We Can't Be "We Are That, Too"

If you've ever sat in a group of people who were asked a series of questions you've probably heard someone say something like "I am/liked/thought that too". You may have been the person in a group that said it. I have. It generally stems from a person that is either not satisfied with their answer, forgot to say it when they had the opportunity, or is trying to be like that person so they don't look bad.

Distinction is about creating a clear direction and being unified about that direction. No matter what your involvement is with a group, you need to make sure this is clear among the people.

Specifically focusing on church related settings, in order to create some distinction, we need to have a sense of clarity in our direction. If we're not all on board, then we're going to be going in several different directions.

If you were to be a part of a group of churchgoers, all from different denominations, who was being interviewed from someone who was "shopping" for a church, and the question "Why should I come to your church" was presented for you to answer, what types of things might you be inclined to say? Now that you have your answer, would you be tempted to piggy-back off of someone else's answer and say "we do/are that, too"? If you didn't, I would bet that someone would.

We don't understand distinction, enough, in that type of setting. We would worry about making ourselves look so good that we would forget to make ourselves distinct, in a positive way.

We may think that, as a church, we are going to be everything to everyone. However, as much as we would like to think that, we are not going to be. We may try to dabble a bit into various realms, but we are not going to succeed in being everything to everyone. Wal-Mart, with all its variety is not able to succeed in being everything to everyone. You can't buy a tuxedo there. You can't buy several things there. Even with all the variety they have available at every store, they still have a select amount of things one can buy.

As a church we must keep that in mind. We must create a clear distinction about what we are and for everyone to get on board with that so that we can have a good direction. We may offer a wide range of products, but we're not going to meet everyone's needs or be able to make a place for people to receive certain things.

As the future continues, we need to make sure there is clarity and that clarity is expressed to the people, so that we can all get on board with our direction.

Let's not focus on worrying if "we are that, too" but, rather, focus on what we our for others and get excited about it and see what God will do when we create clarity.

Clean Up Before Crossing - Joshua 3:2-5

Going out on the town? If so, you will probably make sure that you look nice - from head to toe. You will probably wear a special outfit, make sure your hair looks good, and put on perfume/cologne to top it off. As you head out the door you are feeling pretty good about yourself.

One thing is for sure, you won't leave looking just like you rolled out of bed or like you've been working in dirt all day. You want to make sure you're cleaned up before you go out.

Getting "ready" for the day seems to be a logical response before heading out of the house, especially if you are doing something social. You will probably do some things under the category of hygiene - wash your hair, bathe, shave, style your hair, apply cosmetics, brush teeth, paint fingernails/toenails, etc.

As Joshua was about to lead the people to the Promised Land, a land they had been looking forward to for years, they were told to clean themselves up before they crossed. Yesterday, we looked at this passage, focusing on verse 5 of chapter 3, where they were told this command. As one gets ready to approach God, it is important that they are cleaned up. Moses told the people to do this (Exodus 19:10-11). The Sacrificial System required this by the sinner, before approaching God. Jesus discussed this when He mentioned getting right with your brother before laying down your gift at the altar (Matthew 5:21-26). Paul mentioned it in I Corinthians 11:28 pertaining to the Lord's Supper. So it was pretty much a concept that spreads throughout the Bible.

As we think about applying the idea of cleaning up before crossing, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Clean Heart - One of David's famous Psalms is the 51st, in that psalm, the words "create in me a clean heart, O God" are mentioned. Occasionally, as you pray, ask God to help clean up your heart. Clean it of rage, malice, anger, gossip, hate, impure thoughts, resentment, self-righteousness, jealousy, envy, etc. Keep your heart clean so that you can approach Him.
2. Clean Mind - Sometimes when you speak of the heart and mind, you are thinking very similarly. The difference here is that I am speaking of just "clearing" your mind as you approach Him. Try to get rid of the distractions. Try to focus on approaching Him - whether it is in prayer, song, or listening.
3. Waiting on Him - One of my mom's famous lines when I was a kid was "your times comin'". I hated hearing it (because I heard it all the time). She would say this because I wanted to do things that my older siblings were able to do and I wasn't old enough yet. I have a tendency to treat God with a sense of impatience. I want things soon, if not now! However, there have been times I've had to wait on something which allowed me to focus on my needs rather than my wants. It allowed me to make a better decision, rather than going on an impulse.
4. God Will do Great Things - It is cool to see God work. I get goosebumps when He does things that just wow me. When seeds that are planted start to show first signs of life. When you get to see a result of the dots that have been connected through your interaction with people. When people's hearts are softened and changed.
5. (Great Things) Among You - God could be doing something great with you right now! Open up to the possibilities as where you're at, what you're involved in, and who's in your circle. You never know how, but it is exciting to watch it unfold. Don't be blind to the idea, enjoy what is going on and anticipate His workings among you!

