YOU COULD BE

What is a good Christian? Is it that person who is at church every time the doors open? It could be. Is it the person who is a deacon, pastor, elder, minister? It could be. Is it the person who reads their Bible everyday and one, two or three devotions? It could be. Is it the person who is the most highly respected person in your church? It could be. Is it the person who is a missionary to one of the unreached people groups? It could be. 


Jesus set the example and told others to follow.


Two Things That A "Good Christian" has settled.

1. Love God
2. Love Others

This means the death of self. I believe a "Good Christian" is a person who does what God says. Most of that is outside the church walls. But there is a balance. All Christians need to be participate in the body of Christ for discipleship but also in ministry and missions. 

So Christ desires us to be God-centered, Other-centered and not self-centered. Are you a "good Christian"? You could be!

A GOOD CHRISTIAN IS ONE THAT KNOWS TO DO GOOD AND DOES IT!

CAUGHT IN WHOREDOM

God led me to the book of Jeremiah in the past weeks. I have not been real faithful in reading it. It is kind of depressing. Today, I was in chapter three. There Jeremiah is declaring all that God tells him to say. In this one chapter he refers to Israel (His people) as a whore. Why? Because they were a nation who was adulterous. I am sure there were some husbands cheating on wives and wives cheating on husbands, but that is not the focus here. "Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree." (v9).

Israel had replaced God with stuff. Stuff made of wood and stone. We find ourselves doing the same thing. Here is what God wanted proclaimed.

"Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger for I am merciful declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever." (v12).

Are you caught up in your whoredom and forgotten God?

Return "for He is merciful".

Take time to read Jeremiah 3

IT'S BEEN GOOD

Well it is the Saturday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The family is still sleeping. I think it is a parents most fulfilling moment when their grown kids are home for the holidays. We have laughed, eat, shopped, shopped and ate. We have decorated for Christmas and even wrapped a few presents. God has been good to us this year (I know He is always good) but I guess it felt right. I have much to look forward to but I mainly want to drink in this moment. I want to make sure I do not get so focused on what is next that I am not in the now. It has been a great Thanksgiving. 


How has your Thanksgiving been?

Thanksgiving Reminders

This is my favorite time of year. This week is the best of the best. Extended time with family is what makes it so meaningful. I just want to remind you to make the time meaningful.

• Be where you are. 
• Listen to what others have to say. 
• Take pictures. Invest in others. 
• Ask the cook for a recipe.
• Make an ornament for the tree.
• Remember it all comes from God.
• Remember those already home (I miss you mama).

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

I will not be back to blog until Monday. Enjoy the break. 

THANKS ANDY STANLEY

On Twitter this morning Andy Stanley (@AndyStanley) tweeted, "When I look at my children, I never think about their past. Only their potential." That is one great word or as Perry Noble (@perrynoble) put it, "THAT's AWESOME!!!". Johnny Hunt (@johnnymhunt) tweeted, "Thanks for a great reminder!" I'm not sure if Andy was speaking of just parenting or parenting love or God's love or ever how we can use it for good. I'm going to say their is one interpretation (What he wrote) and many applications (how it applies in other areas). I want to write concerning two applications.

1. Parental love - our children have made mistakes and even did exactly what they were not told to do. I watched a 2 year old stare down her dad when she was doing exactly what she was told not to do. She is a good child but we all want to find the line of authority. We are all going to blow it, BUT our parents continually see our potential. Thank God for love, grace and mercy.
2. Godly love - as children of God he sees our potential. Because of the gifts of repentance, mercy and grace God looks to our present. He see what we can be today. He see our potential as an obedient child. Peter was able to walk on water because he began to believe what Jesus believed about Him. God believes in your potential. He sees you as you can be. 

Today, live in your potential. Do not settle for mediocrity or complacency. 

$4 FOR $10

I just saw a commercial that has a $2 bill on sale for $10. It has a special picture on it. Also, a great deal was offered. If I were to order NOW I could get another $2 bill free. So, I could send them $10 (plus shipping and handling) and get $4 dollars in return. There is someone out their that made the call I'm sure. They might have really gotten aggressive and sent them $100 (plus shipping and handling) and got $40 in return.


Isn't that how Satan works? He offers a "deal" and if you decide NOW he will make it even better and we get used and abused. He makes some stupid deal look good (Adam and Eve, David and Bathsheba, etc.) and it is a deal (plus shipping and handling to KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY John 10:10)  if you act NOW.

Why do we make such stupid purchases?

