Be Disciplined to Shape and Achieve Your Goals

“At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.” (Hebrews 12:11, MSG)

The book of Hebrews says that discipline isn't much fun. Is that an overstatement, or what? I want to draw a distinction between discipline and punishment, however; punishment is a revenge-like reaction to something someone did wrong, whereas discipline is shaping someone for better future behavior. That line I drew might seem awful thin from time-to-time, but it is consistent at the very heart of the matter: punishment deals with past behavior while discipline shapes us for the future. 

Paul wrote in Romans, "God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him." (Romans 8:29, MSG) 

God has a goal to shape you to be more like Jesus. This helps to accomplish the Jesus-follower’s goal of getting to heaven. Personal discipline  is required for God's goal to be accomplished in us, to help us reach our faith goals, too; therefore, we need to spend time getting to know God better. Fortunately, we have some tools to help in this, and they are what we call in the church, Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual Disciplines are behaviors of abstinence or engagement that help us connect better with God and others in the task to make us more like Jesus. Some are for us to do in private solitude with the Lord, where others are intended for us to do in communal relationships with other believers, seekers, and skeptics alike. Consider this list (by no means exhaustive) of some different kinds of Spiritual Disciplines…

Disciplines of Abstinence: These are ways of denying ourselves something we want or need in order to make space to focus on, and connect with, God.

• Solitude: Refraining from interacting with other people in order to be alone with God and be found by him. (Solitude is completed by silence.)
• Silence: Not speaking in a quiet place in order to quiet our minds and whole self so we can attend to God’s presence. Also, not speaking so that we can listen to others and bless them.
• Fasting: Going without food (or something else) for a period of intense prayer — the fast may be complete or partial. When you miss that item, focus on God.
• Rest: Doing no work to rest in God’s person and provision; praying and playing with God and others. (God designed this for one day a week. We can practice it for shorter periods, too.)
• Secrecy: Not making our good deeds or qualities known to let God or others receive attention and to find our sufficiency in God alone.This also works in relationship with others by abstaining from gossip and maintaining safe confidentiality. 
• Submission: Not asserting ourselves  in order to come under the authority, wisdom, and power of Jesus Christ as our Lord, King, and Master. (If you think of this as submitting to a person as unto Christ then it’s a discipline of engagement.)

Disciplines of Engagement: These are ways of connecting with God and other people, conversing honestly with them in order to love and be loved.

• Bible Reading: Trusting the Holy Spirit-inspired words of Scripture as our guide, wisdom, and strength for life.
• Worship: Praising God’s greatness, goodness, and beauty in words, music, ritual, or silence.
• Prayer: Conversing with God about what we’re experiencing and doing together. (As we see in the Lord’s Prayer the main thing we do in prayer is to make requests of our Father for one another.)
• Soul Friendship: Engaging fellow disciples of Jesus in prayerful conversation or other spiritual practices.
• Personal Reflection: Paying attention to our inner self in order to grow in love for God, others, and self.
• Service: Humbly serving God by overflowing with his love and compassion to others, especially those in need.

Utilizing the Spiritual Disciplines of abstinence and engagement help us take God's discipline to shape us like Jesus to help so we can reach our goal to get to heaven. And, we must realize that our experience of eternity doesn't begin with our last breath, but our next one. 

On Sunday, I shared an acrostic I developed to help people make Christ-centered goals, utilizing their unique shape, while God continues to shape us. This is that acrostic, using the word, GOALS. Make sure your goals are...

• Godly: based on God's plan — remember the Great Commission, which means to serve, and the Great Commandment, which means to love. 
• Obedient: doing things God's way as opposed to your way; don't let your appetite be your God, because this is the essence of temptation 
• Assessable: make sure your goals are assessable, or in other words, measurable. Make sure you can known when you are making progress or straying off course, as well as doing deep enough as your grow spiritually. 
• Love-based: following the law of God, which is to love Him with everything you are and have, and your neighbor as yourself.
• Service-oriented: we are designed to serve, remembering that Jesus said the greatest is the one who serves. 

