One of the great holiday movies of all time is Christmas Vacation. What a bizarre collection of zaniness from all the characters in the good ol' Griswold family. And like most humor, the thing that makes any comedy funny is our ability to relate to it.
So let's be honest. I wonder how many of us catch our breath during the holidays, because you know at some point you're going to have to deal with or to be around _____________ (you fill in the blank). I heard one author say that many of us have more than just a few knots in our family tree. Some might even make the case that it's not the "knots" we are so worried about - it's the knotHEADS. We all deal with a certain amount of...how do I say this delicately...strangeness in our family system. And while this knowledge dispels the notion that our situations are unique, it does register a pretty clear signal that we are ALL human. And, it makes a definite case for grace in our lives and in our familial dealings.
A few months ago, the THF men were sharing in our weekly men's fellowship (Thursday mornings 6:30 am - THF mall, men) about the descent of Jesus. It got me to thinking. Have you ever pondered to human background of the King of Kings? Let me ask the question another way: If you were going to save the world, what kind of pedigree would you look for in a Savior? Now line that ideal up with reality...
Be a part of a THF family journey this holiday season as our family probes into the background of Jesus. It's a series we're going to call "Knots and Knotheads." And not only will it make a "case for grace," it will make a place for His grace in your life and in your living. See you here, Sundays 9:01 and 10:46.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Gratitude Experiment
It is amazing how complex life is...and how simple it can be. Consider a few thoughts:
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back and a roof over your head, you are richer than 75% of the world's population.
If you have "milk money," or any spare change, lying around somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If you awoke this morning with more health than sickness, consider yourself more blessed than over 1 million folks who won't survive the week.
Two weeks ago, we launched the "Gratitude Experiment," where we found ourselves challenged in this season of Thanksgiving, to find out how truly blessed we really are. Our word gratitude, has at its core a grip and an understanding of another term: GRACE. And grace understands that it has benefitted from and received favor (from God and others).
How much thought have you given to the idea of being among God's favored ones. It's true, you know? The Bible identifies us human-kind, as the recipients of God's kindness. God is an extreme grace-giver, in fact. Consider:
The Bible is the Word of God's grace (Acts 20:32)
We stand in grace (Romans 5:2)
Psalm 45:2 even said that God's grace was poured out on the lips of King David!
Bottom line: You are a graced man (or woman), my friend.
And the expression back is gratitude - a recognition of that. So as we celebrate pilgrims and turkeys and freedom (and even a Cowboy victory) this season, let us continue to stand in that place of gratitude to the Maker, Sustainer, and Savior of us all.
Gratitude Experiment - part 2, this Sunday. See you there, 9:01 or 10:46 am.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back and a roof over your head, you are richer than 75% of the world's population.
If you have "milk money," or any spare change, lying around somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If you awoke this morning with more health than sickness, consider yourself more blessed than over 1 million folks who won't survive the week.
Two weeks ago, we launched the "Gratitude Experiment," where we found ourselves challenged in this season of Thanksgiving, to find out how truly blessed we really are. Our word gratitude, has at its core a grip and an understanding of another term: GRACE. And grace understands that it has benefitted from and received favor (from God and others).
How much thought have you given to the idea of being among God's favored ones. It's true, you know? The Bible identifies us human-kind, as the recipients of God's kindness. God is an extreme grace-giver, in fact. Consider:
The Bible is the Word of God's grace (Acts 20:32)
We stand in grace (Romans 5:2)
Psalm 45:2 even said that God's grace was poured out on the lips of King David!
Bottom line: You are a graced man (or woman), my friend.
And the expression back is gratitude - a recognition of that. So as we celebrate pilgrims and turkeys and freedom (and even a Cowboy victory) this season, let us continue to stand in that place of gratitude to the Maker, Sustainer, and Savior of us all.
