Being The Best FOR The World

It is the eve of our annual Spur On 5K Trail Drive Run for Mercy Heart (a ministry with at-risk families and children of inmates). I am thinking about this event and running in the race myself. There will be many running this race with the goal of “being the best in the race”, being first, running the fastest time. That is an admirable goal for such an event, but what about in life.

Dewitt Jones, a photographer friend, has challenged me and many others to “not just be the best IN the world, but to be the best FOR the world.” Let that soak in for a minute. Just being the best IN the world will not satisfy nearly as much as being the best FOR the world. I ask myself, “How can I be the best FOR the world?”

In the Scriptures it says, “See that no one return evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both FOR yourselves and FOR others.” (Emphasis added) – 1 Thessalonians 5:15. Then the verses that follow actually tell us how we can be the best FOR the world.

This is how to be the best FOR the world (1TH 5:16-24):

Rejoice always (Dewitt would say, “Celebrate what is right with the world.”)

Pray without ceasing (At all times and any time commune with the Heavenly Father)

In everything give thanks; this is God’s will in Christ Jesus for you (Even in the tough stuff of life there are things for which to be thankful)

Do not quench the Spirit (Do not stifle the work of God on this planet and in the hearts of men)

Do not despise prophecies (When you hear a word from God, pay attention)

Test all things; hold fast what is good (Look for the truth and relentlessly follow after it)

Abstain from every form of evil (Keep your mind stayed on the Heavenly Father; Treat others like you would like to be treated)

This passage concludes, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

God Himself, in Christ Jesus, can and will make you the best FOR the world. Let Him lead and guide your life.

Get Spurred On!

Morning Blessing Run

I have discovered something about folks I encounter on my early morning jogs. These are folks who are either watering their yard, picking their paper up off the driveway or exercising...walking, running, cycling. They are usually pretty focused on what they're doing but will wave or offer a sort of perfunctory, "G'morning!" Of course I return the greeting in the same sort of perfunctory way.

One morning I was the recipient of the usual greeting. But what came out of my mouth in return was, "Bless you!" Where'd that come from? Well, something happened. It lit a smile on that neighbor's early morning face. Made me feel pretty good too. Soon I encountered another person on my running route. "Bless you!" Another smile, and another, and another.

What I have discovered about folks is that if you extend a blessing to them it really lights up their life. Its like getting a gift you didn't expect. I've yet to get a frown in response to a greeting of, "Bless you!" Yesterday I gave a blessing to a young mother in her front yard. She was strolling around with her barely walking toddler. The mom radiated a smile. The toddler looked with curiosity at this tall guy jogging down the street, smiled, and gave me a little wave.

I've discovered something about my self as well. When I extend the blessing of God to someone else, I feel blessed too. Psalm 128:5 says, "The Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life."

BLESS YOU!

Look How Far God Bends To Reach

“For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves [the table]? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I [Jesus speaking] am among you as one who serves.” (LUK 22:27)
Roy Hession writes (in Jesus is the Heart of Christmas) “With a wash basin and towel Jesus revealed how far He would bend to reach us, and how far His arms would extend to meet our need. No king, no ruler, no magistrate had ever bent that low or reached out so completely to meet another’s need.”
“...the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (MAT 20:28)
“Jesus is the heart of love and all that it gives; the heart of righteousness and all it represents; the heart of mercy and all it restores; the heart of kindness and all it embraces; the heart of grace and all it provides.
To the troubled heart He brings peace; to the fearful heart He brings comfort; To the repentant heart He brings cleansing; to the worried heart He brings rest; to the lonely heart He brings His love.”

Gospel Spurs

Getting spurred on runs parallel to Romans 10:15 that says, " ' How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings (good news) of good things.' " What a challenge it is to run the race; sometimes in the mountains, sometimes in the valleys, sometimes in the straight aways. "Feet" are the secret in any race to winning the crown. "Feet" are the secret to witnessing, bearing the good news of the gospel. Where will your "feet" take you today? What race will you be running today? Just think about it and "get spurred on."

Good For Your Health

This was taken from the August, 2007 issue of "Consumer Reports on Health", pg 3.

Volunteering: In one study, adults aged 55 and older who volunteered for two or more groups were 44 percent less likely to die over the five year study period than those who didn't volunteer. Other studies have linked volunteering with reduced rates of illness and chronic pain, and increased functional ability.

I have also heard from several men and women who were formerly incarcerated. When they get out of prison loneliness sets in. If they are at home, tension builds due to the slow process of getting a job. What these men and women have told me is that when they look for ways to contribute (even volunteer), their loneliness disappears and the tension subsides.

Prov. 12:25 says, "An anxious heart weights a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Not only receiving a kind word but giving a kind word will lighten your load. DO IT! IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH TOO.

Trail Blazing Theology

Consider your life as a Christian (a follower of Christ) and how you and/or your church fellowship view the walk of a Christian. I like to think of it as "Trail Blazing."

Many years ago I heard a message on this subject and it impacted me deeply. Then recently I was reading The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus by Brennan Manning. He referenced the same thought. It originated with Wes Seeliger in his book Western Theology. The big idea here is whether you live your life as a Pioneer or as a Settler. Manning goes on to say that Settler Theology (ST) enjoys the safety of the town. It wants to define everything and make sure the rules are not broken and everyone stays safe and secure. In Pioneer Theology (PT) the security of the town limits is not as important as getting out into the wild country to explore what is there. It is the passion for the trail that drives the pioneer.

