Day 28

Let bitterness die! Last November I went through this study on bitterness and I realized that I was holding some bitterness in my heart even though I had forgiven a person. I really had forgiven! But i was holding something back and I think I was expecting something in return. That bitterness turned to anger and God really dealt with me to complete the forgiveness that I had begun, but never finished. So it is finished. I let bitterness die.

Day 27

I am behind. The guilt wants to grab me. Time has slipped away into the abyss of busyness. But I take captive every thought and know that even if I got behind on this study, finishing on time is not the goal. The goal is spending time with God each and every day, and throughout the day.

The mouth is such an interesting thing. James spends time describing how much it can control our lives. Maybe we need to spend less time talking, and more time listening. I know that is true in our relationship with God. It should help in our truth-telling, fulfilling promises, and relationships.

An aside: It has been an interesting several days (almost a week). It has been one of those periods of time where I felt I met people needs, supported another ministry, did good ministry to some in the church going through tough times and to some in the community (food give away and food pantry).

I am back in the office today and all I see is issues: administrative and building issues (cleaning nd details), at least one person I missed ministering to because I was gone and a host of other kinds of things. I am feeling that no matter how much I do, it is never enough. What do I do with these thoughts? They cannot be from God. I guess my battle today is to "take captive every thought."

Day 26

Take captive every thought. Every thought. Every thought.

How is the study going for you? Gie a comment so that I know you are checking out the blog.

Day 25

This is good and simple. What makes reconciliation difficult is three things:

1. Ego - A selfish unwillingness to admit mistakes.
2. False expectations on how we feel someone might respond.
3. Unwillingness to see things from another's point of view.

And maybe a fourth thing - we are very slow to forgive others and so we feel they will not forgive us.

It doesn't make any sense to allow things to fester so that anger grows when a simple conversation can end the contention and begin healing. It is amazing how healthy following God's way is to our lives!

Day 24

Just catching up the blog - I didn't have my book and computer in the same place for several days.

Our love for God did not come first. We all know this is evident. I also think we need to understand that believing in God isn't the same as loving God. I do meet many people who say believe in God. They recognize that He exists. They see evidence of His work. But they really don't have a "stake" it that belief. They know about God.

Compare that to a spouse. I might say to my wife, "I know you are my wife. I have a marriage certificate that says you are my wife." But that doesn't have the power of really loving my wife. Because love always is followed by active response. Knowledge does not. That is the difference in many people I meet whose lives don't reflect what they say they believe.

How can we help people to love God?

Day 23

God doesn't have the same kind of grace we have and dispense. There are times when I forgive when I almost have to talk myself into forgiving a person who hurt me - "I forgive you because I have to - if God didn't forgive me because Jesus died on the cross for me then there is no way I would forgive you." Its that reluctant forgiveness that I must get away from. I think forgiveness should just flow from me like streams of living water (John 7:38). That's something to shout for!

Day 22

The question in my head is, "How much am I like the Pharisees, knowing all the stuff but not living it out?" I like what Nasser writes, "Being a doer of the Word means we notice these people (hurting, lonely, lost people) and reach out to help them." One of my problems is that I help people when they come to me, but I don't seek hurting people out very well. I wonder why not?

Day 21

It is too bad that we misunderstand worship.

During a "service" of worship there needs to be a focus on God, and then an awareness of what we are singing/speaking or praying. The "service" is there to help us as a community express devotion, adoration, submission and love toward God. But that almost seems irrelevant if there is no connection between the expression of submision to God is not carried outside the worshipping community.

How can we declare God's great goodness, power and mercy on Sunday morning but then not even acknowledge God's power over our lives on Monday?

Is it ingratitude?

Is it a great disconnect between faith and the rest of life?

Is it a selfish faith that wants something for me on Sunday instead of realizing this is about God?

Sometimes it is just a puzzlement!

Day 20

Halfway Done!

This is one of the concerns I have about Christians is general: So many Christians come to Christ and very quickly get to a "Comfort Zone" and end up living there for a long, long time. I could very easily blame the church for that. But ultimately, each individual must come to grips with the scriptures and their faith.

2 Peter 1:5-9 gives one way of heloing individuals to progress. Each attitude/characteristic builds on the other. I placed these characteristics on my desk today. My plan is to spend time with them and see how they build on one another.

