PS 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” What was I thinking as a young child as I was saying that nighttime prayer? What were you thinking if you said that prayer? “Good night mom, if I don’t croak I will be seeing you tomorrow morning.” All I know is if God has my soul in his hands, I am ready for anything. Even a good nights sleep. If you are having trouble sleeping, try thanking God for filling you with peace and expect it to happen.
How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk
Faith in real life
courage
PS 3:6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. Either this guy is naïve, Jett Li or River Tam, or he/she knows something we all do well to learn. ‘When God is for me, who is against me?’ Where do you need courage in your life today?
the kingdom
We are the “sent out” ones who join Jesus…
Church, do you want to come out and play?
not funny
PS 2:4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.
When people start thinking they can do anything they want that is evil, God has an attitude. He doesn’t feel threatened. He doesn’t get frustrated. Who knew God has a bit of sarcastic stand up comic in him?
Pray to be the type of person who doesn’t get God to laugh like this.
beyond the tribes
I live in LA, or if you are from LA, the Valley, or if you are from the Valley, by Pierce College. Whenever I am asked where I am from by someone outside of LA, I just say, “LA.” Technically, that is where I live. If I tell you “The Valley,” you might go, “Huh?”
Actually the San Fernando Valley is an urban center. If we were a city on our own, we would be the 8th largest city in the US. Over 2 million of us call the Valley home.
That is why it is so much fun to connect as Christians. At our church we co-hosted (with LAPD Chaplain Ken Crawford) the San Fernando Valley Men’s Prayer Breakfast last weekend. About 250 guys from all sorts of tribes just having fun and sharing in the Spirit.
Baptists, Pentecostals, Calvary Chapel, Vineyard, Foursquare, Lutherans, you name it, guys from all sorts of churches, sharing the one thing they have in common besides their gender.
Jesus.
And when you center on Jesus all the denominational and non-denominational labels disappear. When you center on Jesus in a city, you reflect the cultures of the city. About as multicultural a group of guys as you will ever see in America coming together to have fun on a Saturday morning that doesn’t involve the throwing, kicking, hitting, or shooting of a ball.
Guys dig Jesus.
way of life
Read one psalm a day with me and I will comment on a verse from each. Starting today to the end of the year, we will cover every Psalm! PS 1:2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. When we think of the word “law,” we don’t get too excited about it. Unless there are flashing red lights behind us. The word “law” in the Old Testament is a way of life given by God. It is not a list of rules to follow as much as it is guideposts for healthy living. When you are appreciating God’s Word and you are becoming familiar with it, it expands who you are. Why would knowing the scripture be better than not knowing it?
life moves fast
I spent yesterday afternoon at the preschool graduation at our school. Yes, they even wore caps and gowns. Let the fun begin!
Then last night, I attended graduation ceremonies at The King’s College and Seminary. This is the school begun by Church on the Way. Pastor Jack Hayford is the Chancellor, and the new President is Kenneth Ulmer. Lloyd Ogilvie gave the commencement address. These are some heavyweights in the American Church and they are humble to the core.
Ten years ago, Pastor Jack was given a word of the Lord, while flying at 35000 feet, to start a college and seminary. He was 62 at the time. He decided he would take God up on the deal (when a lot of guys are taking golf lessons to help get their game ready for retirement) and ten years later we are watching students receive degrees from two year practical ministry degrees to D.Min’s.
Most exciting for me was the Masters of Divinity (the becoming a pastor degree) received by Aki Nicholas Gibson. He was top student in the class, graduating with honors. That was cool, but the best thing is I got to be there.
You must understand, I know Nick from when he was in preschool at our church and now he is becoming Pastor Nick at Church on the Way.
God is good!
(photo with Nick and wife, Holly)
strengths and passion
What are you most excited about doing? That’s your passion.
What comes easily for you? What do you do the best? Those are your strengths.
What do you want to be doing 10 years from now? That’s your purpose.
Now, start 10 years out and go backwards. What is absolutely essential for you to accomplish to reach your purpose? List that out.
Look at the list and break it down one thing at a time. Next to each item, list how your strengths and passion can best address that particular thing.
Move to the next.
Soon, you will have a map.
What about your weaknesses? Is there any item on the list that you absolutely need to use a weakness to accomplish it? Then work on it. If not, forget about your weaknesses. Not important.
Live your life through your strengths and passions.
together
Revelation 19:9
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
One of the images in the Bible for the Church is the “Bride of Christ.” When God inspires the Bible he picks the most intimate human relationship as the metaphor for life with Jesus as a community of followers. Eternity begins the moment we connect to Jesus and it looks like it is a party more than anything else. Let’s get busy.
Celebrate.
content
Philippians 4:4-13
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
We can be full of joy because we learn to be content with whatever comes our way. That is what Paul says later in this section of scripture. A good way of being content is to create your own future. Discover what God is up to all around you and join Him in what He is doing.
Who is a joyous Christian you know? Why are they this way?
