Significant Steps Towards Adoption

First of all…I appologize for the lack of posts on this blog for the last several weeks.  My editorial calendar is suffering due to my FULL “Life and Career” calendar…(as if that’s not the case for everyone – I know we are ALL busy these days).

I am amazed at the number of hits that continue on a daily basis, regardless of the lack of new content on the blog.  Thanks for coming and reading past posts and clicking on other links that may be helpful to you in your search for Truth.

A lot has happened in the last several weeks in our lives.  Along with the normal summer activities…we have traveled to Mexico (what a blast!) and we are preparing for trips to Chicago and Colorado yet this year. 

We have also continued to work on the many steps towards completing our Adoption.  Significant progress has recently been made in this area and I am now starting to get excited at the reality of what is going to take place in our lives.  We are confident that God has lead us into this process and we are anxiously awaiting the adventure that will unfold as we continue to seek His guidance in our journey for Purpose! 

Why are we on a journey for Purpose…what’s this all about and when will these major life changes start to occur?  I challenge you to click on the following link, bookmark it, and come join us from time to time as we continue our journey!

www.godspurpose.wordpress.com

jimmy d

Happy 4th of July!!!

We are blessed to live in a free country…a country that allows us to follow our dreams, live where we choose, have a choice in our professions, and most of all…we can WORSHIP and PRAISE our GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST FREELY!

I am thankful for this truth.  I pray that America will continue to exist with these values.  I pray that we will be a CHRISTIAN nation.  A base for a revolution that brings the world back to GOD!

Thank you to those who have served and established the framework to this freedom that I enjoy today!

Go make some BOOM BOOM POW today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Practicing Redemption (from Vic Coston)

The following is a post that my friend Vic Coston has allowed me to share with you on my blog…it challenges me on how I treat others with “noticeable” sins…and the process of their redemption.  We all need it…we all need to practice it.  I think you will find this challenging as well…thank you Vic for sharing it with me for the blog!

THE NFL and THE CHURCH

 In the next few weeks the National Football League (NFL) will make a decision regarding the ethics and economics of reinstating former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick to the League.

It will be interesting to see what they do.  There is a demand for his talent.  But is it worth the risk,  media frenzy and protests which are certain to descend on any team that signs him to a contract?

You may recall that two years ago Vick pled guilty to several charges related to dog fighting, gambling and multiple acts of cruelty to animals.   He was recently released from a penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas and will serve the rest of his sentence, in his own home.  He’s lost millions of dollars and will be on probation for three years.  Vick will live under public scrutiny, where his every word and gesture will be measured and discussed by pundits and pinheads.

Oddly, many of those who will harshly – and perhaps violently – oppose Vick’s reinstatement to the NFL, because of his gruesome treatment of dogs, have no moral aversion to aborting a child.

If you were the Commissioner of the NFL, what would you do with Michael Vick?  Personally,  I struggle with the ethics of this matter.   Yes, he has fulfilled the demands of justice, but his reputation will always precede him.   Yes, he was convicted of a crime, but he served his sentence. 

I’ll never buy a Vick jersey, but that’s primarily because I’ve never been impressed with anything he’s done in the NFL and I’m far too tight with money to buy NFL merchandise.  Yet, at the same time, I have cheered for teams who had players with bad reputations and coaches who – on occasion – have spewed profanity from their lips on national TV.   Am I a hypocrite?

Frankly, the NFL is in a no-win situation and my fear is that economics will be the deciding factor.   But isn’t the real question the ethics of redemption?

How would Countryside Christian Church respond if Michael Vick or any other ex-con entered our building searching for community, forgiveness and peace?   Would we esteem him for his fame or disesteem him for his infamy?

Isn’t this worthy of our consideration?   While I don’t know what the NFL will do with Vick, I do know what Jesus is doing.  He is reaching out to Michael Vick and every other sinner, wooing them to Himself, longing to forgive their sins and add them to His body, the Church. 

If we do not embrace the totality of the gospel, we ourselves, will not be embraced by God’s grace!  If a congregation doesn’t practice the ethics of redemption, it isn’t a part of the Church!