Day 19

There is a selfishness in the Christian life that focuses mainly on ourselves and our own relationship with God. That why we can say, "God AND do whatever...." It's like we think God is holding out on us somehow and we know what is best for our lives. So we will add things that we KNOW God doesn't want in our lives because God doesn't know everything, and we know what is best for our lives.

Usually, though, we add these things subtly (like the serpent in the garden) and are unaware of what happened until we are hiding from God in the garden. Then we come to the key place: when confronted by God about things in our lives we have added, do we shrug our shoulders and say, "Oh well, it isn't that bad." or do we brutally kill that sin in our lives?

Day 18

Maybe the cross, after bringing us into that relationship with God through Jesus Christ, is the lens by which we view everything. It keeps us aware of who we are (belonging to God), the value we have (Jesus felt our lives were worth dying for), the price that was paid (forgiveness cost Jesus a lot!) and the value others have (Jesus died for them too!).

Honestly today is one of those days I woke up feeling somewhat dead inside. Today will be a battle that i know can be won. This day is God's day and I want to rejoice in it. Keep me in mind as you pray.

Day 17

The Crucible of Choice - I like that phrase. It basically has to do with the idea of where our faith meets the practical decisions we need to make everyday. There are just some places where those choices are ones we struggle over. They may not be life and death, but they are essential for living life God's way or our way; choosing to serve God or seek to have God serve us?

I know God is moving me away from my "Comfort Zone" and to be the risk-taker I have imagined myself to be, but in order to do so I must make the correct choices when I am in the crucible of choice. Lead me, Oh Great God!

Day 16

I like how James puts it: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH developes persevernce..."

It is the testing of our faith that produces the positive things for our faith life: maturity, perseverance, completion, etc. But when do have "faith trials?" Sometimes is comes from outside ourselves (persecution and the like) and sometimes from ourselves - how we react and view the things in life. I do not have any of the former but I have quite a bit of the latter.

Time to ask for the wisdom.

Day 15

The only thing I would like to say about this is that I beleive when the scriptures talk about suffering it is usually about suffering as a result of our faith or living out our faith. Yes, we can grow through other kinds of suffering as well, but how often do we really suffer for our faith. We are sometimes inconvenienced or looked at funny. But suffering? I think it is rare for us.

Read this story - At the urging of local Muslim leaders, police in western Bangladesh have tortured a pastor and two other Christians for legally proclaiming Christ. Habibur Rahman, pastor of Boalia Spiritual Church, was about to start a meeting when police stormed the building. "We will teach you in the police camp how to forget your Christ!" they said as they dragged him to a vehicle. The three were blindfolded and placed in separate rooms, from which Habibur heard screams. Upon entering his room, they kicked him multiple times demanding to know how many converts he had won, promising there 'would be no Christians in this area'. They beat him with a club and burned him with cigarettes until he went unconcious. The police were reluctant to release the men, even when dozens of villagers showed up at the station and said, "We also believe in Christ like these men, so arrest us also if you refuse to release them!". Finally they were released that night. The next day, thousands of Muslim villagers demonstrated in front of the station chanting for a "Christian-free society". Local officials tried to mediate the situation, encouraging everyone to practice their religion freely without interference but local people refused saying, "You will come in the church alive but return home dead." Police denied the torture, though the physical signs were evident. Jotish Biswas, director of Way of Life Trust, said that he had learned that a local official and some Muslim claricshad prompted police to torture the Christians because of their evangelistic activity. Freedom of religion is clearly written into the Bangladeshi constitution. Local Muslim villagers have since refused to give work to area Christians, most of whom are day laborers dependent upon obtaining daily work to survive

"When I am afraid I will trust in You; in god whose word I praise, in God I will not be afraid. WHAT CAN MORTAL MAN DO TO ME." Psalm 56:3-4

Day 14

Here si that eating theme again: What do we feast on? Growing up I heard "Garbage in - Garbage out." I think this is the same principle. If we feast on garbage (which is simply gross) the output in our life is garbage. Now we all feast on something. If you are like me, I rationalize about some of what I feast on. "I can handle it." "It doesn't effect me." But then I get sick and vomit out the same stuff that I put in.

