More Lessons From Week 1 Back to the Gym...

As I have continued at the gym I see more and semblance to every other facet of my life. I thought I would just jot a few down as they have helped me as I ponder them. They help me to not only gauge where I am currently at, but what changes I must make, or things I must maintain to stay on a productive path. Think about these with me.

1. Just because I do not see the immediate results that I am looking for does not mean the exercise isn't benefiting me. In today's society we are "instant people"! Uncle Ben's INSTANT rice, we have stores with INSTANT credit, we all want INSTANT internet access, and the list is infinitely long, isn't it?! So, often times we quit right before we see the benefit that we were looking for, praying for, reading for, etc. Have you ever been there?! I know I have, and if I'm not careful when I don't lose 60 pounds during my second week of eating healthy and working out I may be there again. Growth, in every arena, is a process. Solomon spoke of this, didn't he?When he said everything is beautiful in God's time.

2. The things that at the beginning were "sacrifices" to let go... Such as: fatty foods, greasy foods, Dr. Peppers, etc. have now become to "delights". I mean think about it... We were that way about our Bible reading and prayer time when we first started! The sacrifice of an hour for God seemed a HUGE sacrifice, but the longer you spent with your friend the more your sacrifice became a delight. The first couple of days to the gym were tough. Those first few meals of saying no to self were difficult, but as I see and feel the benefits of a healthy lifestyle those things are now delightful to pass on. At first, God asked for your old friends, addictions, music, etc. and it was a sacrifice, but now after seeing the benefits in obedience it is a delight to give to Him!

3. Pain is not always a bad thing! We had a saying in the Marine Corps., "Pain is weakness leaving the body!" and did those Drill Instructors ever believe that statement to be true! Though I didn't buy into the propaganda at the time they were absolutely right! There is also another old adage that says, "If it doesn't kill ya' it makes ya' stronger." Adversity is where we do the majority of our growing. So many people fall out, in every arena of life, because they are not willing to suffer "momentary" pain to reap the reward of faithfulness. No one wants to be overweight (again, in any area of life), but few are willing to endure the present suffering that IS NOT joyous, but later bears the peacable fruits of righteousness. We have a lot of "overweight" Christians, and employees... Though they may not be physically overweight they suffer from laziness and slothfulness in these arenas of their life... Unwilling to pay any real price, or experience any real discomfort to become all that God has called us to become!

Just some thoughts,

-R

So, I'm sitting there... And, I hear Gunner say to Ember...

So, I'm sitting there... And, I hear Gunner say to Ember, "HEY, I SAID FOLLOW ME!!!" My neck quickly snapped around to see Gunner going back to strongly encourage his lil' sis to follow him in the game in which they were playing. This brief little encounter set my heart to meditating about a little verse found in I Corinthians 11:1 (KJV). That verse says this, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

It is no surprise that Paul used these words! He was one of the greatest Christ-followers to ever live. It is not surprising for another reason, as well. Christ's "calling card" was to call men to follow Him. In today's society following doesn't set well! Economy and industry call for us to lead or get out of the way! I am sure, because of the nature that is in all of us, it wasn't much different for men and women two thousand years ago... There still would have been that demand and desire to lead.

The simple truth is that we are ALL following somebody! Whether it is a trend-setter, an athlete, an entertainer, a pastor or preacher, a car enthusiast, an A-lister, a real estate mogul, etc. We are ALL following somebody! I mean think about it! The social networking site, "Twitter", has us following and begging to be followed! With this truth in mind, who am I following (not on Twitter), and who are you following?! More importantly, where are you following them to?

Jesus said that if we are following Him we will be following Him to two distinct locations... Can you think of them? One we love, and the other is our greatest fear! Have you thought of them yet?

The first is fishing... For men! Jesus said, "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Almost everybody loves to follow a fishin' guide to a great fishin' hole! Let me ask you a question (the same question I had to ask myself), "Who is your guide and where is he leading you?" If Jesus is your guide and you're following you should be being led to great outreach opportunities.