We often refer to Hebrews 11 as “The Faith Chapter” of the Bible because it does emphasize faith, but wouldn’t it be even more appropriate to refer to it as “The Redemption Chapter” of the Bible?  Yes, there are many displays of great faith, but isn’t the real story that God redeemed these men and women?  Hebrews 11 is a log of felons and moral failures, who God – in His great mercy – lifted from the pit,  cleansed, and made whole.  Almighty God is the only truly heroic figure in Hebrews 11!

As you may know, I am the Chaplain at the Nodaway County Jail.   Everyone I encounter there is a sinner, who like you and me, desperately need God’s grace.   Many have been or will be convicted of crimes and will serve time behind bars.  

Do you think you’re more worthy of God’s favor than anyone I’ve encountered in the County Jail? Do you think God favors you over them?   If you discover that one of the guests at our Sunday morning service or new members of our congregation was a former inmate,  will you elevate your snout toward them or extend your hand and your heart?  What were Jesus’ ethics of redemption?  What has He ratified as the ethics of redemption within His Church?

If you haven’t already done so, one day, you will be forced to answer all these questions.

Yours for practicing the ethics of redemption toward every sinner,

Vic

“…if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  

Matthew 5:1 

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless

you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:35

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves

with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have

against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love,

which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:15-17

The Book of James Post #2 – Wisdom and Stability

Continuing on our journey through James this week…a profound passage on wisdom and stability.  What is wisdom and why is that important to the believer?  Webster defines wisdom as the “ability to discern inner qualities and relationships” or “good sense”.  I personally like to think of wisdom as a set of guardrails that keep me focused and centered on the task at hand.  When I begin to stray off the appropriate path, I hopefully begin to bounce up against the guardrails of wisdom.  A small voice inside of me says, “turn a bit to the right” or “don’t go this direction”.  To live a Christian life we all need spiritual wisdom guiding and directing our paths (This is especially true when we are under the trials and persecution talked about in this chapter).  God is the giver of that wisdom and this passage provides some important insight as to how we receive and handle that gift.  Stability is also offered as an application point in this passage…ask yourself why He put these two together in the passage you are focusing on today.

Read James 1:5-8;

Have you asked God for wisdom lately?  Do you feel overwhelmed with decisions and actions that you are to take (in both times of peace and of trials)…Wouldn’t wisdom from God be helpful as you try to maneuver through this life (Proverbs 8:11)?  I can’t find a more direct and simple statement in the Bible about what God will do if we ask for wisdom.  James 1:5 says “it will be given to him” that asks.  Life Application:  Stop today and simply ask God to give you wisdom.  Ask Him to help you with your decisions, teach you perseverance in your trials, and joy in your service to Him.

Ok…we have asked for wisdom, now we need to understand verse 6-8.  Asking God for wisdom is simply “asking”… if we don’t believe that He will give us what we need.  In our asking, we have to have Faith that He will listen and respond.  We have to believe that He will give us what we need to make the decisions we are all faced with on a daily basis.  It’s pretty clear that if you doubt that He has given you the strength, the character, the ability, the WISDOM…then you are going to be as stable as a “wave of the sea” being tossed about by all the different winds of life.  If we are going to understand perseverance and understand how to withstand our trials and find joy in them, then we have to trust God.  We have to be stable in seeking His wisdom in all these things.  Life Application:  Don’t simply ask and then doubt whether you have wisdom.  Ask and be confident that God will hear your sincere request and provide you with the wisdom you need for all areas of your life.  Face this week knowing that if you are sincerely praying for wisdom…God is providing wisdom.

Introduction to the Book of James

I am currently studying the book of James in my morning devotions.  I feel compelled to study James for a couple significant reasons.  James is a challenging book on faith.  God uses this book to expose those who simply talk big, but rarely (if ever) deliver any actions.  We all probably feel like that describes each of us from time to time.  I am also interested in what James has to say about Christian living.  Trials, wisdom, money, love of the world, faith and action…these are all areas that James provides some life application points that hit hard and provide lasting results…if you open your heart to this book.

I plan to post my thoughts on profound areas of James as I now go back and break it down.  Let’s begin reading James together and watch for glimpses of God’s leading in our lives through this challenging book. 