Loving service becomes the vehicle by which we evaluate and exercise our Christ-centered goals. Consider this great quote from Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

As we accept God's work to shape us like Jesus, and we lovingly serve in response to God's grace for us, may we return to the concept of Spiritual Disciplines to help us grow deeper, and go farther, with God. Please let me know if I can help you in this life — and eternal life! — shaping endeavor.

Assembled

This past Sunday we explored the nature of the church and the critical role we each play. The spiritual gifts we are given by God must be used to benefit the church as the church works to benefit the world with Jesus. This model of replication and multiplication is important for us to understand: we are designed by God to be assembled into the church so the church can assemble with other churches to impact the world for Jesus. Through our combined efforts, others are assembled into the church, the church keeps developing and deploying disciples, and the process continues until the whole world hears of God's great love. 

God's great love is the model for how we are to live with each other as we are assembled into the church. Our assembly into the Body of Christ, therefore, is ensconced with need...both ours and the church. 

We are assembled to need each other. None of us is an island unto ourselves. We simply cannot be everything for everyone. So if we are to be successful, and if the church is to be effective, then we must recognize we need others and others need us, too. The bottom line is the church needs us as much as we need the church.

We are assembled to respect each other. This isn't always easy, especially when we bump into each other from time to time, but it is critical. The reality is that being Christian doesn't mean we never experience conflict, but it does mean we must deal with it  — and others! — differently. The way we conduct ourselves in the midst of conflict is one of the most poignant ways we can show the world how people of faith live differently. 

We are assembled to sympathize with each other. One of the greatest lessons about what it means to be assembled to the Body is contained in 1 Corinthians 12:26, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." It is a powerful testament to our love of God and others when we can authentically share concern with others when they are down, and celebrate with others when they are up. It's all about doing life together, with all its highs and lows. 

We will explore these concepts further on Sunday as we consider what Paul referred to as "the more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). I have to warn you, though, it's a four-letter word that has the potential to grab everyone's attention. I hope to see you in worship Sunday, but in the meantime, remember we all need each other, must respect each other, and share in life's highs and lows together. 

God Bless,

Pastor Mark

Restless Heart Syndrome

I got a FitBit fitness tracker for Christmas, and I really enjoy it. These kinds of devices are not necessarily new for me, because I have used a pedometer for years to track my steps and activity. What I like about my FitBit is in addition to tracking my steps, it tracks my heart rate and sleep patterns. 

It’s been years since I wore a watch, but I find the little device to be quite motivational. It urges me to add some movement and motion to my day when I otherwise might sit at my desk, or do what the Swiffer commercial calls, “deep couch sitting.” In fact, just a couple days ago, I was nearing my 10,000 steps per day goal, but it was getting late, so I did a number of laps around the kitchen to make sure I crossed my threshold. Tracking my steps is pretty neat, but I think the most eye-opening stat it gives me is for sleep. 

Sleep is critical for us. When we are young, sleep is when we grow. Sleep also is crucial for recovery and healing, both physically and emotionally. Experts recommend that children get some ten to twelve hours of sleep, and adults six to eight. If you are anything like me, though, that seems more like a goal than a recommendation. There is no doubt the world we live in — from the high value of busyness and connectivity, to the blue light we receive from our mobile devices and flat screen televisions, to the stress and anxiety that bombards us from all directions — makes it increasingly difficult to get the recommended amount of sleep we require. This, I suppose, is why the sleep tracker on my FitBit is my favorite part of the overall experience. 

Each morning upon waking, I sync my FitBit to check my sleep pattern. The trends I notice since I got the device for Christmas are not terribly encouraging. Even though I aim to sleep the eight hours recommended, I typically get about six-and-a-half to seven hours of sleep; I wake up once or twice a night; and I am restless about every fifteen minutes. Not the best of reports. 

There are some tried and true recommendations I am incorporating into my evening routine. I try to limit my snacking after dinner. I try to limit the use of my iPad and iPhone for the last hour or so before bed. I try to go to sleep with white noise (which my parents started me on when I was a baby) while keeping the television turned off to avoid politics and even sports just before bed, both of which rev me up. We keep our room cool at night (the optimum sleeping temperature, from what I understand, is 67-degrees). I also use a sleep mask to experience total darkness. I try to utilize all the tricks, but still find myself restless. 

