re-Training Me Up...

My son, a kindergartner, noted recently how orange a tree was as we drove past it at 45 mph. Until recently I hadn't noticed the tree's. To be honest I'd sort of forgotten about them.

I'm in North Eastern Ohio, surrounded by millions of beautiful trees, woods, forests. It's Fall at that. And I'd not noticed the colors of the trees until my 5 yr. old described them as we drove by unnecessarily fast.

In the past I'd taken time to notice them. In fact, I would have been the one to point them out to my children, my friends, my wife. I would have pointed out the individual leaves, noted the depth of color, divine art in organic motion. I would regularly, daily even, walk with my family through town, through parks, neighborhoods, the city and we would speak of and enjoy the movement of the Spirit yet partaking in creation as He did in the beginning (Genesis 1:1-2).

Now, once again, I'm able to take in the trees amidst the forest.

The Patriarch Moses noted years before that our role as fathers, as parents, is to raise our children to journey with God. My 5 yr. old, in pointing out the trees and noting how God had made them turn his favorite color orange (just for him!), was simply doing what I had trained him to do: note Gods work, point it out to others, and give Him Glory.

It not only feels good to see the trees again, but all the more I'm able to hear my son give God Glory as well.

Read Deut. 6:4-9 - How would you raise your children to glorify God all the more if you could do it again? Start that rhythm tomorrow.

One in a Million

Paul was miraculously reconciled to God by Jesus post-resurrection. That isn't typical.

He was then specifically set-apart with Barnabas, by God, to do a specific work. Atypical as well.

He even received strange visions, one of a Macedonian man calling out to him for help. Standard? Not sure.

Many factors shaped Paul's journey: Gods specific ordination (Acts 13:2), need (Acts 27:3), time (Romans 13:11-12), location (Acts 17:1-2), finance (Philip. 4:14-16), vision (Acts 16:6-10), circumstance (2 Cor. 6:3-10), division (Acts 15:36-41), etc...

Yet the narratives above aren't prescriptive for all believers. Luke simply describes the role of Paul in the spreading of the church as appointed by God. We are all most definitely ambassadors of the Kingdom, yet each one of us is not appointed to live out a Pauline story.
 

So while Paul may have been called by God to a specific place here or there, think of the general mass of believers who are called to love and worship and serve out of their homes, in their neighborhoods, as mechanics and CEO's.

There are many spiritual Patriarchs of our faith...and many more bodies of believers:

1 Moses / millions of Israelites
1 David / millions of Jews
1 Peter / 3000 nameless converts heading home
1 Paul / thousands in church plants

Clearly He calls some to specific roles in time and space. Since you nor I know who will be appointed where and when:  pray, live open-eyed to His workings in your life, be active with your gifts, love your neighbor, wisely and humbly plan for the future, beware of reading the shapes of the clouds looking the right sign to move here or there.

God does have your days numbered. He is God omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient. He knows your every step. He also knows that you and I are imperfect. Don't focus on the missed opportunities and failures...focus on being like-Christ here and now.

You have a story. It will not be Paul's. What is it?

How's Your Community Group: Part 4

Pray to the Father. Jesus has opened up this communication for us anywhere, anytime. He intercedes for us, He presents our requests to the Lord (Matthew 6:9).

He alone is Holy and so we must meet Him in His righteousness in order to speak to and with Him. But we have no weight to throw around, no connections, we have no currency to purchase perfection. And let me clarify in case you're wondering, perfection is not subjective, it isn't what we each individually desire it to be. He endows us with eternal perfection through our relationship with Christ, the only one who can vouch for us (6:9).

Submit to and seek out the realization of His Kingdom here and now (6:10)

Submit to and seek out His will on earth here and now. What is currently in the Spiritual world will be tangible, visible, audible, smellable...(6:10).

With thanksgiving and humble expectation lean into Truth. Press into the Scriptures and lean on the Spirits guidance and gifts. Seek fulfillment not merely on nachos and chips but on Life Himself (6:11).

As with true fellowship and devotion both with the Lord and one another - forgive. You have been, are and will be. Share this basic element of relationship with others, everyone, even your enemies and especially your friends and family (6:12). It's amazing how much of His character, His holiness we display through the act of forgiveness. We incarnate the Gospel in dramatic ways.

Pray for speed. Run from temptation. Build walls where necessary for yourself founded on Scripture and guided by the Spirits conviction. Pray that you might move quickly when needed and exercise and practice speed in your free time (6:13).

He will deliver from Satan's temptations, schemes, lies, foolishness, pleasures, false joys...He delivers from and to (6:13).

Are you praying? Is your Community Group in prayer? Does your small group or life group pray together regularly?

Are you praying with your disciples co-leaders, future leaders, spouses, friends, families?

1. Begin a monthly community prayer night if you don't already have one.
2. Begin praying with your spouse at night after some time in the Word.
3. Challenge your co-leaders to lead in prayer. Pray out loud. Pray together. For and with one another.

Pray.

Read Matthew 6:5-18

Parenting Lessons from a Famous Made-up Father

A couple parenting lessons from a famous but made-up father.

Jesus once told a story about a Jewish son who demanded his inheritance early, while the father yet lived in fact. We know the story. The father agrees, the son takes his money and runs, wastes his life for a season and returns to his family. And the older brother who stayed was ticked and bitter. Read Luke 15:11-32.