Read James 1:1-4;

Keep in mind that James originally wrote this to Jewish Christians that were scattered about the land.  Pushed out due to persecution…facing challenges for their faith.  They needed encouragement as they stood for Christ.  They did not have the comfort of fancy church buildings with hundreds of people that “claimed” they were Christians all around them daily (like we all have today).  They were under significant pressure as they took stands for their faith.  Life Application: I don’t have it near as rough as these Christians did, quit complaining about my obstacles and start standing up for your faith in my current environment…no matter how uncomfortable I may feel.

Notice in verse 2 that James does not say “if” you face trials.  He says “whenever” you face trials.  I am certain that anyone that elects to stand for Christ will face trials.  So expect them to come.  As James writes…consider it pure joy as you face them.  How can we possibly find joy in trials?  God must be the center of your motivation in order to accept trials and find joy in them.  When you can be honest with yourself and truly desire to serve the Lord and do things that bring Him glory and honor and praise…it is then that you can accept trials on His behalf.  You want to please Him, and you will therefore joyfully accept the consequences.  Life Application: I struggle with this concept daily.  But God is continuing to help me see the joy that comes in making His desires the desires of my heart.  The more I ask Him to place His desires in my heart, the more I find myself willing to suffer trials for Him.  If you have children…ask yourself if you would suffer for them to be happy?  You love them that much, don’t you.  Then love God that much and you will start finding joy in trials.  You will see that in those trials you are standing and proclaiming Him…bringing Him glory and honor.  Good Stuff!  Accept your trials and consider it pure joy to take them for your King.

Trials also help us develop.  James says it…I believe it.  Think about the process for refining metals, gold in particular.  The fire (trials) purifies, cleans, strengthens, tests and proves the quality of the material.  What is my worth if I am never tested, if I never have the chance to apply my faith?  How would God know that I truly love Him if I am never in a position to openly choose Him over the world?  Life Application: You say you’re a Christian.  Does your actions under trials say you are a Christian?  Look at your life and be honest with yourself about how often you are proving your perseverance for God.  Are you lacking?  If so, change that by standing up under persecution and developing perseverance for God.

Greater Works Than These…Really?

I was reading in John 14 this morning to start my day.  Chapter 14 is a very encouraging chapter…as we find Jesus comforting His closest followers as they begin to develop some anxiety for His upcoming departure.  We learn of several great points in 14 (He goes to prepare us a place in Heaven; He will come again; Jesus further confirms the Trinity; The coming of the Holy Spirit).  One point that I just can not begin to comprehend is what Jesus says in verse 12-14.

¹²I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  John 14:12-14

Wow…really?  I just don’t see how I could be a vehicle for “greater things”.  But then I suddenly realized that this is another example of how I have been under-estimating the power of the Holy Spirit.  Once again, this is not me…it is God in me that can do greater things.  Because the reach and potential of the Church is so large…an effective ministry today(one with the Holy Spirit in the driver’s seat) can equate to even “greater things”.

My friend in Chicago was talking last night about a meeting he recently had with some church planters that are preparing to head to Paris France to plant a church.  Being in the Chicagoland for years, with all of the normal “stuff” and “relationships”…my friend asked them what they were doing with all of their “stuff” before leaving for Paris to plant the Church (they are only taking 8 suitcases with them).  They responded that they are giving the rest away…picking up and following God’s lead on this decision.  I was amazed at this (and I know my friend was too).

With the potential that exists in France for reaching the lost and growing the Church…I think I can see an object lesson on what Jesus was saying about “greater things” relating to this family and their faith.

I pray that I will exercise obedience like this and allow the Spirit to conduct “greater things” through my life.

Challenging Quote

This is a great challenging quote…be careful, it will work on you!

 “When it comes to spiritual matters, you and I will never know our potential under God until we step out and take risks on the front line of battle.  We will never see what power and anointing are possible until we bond with our King and go out in his name to establish his kingdom.    Sitting safely in the shelter of Bible discussions among ourselves, or complaining to one another about the horrible state of today’s society, does nothing to unleash the power of God.  He meets us in the moment of battle.  He energizes us when there is an enemy to be pushed back.”  Jim Cymbala -Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, p. 173.

Wow…

He Knows How We Feel

Just a simple truth today to get this week started.  God knows how our suffering and temptation feels.  The Bible tells us that He Himself suffered and was tempted.  Though He did no wrong…He still became a man and walked this earth like you and I.  We must not forget this.  God knows what we experience in the flesh and He wants us to turn to Him for our strength daily in all times of suffering and temptation.  He will empower us to do our very best in all these situations.