Gratitude Experiment - part 2, this Sunday. See you there, 9:01 or 10:46 am.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Christmas Comes Early at THF
Christmas comes THIS SUNDAY - November 14th - at The Heights Fellowship! 2010 marks the sixth year THF has partnered with Samaritan's Purse International Relief for our holiday focus - Operation Christmas Child.
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. The Heights Fellowship is connecting with Samaritan’s Purse to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift. Along with shoe box gifts, millions of children are given Gospel booklets in their own language. In 2009, the International Operation Christmas Child effort distributed 7.9 million shoe box gifts worldwide and distributed them to children in over 100 countries around the world.
Our annual Christmas partnership with Operation Christmas Child began In 2005, when THF families delivered 143 filled shoeboxes to the Samaritan's Purse drop off location. In 2006, we delivered exactly 200 boxes...our goal. In 2007, our goal was 300 and we delivered 460 boxes! What an amazing thing! In 2008, we collected just under 500 boxes. In 2010, we want to continue this bold emphasis.
Every box represents a precious boy or girl in need of a Savior. You can participate in Operation Christmas Child as a family, as an individual, or as a Small Group.
Click HERE to find out more
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. The Heights Fellowship is connecting with Samaritan’s Purse to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift. Along with shoe box gifts, millions of children are given Gospel booklets in their own language. In 2009, the International Operation Christmas Child effort distributed 7.9 million shoe box gifts worldwide and distributed them to children in over 100 countries around the world.
Our annual Christmas partnership with Operation Christmas Child began In 2005, when THF families delivered 143 filled shoeboxes to the Samaritan's Purse drop off location. In 2006, we delivered exactly 200 boxes...our goal. In 2007, our goal was 300 and we delivered 460 boxes! What an amazing thing! In 2008, we collected just under 500 boxes. In 2010, we want to continue this bold emphasis.
Every box represents a precious boy or girl in need of a Savior. You can participate in Operation Christmas Child as a family, as an individual, or as a Small Group.
Click HERE to find out more
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A Celebration of the Backslidden
It's not a four letter word, but its impact among those of us who know Jesus and claim His church as our family is equally impacting: BACKSLIDDEN. No one wants to admit he's backslidden. She surely doesn't want to be named among the backsliders.
But the dirty little secret of our culture is that come this weekend, we'll all be backsliders. So THF wants to celebrate that with you. I'm talking about TIME CHANGE - From Daylight Saving Time back to Standard Time. (What'd you think I meant?)
It's a pretty cool concept. DST originated almost a century ago, during World War I. The idea was to save energy for our production during the war effort by taking advantage of longer daylight hours in the months between April and October. The idea was legislated by the US Congress in 1966 when they standardized the idea and established the dates - April to October. In 2007, the US Government acted again to lengthen DST by four weeks (creeping its beginning back into March and extending its duration into November). It was believed that change alone would save upwards of 10,000 barrels of oil per day. Pretty impressive!
The fact is that most people know little about DST, and care even less - except as it affects their sleep patterns. (Who doesn't hate losing that hour in the Winter?) But this weekend is SPECIAL - it's the one time during the year we all get to backslide - for an hour at least - and enjoy the indulgence of "an extra hour of sleep." Go ahead, set those clocks back and rest easy. Your God will still be on the job.
THF hopes you'll remember that and then join the celebration of the backsliders on Sunday morning at 9:01 and 10:46 Central STANDARD Time. You'll be the better for it all the way around. See you here.
But the dirty little secret of our culture is that come this weekend, we'll all be backsliders. So THF wants to celebrate that with you. I'm talking about TIME CHANGE - From Daylight Saving Time back to Standard Time. (What'd you think I meant?)
It's a pretty cool concept. DST originated almost a century ago, during World War I. The idea was to save energy for our production during the war effort by taking advantage of longer daylight hours in the months between April and October. The idea was legislated by the US Congress in 1966 when they standardized the idea and established the dates - April to October. In 2007, the US Government acted again to lengthen DST by four weeks (creeping its beginning back into March and extending its duration into November). It was believed that change alone would save upwards of 10,000 barrels of oil per day. Pretty impressive!
