group I work with in a study that involved a quite challenging question – do you approach life as a sky diver, out for the fun, and excitement or a paratrooper, who has, guess what, a mission to accomplish.  And Actually, I watch and prepared for last night back in December, so this whole idea has stirred around in my head for several weeks – and I think it will for more.  I think as we start the first official work week of 2013, it’s a good question to ask ourselves.  Do we have a mission?  Are we living with intent and purpose, or just floating through, being blow hither and yon, and enjoying the sights along the way?

For those who follow the Christ, a mission already exists and it’s this ->

Follow the example of your leader, the Christ, and live for others – just like he lived and died for you! Love how he loved!

See what I mean:

13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.  2 Corinthians 5:13-21 (NIV)

So, it’s something I hope you will consider today and this week.  Do you have a mission, if not will you accept the mission the Lord has laid out for you?

This message will self destruct in 5 seconds….

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Friday Focus

Well look at this, it’s Friday, but it only feels like Wednesday.  I can handle more weeks like this!  Let’s wrap up the first work week of the year by reminding ourselves what we should accomplish and strive for in the remaining work weeks of 2013.

Here’s a little focus for your Friday.

“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  Colossians 3:1-2