Secondly, if we are following Jesus we will be led to our death. As evidenced by Mark 8:34, I Corinthians 15:31, and Galatians 2:20. In these verses we see that following Christ leads us to a daily dying of self. Our being led by Christ should be evidenced by our death to self and sin!

I think it would be safe to say that if we're not, "Fishin' and dyin' then we certainly ain't followin'!"

From my heart,

-R

Lessons From Week 1 Back to the Gym...

As I have been back to the gym this week I have made several observations. I don't believe any are profound, revolutionary, or earth shattering.

1. We will sacrifice for what is important in our lives at that moment in time. This has been evidenced by me in my own life over the last week. Right now, my health has become VERY important to me, and I seem easily willing to lay aside (or sacrifice) anything that is not healthy. Not only that, but I am also making sacrifices to do those things which are healthy.

2. Time spent in a place does not necessarily mean I will gain the benefit of the place. I used to go to the gym and spend nearly two hours... However, most of that time was spent in idle conversation, or being sidetracked by the sights and sounds of the gym. Now I have been spending one hour of intense exertion and gaining far more benefit! Have you ever fallen into this trap spiritually? I know I have! Hours at church, hours in outreach, hours in prayer and the Word (or seemingly), but really gaining nothing from any of the time spent... Just a thought!

3. Music is a POWERFUL motivator! As I watch the hulking beasts that surround me in the gym I make it a point to watch them before their acts of "super-human" strength. They all seem to direct their minds into the headphones that fill their ears. Hmmmm. I wonder if my music - in and out of the gym - is properly motivating me... Again, just a thought!

4. Conversation comes easy when things are close to our hearts. It seems like everyone in the gym has no problem creating conversation. This is because fitness is what is on their hearts. What would happen if Christ were truly on our hearts? You guessed it... Just a question!

Make Christ the center of your being! I know I am working toward that end! Not there, but working!

This Week in Vintage Sunday School...

This week in "Vintage Sunday School" we continued our look into "The First Family... One of Dysfunction". After last week's lesson on God creating a creation of "Function" this week we looked at, "The Origin of Dysfunction". We looked at ALOT of scripture relating to the "Instigator of Dysfunction". By studying the enemy we now see the weapons that he uses to bring dysfunction and destruction into our lives, families, churches, homes, marriages, and careers. We noticed four very important things Sunday about Lucifer:

1. He is a Created Being

2. He is a Cunning Being

3. He is a Controlled Being

4. He is a Condemned Being

I have really enjoyed studying for this series of lessons, and I am VERY excited about the stories that will make up this series, and more importantly the application that we can take from these stories that are thousands of years old, yet, still relevant today!

If you've been away, for any reason, we've missed you and long to see you back!

Sincerely,

-R

Taking Care of Business

Taking Care of Business is a phrase that has been used as a title for songs and movies. Truly, there is nothing "romantic" or "exciting" about taking care of business! I mean, let's face it, rarely is "business" fun. The word in and of itself conjures up thoughts of work, diligence, and responsibility. Our natural bent is toward anything but all of those things. I would go a step further to say that since we rarely enjoy taking care of business it is even less frequent that we praise God that we get to.

I was cruising around yesterday getting my tags renewed, getting the car washed, picking up lunch, ordering dinner for "For Life", and a host of other chores, errands, and business. For some reason the Spirit prompted me and reminded me that there was a time in my life where I didn't take care of any business. In the midst of the errand running I just had a time of rejoicing in what God has done in my life.

Be sure that we see Him in the small things!

-R

Daily Dose -7-16-09

"Vintage Sunday School" Series Continues...

Be sure to be in your place on Sunday morning for Lifechangers Group as we continue our series that I have been so excited about... Vintage Sunday School. Last Sunday morning we studied the phrase, "And God Said" as we looked at the Biblical account of Creation. We also made present day application by realizing that God is still speaking things today.

This week we will look at "The First Family"! Very popular topic in mainstream America today with the election of President Obama... However we will be looking at the "literal" first family! We will see how that sin always breeds disfunction, and destruction.

