Christ’s Body World’s – Facing Challenges Like a Body

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."

We have all been plunged into the body. There are no fringe members of the body Christ! It makes no sense for you to tell me that I'm not a part of the body because I'm not you. I shouldn't say that I'm not a part of the body because I'm not someone else. God, through the Spirit, has made me who I am, he has arranged us together, and he wants us to respond as the body of Christ! Each one of us has a role, and that role is important to the body as a whole.

Typically, when we approach 1 Corinthians 12, we think about parts of the body who function as prayer leaders, Bible Class teachers, card writers, food preparers, yard mowers, ministry leaders, elders, deacons, preachers, encouragers, writers, singers, administrators, etc. Paul even includes a list, but his list consists of miraculous spiritual gifts. But there are other functions, perhaps more personality driven or abstract that ought to be considered, too.

For instance, God, through the Spirit, has arranged this local body with parts that react to problems or challenges differently. Some charge forward when a challenge arises. Like Peter when the soldiers approached Jesus, they attack the problem with little if any contemplation, and attempt to fix the quandary quickly. Others slowly approach a problem. Like Moses at the burning bush, they are going to cover all the details before they make a move. They are much more contemplative, wanting to consider the options, weigh the benefits of each, and cautiously move toward a solution. These two incredibly different, yet mightily important, functions of parts of the body must be combined for the common good! How can they?

The parts each must fill their own role with the good of the body in mind. They must appreciate the other parts of the body and their functions enough to encourage them to fill their own roles. And they must continuously act in love toward everyone understanding that if a challenge is met quickly or thought out thoroughly , the body has nothing without love.

If we are the body, seeking and saving is our agenda! (Luke 19:10) We've got work to do! If we are the body, nothing should stop us from reaching more, enduring more, serving more, and saving more! That's Life at Work!

Holding on to Confidence

Are there then two standards of service, one high and Christ-like for them (martyrs), and one much lower, made to meet the case of little, lean, and cowardly souls? (William Booth)

Booth's question was rhetorical, yet he didn't hesitate to answer it himself. Of course there aren't two standards of service. We are all called to serve, and we all may encounter difficulty in our ministry to Christ. Furthermore, when the difficulty arrives we are all called to refuse to give up.

One of the keys to perseverance is confidence. To keep moving forward in the face of difficulty, one must have confidence in the value of the choice. I know I'm doing the right thing. I'm confident that the reward in the end will be greater than the difficulty of the journey. Perhaps one of the reasons so many give up their faith when difficulty comes is that their confidence is not firm.

Consider the events in your own life. When have you changed directions on something because you weren't convinced that you were on the right track? When have you stuck with something despite frustration because you knew you were right?

Paul reminded us that we are in a battle, not against flesh and blood, but against evil, spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:10). Struggles, by definition, are difficult. If it's not hard, it's not a struggle! And though it is a battle in with spiritual beings in spiritual realms, there is still emotional, mental, and physical cost. Be confident of this: There is a fight going on here, and there will be times that you feel like the forces against you are too strong. Be confident in the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand, stand firm, and be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

People who die for their Lord are not responding to a different standard of service. They are just more confident that we are. They know that what they are doing is right and they are convinced that the glory to follow is greater than any difficulty here! We must grow in our confidence! That's Life at Work!

Conferences and Vacations

We flew in from Phoenix at midnight last night. One bag decided to run away to San Jose, so by the time we got home, unpacked, and in bed it was 4 a.m. When I lived with Paul and Philip Guant in my Vicksburg, MS days, if I got in after midnight, Paul would comment that I got home early. So, despite the early arrival, I feel good this morning we had a great trip.

We spent all last week at the AMFM Conference in Phoenix. AMFM is an association of people involved in marriage and family ministry. At the conference each year, couples and individuals present workshops that introduce their programs/ideas and demonstrate how they would work in a church. People like us who are building comprehensive marriage ministries in a church get to see how these ministries would fit in our church. This year, Jeremy and Kristi Finefrock from South Yukon, went with us. Another benefit of the conference is getting hear and meet some folks involved in marriage ministry who are incredibly inspiring. John Trent is a regular there. Gary Rosberg from Americas Family Coaches is incredibly uplifting. Norm Wright, marriage ministry and grief care guru, is always there.

