Devo

In my last post I talked about having accountability partners. These are the people that you've given permission to keep you on track spiritually, physically, etc. For this post, I'm thinking specifically of being held accountable to a daily devotion time. This is an area where, honestly, I've struggled for most of my life. I have never found this easy to do. It takes focus and discipline, dedication and commitment. There are times when I've stayed faithful in making that time and other times where I'm completely lazy and inactive in this area.

I've never really determined why this has been so hard for me to be consistent with. I desire to deepen my relationship with God. I've seen and experienced the benefits of being in the Word and having that knowledge. I like to read. I want it to be a time of growth and reflection and not just something I check off my daily to-do list.

So, what's the deal? I know and understand the need for this in order to continue to mature in my faith. I have people in place to ask me how I'm doing. Yet, I'm not where I want to be or need to be.

How about you? Is this something that comes easy for you or is this an area you really have to work at like me? If so, why do you think that is? Is this another area where the enemy is attacking, or, are we just lazy? I don't think we're going to Hell if we don't read our Bibles everyday. But, I do think it's necessary for us to grow and mature in our faith; to enhance our relationship with our Father; to be obedient to our Savior.

Thoughts?

Accountability

I think it's important to have accountability partners. Those people that you've given permission to call you on whatever, smack you around and get you back in line! Sometimes it's surprising when they actually step up and say something. That takes courage. That's true friendship.

I've been under some stress lately for various different reasons and have let it at times affect my attitude in a less than positive way. While meeting with a friend for lunch at work a couple weeks ago, I was expressing my current "frustrations." Blah, blah, blah....on and on I went. And then she said, "Rodd, have you prayed about it? How's your devotional time?" 

Honestly, it kinda sucks right now. I've let other things get in the way of my relationship with God. I try to fit Him into MY schedule and on MY terms. The problem is, it doesn't really work out so well for me. Every time I try to do something on my own, I fail. It's only when I'm in right relationship with Him that I can succeed. And here's the thing, I know that. I've experienced that. I desire that.

So, why is it so hard to maintain that discipline? I'm reminded of the words of Paul in Romans 7:

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 ²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! 

I know this: I'm glad He's faithful, even when I'm not. And, I'm thankful for friends who will step up and remind me. 

Youth and Technology

Dominic Nahr / Magnum for TIME

I recently read an article in TIME magazine entitled, Why There's No Turning Back In The Middle East by Fareed Zakaria. The article discusses the recent revolutions and protests taking place in the Middle East in an attempt to overthrow the corrupted regimes of their societies. The article describes how youth and technology have played a vital part of the success of these protests and that a large part of the population is under the age of 30. 

This got me to thinking about youth and technology in the church. How are we leveraging both youth and technologies in our churches today? The youth of today is the church of tomorrow. The technologies we provide to them today will be the foundations of the technology they use in the future. I wonder if the church is largely ignoring our youth and their potential?

I believe that the youth of today not only are the church of tomorrow, but, they are also a part of the church here and now. They have something to offer now. We need to mentor them and be a part of their lives. We need to give them the training and resources they need to be good leaders, not only today, but equip them to handle what's to come and the changes that will occur as a result of their influence.  

Take some time to get to know some of the youth around you. Maybe you'll learn something. I'm sure they know more about technology than you or I do. Maybe they have some insights on following Jesus that we aren't aware of either. 

Driscoll

Mark Driscoll

Mark Driscoll is the founder and teaching pastor at Mars Hill in Seattle. He spoke at Catalyst West Coast last year. He's probably one of my favorite pastors to listen to. The group that went to #CatWest last year recently gave a little overview of the trip to some of our Pastors and Elders. As I was going through my notes, I was reminded of a couple of thoughts from Mark that had stood out to me. They are;

"For whatever reason, sometimes the things we want are not God's will for us." 

"If He has not opened an opportunity for you, it's because it's not good for you."

These two quotes resonate with me. It seems that whenever I perceive that there is a possibility for advancement in my career, the door is swiftly closed. I wonder if I've placed too much emphasis on my career and not enough on my calling. I'm wondering if the two can intertwine but at the moment, I feel they may be worlds apart. 

Maybe I'm not looking at it through the right lens though. Around the time I found out of my denial to interview for the "opportunity," a friend at work sent me an IM about coming to church. It was out of the blue. She specifically said she needed Jesus and wanted to come and check it out and was going to bring a friend.  

Maybe those worlds can intertwine. Maybe I'm figuring out what real opportunity looks like . . . 