I also know that nibbling leads to feasting. I cannot just have 5 Jelly Belly jelly beans. Once I start I have a feast of flavors! And so I turn my back on some things that I enjoy nibbling on and feast on the word of God. I know that sounds like a cliche'.

But remember Isaiah 26:8, "Walking in the ways of your laws we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our heart."

What are you craving today?

Day 13

Several intersting statements:

1. "Too many of us are satisfied, not thirsty" - I agree that many are feeling just fine in their faith. They have reached a level of comfortableness (a new word!) and don't want to explore anything more.
2. "Many of us are willing to be disciples, but on our terms." I guess this is how we create God in OUR own image.
3. "We cling to Him and let Him change our lives." Bingo. Yes there is hard work, but ultimately if we cling to Jesus, spend time with Jesus, we become more like Him. It is easy to get discouraged and think that we have so much more work to do. We haven't done well in the past and we won't do well today. When those times come, just cling to Jesus.
4. Mercy - "Not getting what we deserve" and "getting what we don't deserve,"

Day 12

Brutally Killed - that describes not only removing things from our lives, but the method. No compassion. Lots of energy. Violently remove. I'm not sure I have that in me. But I must be that ruthless in dealing with those areas of my life that are not turned over completely to God. I cannot be a slave if i still hold onto my past "owners." I cannot have a new life unless I kill the old life dead (I know its redundent). Brutally.

But that is not the whole story. We somehow stop at this point and never leave that battlefield. Even in our "successes" we tend to walk that battlefield and bask in the glory of winning a battle. But there is more. We have to become someone completely new. Once the battle in over and the sin has been killed, walk off the field and grab onto something God will place in your life. Then the battle will be done.

And we can have rest in that area.

Because it is dead.

Day 11

Honestly I have a hard time with the idea I am a slave. Even to God. But the reality is that so many things enslave me, run my life, my thoughts, my attitudes, my physical expressions.... I think that although we are slaves to Jesus Christ, it takes us a while to have our attitudes and behaviors catch up to that reality so that our living becomes more "automatic" in living out our desired slavery. Until then, there is a battle that we CAN win; a fight that WILL be fought.

How is your fight going today?

Mine is going ok. I am in the fourth day of five straight days off at home, just working around the house. That is quite a bit different from the regular schedule and so I view this time as preparation for the battles ahead in my spiritual walk, which almost always come when I am distracted by busyness.

Day 10

I guess two important thoughts:

1. What has value and what doesn't. Our relationship with God changes what we value. I wonder: if what we value does not change when we seek to follow Jesus, are we really following Jesus?
2. Jesus main reason for coming was not to gives us comfort, prestige and power. It was to give us life, and life more abundant: but not as defined by our culture!

Day 9

"We love what Jesus does for us mre than we love him." I think that is how so many view Christianity today. What can I get out of it. The same for worship: "I didn't like the songs" or "It as boring" or "......." WE are the creation. God is the Creator. Our focus is adoration, worship, serving the King and Creator...as HE desires.

Now, there are blessing associated with honoring the Creator/King. But those are simply the results of relatonship, not the goal. I wonder how I love what Jesus does for me more than love Jesus?

Is anyone out there?

Day 8

Take Captive Every thought! We can control what our minds do. We don't have to think the thoughts that come into our heads. Time to go to war!

Day 7

Let the Word of God "marinate" in your heart. This is the second reference to food in this journey. The first was more of a question of what you "feast on." Now we have a picture of allowing the Word of God be our marinade, which changes our taste, or flavor, enhancing us. Have you tried sitting quietly allowing a verse, or passage, just "sit" inside you, letting it be repeated over and over again. I have been doing this by my fire pit in the evening.
"Yes, Lord, alking in your ways we wait for you....."
"The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than a double edged sword, it penetrate even to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thought and attitudes OF THE HEART."

When you use the ord of God as a marinade, your heart takes on the flavor (and substance) of God's Word.

Day 6

OK. I admit it. I am craving cookies (double stuffed oreos) and pie. I have been surprised at the strength of these cravings. I have almost rationalized having some by saying I don't need to be legalistic, and some of my "arguments" with myself have lasted more than a few minutes before I resisted. But the craving has been very strong. I have turned that craving toward looking at My Father. But this sugar craving is physical, mental, somewhat emotional and continual. I pray that my craving for God becomes just as strong!