The father in the story not only teaches us much about the love and character of our Heavenly Father, but about our role as parent to our own children. Let me draw out two observations.

First, the father attempted to live up to the sh'ma in Deuteronomy 6. To talk about God and model God-likeness in such a way that his children would know God personally. Your saying, 'but the younger son was a jerk, he was a rebel, he was a fool.' Right.

But the son also returned. He recalled the truth of his childhood and banked on it holding fast upon his return. His repentant response gives this away, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.'

1. The son noted his sin against heaven (the Lord) first and foremost.
2. The son noted his rebellion against his own father.

His paradigm was correct even when his heart and mind had been so selfishly distracted by the world. The dad here faithfully raised his family in Truth. In fact, I believe the training up of his sons was such a gracious overflow of his own life (Deut 6) that his faith was yet enticing to his son even amid rebellion.

Second, the father genuinely loved without bounds.

1. He Waited for his sons return and reconciliation.
2. He Watched quite literally for his son to one day walk onto the family farm.
3. He Welcomed him when he finally did.

So what can we take away from this parable as parents? Be faithful in raising up our children in the Truth. Not simply speaking Truth at them but discipling them in all things - from the moment we rise in the morning to the setting of the sun, with every word and deed, blanketed with the Word of the living God.

And WHEN rebellion occurs. Whether it lasts 10 minutes or 10 years, know that you have faithfully raised your children well, that the Spirit is yet at work in their heart, mind and soul.

And if they return, in whatever state they return, healthy and whole or broken and bruised - wait, watch and welcome with the very same love God offers you upon your daily return to Him.

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9

The Call & The Drive

We can learn a lot from the attitude of John the Baptist. So let me ask you, are you called or driven? Confident in Christ or confident in yourself?

There's a difference. Here are four characteristics of a called man/woman of God. They:

1. Understand Stewardship: The crowds, followers, disciples and attention...they were not his to keep.'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' John 1:15. What are you holding to that isn't actually yours to keep?
2. Know their identity: 'I am not the Christ' John 1:20. Know who you aren't, namely the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, and you will begin to understand who you are, created and sustained by God. Reflect on this reality, it will impact you beyond compare.
3. Know their Purpose: He knew his role in being the forerunner to the Messiah, 'I am the voice of the one calling in the desert, "Make straight the way for the Lord."' John 1:23. Is your purpose to make your name great...or is it to make His Name Great?
4. Understand Commitment: John knew he was called by God. He knew his role, he knew his purpose, he knew who Jesus was and held fast to his own beheading. 'He must become greater, I must become less.' John 3:30. What or whom are you committed to? If it's anything or anyone other than Christ first and foremost...reflect once again on your role as a steward, your identity, your purpose in life.

Knowing that we are called (to follow Christ) fosters joy. Within this joy we find peace in our position in Christ as forgiven and sent on mission. Are you living a called life as a disciple of Christ or a driven life as a disciple of ________?

Read Johns Gospel chapters 1-3. Adapted from Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. 

How's Your Community Group: Part 3

Fellowship. Sharing authentic life with a community of people. "He went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where the many people had gathered and were praying" (Acts 12:12).

When Peter escaped from prison, again (4:3, 5:17-42), where Herod had been keeping him to put him on murderous display as a Jewish rebel of this New Way simply because it pleased an audience, he went directly to the local oikos, household of believers. Why did he go there? How did he know he would be safe there? How did he know he could send a dispatch to James (Jesus' half-brother) at that hour of the night? Who would be up?

Fellowship is much more than time spent once a week discussing ancient biblical truths.

Fellowship, Christian fellowship, is that which goes on daily. Praying together, dining together, raising our kids together, studying the word deeply and intentionally, discipling one another, carrying burdens on every level, sharpening one another, sharing Jesus in your neighborhood together...as a body is together always, so is the church (1 Cor. 12).

Do you know if your oikos would so devoutly seek Jesus on your behalf? Are others in your group pondering the same questions about authentic commitment? You be this committed, you be focused and you be intentional about being in life together, being on mission together and inviting others into the Kingdom together.

Read Acts 2-12 and discover the explosion and dedication of the Jerusalem Church.

How's Your Community Group: Servanthood

Servanthood.

When we act like servants, people notice. A church had a "helping hands" ministry. Six men from the church were cleaning an elderly man's rain gutters. His curious and somewhat amazed neighbor asked, "who are these guys? Why are they doing this?" The neighbor was even more amazed when the six men proceeded to climb on his roof and clean his gutters. Servanthood matters, it opens hearts. Here are some suggestions:

1. Do menial tasks. This is one of the hardest things to teach in Western society. Even the well-educated and successful should learn to serve at a practical level.
2. Be available. A household servant must be available when the master calls. The Christian servant must also be available - to God, his/her family and others.
3. Be observant. A servant is alert to the needs of others and takes initiative to do whatever needs to be done.
4. Do more than you're asked. In our clock-watching society, people do just what they are asked to do, nothing more. A true servant does what he is supposed to do - and more. What is your 'more' in this season?

Adapted from a note by Pastor Jed Haas of Mercy Road Church - Appleton, WI. Find him on FaceBook