We stayed after the conference for a few days. Brad and Brittney travelled with us. We hit the water park at the Arizona Grand Resort where we were staying. Visited with the Mesa Church of Christ on Sunday. On Tuesday we went to the Grand Canyon. Unbelievable! Wednesday, we goofed around, and then caught our 8 p.m. flight home.

Get the True Picture

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father" (John 8:31-38).

By the time Jesus said, "The truth will set you free," he had turned water to wine, healed the boy in Capernaum, healed the thirty-eight-year invalid, multiplied a small amount to feed thousands, and walked on water. The claims he made regarding his identity were believable to many. They were convinced that he was telling the truth.

He told them that if they would live what they believed - hold to his teaching - then they would know the truth and the truth would set them free.

Do you notice the important connection between knowing the truth and living in the truth? The Jews needed an accurate understanding in order to make the righteous decision regarding Jesus' call to freedom. If they believed Satan, the Father of Lies, then what they did would be wrong; because their actions would have been based on falsehoods.

We withhold the truth. We hide information. We use terminological inexactitudes to keep the truth from being known. We lie because we are habitual liars, or because we are protector liars, avoid-trouble liars, or get-ahead liars. And because we don't allow the truth to be known, truth can't be lived; and bondage remains.

Winston Churchill said, "The great thing is to get the true picture, whatever it is." Knowing the true picture is the great thing because then you can do some great thing about it! That's Life at Work!

The Bucket List of Jesus – Confidently Trust God

In a recent Wednesday night class, we wrote down some words that came to mind when we thought about dying. I wrote, "Relief, release, and freedom. I'm not afraid of dying; though I do fear the process."

I do believe that death means something better for me than what I have here. I'm not rushing the inevitable, but I have an expectation of great reward. I confidently say with the apostle, "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day" (2 Tim 1:12). I have given up any desire to control my spiritual destiny. I have fully entrusted that to God. What else could I do, after all?

Learning to trust God for what comes after your last breath is a lesson you learn from hearing the words of Jesus on the cross. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," Jesus declared just before he "breathed his last" (Luke 23:46). He didn't say that simply for himself. He said it so that the generations of faithful for the remaining centuries could know that they can have that same confidence! That's Life at Work!

Bucket List of Jesus: Close to God

"My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?"

Those are the words of David, according to tradition. They are the beginning of a cry for help (Psalm 22:1). They are also the words of Jesus according to Matthew and Mark (Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34).

David begged for God to come close. "Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help," he cried (Ps 22:11). Though others were gambling for his clothes before he was even dead, David pleaded, "But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me" (Ps 22:19).

There was a crowd at the cross. There were Roman soldiers, Jewish leaders, criminals, male and female friends, and a sorrowful mother there. Yet with all the onlookers, Jesus felt alone. He felt forsaken by God, and he longed to be close to God again.

"Be close to God." One more item on the Bucket List of Jesus.

Wednesday night, Rusty Tugman from the Alameda Church of Christ in Norman will help us understand this Bucket List item. I hope you'll be there! That's Life at Work!

Did George Live Near Me?

Comedian George Carlin passed away. I remember a number of years back hearing for the first time Carlin talked about his unbelief. He said, "But I want you to know something, this is sincere, I want you to know, when it comes to believing in God, I really tried. I really, really tried. I tried to believe that there is a God, who created each of us in His own image and likeness, loves us very much, and keeps a close eye on things. really tried to believe that…"

Later in the same routine, he told Bible readers about other literary works they should consider reading. He recommended Humpty Dumpty. He said, "And finally, I've always drawn a great deal of moral comfort from Humpty Dumpty. The part I like the best? 'All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again.' That's because there is no Humpty Dumpty, and there is no God. None. Not one. No God. Never was."