Day 5

Ok, I been placing these notes on line one day late. But you can still respond:) The scary thing for me about this days focus is not that I have a lot of excuses to sin, but that I have none. I choose to not listen, or shut out the voice of the Spirit during those times of temptation. I almost always know what I should do! Even with a 1000 choices to make each day. When I want to feast at another table, I just place me fingers in my ears and say, "I'm not listening..." But the more I shut out the Spirit's voice, the more the Spirit gets quiet in my life. I think it goes together. We reap what we sow.

"Walking in your ways, we wait for; your name and renown are the desires of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8

Day 4

I guess rewards don't help inspire me any more in my faith. But the understanding of "influence" and how my actions influence others is very intimidating.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Eric Lidell

I don't think I have ever done anything to place my name with theirs on a list of examples for others to follow. I would hope I can sow enough to reap that kind of harvest for the Kingdom.

Now that affects my faith!

Day 3

Two things grabbed me tonight:

1. "Be careful not to try to do God's job for Him. Relax....then move on." (p. 47) How important is that. We sometimes try to force God's presence or force guilt or force transformation. Then when we have manufactured a response or solution we stay in that sin or difficulty instead of moving on. God can do things without our help, although I think He desires a willing heart from us.
2. I like what he concludes with as far as a collision goes. That why I said preaching several weeks ago that I am not praying for a revival. Revivals are momentary encounters with God that, for many people, are not lasting and they end up worse than when they began after falling away. I am praying for transformation. That I will be substantively different at the end of August than I am now. Yes, I am expecting something of lasting value to come out of this for me. (and everyone who participates).

Day 2 - Flesh and Spirit

John 6:63 - "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing." That's pretty blunt and very difficult. Playing softball last night I was horrible: 4-5 errors costing I don't know how many runs. And to top it off, I slipped and fell twice - 2 plays in a row. As an athlete I was embarressed and I felt I let my teammates down. I began sinking into depression and anger. In fact, I had to work hard not to throw my glove in disgust. But I haeld it all in. But what do I do with all that anger (rage, really!)?

I spent my time last night with God; going through the readings and then just sitting on the back porch being with God, asking for his presence. Then this morning I did the same. And that verse in John really grabbed ahold of me. "The flesh counts for nothing." Nothing. Then why is it so importnat to me? Because I am made of flesh and live in the flesh. I am culturally influenced by success and failure, and by the focus on performance. It is a difficult thing to "starve" the need to succeed. Especially as I age and want to do what I used to be able to do.

I think we are taught that the flesh gives us life and the Spirit is added on to make us feel good. The flesh is not dependable and it really can bring us to nothing if we depend upon it. I want life. And I cannot have that by mere success. In anything. I can only have that through my life in the Spirit.

But the battle is not always easy.

Day One - Covenant

As I filled out the covenant page and committed to giving up sweets for the next 40 days I thought for a while about what it means to make a covenant. In a world where contracts are renegociated or broken, and a person's word is no longer their bond, why will I keep this covenant? No one really knows (now you do) what I am giving up. There are no signs on my forehead asking people to be kind to me since I will not be eating sweets (or keep their own sweets at least 100 yards away from me). I will not be performing the "Great No Sweets Trick" for any audience. No am I doing this to lose eight. This is different.

A covenant is a binding agreement beteen two parties: this one between God and myself. I am sure I could have chosen something a little more difficult to give up for the next 40 days, like solid food, or driving my car, or contact with humans. But I wanted something that would be a subtle and constant reminder that God is present in my daily life, in the mundane and routine things of life. It is my hope that in seeing, passing up and resisting those tasty morsels that I sometimes even crave (last night I wanted double-stuffed Oreos), I will replace that craving with a craving for the closeness of My Father.

Well, it looks like today I will be taking my time with God later at night. The day is packed full and I got a late start today. Let me know (if you like) what you are fasting from and how your first day went. Let's travel this road together.

One More Day

I am excited about bginning this journey. I hope you are joining me! The book, "A Call To Die" by David Nasser will be our resource. The presence of God will be our goal. I do have three books left in my office if you are interested!