Our number was down on Sunday morning... Let's be sure that we are inviting folk out to take part in our group! We have seen God do amazing things in our midst and I would ask that you continue to allow Him to do so!

I am blessed to be allowed, by God, to be a part in each of your lives!

-R

New Lifechangers Series to Begin Sunday Morning...

I may say this about every series that we attempt to tackle in the Lifechangers Group, but this time I REALLY mean it! I have never been this excited about a series... I have entitled it, "Vintage Sunday School" and we are going to begin in Genesis and work cover-to-cover sharing "vintage" Sunday school lessons and stories. We will "dust off" the "classics" such as Creation, Adam and Eve, David vs. Goliath, and many more.

Of course, since we are all grown up now, and our attention spans have increased (MAYBE!) we are going to go beyond the story itself and look into the lives of the "players", consider the time, and then seek to make real-world application of the Truths that lie below the surface... I CAN'T WAIT!

In today's society the words, "Sunday School" really have somewhat of a negative connotation... But, for me, the words themselves bring back great memories of fun, intrigue, wonder, friends, and falling in love with the Book that shapes lives. I would ask that you table your reservations for the words, and come explore again the stories that have changed time, yet have remained unchanged by time!

I Have Been Helped...

I absolutely love the fact that I know, love, and serve a God who speaks to me! I mean it is one thing to say that we hear from God, and we know that He speaks to us... It is another thing when He actually does! When you receive that answer to prayer, or when you feel Him lead you a direction, etc. Today, I just want to share one such instance with you.

As a Reformers Unanimous (a faith-based, Christ-centered addiction abstinence program) chapter director I lead the greatest life imaginable! I mean, it is exciting, scary, heartbreaking, breathtaking, rewarding, demanding, draining, discouraging, and joyous all at the very same time! To truly understand the last sentence you would have to just sit in this seat, even if for just a day! With all that said, it is not a science. I mean, I would liken my job to that of a jet fighter pilot, but at least he knows that if he gives to much or to little throttle, or to much or to little flight surface he is in trouble. He understands the sciences of flight, etc. Though the modern fighter is a very technical, complex machine it is just that... A MACHINE! You tell it what to do and it does it. Now, bear in mind while doing what it is told to do it can take that aviator on one mean ride! Barrel rolls, loops, dives, flips, stalls, and anything else the aviator has the stomach for...

But, as an RU director I have been given this amazing "Flight Manual" that tells me that if I do this I can expect this, or if I go here I will end up here, etc. Then, I have to not only maneuver my own life according to this "Manual", but then it is also my calling to help others navigate in accordance with God's Word.

May I just stop here and say that I have a full-time job just keeping my own mess in the sky! I mean there are times in my spiritual walk where it seems more like I am "limping home" to the flight crew than setting heaven and earth on fire... There are times where I'm not sure I have what it takes to get my own deal up off the tarmac.

And now I also have to help others gain flight also?! What a responsibility... What a weight... WHAT A JOY!!!

And, I understand it isn't me that is responsible for my own "flight" or the "flight" of others! It is Christ in me! I am simply trying to lay some ground work for the help I received today.

Our group has been in the middle of a satanic onslaught now for quite some time. We have seen student after student who were once liberated by addiction now held again in addiction's bonds. This of course, has sent me reeling! I have been second guessing every counseling session, every message, every encouragement (or lack there of). I have been driving myself, in a word, NUTS! Then this morning it happened! I read a paragraph from a book, and God spoke to me! I wasn't looking for my answers in this book. I was just reading for my benefit and God helped me!

It came in the form of an old Puritan quote, "The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay." The quote used to be used to describe the difference between the repentant and unrepentant heart. The Holy Spirit reminded me that it has not been the counsel, the sermons, to hard, or to soft! But rather, it has been the heart of the hearers.

So, now I am free to keep my own craft maintained, and battle ready, and to present the truths of the "Manual" to others whereby they will have the tools to fly the free skies of Christ's liberation. However, when they choose to remain grounded it has little to with me, but all about what they do with Christ"!