JUST SAY NO!

COST AND JUNK

Just got a text that offed me a .243 with a scope for $450. I think I want a gun. Why? Not sure! I do not hunt. I might go once a year but I do not even own a  piece of camo clothing. Here is what I think I have learned. I like the thought of owning a good gun but I just don't want to pay the cost. Now, if I could find a good one for about $250 I would probably buy it. My friend said, "I thought you wanted a good gun not a piece of junk". $250 gets me a piece of JUNK. 


Here is the lesson I learned:


This is how many people approach Christianity. They want a good strong Christian life but they are not going to pay what that cost. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a great book The Cost of Discipleship that would be a great read as well as David Platt's Radical or Francis Chan's Crazy Love to inspect yourself as to the cost of discipleship. 


DON'T SETTLE!
Matthew 10:37-39 (New International Version)

   ³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Wise Words from Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods wrote an op-ed for Newsweek. Can we learn anything? I think so.


He wrote, "At first, I didn’t want to look inward. Frankly, I was scared of what I would find—what I had become. But I’m grateful that I did examine my life because it has made me more grounded than I’ve ever been; I hope that with reflection will come wisdom. Golf is a self-centered game, in ways good and bad. So much depends on one’s own abilities. But for me, that self-reliance made me think I could tackle the world by myself. It made me think that if I was successful in golf, then I was invincible. Now I know that, no matter how tough or strong we are, we all need to rely on others."


LESSONS


LOOKING INWARD IS GOOD

• Proverbs 27:19 (ESV) As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 

SELF-RELIANCE IS BAD

• 1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.   

NO ONE IS INVINCIBLE

• Just as 1 Cor 10:12 says, "take heed lest he fall". The Bible is filled with people who thought they were invincible and fell. David is a great case study. 

WE REALLY DO NEED EACH OTHER

• Other people are there for us. Don't make your journey alone. 

7 Life Principle from David

Below is the lesson from Men's Fraternity this morning (Gil McKee). Great Principles to remember. 

7 PRINCIPLES FROM DAVID'S LIFE

God deals with us on the basis of our PRESENT spiritual condition. 

• God was was removing Saul and establishing David based on their present spiritual condition. 

Our failures are often causes by a failure to CONSULT God. 

• Every time David experienced failure it is characterized by this truth. 
• Remember that the Bible is sufficient for life and godliness
• James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

We must always fight the tendency to stop trusting God and to take matters into our own hands. 

• Trust God and win battles in the name of the Lord (David and Goliath)
• Trust in self and failure is sure (David and Bathsheba) 

Our greatest failures will often follow our greatest successes. 

• We must be on constant guard during times of great success and popularity. 
• Tiger Woods said, "Golf is a self-centered game, in ways good and bad. So much depends on one's own abilities. But for me, that self-reliance made me think I could tackle the world by myself," Woods wrote. "It made me think that if I was successful in golf, then I was invincible. Now I know that, no matter how tough or strong we are, we all need to rely on others."

Success and popularity in this life are not necessarily a measurement of spiritual maturity. 

• The statement "God has blessed me" is not always true in all areas of success.
•         How many people have you seen that were close to God and then experienced great success than drifted away? 

Our greatest failures in life can destroy our credibility/integrity. 

• David lost credibility/integrity with his own family. 
• David lost credibility/integrity  with his closest followers. 
• A bowl of soup can destroy our credibility. 

Each time we acknowledge our sin and truly repent, God forgives and restores our fellowship with Him. 

• This is how David is called a man after God's own heart - RESTORATION/RECONCILIATION. 
• 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PLANNING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

I have heard many teachers make the statement, "If you fail to plan you plan to fail!" What are your plans in the missional aspects of your life? Is it just a random stab here and there. There is this pastor in Atlanta that has a passion for Haiti. His name is Shaun King. If you follow him on twitter (@shaunking) or his blog ShaunintheCity.com you will know what his passion is. Are you aware of your missional passion? It is clear that Jesus believes that our Christian life is reflected in how we reach out to the hungry, thirsty, naked, and poor. It is clear that we are to reach out to orphans, widows and prisoners. Create a missional plan. How much money will you invest each month? How much time will you invest? If you do not have a missional plan you will fail at being missional.

What is going to be your first missional move? Let me know.

GIVE ME 7 MINUTES

Please watch this and join me. IT IS TOO DARK TO SLEEP



What are you going to do?