I don't know who influenced Carlin in regard to his understanding of Jesus, the Father who sent Jesus to save, and the church. Carlin, like many others, had a picture of God that is far from the real God. I'm sorry for that.

Carlin commented, "Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more."

Carlin was vocal about his ideas of Jesus. He was not a quiet disbeliever. He spoke about his unbelief and his gift for comedy gave him a large audience. There are many more like him, however, who do not speak about their unbelief to audiences of thousands. Some of them live in the Bible belt. Their homes are between the homes of people who do believe, at least in word. These unbelievers are watching what the believers do, and they are developing their concept of what God is about from what they see and hear in the believers. That's important for us to know. That's Life at Work!

What can you do to enlighten your neighbors about the true nature of God?

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Fathers filled with grace produce children filled with love. That's why Paul told the fathers in Colossae and Ephesus not to embitter or provoke their children. The consequences are too much and the result is a child moving away from God instead of toward him. Children have quite enough influences to take them from God; they sure don't need their father s to inadvertently show them door.

The sense of "do not embitter" and "do not exasperate" (Col. 3:21; Eph. 6:4) is that, especially by demanding more than children deliver and being harsh when they don't measure up, we can discourage them. We can take the spirit out them; and lifeless children don't love. They won't love their own fathers. And it's likely that they won't love God.

When you bring a child up in the training and instruction of the Lord, you equip him and empower him to be like Jesus. A child brought up in the training and instruction of the Lord knows the difference between right and wrong. He knows there are consequences for choosing wrong. She knows there is love and forgiveness that matches the wrong choice. And our children know that just like dad, God loves me and forgives me through the sin and its consequences.

Grace doesn't make sinning OK. Grace doesn't remove all of the consequences of sin. Grace does keep us in relationship, though. Grace enables us to live confidently in the covenant promises. Grace provides warmth when the coldness of disappointment tries to move in. Grace provides joy when the thief called guilt attempts to break in. Grace prompts love in those who have received it. Love for fathers, love for other strugglers, and love for God.

That's Life at Work!

Hope for the Hopeless

What a colossal mistake! "The robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him" (Matthew 27:44). A man who was crucified had difficult time breathing. The core of a person is stretched to the limit on a cross. Yet, these two criminals were using their dying breaths to taunt. Mocking while they are dying; that is so sad!

But taunting while dying is not the biggest mistake! The biggest mistake is that they were wrong about Jesus. They didn't really think he could rescue himself and them, but he could have! Finally, one of them changed his mind. I don't know what caused it, but one of them realized he had been mocking the Messiah!

Imagine his predicament. He's dying and he is has just been mocking the one whom he has now concluded is the king who is about to come into his kingdom! (Luke 23:42) Is this a hopeless situation? Not when Jesus is the King. When Jesus is the king there is hope for the hopeless! "Today you will be with me in paradise," Jesus said.

If there is hope for that thief, then there is hope for us. That's Life at Work!

Stories, Pictures and Videos of the Past Two Weeks

On May 22, Brad and I headed east for South Fulton, TN. My nephew C4 married Casey on Saturday. It was a great occasion. We celebrated with them and their families at a rehersal dinner on Friday night and then on the Saturday that they exchanged their vows.

During our travels and with our family in we were in constant prayer for our friends John and Margaret Dobbs. On the Friday of C4 and Casey's rehersal, John and Margaret buried their son John Robert. It was the day that John Robert was supposed to graduate from Pascagoula High School.

On Satuday after the wedding, Brad and I headed south towards I-40 to make the trip back home. As we approached West Memphis on I-55 we got a call from JeannaLynn. Pauline Hardwick, the mother of our great friend Martha Skelton had passed away in Cleveland, TN. We lived in Cleveland before our move to Yukon. Martha and her husband Dean were our best friends there. Martha's mom was close to our hearts, too. Martha wanted us to come to Cleveland for her funeral.