There is no doubt many of us are restless. It might seem circumstantial, but I think this is more or less the default position for human beings. The great theologian, St. Augustine, wrote in his famous book, Confessions, about the human relationship to God: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” I think this sums up my life pretty well. My theological diagnosis? Restless Heart Syndrome. 

Do you have RHS, or Restless Heart Syndrome? You know the side effects. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; frequently waking up in the middle of the night; racing heart rate; staring at the ceiling for hours on end; midnight trips to the kitchen for a snack; pacing the floor; overwhelming wonder about when you’ll be able to go to sleep. I’ve had them all. And I found a pretty good antidote I want to share with you.

Prayer. 

Yep, prayer. It seems so simple, doesn’t it? Yet there are admittedly times when we are up in the night, that prayer is one of the last places we turn while wondering and worrying about what tomorrow holds. This brings to mind the line of the great hymn, that we might not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds tomorrow. I know this works. I have the evidence. 

The other night I was anxious about a heavy schedule the following day. After some time of experiencing the main side effects of RHS, I took to prayer. In my prayer time, I asked Jesus to go with me into the stressful appointments. And I heard an answer. Really, I did. Wanna know what Jesus told me? He said this, as plain as the FitBit on my wrist…

“I’m already there.”

That is 100% true. Every word of it. I promise. But it’s not really my promise, now, is it? It is God’s. 

“Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you…It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8, NRSV)

Beautiful, isn’t it? And profound. For me, I knew God would go with me, but hearing God tell me he was already there put a smile on my face. It helped me face the day with confidence and grace. And as I tracked each and every step thanks to my FitBit, I knew that I might as well be able to count every one twice, because it wasn’t just me who was walking through the day, but it was Christ with me. It’s amazing how knowing you don’t have to go through anything alone helps tend to RHS, or Restless Heart Syndrome.

Is your heart restless? Turn to Jesus. If you are anxious about what tomorrow holds, know that Jesus holds tomorrow. And he isn’t just holding it, he is holding you, too. For whatever you have to do, and wherever you have to go, if you are doing it for the Lord, he is already there waiting for you. And that makes me smile.

May you have a smile on your face and a spring in your step, knowing that Jesus is with you. Always.

My, How it Flies!

Our subdivision recently had a speed study conducted on the main thoroughfare. Our community swimming pool, clubhouse, playground, recreation area, and a major school bus stop sits in the valley of two relatively modest hills. Even though there is a posted 25 MPH speed limit, it is rarely (if ever) observed. Sure, some drivers in the neighborhood blatantly ignore it and travel at speeds of their choosing. Needless to say, this frightens many people — Tiffany and me included — whose children frequent those common areas to congregate and recreate. I certainly am one of those known to shake a fist and grumble about those who drive waaaay too fast on that stretch of road; yet admittedly, I’ve done the same at least once or twice in the 9+ years we’ve lived here.

Some concerned residents contacted the City of Newnan to conduct a speed study. The results were eye-opening, and as a result, the city posted a new speed limit sign with radar to alert drivers of their speed as they travel this oft-congested stretch in the subdivision. The goal is awareness, so hopefully drivers will be more cognizant of their speed entering or exiting the neighborhood.

The new sign works, at least for this driver. The other day, I was taking Ethan for a youth group activity and I traveled at a speed I felt was normal for that stretch. As I approached that new sign, it was blinking at me to inform and warn me that I was over the speed limit. And I wasn’t just over the speed limit, I was waaaay over the limit! Like, by a lot! The sign did it’s purpose. I was informed and I’m certainly more aware of my speed in the subdivision.

Now that we’re celebrating the New Year, I couldn’t help but think about how fast things can sneak up on us without realizing it. Granted our family’s 2015 was such a grand, yet strange, year, but I look back and wonder where it went. The changes last year brought to us are head-spinning, so when we say that 2015 seemed to fly by, we’re not kidding. Sure, there were signs along the way flashing at us as though to say, blink and you’ll miss this, yet due to circumstances — many of our choosing and to our delight — we were looking ahead to where we wanted to be and not as present in the moment. As a result, the year blew by us at an astonishing rate.