Before you cross into your next venture or into tomorrow, be sure to "clean up before crossing". Consecrate (cleanse) yourself as you prepare for what God will do. He's amazing!

Looking forward to the future...

Finding the Right Angle

Recently, I was working on making a dining room table. As I was creating it I was taking my time to "measure twice cut once". When I would get in a hurry then I paid the price. Part way through the project I checked how square the apron was to the top...it wasn't a right angle. It seemed that the work that I did to fasten it all down didn't create the right angle I wanted. This made me concerned about how the legs would look by the end. (If you ever come and see it, don't look too close)

To make sure that one would get a right angle, then there are lot of precautions to take into consideration. There are lots of tools and rules to follow in order to make sure that the angle is specifically 90-degrees. It doesn't take much, especially when human error is involved, to be off a few degrees. One can try and try and try, but there is still the chance that the project will be off...then what is one to do? All that work and not a perfect angle to show for it. It can drive some people crazy. Those that suffer with any part of obsessive compulsive disorder would be spinning in circles over something not correct.

Trying to find the right angle is how some people approach God. All they know is to follow the rules. Trying to do all the correct things so they can feel that they have done all they can do to make sure "in the end" they can stand before Him knowing they did the correct things. They may read their Bible so that they can feel good about themselves. They are a part of a church and go for the purpose of feeling good about themselves. They behave both, in church and society, in a way that makes sure they are doing right.

Just as it is a lot of effort to make sure my project's angles were square, it is a lot of effort to make sure that you achieve a right angle with God. But what would you do if you were off by any fraction of a degree? What would you do if you found out that an error you'd committed when you were 20 years old took you away from being at a right angle and caused you to lose out on any hope of heaven? You would have done anything to go back to that day and change it, right?

Don't misunderstand to think one should do things at the other end of the spectrum and be okay with God. God is just, which, to me, means that sometimes He must show "tough" love and will hold people accountable for what they've done or not done while they lived their life.

What I am getting at is that grace, which God has given mankind, is something that shouldn't make us worry if we are at a "right angle" with God, or not. We can be a few degrees off and still look good to God. One person once described grace as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense". The first letter of each of those words spells out grace.

That description is so true! We are able to be a few degrees off, because we are sinners. We are able to be right with God because of the grace that has been given to us through Christ paying the price.

I tried to make sure that my project had right angles. However, because it does not have every angle the way it is supposed to be that doesn't make it a total waste. Let us not get caught up in being too concerned if our life is filled with right angles, but rather understand that as a Christian, we can be a few degrees off and God will still give us the opportunity to be in heaven!

Enjoy life, even if you are a few degrees off of a right angle!

Leave Yesterday Where It Belongs

Yesterday: the day that preceded today. That is basically its definition. The ironic thing about is that the "day" may be defined that way, but we often try to carry it further. Have you ever tried to carry "yesterday" into today? Do you have things on your mind that they "rent a room" in your mind so that they will be there the next day?

A hotel room costs money; it also costs to leave things on your mind. Getting a single room is costly enough, what if you had to pay for a dozen rooms? Your most basic "nice" hotel is around $35 a night, name-brand hotels can cost around $100 a night. You do the math at taking on a dozen rooms, it can get expensive.

That same expense is what it may be like with you when you bring "yesterday" and it's components, into today. If you bring with you a dozen worries, it is going to cost you. This cost can eat at you daily. What if you bring with you things from the past, not just one night, but say the last three months it's been "renting a room" in your mind. WOW...that is going to get expensive!

As you think about the weight and cost of "yesterday" read the following quote...

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some
blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to
be encumbered with your old nonsense. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are probably some exceptions, but think to yourself about all the time and energy that you've wasted allowing things to take up space in your mind that happened "yesterday". When we keep bringing with us things from yesterday into today, or worse, things from days ago, it keeps us consumed with using energy to keep it around.

If we would just learn to let the "yesterday" be exactly that. Carry as few things into the next day as possible. Don't even bring "tomorrow" into today, as that takes unneeded effort. Let us let today be the day we take advantage of and put our energies into.

Let the past dissolve, be excitedly patient about tomorrow, but use your energy to make today the day that you be you.

Use this day to it's fullest!

People Want to Know Who We Are

I recently learned the artist and name of the theme song to the main CSI television show. The artist is The Who and the name of the song is "Who Are You?" As a church, this is what many people are asking as they hear about us, drive by our building, read something, see you in public, or, especially, when they come to visit.

There is probably not an exact definition of who we are because that can change from time to time. There are core values and traditions that may make us different, but those shouldn't be the labled items.

How would you answer this question, as to who we are? If someone were to come up to you on the street, whether they knew you or not, what would you say?