Brad and I drove back to South Fulton, spent Saturday night and went to the morning assembly at my brother's church. Afterwards, we headed north and east on the Purchase Parkway, drove south on I-24 through God's beautiful Land Between the Lakes, picked up JeannaLynn at the Nashville airport, and then finished out the drive to Cleveland. We comforted and got comfort from our friends at Pauline's funeral on Tuesday, May 27 and then made the trip home, arriving mid-day Wednesday.

On Saturday, JeannaLynn and I drove west out of Yukon to the Berlin Cemetary just west of Sayre, OK. On May 4, 2008 Tim Hartman was flying with a good friend and three other passengers out of Wiley Post airport in Oklahoma City. The small jet flew into some birds over a lake near the runway causing the plane's engines to fail. Tim, our friend and missions deacon, died in the crash of that jet along with the co-pilot, Rick, and the three passengers they were transporting.

Tim's remains were released nearly three months after the crash. We were driving to Berlin Cememtary to bury his remains. Nearly 1000 people came to Tim's memorial service in May. This gathering was a small one - mostly family, and a couple of friends including us.

We talked about how the resurrection of Jesus proves that we don't have to keep looking down once dust has returned to dust. Instead, we look out and we look up. We released some silvery-white balloons. Three of them symbolizing for us the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and one with Tim's name written on it. Audra, Tim's wife released that balloon. We all watched as they ascended into the heavens - together. Matt and Mark, Tim and Audra's sons, are great young men.

Audra received an answer to prayer that Saturday. Along with Tim's remains, there was a box of Tim's belongings. This box contained the items found at the crash site that could be identified as Tim's. Audra had been praying that Tim's wedding ring had been found - and it had! She clutched it tight and we all rejoiced with her.

I'm including here a picture of C4 and Casey experiencing a real Cayman Islands sunset, a picture of Pauline, another of Tim, and a picture that Tim's son Mark made in memory of his dad. I'm also including a couple of videos. One that I got from John Dobb's Blog, "Hope Remains" in which Mercy Me is sing "Homesick." The second video is from a song played at Tim's funeral: "Better Hands Now."

One of the things I love best about life is getting heart to heart with family. One of the things I like most about ministry is getting heart to heart with people like Pauline, Dean and Martha (and their sons and families), Tim and Audra and their family, and John and Margaret and their family; even though that closeness leads us often to common places of pain. One of these days, it will all be about celebrating and those of us who have hurt together will laugh together forever "and we will dwell in the house of the Lord...forever".

John Robert Dobbs

John and Margaret Dobbs have been long-time friends due to a Magnolia Bible College connection. Many of you know of them because John is a blog king among those of us in Churches of Christ. Additionally, John has played a central role in relief efforts in and around Pascagoula since Katrina came ashore.

Their 18 year old son, John Robert Dobbs, was killed Tuesday night/Wednesday morning on Interstate 10. You can read what John wrote and find links to news reports at his blog. John Robert was scheduled to graduate from Pascagoula High School on Friday night.

I get so angry! And grief-filled. It was just three years ago that other good friends of ours lost a 19 year old son in a car accident. It's just not right.

John and Maggie, we love you. Holy kisses from the Oklahoma Mays are for you! When we all get to heaven, what a day....

Glory Days and Fantastic Futures

He had the speedball that no one could hit. She was the prettiest girl that no one would with whom no one would break up. Those were the high school days. Bruce Springsteen calls them "Glory Days" in the song with that title.

Toward the end of the song he sings about the glory days topic:

And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it;
But I probably will.
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
A little of the glory of, well time slips away,
And leaves you with nothing, mister, but
Boring stories of glory days.

Glory days. Well, they'll pass you by;
Glory days. In the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days.

Glory days can become the only days on which we can affectionately reflect if we quit moving into our dreams.

When Jericho fell, the Israelites should have been so pumped up with faith that they moved through the rest of Canaan, claiming the Promised Land that God told them he would deliver into their hands. They eventually got to a point, however, where they were in no hurry whatsoever. There were issues about dividing the land, and still issues about getting the former inhabitants out, but when Joshua approaches them with the problem he simply asks, "How long are you going to slack off?"