Time does fly, doesn’t it? Even in the moments when it seems to crawl, we reflect in the aftermath and wonder where it went. This is so true for us as we waited on word to travel to China, because it seemed to never come. Yet the night before we left, we didn’t sleep, because there wasn’t enough time to get everything done. While we were in China for two weeks, it seemed like we’d never get home. Looking back, though, there are things we miss and wish we could have made more memories with Mia in her homeland. Then getting home, and dealing with the challenges of illnesses and sleep deprivation, we couldn’t wait for things to normalize. But today, we think back and wish we could have some of those days and nights back to do things differently for Mia. And all the while, we look back over Ethan’s 13+ years and wish we could get the 3-year-old version of him back to parent him then with what we know now.

And therein lies the rub, doesn’t it? Too often we take this same approach to life — if I knew then what I know now, I’d do it differently. Well, a New Year provides us with a version of that every time we change our calendars. Was last year’s Valentine’s Day, birthday, anniversary, or Christmas gift a flop? You have a chance to do better this year. Didn’t adequately prioritize family and friends in the face of other demands? Use the rhythms of last year to plan better for this year.

       

Didn’t take advantage of spiritual seasons and opportunities to connect with God and others at a deeper level? Make and stick with a plan to spend time with God daily, worship weekly, and service regularly. However you might look back at 2015 with an eye to 2016, remember that life is so much more than the tyrannically urgent demands that seem to gobble up our precious moments.

As I begin 2016 with all the challenges and opportunities it will deliver — from those I know of, to the possibilities I’m aware of, and the surprises I can’t even begin to fathom — I want to resolve to be more present in the moment…for those dwindling trips I’ll have to drive Ethan to school or church; for those moments I’ll have to cuddle a little toddler yearning for trust and predictability in her new family; for those times I can surprise my bride with a hug, a kiss, and maybe a flower to let her know she’s loved and  cherished; for those moments I get to walk with families during times like weddings, funerals, and other watershed events; and for those times when I get to take advantage of the opportunities to pause, rest, and be alone with God, even while other things seem to distract my attention.

Time flies…my, how it flies…and we all have moments we’d give anything to get back. As we begin a New Year, maybe your prayer is like mine, to better enjoy the moments you’re in, so this time next year there’s more to celebrate and less to want back. Let’s aim to be present in every moment for those that are truly most important, and be available for God to use us fully, so 2016 can be a year unlike any other.

Happy New Year, and Love Always,

Pastor Mark

Happy New Year!

I had a moment of excitement come over me a few minutes ago — I got a new calendar this year...a "Star Wars" calendar, no less...and it's time to remove it from the shrink wrap and hang it in my man cave. 

Even though I'm pretty digitally-centric these days, there is something kinda fun about breaking out, and breaking in, a new calendar. Tiffany and I both enjoy getting new calendars and using them to track things like birthdays, anniversaries, and special reminders, as well as to maintain perspective as we travel through the currently wide open spaces of the new year. 

There's a lot of hope and anticipation that goes with a new year. Chances to get things right...to do them better than in the previous year...allowing the lessons learned from the past to become the wisdom through which we approach the brand new. I certainly learned a lot in 2015, and I'm ready to begin anew; to allow the lessons of forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love to be my path through the unknown of 2016. And these divine gifts — given us by God — truly help us turn the page from previous missteps and mistakes so we can embrace the newness in store for us all. 

So in these waning hours of 2015, I want to share a piece of scripture that has inspired me countless times to leave the past right where it belongs and embrace the unbridled potential of this, our New Year.

[God said,] “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19a, MSG)

For 2016, instead of merely turning the page to the New Year, I am hanging a brand new calendar. I'm bursting it out of the packaging with great anticipation for the new thing that God wants to do in my life, in your life, in all of our lives. 

Do you see it? 

Can you feel it? 

Be alert and present, because something brand new is coming!

Happy New Year with love!