The fact is that most people know little about DST, and care even less - except as it affects their sleep patterns. (Who doesn't hate losing that hour in the Winter?) But this weekend is SPECIAL - it's the one time during the year we all get to backslide - for an hour at least - and enjoy the indulgence of "an extra hour of sleep." Go ahead, set those clocks back and rest easy. Your God will still be on the job.
THF hopes you'll remember that and then join the celebration of the backsliders on Sunday morning at 9:01 and 10:46 Central STANDARD Time. You'll be the better for it all the way around. See you here.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
A Reason to Celebrate
Harvest time has always been jubilant time. In the agricultural economies of our heritage, it was the payoff. It's what people worked for so long and so hard. We carry that tradition of joy with us into the present.
At THF we have an annual celebration of the harvest called Fall Festival. This October 31st, from 6:30-8:30 pm on the THF campus, we will celebrate again and we want our community to celebrate with us.
You are invited. This celebration is free and the fun is for everyone. You can follow the link for Fall Festival on this page to find out more.
At THF we have an annual celebration of the harvest called Fall Festival. This October 31st, from 6:30-8:30 pm on the THF campus, we will celebrate again and we want our community to celebrate with us.
You are invited. This celebration is free and the fun is for everyone. You can follow the link for Fall Festival on this page to find out more.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Communion and the Lord's Supper
Undoubtedly, the word communion conjures up visual images of priests and robes and high church ceremony. I supposed that is one application. However, at its heart, the word has a more familiar texture. In fact, the source of communion falls nearer a more familiar, used word: community. Both have an old English word for sharing as their root. Both represent something that we share...something that we have in common.
This Sunday, THF will celebrate communion, what a lot of us refer to as The Lord's Supper, as a part of our worship expression. We will rejoice in that - better said, HIM that we have in common. It will be a poignant, meaningful time of reflection, remembrance, and celebration. Hope you'll be there.
We will celebrate twice - 9:01 and again at 10:46 am.
See you here!
This Sunday, THF will celebrate communion, what a lot of us refer to as The Lord's Supper, as a part of our worship expression. We will rejoice in that - better said, HIM that we have in common. It will be a poignant, meaningful time of reflection, remembrance, and celebration. Hope you'll be there.
We will celebrate twice - 9:01 and again at 10:46 am.
See you here!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
OTC
Every Sunday at THF is unique and special. But there are some that off the chart special. This Sunday will be one of those OTC (Off the Chart) Sundays. I dare say, that we are going to do something you've probably never seen before...and never thought you'd hear of a church doing. I won't tell you in print...you'll just have to show up to find out...BUT YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS IT. This is something that will silence church critics for weeks to come!
Grab your family, bring your friends, talk to the neighbors and get here for the Sunday's celebration. 9:01 or 10:46.
See you then!
Grab your family, bring your friends, talk to the neighbors and get here for the Sunday's celebration. 9:01 or 10:46.
See you then!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Beginnings
To describe this Fall for our THF Outfitters as awesome will be an understatement! My excitement level just continues to grow every time I think about it. With a new format, new theme, new set-up, AND some new personalities, this Fall is shaping up to be the BEST EVER at THF!