Would you say we're the church that meets at ___, naming our address? Would you say we're the church that doesn't have the instrumental music? Would you say we're the church that ___ and you fill in the blank. Defining our church can be a positive or a negative, in the eyes of someone else. What you say will take them to a different place of understanding than they had before. Labels are good and labels are bad, depending on the reputation. A label that is put on now hopefully would be changed, each time for the better.

I want to be a church where people are asking "who are you?" But I would want that person to find out that who we are is something positive. That even if someone asked someone not a part of our church "who are they?" That the response would be something positive, not judgmental or putting us in a box.

I once lived in a town where we had a retired prominent business man as a member. Many of the people of his generation knew our church as "his" church. Probably because of his prominence in the community. It drove me nuts! I wanted our church to be known by something other than that. To get it to that point the church must be the church to places other than the four walls of the building. Every Monday, for example, our church must be Jesus to people at work, school, in neighborhoods, in the grocery store, at sporting events, etc. We must be able to show people "who we are" in a positive way, outside of seeing your car parked in our parking lot.

Let's not just be able to tell people "who we are" but let's be showing them "who we are" because people are asking and inquiring. If they have a negative opinion, let's show them differently!

Live out "who we are" this week!

Reign Falls - Joshua 1:1-9

Some people crack under the pressures of responsibility; others thrive on it. I've been in both situations. When one is expected to do more than they are used to they must make a choice to either decide it is too much for them and get out, or "eat the elephant" one bite at a time.

Occasionally, when a responsibility seems too great it is because one hasn't taken the time to put it all in perspective. You look at the big picture and think about the fact of going from point A to point B and it seems overwhelming to get to those two places. However, once you can put it into perspective, it will seem possible to complete.

Yesterday, we looked at Joshua, as he had this newly appointed reign fall on him. He was responsible for the people of Israel to make sure that they made it to and through the Promised Land. God was with him and tried to do all that He could to make sure Joshua was assured. God told him several times to be "strong and courageous". This advice of wisdom was not only for the outside forces that would come upon them, but his leadership among the Israelites. Moses encountered complaints, I'm sure that Joshua even witnessed some of them. So, Joshua was bound to be thinking about the complaints and headaches that would come his way, as well.

As you think about this section of text from the book of Joshua, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. When on the 'battlefield' keep in mind that God is always right here - He will never leave us or forsake us.
2. When you see someone who needs to be bandaged up - do it, don't leave them susceptible to 'shrapnel'
3. When the battle is within, keep in mind that God created you and knows how your made. Open yourself up to Him to let Him deal with the battle.
4. Keep in mind that with God there is victory. He assured Joshua by telling him that there won't be an enemy who will be able to stand up against him. Join up with God to gain the victory!

We all face battles. Many of them are daily. Some are within, where others are from outside influences. You may be dealing with a tough decision or self-esteem, or dealing with a marriage issue, a work issue, a school issue, or a parental issue.

The list could go on and on to be thinking about all the battles that one could face. If you are facing some issue, feel free to e-mail me at ichthus_man@hotmail.com, I'd be willing to pray about it with you.

Battles leave us wounded. Wounded soldiers are not that productive on the battlefield. Make sure you are not going out wounded on to the battlefield.

Stay safe, remember where the victory is attained, and be assured!

Being So Good That People Want to Know

News spreads because it is interesting. A great sale going on at the grocery store - tell someone. Peter and Pam are having a baby - tell someone. You just won the lottery - tell someone. "Did you hear about..." - tell someone. A famous person dies - tell someone. You get the point?

Just the other day the President's comment about Kanye West's stunt on the VMA's leaked out. It didn't just "drip out" it spewed out. Didn't take long for people to know what the President said. So, news spreads because it is interesting.

If you want to be successful in a business venture, your church, or life, you must make it interesting, and the news will travel. Word of mouth is trusted. A friend tells a friend who tells a friend and by the end there is success. This brings us to this week's quote...

If you want to be successful, begin by being so good that those with whom you
are in the closest contact cannot wait to recommend you to their friends and
grow your circle. ~Scott McKain

Speaking as a church leader, I have a continual goal of numerical growth. Don't misunderstand to think I don't have a goal of qualitative growth, too. However, the numerical growth isn't going to take place by me being the sole 'worker'. All those involved must be a part of the 'net' that is cast every day; hoping for a catch. Partly, the way that we are going to grow isn't simply by invitation. Those that come to the church must be excited. Their excitement will be seen in their friends, whom are in their close circle. They will be continually sharing about the good things happening at their church. Then, those people may want to be a part of what their friends are a part of.

We must be "so good" that we are the "talk of the town", in a good way. We must be excited, otherwise people aren't going to want to come to something our church isn't excited about. If you suggested a restaurant where the food was horrible, I'd be a fool to try it. But if you tell me of a restaurant where it was "so good", I'd be a fool not to try it.

If you want have something successful, you must make it so good that those involved can't help but to tell one person after another about the great thing you are a part of.

Let's make it "so good"!

Wanting others to know...