It's as though they were making a cross-country trek on route 66, pulled over to roadside park to rest, and stayed there for a couple of years! You can't look back at the progress you've already made and decide that now is the time for you to rest on your laurels for a while. Somehow, when people quit moving they eventually become very satisfied with the rest stop.

If you are graduating from high school this week, you may feel somewhat amazed at how quickly your school years have gone by. If you are like me, you especially feel like your senior year zoomed past – "in the wink of a young girl's eye." All of us hope that your high school experience was fantastic. We hope you will look back on them with thoughts of "glory days."

But none of us, your family in Christ, want you to look toward your future with any thought less than "glory days!" We want you to graduate from high school with your tires rolling, your faith strong, your hope secure, your eyes open, your heart pure, and your dreams big – and getting bigger because you are moving toward them! That's Life at Work!

Married to the Preacher's Wife

This morning I am speaking at the OC preacher's luncheon about being married to the preacher's wife. I'm referencing this incredible video. If you haven't seen this video, watch it a dozen or so times, to let the rich meaning sink into your heart. And then, husbands, espcially preachers, watch it again remembering that the love Jesus has for his recreation, the church, is what you are to have for your wife. The protection Jesus offers in this skit is the protection that we must offer for our wives to rescue them from the unmerciful attack of Satan.

The Right Thing at the Right Time

"It's a great moment when someone has the character to do the right thing at the right time" (Pam Knox, Western Oregon Softball Coach in interview with ESPN).

Coach Knox was commenting on the actions of Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace. They play for Washington State and were in a playoff game against Knox's Western Oregon team. Western Oregon's SarahTucholsky, a senior, hit her first homerun as a college player against Washington State. As it turned out, it would be her last at a bat as a player. In her excitement about the homerun, Sarah failed to touch first base. As she turned to go back, her knee didn't pivot, and she tore her ACL so badly that she could only crawl to first. For her run to count, though, as rules were understood by the umpires on the field, she had to touch each base and none of her teammates or coaches could touch her.

Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace from the opposing team asked the umpires if they could carry Sarah around the bases. As there are no rules against that, Mallory and Liz carefully scooped Sara from the ground at first based and carried her all the way home, setting her left foot on each based as they passed. Sarah got her home run.

Mallory and Liz got the attention of ESPN and a nation full of people who love sports – and long to see character. "Let your light shine," Jesus said, "so the world may see!" That's Life at Work!

A Mom’s a Mom

You might have brought your baby home from the hospital having delivered her yourself. She has your eyes, your husband's hair (or lack thereof), your sister's dimples, and your dad's feet. One thing is for sure - she has all your love, and you have all of hers. Because a mom's a mom.

You might have watched from behind a window when he was carried by a nurse from the birthing room to the nursery. You might have known that the baby that just went by would be at your home before long. You've been good to the birth mom who just couldn't take care of the child in her womb. You'll always know what she looked like because you'll see her in the baby you've adopted as your own. His features don't look like anybody in your family, but one thing is for sure, he has all your love. You have all of his, too. Because a mom's a mom.

Maybe the kids you care so much about came to your home knowing who their birth mom was and knowing they couldn't live with her anymore. You adopted them after personalities developed, after they had to consider whether they were loved, and after they could be held and rocked comfortably. You've struggle, you've taught, you've hugged, and you've spent yourself on them. One thing is for sure, they have all your love. And you have all of theirs, because a mom's a mom.

You were going to be their grandparent, but your role has changed. There's a huge age difference, and you find it hard to keep up most days. You've stepped up to the challenge, though. You take him to school and pick him up. You go to his soccer games and sit with the soccer moms smiling as he falls all over the field. You weren't planning on this. There were days when you thought you couldn't do it, and wished you didn't have to. But now, one thing is for sure. He has all your love, and you have his. Because a mom's a mom.