Be sure you mark your calendars with some of the important dates that are coming up for our Student Ministry! Here's a "small" list of things you'll want to mark on your calendar:
Yuck Night – September 1
SYATP – September 22
Salvation City Tour – October 30
Fall Festival – October 31
DNow – November 11-14
Turkey Bowl – November 25
Winter Retreat – December 27 - 30
Ignite – January 28-29, 2011
X-Axis – March 14 – 19, 2011
Youth Camp – May 30 – June 3, 2011
Be sure you mark your calendars with some of the important dates that are coming up for our Student Ministry! Here's a "small" list of things you'll want to mark on your calendar:
Yuck Night – September 1
SYATP – September 22
Salvation City Tour – October 30
Fall Festival – October 31
DNow – November 11-14
Turkey Bowl – November 25
Winter Retreat – December 27 - 30
Ignite – January 28-29, 2011
X-Axis – March 14 – 19, 2011
Youth Camp – May 30 – June 3, 2011
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
WORD up
It’s the best selling document of all time. It’s the most widely circulated, widely translated book ever. In our western culture, it’s almost ubiquitous…over 90% of Americans say they own at least one. They’re even stocked safely away in most hotel rooms. Yet for all of that, the Bible is one of the least read, most divisive and misunderstood pieces of literature in existence.
Here are some of the questions:
Who really wrote the Bible?
What makes the Bible unique from other religious books or from other works of ancient literature?
Weren’t there books left out of the Bible?
Aren’t there supposed to be contradictions in the Bible?
Can I really understand and find meaning from something that old?
Join us this August for our series WORD, as THF uncovers the mystery, answers the questions, and opens the book on THE BOOK. You’ll be forever changed.
Here are some of the questions:
Who really wrote the Bible?
What makes the Bible unique from other religious books or from other works of ancient literature?
Weren’t there books left out of the Bible?
Aren’t there supposed to be contradictions in the Bible?
Can I really understand and find meaning from something that old?
Join us this August for our series WORD, as THF uncovers the mystery, answers the questions, and opens the book on THE BOOK. You’ll be forever changed.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Released
My friend, Luke, was released today.
I first met Luke a little over a month ago through one of our THF family. I'd been told that he was a good guy, a professional painter, who had lived a pretty rough life and that he had been diagnosed with cancer down in his abdomen back last year. He was literally riddled with cancer - abdomen, throat, brain. A tumor was even pressing against the optic nerve behind his right eye and he had lost vision in that eye. He was terminal.
No one really knew what his spirit was, and I was asked if I'd visit him. "Of course," I said. After all, that's something pastor's do, right?
You never know, going into a meeting like that what you will find. People respond all kinds of different ways. Anger, rage, dismissal...and worst of all condescension (like you're a hired "gun" and of course, you're there to see them about their eternity.) Well, what I found was a friend...and a really good man.
It was a quick five weeks. I don't know what Luke was like most of his life, but I do know what he was at the end. He was just very genuine and gracious. Somewhere in there, Luke had embraced the Savior and it - as it always will - transformed him. He wasn't fatalistic. He wasn't angry or questioning. He was just real people. We talked much - which was a trip in itself, because Luke was hard of hearing, so we had to yell at each other. We laughed a lot, sometimes at stuff we'd say - or often enough at stuff we couldn't figure out how to say, given all the yelling. And sometimes I'd just sit on the edge of his bed on the really tough days and hold his hand and pray. Like a true Texan, Luke always extended to shake your hand...
I told his brother-in-law on Wednesday that Luke's spirit was "quiet" over the five or six weeks I knew him. As is intended, that wandering, nomadic soul found its rest in Jesus...and he was good with life. And here's a truth to live by: He never mourned the life that cancer was taking from him. He embraced the life that Jesus was giving to him.
This past Sunday, Luke was able to muster up the strength to come celebrate with us at THF. He'd wanted to for a while. His special lady had come with him...had flown all the way from Florida, in fact, to come with him. It was a big thing. I'd told our greeter team to be watching. They did, and when he arrived, they came directly to me and told me that big ol' goober was in the building. It was great for them to pray with in person the guy they'd prayed for at a distance for over a month. I told Luke that this place - THF - was started for guys just like him. He was in many ways the epitome of "Heights Harry." We celebrated.
His hospice nurse just called to tell me that Luke has been released. And, that's a good thing. Life didn't leave. Life just came by and picked him up on its journey. Today, I'm grateful for friendship. But more than that, I'm grateful that the Savior counts as precious in His sight, the death of His beloved.