CHURCH:
ST - The church is the courthouse, a cold stone structure; center of town life; dark inside. It's where the records are kept, taxes are collected and where trials for the bad guys are held. It's the symbol of law, order, stability and security. It's where the mayor's (God) office is.
PT - The church is the covered wagon, a house on wheels. It is always on the move. It is where the pioneers eat, sleep, fight, live and die. It marks a life of movement. It's always where the action is. It moves toward the future. It is not comfortable to ride in. It's all about the adventure.

GOD:
ST - God is the mayor. He sits in an overstuffed chair. He dresses in a suit with a top hat. No one sees him or knows him directly but everyone knows he is there. He is feared as an authority figure and he keeps the payroll going. He is mostly predictable and operates on a very tight schedule. Peace and quiet are mayor's number one concerns for settlers. He depends on the sheriff (Jesus) to keep the pioneers in line - got to keep your eye on those rowdy pioneers.
PT- God is the trail boss. He is rough and rugged, full of life and energy. He eats, sleeps, lives and fights with the pioneers. His number one concern is their well-being. He is down in the mud and dirt helping the keep the wagons moving. He prods the pioneers when they get soft or lazy. His fists are an expression of his concern. You love and follow the trail boss because you understand that he knows how to get you through dangerous uncharted territory.

JESUS:
ST - Jesus is the sheriff. He is sent by the mayor to be the enforcer of the rules. He wears a white hat, drinks milk and is quick on the draw. He rounds up all the bad guys and puts them in jail. If you follow the rules the sheriff is your ticket out of "boot hill" (hell).
PT - Jesus is the scout. He is always out ahead of the wagons. He searches out the best way for the pioneers to go. He lives the dangers of the trail life, suffers the hardships and hostile attacks. He interprets the thoughts and intentions of the trail boss (God). He is an example to pioneers of how to live life on the trail.

HOLY SPIRIT:
ST - The Holy Spirit is the saloon girl. This job is to keep the settlers comfortable. They go to her when things get a little crazy or if they get too dull. She gives them a little fluff, some kind words and assures them they'll be okay. But she will squeal to the sheriff (Jesus) when someone disturbs the peace.
PT - The Holy Spirit is buffalo hunter. He rides with the wagon. He provides fresh meat to eat. He is unpredictable. This is downright scary to the settlers. Every Sunday he rides into town to the courthouse (church) where the settlers are having their ice cream parties. He fires off his big gun to let everyone in town know he's there and then rides back out to the trail.

CLERGY:
ST - For the settlers the clergy is the banker. He and the sheriff (Jesus) guard the bank vaults. All the values of the town are locked up safe and sound there.
PT - For the pioneer the clergy is the cook on the trail. He serves up what the buffalo hunter (Holy Spirit) brings in to eat. His job is to keep the pioneers fit to pioneer.

FAITH:
ST - Settler faith is trusting the safety of the town: obeying the laws, staying straight and clean, believing in the mayor (God).
PT - Pioneer faith is the spirit of adventure: readiness to move out and risk everything on the trail. They obey all the trail boss (God) says to do.

SIN:
ST - Breaking the rules.
PT - Struggling with the desire to return to town.

SALVATION:
ST - Living close to home - hanging around the courthouse (church).
PT - Being excited about pushing on down the trail into the unknown; trusting the trail boss (God), following the scout (Jesus) and living on the meat provided by buffalo hunter (Holy Spirit).

CHRISTIAN:
ST - A Person who fears the trail, the open frontier. One who wants to stay on good terms with the mayor (God). One who does not want to upset the sheriff (Jesus). The courthouse (Church) is a symbol of safety and security, peace, order, happiness. The banker (Clergy) is a best the friend who guards and cares for his values. Good settlers never miss the ice cream party at the courthouse on Sundays.
PT - A person who is daring and hungry for the trail - the adventure. One who rides hard, feels sorry for the settlers and tries to tell them of the joy and fulfillment of life on the trail.


WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
Settlers are a people of the law. Pioneers are a people of the Spirit. People who try to live by the law think of Christianity as a bunch of rules to keep. They are enslaved to a system of religion. They try to impose their way on everyone else. This is a spirit of phariseeism. Jesus describes them this way: "They tie up heavy loads and put them on [settlers'] shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." (MAT 23:4)

Jesus came to liberate His people from the law. Under Him they become FREE people of the Spirit. The apostle Paul writes, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (GAL5:1)

For many the church, Christianity, is NOT good news - The Gospel, NOT glad tidings of freedom but a rigid code of dos and don'ts, a tedious moralizing and list of minimum requirements for avoiding the pains of hell (Boot Hill). BUT Jesus said, "I come that you might have life and have it much more abundantly." (JHN 1:12). Following Jesus is about a relationship. It is about finding freedom in life. It is about the journey, the adventure of following Him.

If your experience as a Christian is all about living in the safety of town life I invite you to join others on the trail. You'll see things you've never seen before and experience things you'll never know staying in town.

The Invitation of Affliction

Can you say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted?" (Psm 119:71). I would say that this is an oxymoron except for the fact that I have heard hundreds of men and women in prison or jail speak words similar to these. "Jail is the best thing that ever happened to me." "God knew what he was doing when He sent me to prison." "Prison saved my life." Welcome affliction as an invitation to trust God.