Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together.” I learned that lesson the hard way as a rambunctious kindergartener who climbed a wall with loose bricks. It was not good. In fact, the wall collapsed and I broke my left leg. Adding insult to injury (at least to a five-year-old boy), a neighbor girl had to carry me home. Too many Christ-followers are too independent. Their lives resemble a wall with loose bricks. Decoratively speaking, the wall may appear to be OK. With a little pressure, challenge, or storm, the wall collapses. "The bricks must be cemented together."
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This past weekend, I spoke on the early church and their response to opposition. Instead of praying for deliverance, they prayed for boldness: "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness" (Acts 4:29). Let's be honest: Most of us would have prayed for deliverance. "God, get rid of these people ... fix this problem ... smooth out this bump ... give me more money!" Instead, these believers prayed for a boldness equal to their challenge. Here's the choice we must make when faced with difficulties: While I allow these difficulties to deepen my determination or defeat my determination? Often, we allow difficulties to defeat our determination. Or, to put it this way, we give up. We walk away, give in, fold over. Is there a proper time to quit? Yes. Sometimes it is foolish to continue down an unproductive path. However, just…
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Admit it: most of us don't like conflict. And for those of you who do ... well, the rest of us try to avoid you. That being said, not all conflict is bad. In some respects, conflict can be a gift. Consider this: Conflict may move a person from apathy to action. Conflict may lead to the righting of a wrong. Conflict is a symptom that something is hurting. Resolving the conflict brings healing. But I believe one of the best gifts conflict can provide is clarity. In the midst of battle, core beliefs surface. When faced with a difficult challenge, we must decide what to hold onto and what to let go. In other words, "What am I willing to die for?" When the apostles, Peter and John, were confronted by the Sanhedrin and asked how they healed a lame man, they responded: "Rulers and elders of the people! If…
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We are falling behind. Year after year, the population growth of our country outpaces the ability of the church to reach new people. While our population grows, over 3,000 churches close their doors every year. Simply put, we are not keeping up. Difficulties are not new. The church in every generation has faced tremendous challenges. These challenges have called for bold responses. In the 1950's and 60's, it took the courage of a few to change the racial attitudes of the country. In Nazi Germany, a bold underground movement sought to remove Hitler. Challenges are nothing new to people of faith. Fortunately, we do not fight in our own strength alone. The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit provides us with courage, tenacity, and boldness. We have access to all the resources of heaven. Our God stands ready and willing to work on our behalf. As a church, we…
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Over the years I have taught a "Discovering Your SHAPE" class at several different churches. It's always one of the most enjoyable classes I teach. In it we discuss how God has created our unique SHAPE: Spiritual gift Heart Abilities Personality Experiences Of these five form factors, our experiences are the most fluid. In other words, the others are -- to some extent -- fixed. They may modify through the years but remain relatively the same. Our experiences, however, are always happening. Life throws us a curveball. Jobs change. Neighbors move. The economy crashes. The economy returns. Presidents get elected. Kids grow up and get married. Grandkids are born. Life happens. And with each new experience, God is adjusting our SHAPE. In some cases, we may have a pattern of experiences that is preparing us to serve in a particular way. At other times, it only takes one experience to…
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