¹³and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.  Mark 1:13

¹⁸Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.  Hebrews 2:18

Have a great week…and remember to rely on God’s help in all areas of your life this week.

Simply “Do It”

My devotion this morning was empowerment, but it quickly led to more of a devotion on obedience.  Most of the time we want to obey…but we often find it difficult to follow through.  We begin making excuses and finding ways to justify our inability to obey our Heavenly Father.  How do we find the power to obey?  How should we respond to God? 

Delton, my 3 year old, came walking into my office while I was thinking about this devotion.  I asked him, “Del, what does it mean for you to obey dad?”  Without hesitation he looked at me and said… “DO IT!”

Delton is my little catalyst for change…he likes to live right on the edge of what he knows mommy and daddy told him NOT to do.  But I was really not surprised with his answer.  He is a risk taker, a free spirited kid that will try things…just because.  He does not always take time to analyze decisions or justify his reasoning for doing things.  He just does them.  His response of “DO IT” is exactly how he goes about his little days.  When his brother tells him to try something…he just does it! 

I think I need to look at obeying God more like Del looks at 90% of his decisions.  I need to simply “DO IT” without any hesitation or personal justification.  Somewhere along the proverbial hallway of trying to find the “why” and “how” we open the door to what ends up being the chicken exit.  We justify ourselves out of simply just obeying and following through.  Isn’t that what we want our children to do…just obey and follow through without any hesitation?  Isn’t it likely that this is what our Heavenly Father wants from us as well?

There are several scriptures to support the fact that He does want us to just “DO IT” (Jeremiah 7:23, Deuteronomy 5:32, James 1:25…to name a few listed in my men’s devotional journal).  But one that was not listed is one that I find most profound when considering our response to obedience.  Mark 1:16-20 says;

¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” ¹⁸At once they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

In this passage we see Jesus calling men to follow (or obey) Him.  They did so without delay and without hesitation.  I believe that they applied Del’s approach of “DO IT”.  I want to be more like these fishermen with my obedience to God.  How are you responding to God’s call of obedience in your life?  (The empowerment part refers to the Holy Spirit…that’s another blog post for a different day!)  Have an awesome weekend…and just “DO IT” when God calls you.

Naive New Testament Faith

Ok…I will admit I had some fun creating some hype surrounding the rollout of what I called “The Revolution”.  It was exciting getting connected online and setting up some of these awesome new communication channels (like this blog).  I have been adding friends on Facebook and I am confident that I am going to enjoy reconnecting with some old and new friends there.  But one thing that I am really looking forward to is the ability to share my personal views on faith and religion…and that is primarily why I chose to set up this blog.

Psalms 43:3 refers to being led by God’s Light and Truth.  That is my hearts desire, to be led by God’s Light and seek His Truth.  It’s really that simple.  If you elect to spend some time with me here, you will see that I like the “basics”.  I like to keep it simple.  So what am I doing…I am simply seeking to be led by His Truth.  We can take some of that journey here together and I do hope you will join me from time to time.  Post a comment or two…or not…but lets seek His Truth together!

Why “Naive New Testament Faith” for my first post of any substance?  I recently attended a Church Planting conference in Orlando with a group of my very dearest friends (actually they are family now)…and I found that God rocked my very beingwhile I was there.  He challenged me in ways that I hope to share with you in the coming days and months.  But more than anything else He challenged me to realize that He is bigger and stronger and greater than I have been giving Him credit for.  I made the comment several times while attending the conference that “I have severely under-estimated the power of the Holy Spirit”.  In one of the sessions, Craig Groeschel (www.lifeChurch.tv) spoke about having “Naive New Testament Faith”.  That hit me and stuck!  Webster defines naive as “unaffected simplicity”.  Craig was making a point that church planting movements will never be “safe, predictable or clean” and that we have to approach them at times with a bit of naivety (is that a word?). Movements happen because God seeking individuals excersise Naive New Testament Faith and then God provides the ingredients through the Spirit. 

That is what I want to have as I journey through this life seeking the Truth.  I want to remove “me” from the equation and replace “me” with “God”.  We need to get back to the basics, let go of ourselves, excersise some unaffected simplicity and LET GOD!  Do you have Naive New Testament Faith?