Two days to Begin

I am really excited about starting this study. I hope there are some dong this with me. As we begin, just remember that this is about being open to God's presence in our daily lives. Structure is helpful to me at times. Let me know if you are doing the "A Call To Die" study.

It begins July 23!

Don't forget to get your book, "A Call to Die" by David Nasser. Begn on July 23rd. And check in each day on this blog to make a comment, let us know how you are doing or just read what I have written.

A Call To Die

OK, get ready for a 40 day walk together. Get the book, "A Call To Die" by David Nasser and plan to begin walking through this book on July 23. That will be Day 1. We will finish on August 31. Each day I will post something about that particular day and give anyone a chance to comment on whatever they would like. This 40 day adventure will prepare us for a great season of ministry this fall!

Away but not Gone

It has been a while since I took the time to post something on this blog. Well, for the summer I am going to commit to once again blog something I think is of worth for you thoughts. Sometimes it will be something i am reading, sometimes a thought on the news. Stay tuned, I am back to blogging.

Chapter 7

This is an interesting conclusion:

"We have counted on preaching. teaching and knowledge or information to form faith in the hearer and have counted on faith to form the inner life and outer behvior of the Christian. But, for whatever reason, this strategy has not turned out well. The result is that we have multitudes of professing Christians who well may be ready to die but obviously are not ready to live, and can hardly get along with themselves, much less others."

It raises the question about the effectiveness of the church's efforts in bringing people to be actual disciples of Jesus instead of just followers of Jesus. Is there a difference?

Chapter 6 - Spiritual Formation in Christ

This chapter gets more lengthy and somewhat repetitive. Just a few thoughts:

1. Life in Christ has to do with obedience to his (Jesus') teaching.
2. "We have generated a body of people who consume Christian services and think that is Christian faith. Consumption of Christian services replaces obedience to Christ."
3. "Spiritual formation is to the process whereby the inmost being of the individual takes on the quality or character of Jesus himself."
4. "One of the greatest temptations that we face as evangelicals...is the idea that the personality an the heart are going to be transformed by some sort of lightning strike of the Spirit...suddenly you will be transformed in every aspect of your being. There will be no need for process - it will all be accomplished passively and immediately."

Willard focuses on the idea that it is a process by which we are transformed into the character of Christ, not by a lazy passive consumption of Christian goods and services. Do you think that is too strong a statement?

Chapter 5 - The Keys to the Kngdom

Several statements from this chapter are interesting:
"Grace is opposed to earning not, not to effort. And it is well-directed, decisive and sustained effort that is the key to the keys of the Kingdom and to the life of restful power in ministry and life that those keys open to us."

For a vast majority of people I believe the effort is lacking.

Willard mentions three practices that are helpful to Christians in understanding God's purpose for Sabbath rest:

1. Solitude - helps to break the power of busyness, haste, isolation and loneliness. It gives an anchor for your soul.
2. Silence - A pastor wrote - "As I have slowed my life down through silence and solitude, I have discovered both the wickedness hidden by a hurried life as well as the wonder and delight my Father has in me."
3. Fasting - Done so that we might experience the direct sustenance of God to our body and our whole person.

The lack of spiritual disciplines and effort in today's Christian community keep God distant from us even as God seeks to be near. Effort has nothing to do with earning salvation, but has everything to do with living in that salvation.

Chapter 4 - Looking Like Jesus

Now the practical things begin. Willard talks about the "golden triangle of spiritual transformation:

1. Faithful acceptance of everyday problems - the trial of everyday life must be dealt with in patience. When they control us, spiritual transformation is slowed (or stopped).
2. Interaction with God's Spirit in and around us - walking with the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5) are part of the natural rhythm of spiritual transformation(fruits and gifts of the Spirit and more).
3. Spiritual disciplines - This our part and sometimes hard work!

Willard writes,

"The single most obvious trait of those who profess Christ but do not grow into Christ-likeness is teir refusal to take the reasonable and time-tested measures for spiritual growth. I almost never meet smeone in spiritual coldness, perplexity, distress and failure who is regular in the use of those spiritual exercises that will be obvious to anyone familiar with the contents of the New Testament."