What about you, friend? Has your spirit found its rest in the Savior?
I first met Luke a little over a month ago through one of our THF family. I'd been told that he was a good guy, a professional painter, who had lived a pretty rough life and that he had been diagnosed with cancer down in his abdomen back last year. He was literally riddled with cancer - abdomen, throat, brain. A tumor was even pressing against the optic nerve behind his right eye and he had lost vision in that eye. He was terminal.
No one really knew what his spirit was, and I was asked if I'd visit him. "Of course," I said. After all, that's something pastor's do, right?
You never know, going into a meeting like that what you will find. People respond all kinds of different ways. Anger, rage, dismissal...and worst of all condescension (like you're a hired "gun" and of course, you're there to see them about their eternity.) Well, what I found was a friend...and a really good man.
It was a quick five weeks. I don't know what Luke was like most of his life, but I do know what he was at the end. He was just very genuine and gracious. Somewhere in there, Luke had embraced the Savior and it - as it always will - transformed him. He wasn't fatalistic. He wasn't angry or questioning. He was just real people. We talked much - which was a trip in itself, because Luke was hard of hearing, so we had to yell at each other. We laughed a lot, sometimes at stuff we'd say - or often enough at stuff we couldn't figure out how to say, given all the yelling. And sometimes I'd just sit on the edge of his bed on the really tough days and hold his hand and pray. Like a true Texan, Luke always extended to shake your hand...
I told his brother-in-law on Wednesday that Luke's spirit was "quiet" over the five or six weeks I knew him. As is intended, that wandering, nomadic soul found its rest in Jesus...and he was good with life. And here's a truth to live by: He never mourned the life that cancer was taking from him. He embraced the life that Jesus was giving to him.
This past Sunday, Luke was able to muster up the strength to come celebrate with us at THF. He'd wanted to for a while. His special lady had come with him...had flown all the way from Florida, in fact, to come with him. It was a big thing. I'd told our greeter team to be watching. They did, and when he arrived, they came directly to me and told me that big ol' goober was in the building. It was great for them to pray with in person the guy they'd prayed for at a distance for over a month. I told Luke that this place - THF - was started for guys just like him. He was in many ways the epitome of "Heights Harry." We celebrated.
His hospice nurse just called to tell me that Luke has been released. And, that's a good thing. Life didn't leave. Life just came by and picked him up on its journey. Today, I'm grateful for friendship. But more than that, I'm grateful that the Savior counts as precious in His sight, the death of His beloved.
What about you, friend? Has your spirit found its rest in the Savior?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Daddies and Daughters
I don't often dispense parenting advice. For one thing, I am not sure that I qualify as an expert. And for another, I'm "superstitious" enough to feel like if I set myself up as such, and try to act like one, then I bring a world of torment on my house and family. So please don't hear what I'm about to say with any sort of air of arrogance. I don't think I've figured anything out. I've just tried to follow THE Father on this.
That being said, recently, I was asked by a former student to speak to the parenting of his only daughter. For some of our readers who may not know, my wife and I have one child, a daughter, who just turned 17. As I pondered over my former student's question, there were a lot of thoughts that rambled through my noggin, but several lingered there. When I was done responding to him, I really liked what had come out, and I (very fearfully) was led to share it with you. Here is what I told him,one pilgrim to another.
"Yeah, we have one daughter: Mack. She's awesome. It' been a whole lot of fun raising her. I have enjoyed each successive phase more so than the previous one. I embrace being Mack's dad...I love it! It's not a journey I rushed to get into, but once on the road I've chased it with great zeal.There are several things that apply in that journey to raise her:
1) Love her the way God intended. The absolute most prominent and permanent thing you will ever provide for her is a certainty of your love for her. This does several things - it gives her the right God-reference. Kids get their basic understanding of God from the way their dads love them. Girls learn how to love (and be loved by) a man from the way their fathers treat and love them. There are no guarantees, but if you want her to be chaste and pure she MUST be certain of your love. Make sure she never has to go get that love from a surrogate. Never take it for granted or leave it up to assumption or supposition that you love her. Assure her. Tell her. Show her.