She's lived in your house for six months. You have no clue how long she is going to stay. DHS could come tomorrow to take her from you. You've held her as she cried. You've comforted her when she's been scared. You've done all you can to heal her heart. You've modeled a good home. You've hugged her and kissed her. You've told her things she should have been told all her life, but that she's never heard before. You don't know if the phone call will signal the end of your time with her, but one thing is for sure. She's got all your love, and you've got hers. Because a mom's a mom.

God bless you Moms. All of you.

This Is Huge – Fatigue and Hurts

As I asked in my informal survey for information about the huge struggles that we have in our various life settings, women told me about hurts and fatigue; and how they create a suction on their energy – including their spiritual energy. Furthermore, though they seek for it, there seems to be no end, no relief, and no rest.

As I looked for more information I came across some writing of Denise George, author of What Women Wish their Pastors Knew. In her own survey, she discovered that women wish that they could receive more help from the church, including the pulpit, in regard to these huge concerns:

1. Women are tired.

2. Women are hurting.

3. Women want to grow spiritually

4. Women want to raise godly children.

5. Women often feel like "second-class citizens" in church.

Being tired and hurt play a critical role in the other three concerns that George lists in this Christianity Today article. Fatigue and pain impact humans in many negative ways.

How can women who feel wiped out emotionally and spiritually reclaim the fire? I'm not talking about doing more! I'm talking about being spiritually revived! We know Jesus is the source. He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30). Peter affirmed the help of God when he wrote, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

What does coming to Jesus look like? How do I cast my anxiety on him? This is Huge!

Do you agree with George? What would you add to the list?

This Is Huge - Teens Drive to Connect

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to fit in. We can put a negative slant on the idea of fitting, but ultimately, fitting in is synonymous with having friends. A teenager has to ask herself some serious questions if she is remaking herself in unChrist-like fashion in order to fit in. But a teen also has to ask himself some serious questions if he doesn’t have any friends. Look in the lists of virtues in scripture. Loneliness is not in any of them. When a young person wants to fit in, he is sensing something from deep inside his DNA. He is sensing that he was created for relationships. She knows that much of who she is involves interaction with other people.

In teenagers, the drive to connect with others is especially strong. Even young people who are shy, still have a powerful force inside them to make friends – and it’s incredible how shy people find each other. The drive is so strong, young people do boneheaded things, things out of character for them, in order to make the connection.

It’s important for us, teens and not-so-teen people, to understand this drive and the impact it has on choices. Many of the poor decisions that young people make are not thoughtless. They are not “unencumbered by the though process.” The consideration of right or wrong and the reflection on potential consequence may have been short; but it was usually there. Teens don’t mess things up because they are idiots; they aren’t. Their drive to connect is just often stronger than their sensibilities.

For guys, Chris Cagle’s song “Chicks Dig It” has a lot of meaning:

Just throw caution to the wind my friend

And then sit back and watch your life begin, cause;

Scars heal... glory fades;

And all we’re left with are the memories made.

Pain hurts, but only for a minute.

Yeah, life is short so go on and live it

Cause the chicks dig it.

Connection is Huge for teenagers! Christian teens have to remember the command from Paul to refuse to conform to the world, experiencing instead a transformation to being like Christ through a renewing of the mind (Romans 12:1-2). Christian teens have to know about the real Jesus so that friendship and connection with him is priority #1! Christian teens also need to make strong connections with other teens of faith, for their own benefit and for the benefit of the other teens.

This is huge for teens, so it is huge for all of us! That’s Life at Work!

This Is Huge - Pornography

This is huge! Pornography is destroying men (mostly), their marriages, and their families. According to the website familysafemedia.com Oklahoma City ranks 10th, 3rd, and 7th in the nation regarding the number of internet searches for “porn,” “xxx,” and “sex” respectively.

According to their numbers, which match other numbers I’ve seen, 90% of kids eight to sixteen years old have been exposed to pornography on the internet. The average age for seeing the first pornographic image is eleven.