A Quote by the Pope

I recently read a quote in Time Magazine by Pope Benedict XVI saying, “I would like, then, to invite Christians . . . to join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible.” This is part of a larger message for the 45th World Communications Day. It was released by the Vatican on January 24th of this year. I applaud him for his modern stance on this topic and the relevance it plays in our society.

I’ve been very interested in how social media can play a role, not only in the church, but in our efforts as Christians build relationships and to share the message of Christ. So many are “online” in this day and age and we need to determine how we can leverage the internet and social media as an effective tool for witnessing.

Our pastor spoke this week on taking what you’re passionate about and using it for the Kingdom. The Internet, digital communications and social media are all areas I’m passionate about and interested in utilizing for Kingdom work.

I’d like to explore this concept further but in the meantime, give me your thoughts on how you think this can be accomplished. Let me know how you’re using it; how your churches are using it (or not using it); how it can be leveraged for the Kingdom. I think we need to take advantage of these opportunities. What do you think?

Service

Hall Photography

Our small group has been talking for quite some time on how to live out our faith on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis! We've done a few service projects in the past. Things like painting a house, refinishing a deck and helping with Habitat for Humanity. We've given to charities and helped at the soup kitchen. But, it seems that we've had ups and downs in our efforts to sustain this. We've recently begun talking about it again and feel we need to get serious about being more consistent and obedient in this area of our faith.

For some reason, it seems easier to carry this out in the summer. There seems to be an abundant amount of things to do and work on when it's warm outside. But, Jesus didn't call us to serve in the summer only. We're looking at things we can do now, in the winter. Things that can be of benefit to others. We want to bless others in the name of Christ. We want to be obedient to our calling. 

So . . . where am I going with this? Basically, I'm just wondering what type of service projects are you involved in? How do you serve others? Do you have something that you do on a continual basis? Do you have ideas for service projects in our community? Do you know people in need that we may be able to help? We're looking for ideas. We're trying not to limit our vision. We're trying not to keep God in our safe little boxes. We're wanting to step out. So, give us a shout out with your suggestions. We'd love to hear them.

We'd love it if you joined us too . . . .

Complacency

One of my favorite Newsboys songs is “Lost the Plot” from the album Take Me To Your Leader. I think it chronicles our downward spiral towards complacency and a lack of focus on what our jobs as followers of Christ actually are.

 

When you come back again
would you bring me something from the fridge?
Heard a rumour that the end is near
but I just got comfortable here.
 

sigh.
Let's be blunt.
I'm a little distracted.
What do you want?

Headaches and bad faith
are all that I've got.
First I misplaced the ending
then I lost the plot.

Out among the free-range sheep
while the big birds sharpen their claws.
For a time we stuck with the shepherd
but you wouldn't play Santa Claus.

sigh.
Let's be blunt.
We're a little distracted.
What do you want?

Once we could follow,
now we cannot.
You would not fit our image,
so we lost the plot.

Once we could hear you,
now our senses are shot.
We've forgotten our first love.
We have lost the plot.

When I saw you for the first time
you were hanging with a thief
And I knew my hands were dirty,
and I dropped my gaze.
Then you said I was forgiven
and you welcomed me with laughter.
I was happy ever after.
I was counting the days
when you'd come back again.
we'll be waiting for you
When you comin' back again?
we'll be ready for you
Maybe we'll wake up when...
maybe we'll wake up when
you come back again.

lies.
Let's be blunt.
We're a little unfaithful.
What do you want?

Are you still listening?
'Cause we're obviously not
We've forgotten our first love
We have lost the plot.

And why are you still calling?
You forgave, we forgot.
We're such experts at stalling
that we've lost the plot.
lost the plot

When you come back again
would you bring me something from the fridge?
Heard a rumour that the end is near
but I just got comfortable here.

Peter Furler and Steve Taylor

Are we distracted? Have we “Lost the Plot?” Have we been gradually desensitized?

I think we’ve become comfortable and complacent when it comes to our faith. It’s easy to stick to what we’re used to and what feels safe to us. It’s easy to warm our seat every Sunday morning and call it worship. It’s easy to write a check to a mission and call it service.

We forget at times that we were never promised an easy life. Following Christ can be hard. From His sermon on the mount, Jesus said this;

 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 New International Version, ©2010 (NIV)

That doesn’t sound like an easy life nor does it sound like the popular choice but it’s our calling. If we’re going to be obedient, it’s our responsibility to stop stalling and get with the program. This is the way that leads to life.

I’m ready to get out of the fridge. Are you?