2) Love her momma ALWAYS. Speak of it. Show it...especially in the hardest times of life and marriage. You want your daughter to have the BEST shot at a strong, stable, and healthy marriage - and healthy relationships in general, dads? Then make sure she knows what they are supposed to look like and live like. You want her to avoid dysfunctional and messy relationships - you want her to know what she should look for and expect in a relationship with a man? Then you love her momma correctly and constantly. Never leave her and don't ever walk away from or shirk that most basic of all human relationships - the marriage. If you stay consistent and intentional about it, then it's a fulfillment of at least two major New Testament mandates: Eph. 5:25 and Eph 6:4! [Have you ever considered 6:4 within the context of how disciplined you are in how you love your wife?]
3) Make sure she knows how to love God. She isn't going to hear you best on this one, SHE's GOING TO SEE YOU BEST ON THIS ONE. Too many times, parents are really good at making their kids religious (about lots of things), while they slack on teaching them to love God. I've seen parents more passionate and overt about their love for a sports team or their alma mater or a tidy house than they are about their love for Jesus. That's seriously twisted! It makes for messy lives and messy relationships. As I read Deut 6, I understand that the primary audience for this passage of the scripture was specifically those Hebrew daddies, I understand that this job of teaching love for God falls first and primarily to us DADDIES. Give her a healthy reference to the scriptures, because YOU are in them, know them, and rightly handle them. Model for her what a relationship with God looks like. Teach her to seek Him, ask Him, listen to Him, obey Him, share Him, but most of all, to enjoy Him...
4) And finally, teach her to fly! She will never be YOURS. You didn't make her and you certainly don't own her. She has been entrusted to you. We parents fall into two errors here: we hold on too tightly and teach her fear and indecision. Or, we are too permissive and teach her to lightly regard the Lord. I don't know that there is a perfectly established and set boundary. It depends on your daughter. I heard Chuck Swindoll illustrate once that parenting is like flying a kite. To succeed at it requires a perfect tension between the wind and they kite. And that tension is most notably seen in the string that holds the two in balance with the ground...with gravity. Dad, you're that gravity. You're gonna have to study her, scout her, and learn her so that you know where that delicate balance is. And make no mistake, if you don't learn her, you can be sure that the ENEMY has already scouted her and studied her. And you're going to have to let out enough string to allow your child to fly higher and higher. The popular cultural paradigm urges parents to talk to their children about ... (you fill in the blank: drugs, sex, etc etc). That's a great theory, but you're gonna have to talk to God about her all the time to make sure SHE gets that balance between the winds of life and the principles of Biblical character that she has been taught by precept and personal illustration. That will help her stay in flight.
Do those things and you'll be fine.
Take care, dear friend.
Mike
That being said, recently, I was asked by a former student to speak to the parenting of his only daughter. For some of our readers who may not know, my wife and I have one child, a daughter, who just turned 17. As I pondered over my former student's question, there were a lot of thoughts that rambled through my noggin, but several lingered there. When I was done responding to him, I really liked what had come out, and I (very fearfully) was led to share it with you. Here is what I told him,one pilgrim to another.
"Yeah, we have one daughter: Mack. She's awesome. It' been a whole lot of fun raising her. I have enjoyed each successive phase more so than the previous one. I embrace being Mack's dad...I love it! It's not a journey I rushed to get into, but once on the road I've chased it with great zeal.There are several things that apply in that journey to raise her:
1) Love her the way God intended. The absolute most prominent and permanent thing you will ever provide for her is a certainty of your love for her. This does several things - it gives her the right God-reference. Kids get their basic understanding of God from the way their dads love them. Girls learn how to love (and be loved by) a man from the way their fathers treat and love them. There are no guarantees, but if you want her to be chaste and pure she MUST be certain of your love. Make sure she never has to go get that love from a surrogate. Never take it for granted or leave it up to assumption or supposition that you love her. Assure her. Tell her. Show her.