But this isn’t an adolescent problem or teenage phase. The largest consumer group of pornography is men between 35 and 49 years old. It’s not just a problem for unbelievers, either. According to Proven Men (www.1wayout.org), 60% of Christian men have sought out some form of pornography. Ninety percent of men raised in Christian homes were introduced to some form of pornography before adulthood. Do you keep your home computer screen where it can always be seen from a hallway or another room? Seventy percent internet porn is viewed during business hours.

The attraction to pornography does not stay small, if it can even begin that way. What a man views today that excites him, will not have the same effect after consistent exposure. The need for more; and the need for more explicit, more hardcore images, grows. Men will waste hours, hours that should have been spent working or with wives or their children, to see naked pixels.
Men will sale their souls to see videos of ungodly people dishonoring the sexual union that God designed to be honored, not exploited. Some prison ministries report that 100% of sex offenders frequently viewed pornography. I’ll guarantee you that nearly every man convicted of molestation said at one time at the report of some other sex offender, “I’ll never do that.” I’ll guarantee you, further, that nearly 100% of those who end up as sex offenders were led to the point where they would do that by pornography.

Stop it! Now! Pornography will kill your soul and the innocent victims along the way will be your spouse and your children. What do we need to know and what can we do about pornography, its grip on our culture, its destructive force, and methods to defeat its influence on your life and family?We must! That’s Life at Work!

Humility Leads to Greatness

The five year Bible School plan called for a quarter-long study on the book of Numbers. Even the staff complained: "Numbers? It's thirty-six chapters of self-centered people who whined every time they didn't get their way! I'll hate that! Give us something relevant!" (see Discipleship Journal, Spring 2008, p. 78)

"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice" (Prov 13:10).

Pride, the root of selfishness, is the breath behind quarrelsome words. The Israelites did whine about everything, it seems; and so do we. If we don't get what we think we deserve fast enough, we complain. If we experience some discomfort when someone else could have prevented it, we moan. When we are convinced that something should go one way, and someone else thinks it should go another, we quarrel. When our weaknesses are exposed, we argue out of defensiveness.

Self-centeredness (pride) precedes destruction because quarrelling wrecks relationships (Proverbs 16:18). Humility leads to greatness – for yourself and your relationships! That's Life at Work!

This Is Huge (Bigger)

This is huge! What is it? It is the sin that gives us the most trouble. It is the temptation with which we constantly struggle. It is the most frequent failure, lost battle, step into the shadows, and missing of the mark. I don't know that the Hebrew writer was thinking specifically or generically, but it is the "sin that easily entangles" (Hebrews 12:1).

The huge temptation is different for me in regard to the different roles I play. As a man, I struggle with keeping my eyes off of the impure images everywhere around me and keeping my mind out of the gutter. As a husband I realize I'll fight with my wife much more quickly that I would anyone else. As a dad, sometimes I veg out having given my energy to everybody else.

So what it is for you? What is it for you in your various roles? Certainly, Christians are forgiven because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We live in a relationship with God in which our sins are not counted against us. Our sins are forgiven. Our transgressions are covered (Romans 4:6-8).

But it is God's forgiveness, his Amazing Grace that compels us to put these sins to death. Since we died to sin, we must keep killing it whenever it resurrects. We have risen to walk a new life. We offer ourselves as living sacrifices because of God's mercy. We don't want to return to sin like a dog returns to his vomit! No way! We want to reduce this huge sin to nothing!

So let's expose it! Let's get it out on the table! Let's examine its power in our lives. Let's admit its presence. Let's agree with God that it is wrong and destructive. Let's agree with each other that we hate it. Let's make ourselves accountable to each other. Let's throw it off like an old coat so that we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us! That's Life at Work!

Help me out! Send an email listing what is huge in your life or what you recognize in huge in the lives of the people you know. I promise, I'll take it as an observation, not a confession. Email what's huge to thisishuge@southyukon.org. When we know the enemy, and identify his schemes, we can resist him so that he runs away!