RICK WARREN AGREES

Here are the tweets from Rick Warren this morning. We are not alone in understanding that it it TOO DARK TO SLEEP.


"There are 146 million orphans in the world.. Are you OK with that?"


"Neutrality or apathy when you see evil & injustice allies you with Satan"


"Jesus saved the very people the self-righteous thought were unsavable because they refused to hang out with "sinners."


We have been learning about all the injustices in the world which we as the Christian community can no longer ignore. We must wake up from our sleep and take the message of Jesus Christ to the world. 

POINTS OF LIGHT

Yesterday the faith family of Harvest Church stepped up and saw the following POINTS OF LIGHT. 

• Provide 24 families with a Thanksgiving Meal
• Provide clean water for 20 people for 20 years (www.charitywater.org). 
• Fight against Human Trafficking (www.thea21campaign.org)
• Do home repairs for someone in need. 
• Another trip to Central Primary today with paper, underwear, belts, etc. 
• More people going to Haiti (www.nwhcm.org)
• Another youth was saved last night (Dalton Smalley)

Thank you: Stay awake because IT IS TOO DARK TO SLEEP. 

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered."


Be a POINT OF LIGHT

1,000,000 PIECES

This is a message that was sent to me after Sunday's Sermon. I clearly speaks to what is at risk when we do not repent. It is used by permission. 


Well I’ve thought about this all day and I just cannot hold it in anymore. I wanted to stand up and scream this yesterday at church. Yesterday morning when you stood at the altar and said what if, what if you took the blood and body of Jesus as if you were pure and repentant, but you were still living in sin. What if you exploded into a million pieces as soon as you took it? That’s exactly what happened to me. God will only take so much. God will not be openly disobeyed. My God is a forgiving God and he will give you a chance to repent. He will put people in your life to help you out to try guide you back to him. But if you do not repent, he will turn away and he will replace you. 

Just like in 1st Kings 11:9 
9And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. 11Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

It’s like you explode into a thousand little pieces and all those little pieces stick into the people that you have hurt. Family, friends, acquaintances and the church body. Then the pieces of you just fester and grow and make the people around you angry at you, angry at God, angry at the whole situation. But the people that are strong slowly realize that it’s not you. It’s the sin that totally controls you. 

But it’s also like with Job. And I am in no way saying that I am any type of Godly man. But God lets Satan take everything away, house, cars, family, friends, children, every worldly possession that you have. And when you are down in that hole that you have dug for yourself, you look up and see there is know where to go but up. That’s where I am right now. I will not be defeated. I will not lie down and just give up and say poor pitiful me. God has brought me so far in the past two years and the next few years are going to be some of the hardest. But I am back on my feet and I will not let Satan win again. 

I appreciate everything that you and the Harvest Church family have done for me and my family. You will never know how much it means to me.


All I can say is, "Will, we repent?"

WHY REPENT?

Yesterday I was in a conversation about the whole forgiveness issue. It is my opinion that we have cheapened forgiveness. When I pray or ask for forgiveness, I am asking someone to forgive something I have done. Now, there might be some kind of understanding that I also mean that I will not do it again, but that goes unsaid. I think forgiveness is mostly focusing on the past mistakes with little to no focus on the future. I think that is why we are instructed to repent. The Bible does not say to ask for forgiveness. It says, repent. The word repent is both past and future focused. I desire forgiveness for my past action and I do not plan on committing the sin again. I plan to turn. Merriam-Webster defines repent as "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life". We need to be dedicated to amend our lives. Sin is serious and it affects every aspect of our lives. Let each of us Repent and Amend.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

4:25 to Conviction

Watch this and decide. Be prepared for conviction.

I Can't Do Much! You Gotta Be Crazy!!!

I have heard people say that they feel frustrated because they can't do much. What if you look at it from the other perspective. The perspective of the touched, the helped, the healed is different. What if you are the one who gets a meal today? It's huge! The key is that if everyone would do what they can, use what they have and start where they are we could make a huge difference. We could provide water to a whole village, food for a family, or some glue to heal a broken heart. Quit giving the excuse that you just can't do much. We do not have the choice to do nothing.

12 Hours NO WATER

Try this! Carry around with you an empty water bottle this week for 12 hours. You pick the time. Don't drink any liquids. You will get the message what it is like to go without clean water. You can make a difference. go to www.mycharitywater.org/hcwater

GIVING GLORY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE

Who is giving glory to God today because of what you have done?

2 Corinthians 9:13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,  (ESV)

It is easy to talk the talk. Will we walk the walk?