The Weary World Rejoices

I am a Christmas music junkie. I love it! From driving up and down the road and listening to the radio to preparing for the church’s Christmas cantata, the silly and sacred songs take me back to my childhood while helping prepare my soul for the glory of Christmas.

This year has been a little different, though, for various reasons. I have not listened to as much of it as I typically do. Some of it is due to the usual craziness of the season. Some of it is due to adjusting to a new normal as life with a toddler and the energy that requires. Some of it is due to the unrest we experience in the world. I suppose I could sum up my feelings with one word: weary.

Confession is good for the soul, right? I lament about weariness every year about this time. With all of the fun and frivolity of the season, it seems I do not take the time to ponder the power of Christmas until after  the services conclude, Christmas dinner is consumed, the gifts are unwrapped, and I don my cap to settle in for a long winter’s nap. Is this something you can relate to?

Christmas really shouldn’t be this way. We follow Advent to help us intentionally prepare for Christmas, focusing on hope, peace, love, and joy.  And through that, we remember the truth in the midst of this season – Christmas began with weariness.

There was oppression. There was violence. There was fear. God’s people were yearning for a savior. Even creation itself was moaning for deliverance from the hopelessness of sin. And then that one holy night, the light from the Christmas star, the presence of God’s glory, and the songs from the heavenly host broke into our weariness to proclaim that from then forward, history was divided in two with this message:

“’Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2.10-14, NKJV)

That was good news then, and it is good news still! And it reminds me of the line from the Christmas carol,  O Holy Night, “The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

Tomorrow as we gather for Christmas Eve worship, we will once again visit the exclamation point of the account when God broke into our history to usher in the hope of eternity. Sure, weariness remains from fatigue, fear, and anxiety, but the message of Christmas isn’t one of survival, but thriving thanks to the presence of God in our lives.

Are you weary today?

Are you looking for a reason to rejoice?

If so, you can rest assured that the truth we proclaim is timeless, meaning it’s just as applicable today as it was some 2,000 years ago: for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, so whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have life everlasting (John 3.16).

Regardless of how you find this Christmas, I hope you will come and rejoice with us in worship as we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. The world was chaotic and dangerous then, just as it is today. So if you’re feeling weary, know you’ll be in good company. Come anyway. Let’s sing together. Pray together. Light candles together. Share Holy Communion together. And spread the good news of Christmas once again. Together.

Christmas. God’s perpetual glory that makes even our weary world rejoice. Today, just as it has for 2,000 years!

Touch the World

Ethan and I were talking earlier this week about our crazy schedules, and it occurred to me just how close we are to Christmas! Admittedly, in this season where there is more to do than can possibly be done, it feels like it can fly by and drag on simultaneously. 

This season, though, is so much more important than a month-long party, because this is the time when we celebrate God busting through the veil of history so we can get a glimpse of eternity. In Jesus, God touched our broken world with a tiny infant hand that would one day bear the scars for our transgressions. In Max Lucado's daily devotion for today, he touched on this concept. Check out what he wrote:

"Where will God go to touch the world? What a great thought and an even better question! It’s that time of year when we hear about the virgin birth. And yet it’s much, much more than a Christmas story.  It is a story of how close Christ will come to you!

"The first stop on his itinerary was a womb. Where will God go to touch the world? Look deep within Mary for an answer. Better still—look deep within yourself.  Christ in you, the hope of glory! Christ grew in Mary until he had to come out. Christ will grow in you until the same occurs.  He will come out in your speech, in your actions, and in your decisions. Every place you live will be a Bethlehem. And every day you live will be a Christmas. Deliver Christ into the world!"

Each of us has a responsibility to bear the love of God to this broken world. And since this is the prime time for sharing that with people who have yet to fully embrace God's love for them, I hope you will make every opportunity to share heaven's touch with with others. Invite someone to worship or one of the special events at the church. Send cards and goodies to those who are alone, ill, or grieving. Reach out to estranged friends or family. Volunteer. Be inventive in hospitality, and creative in showing others how precious they are. 

And remember the words of scripture that instruct us to do all that we do as though we're doing it for the Lord (Colossians 3:23).