Lenten devotional #2

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Another “Lessons Learned Living with Jesus” devotional:

I  just heard another one of my friend’s struggles with cancer.  Struggling with chemo that has not worked.  Struggling with earthly attachments.  Struggling to rest in God’s hands.

I cried. 

She begins her latest thoughts with praise.  You cannot live a long life with God without a sense that the end is better than the beginning.  There is a soft landing when we fall into God’s hands.  The terror is in the fall.  

Constant pain is currently gripping my friend.  Releasing loved ones wrenches the heart. 

For almost four decades I launched my life daily with one whose life was always close to death.  I laughed, cried, walked with, sang with, was thankful for the days I spent with my loved one.  And in her mortal end came a true beginning. 

For heaven’s sake live life on this earth with pure abandon – keep a light touch on the things of this earth – grab hold of that which will not perish.   There is more to come!!

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. (Philippians 3:20-21) 

Leadership training insights

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The hour long drive was on roads that were not bad, but a bit icy.  The meal was fantastic, pulled beef.  And the training session had some pithy insights.

Imagine working in a country where you cannot be seen as the leader.  Everything you do must come from others.  You cannot assume any official titles.  How then shall you lead?

Our speaker came from that situation.  His thoughts were well grounded in Scripture and experience.

Prayer – start there!  Hear what God has to say.  Spend time in meetings praying!

Programs – the important thing is not the program, but the person.  Their life in Christ, and how they are passing that on to others is paramont.

Teach – Make your first teaching task to tell people about God – how to hear from God, how to live in God, how to be holy people.  Reporting on the progress of programs should begin with reporting on how the people are doing spiritually in their own lives.

Aim high – what if our goal was to have all people become mature in Christ, to be fully Christlike in all they say and do? 

That is just a start on some of my thoughts.  But a good start!

Heritage and heresy

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On Sunday I preached on being crucified with Christ.

Now, for most people that phrase is totally foreign.  Crucifixion is a form of execution.  Not nice 2,000 years ago, still not nice today.  The idea is that we decide to be a follower of Jesus by giving up on ourselves and letting Jesus lead.

In the church, this practice is the orthodox view of Christianity.  Within that heritage there are a number of areas that are fairly well defined.  I mentioned some of these on Sunday, relating that in our society we will be “crucified” if we hold to these varying statements.

Over the years, even within the church, there have been those who have decided that they would like to widely vary from these time tested statements.  And so, we live in a society that has what I would call heretical views on various areas. 

The question for many of us is, how far away from our heritage do we go before we become heretical?  The councils of the churches over the years have helped to determine this (now I’m into a history lesson!!).  The straightforward meaning of Christian Scripture gives guidance.  And, I might add, for many who are exploring differing views, the Spirit of God pinches and pleads – until either a decision to return is made, or the voice is ignored.

Thoughts on meditating on my own sermon!  I guess if the preacher doesn’t listen, why should anyone else 🙂

Garage door openers, washers and phone calls

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Today is a day off.

Now, for the last few weeks I have had a number of “days off”.  Traveling here and there, visiting friends, family and fiance.  Accumulating hours of work to accommodate for the days off has been tiring.  Worthwhile, but tiring.

Today is the first day in quite awhile that I have stayed home, done “home” things and enjoyed the quiet.

I started the day changing out a washer on a tap.  I had set aside an hour or two – you never know.  Done in 15 minutes.  And wondering why I hadn’t worked on this weeks ago.

Then off to figure out the fixing of my garage door opener.  Yesterday some gears had been stripped and the door no longer opened.  A replacement would be easier in the long run – other things could start to go on a 20 year old motor and system. 

The local hardware store suggested a simple solution.  I brought the system home and looked it over.  Other than the brand name being different, everything else proved to merely be replacing old parts with new.  In a few hours the garage door is opening as it should!

And to finish off the early afternoon, my daughter phoned. 

How good a day is that!!