True or False?

The Resurrection of Jesus brings about some assorted feelings. Living here in the Bible belt, lots of folks readily accept it as truth. Well, at least on the surface. 
It's easy to give lip-service to that around these parts. But, really, if a person truly believed that Jesus has resurrected from the dead, wouldn't that make it pretty easy to follow his teaching? I mean, if I believe that a semi truck is heavy, truly believe it, wouldn't I yield to it? 
The New Testament states over and over again that if we are in relationship with Jesus, obeying His teaching will be the result. In fact, He says that if we love Him that obedience assures us of eternal life but if we are disobedient, we are liars and are bound for Hell.
Truth, Obedience, Submission are equal bedfellows. 
Maybe we need to gauge our "faith" based on our obedience...


The bottom line is: 
Obeying the truth is pretty serious business. 

Lead!

I have been studying the book of Nehemiah. It's an account of Nehemiah's leadership role as the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. 

Nehemiah was met with opposition from foreigners. They lied about him and tried to lure him away from the task that God had given him. His workers had to be refocused half-way through as they were threatened by the same issues. The walls were completed in just 52 days and then they worshiped together.

In reading about Nehemiah, it makes me pray for my own leadership abilities. Nehemiah worked alongside his workers, unafraid of the dirty tasks. He was focused on what God had called him to. Nothing could stop him. I question my motives and work ethic, "Where and how do I lead?"

We all lead in some fashion. There are those who look to us for guidance, who follow our example. 

As a church leader, I want to be able to repeat the Apostle Paul's words to his followers, "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ." (1 Cor 11:1)

The bottom line is: lead those whom follow you, to Christ.

Taboo or not?

Today, I had a conversation about giving.

Some folks love to give. Others are stingy. It's got nothing to do with the person's location in the demographic cross section. There are affluent people who are stingy and miserable,  while some in poverty are filled with joy. The heart is the key. Self-ish or self-less

Within the church, it is one of those touchy subjects. I'm not sure why. The Bible talks a lot about money. That said, at a minimum it's ok to preach about and the reality is, it should probably come up more often.

Through the years, I have heard scores of testimonies about God's provision. How a person gave and God provided. That's just how He rolls. But the heart is still the key. Some give out of duty, others love to share their blessings. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 completely explains it. Give cheerfully and God will give all you need PLUS enough to HELP OTHERS. 

Man, I'm trying so hard to do that and the bottom line is: 

God is faithful so I GET  to help others.  

Challenges

Challenges in life come in many different forms. 
Sometimes we are challenged by circumstances that are beyond our control. Other challenges come as a result of decisions made. But the scope of challenges that I am currently facing are a direct result of God's presence at a recent conference.
This conference was directed at church leaders. There were 5000 of us there. It was exciting, almost electric. Then, it happened. A man began to say things that, to me, were as though God himself were speaking directly to me. I was challenged.
At first I began to make mental excuses as to why I should back down from the challenge. But the longer he spoke, the more I realized the need to accept this imposition. 
The challenge? Be a leader! Not a leader by title, a leader by example.  A leader willing to step out in faith to uncharted places. A leader willing to sacrifice. A leader willing to take criticism. A leader, a true leader. A leader like Jesus. Am I willing to go that far?
Because, the bottom line is:
the world crucified Jesus. 

Workers

I've just returned from a short-term trip to Honduras. It's all the same, "been there done that" several times before. This was my first trip with a team comprised of only adults. It gave me the freedom to look around and pay attention to some things I'd never really noticed. I had never noticed how symmetrical that banana bunches grow. I had never noticed how little TV the Hondurans watch. I had never noticed how few of them smoke. Little things that aren't such a big deal. But for the first time, I noticed one thing of great significance: I noticed that all of the people in the mission that I work with (Mision Caribe) have a certain tenacity and work ethic that is rarely found so widespread in any given organization. 

They all recognize the task at hand and press towards it. I never once heard "that's not my job". I never once heard, "Oh well, that's good enough." What I saw and heard was the best effort for the Kingdom. 

I'm not saying that they are perfect, just focused. That impressed me, alot.

In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus told His disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers in to His fields." I will pray for workers.

The bottom line is, we need more workers like those at Mision Caribe. Pray.

Forward and Reverse

As I was reading the last few chapters of the book of Revelation, I had to smile and read a paragraph to Theresa: (Revelation 21:22-27)
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Without being weird or morbid, I can't wait for that. NO NIGHT! Sleep is such a a waste of time to me. Heaven will be amazing. Being in God's presence will be awesome in the truest sense of the word.
So, I look back over 2010. It was my first year at CCC and I analyze the impact on the Kingdom. I can try to see just how much I allowed God to be in control of my life and use me. Well, the church attendance grew by over a 100 people, more than that were baptized into the Lord, our family groups grew, we did several service projects, we adopted Feed The Heart, a ministry to feed people. 
In retrospect, it looks good. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! But I'm reminded of my favorite passage (Eph 3:20):
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 
I'm dreaming about 2011 and I'm dreaming BIG!
The bottom line is: I can't wait to see how God amazes me in 2011!

My influence

My recent study of the Scripture has taken me into the Old Testament. It's interesting to read the history of God's dealings with His people. 
As I have read, I've laughed at the stupidity of the human race; shook my head at the brevity of faith that some people have had following God doing amazing things; and ultimately my studies have caused me to contemplated my own part in the Kingdom.
It's easy to scrutinize the actions of others. I do it all the time. Watching football, driving, give advice. 
But today, I was challenged. Challenged by the Facebook responses to the death of a standout high school athlete. His friends reminisced all of the times that they had partied together, done crazy things while in a drunken stupor, etc. 
The legacy that this guy left behind following his drug overdose was sad, to say the least. 
So I ask myself a question: what would people post on FB about me? Would the posts read:
Matt was a good ole boy.
Matt loved BBQ.
Matt was funny.


That scares me. Scares me to think about what my God will say. Will He be proud of me? As I watch my life play back, will I have made a difference? Am I making the world a better place? But most importantly, do those in my life see Jesus in me?
The bottom line is, I want to make a difference. A positive difference.