The question for us, then, is, "Are we willing to do the hard work as our part in spiritual transformation?"

An Apprentice of Jesus,

Kevin

Chapter 3 - Who Is Your Teacher?

In the second paragraph of this chapter Willard writes,

"What happens to Jesus in the crush of the information pushers? Unfortunately, he is usually pushed aside. Many Christians do not even think of him as one with reliable information about their lives. Consequently they do not become his students. What does he (Jesus) have to teach them?"

Willard then says that if we would live the life which God made for us we must:

1. learn from him (Jesus) the reason why we live and why we do the things we do;
2. learn from Jesus a new internal character; and
3. learn of his positive interactions and involvements with us in the concrete occasions of our day-to-day activities.

The point of this chapter is that we must trust Jesus as our teacher if we really desire the life God has for us.

Who is the primary teacher of your life?

An Apprentice of Jesus,

Kevin

Dallas Willard Chapter 2

#3 – Why bother With Discipleship
Here is a term I have never heard before: “Christian vampire.” It describes someone who wants to feed on Jesus forgiveness (through the cleansing blood of Jesus), but doesn’t want to trust in Jesus for anything else. Of course, this is how American Christianity has proclaimed the gospel. It is marketed to get people in, but not to make disciples. We have created a generation of Christian vampires who do nothing but suck in forgiveness with no real change in their lives. That may be too harsh a statement, but it is very true. God expects more.

Willard closes the chapter with an intense statement, “Someone will say, can I not get 'saved' – that is, get into heaven when I die – without any of this (Biblical discipleship)? Perhaps you can. God’s goodness is so great, I am sure that he will let you in if he can find any basis at all to do so. But you might wish to think about what your life amounts to before you die, about what kind of person you are becoming, and about whether you really would be comfortable for all eternity in the presence of One whose company you have not found especially desirable for the few hours and days of your earthly existence.”

Strange isn’t it? We want to be with God for all eternity but really don’t want to spend any time with Him here. Does that really make any sense at all? It does if you are a Christian vampire….

Chapter 1 - The Great Omission

In chapter one (Discipleship: For Super Christians Only?) Willard focuses on the idea that in most American churches, discipleship is clearly optional. I would agree. I see many in the church who have actually said “No” to being or becoming a disciple of Jesus by their very actions of neglect of spiritual things. Year in and year out, nothing ever seems to chance in their behavior or thought-life. Prejudices still exist. The same sins are still habitual. Obedience to Jesus is lacking.

I have focused on the grace of Jesus Christ for entrance into the Kingdom of God (which is accurate) and the church, but have stopped there, figuring that people will grow as they can. I neglected the fact that faith without works is indeed dead (ineffectual). I have always been a self-starter as a Christian and went after my faith without any prodding from others. In some ways, I assumed that everyone would do that. But I have bought into a thought pattern that only concerns itself with others wanting to become disciples, not on my obedience to make disciples. I clearly need to change.

Now, if I can just figure out how…..

An Apprentice of Jesus,

Kevin

The Great Omission

As we begin the new year I thought I would give a chapter by chapter "thought" about Dallas Willard's book, "The Great Omission." I have only finished the first two chapters but I would highly reccommend it for any one who wants to really think about what disicpleship is all about.

#1 – I cannot even get out of the Introduction without feeling challenged about how the church has viewed discipleship during my lifetime. Willard acknowledges the disappointments many Christians have about their own walk with Christ and their own feelings that the Christian life just doesn’t “work.” He insists that it is because “we do not give ourselves to it in a way that allows our lives to be taken over by it.” He writes,

“Who, among Christians today, is a disciple of Jesus, in any substantive sense of the word “disciple?” A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice – a practitioner, even if only a beginner…disciples of Jesus are people who do not just profess certain views as their own but apply their growing understanding of life in the Kingdom of Heavens to every aspect of their life on earth. (Italics and underling from me)”

It’s the “every aspect of their life” part that we often exclude from people becoming Christians. Growing up I think I was focused on acting a certain way and knowing the right stuff. But what Willard is talking about digs much deeper into our life experience. This book is a challenge because it is less about theory and more about practice, and that begins to meddle in my (our) life!

How would you define a disciple?