2) Love her momma ALWAYS. Speak of it. Show it...especially in the hardest times of life and marriage. You want your daughter to have the BEST shot at a strong, stable, and healthy marriage - and healthy relationships in general, dads? Then make sure she knows what they are supposed to look like and live like. You want her to avoid dysfunctional and messy relationships - you want her to know what she should look for and expect in a relationship with a man? Then you love her momma correctly and constantly. Never leave her and don't ever walk away from or shirk that most basic of all human relationships - the marriage. If you stay consistent and intentional about it, then it's a fulfillment of at least two major New Testament mandates: Eph. 5:25 and Eph 6:4! [Have you ever considered 6:4 within the context of how disciplined you are in how you love your wife?]
3) Make sure she knows how to love God. She isn't going to hear you best on this one, SHE's GOING TO SEE YOU BEST ON THIS ONE. Too many times, parents are really good at making their kids religious (about lots of things), while they slack on teaching them to love God. I've seen parents more passionate and overt about their love for a sports team or their alma mater or a tidy house than they are about their love for Jesus. That's seriously twisted! It makes for messy lives and messy relationships. As I read Deut 6, I understand that the primary audience for this passage of the scripture was specifically those Hebrew daddies, I understand that this job of teaching love for God falls first and primarily to us DADDIES. Give her a healthy reference to the scriptures, because YOU are in them, know them, and rightly handle them. Model for her what a relationship with God looks like. Teach her to seek Him, ask Him, listen to Him, obey Him, share Him, but most of all, to enjoy Him...
4) And finally, teach her to fly! She will never be YOURS. You didn't make her and you certainly don't own her. She has been entrusted to you. We parents fall into two errors here: we hold on too tightly and teach her fear and indecision. Or, we are too permissive and teach her to lightly regard the Lord. I don't know that there is a perfectly established and set boundary. It depends on your daughter. I heard Chuck Swindoll illustrate once that parenting is like flying a kite. To succeed at it requires a perfect tension between the wind and they kite. And that tension is most notably seen in the string that holds the two in balance with the ground...with gravity. Dad, you're that gravity. You're gonna have to study her, scout her, and learn her so that you know where that delicate balance is. And make no mistake, if you don't learn her, you can be sure that the ENEMY has already scouted her and studied her. And you're going to have to let out enough string to allow your child to fly higher and higher. The popular cultural paradigm urges parents to talk to their children about ... (you fill in the blank: drugs, sex, etc etc). That's a great theory, but you're gonna have to talk to God about her all the time to make sure SHE gets that balance between the winds of life and the principles of Biblical character that she has been taught by precept and personal illustration. That will help her stay in flight.
Do those things and you'll be fine.
Take care, dear friend.
Mike
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Marriage Ref
It's one of the most popular new shows of the current Spring TV season. And why not. I mean, who hasn't wanted someone to come referee and arbitrate a dispute or incident in our relationships? On the TV show, it's all about entertainment, when celebrities sit in and "wax comedic" about some couple's issues. But in real life, it's serious business, as we sometimes struggle from day to day in our relationships. And deeply, we long for someone to speak truth into our lives about this situation. And if we're really honest, what we're really looking for, a lot of the time, is justification - for what we do, for why we do, and for how we feel.
The sobering truth is that the scriptures tell us that God is the one who justifies (Rom. 8:33). No human being - not a pastor, counselor, lawyer, or judge can do that for us. Only God can. The GREAT news is this: He's on our side, and He roots for our marriage!! That means there are no hopeless situations. There are no circumstances beyond His control. And best of all, He will help us work through them.
In The Marriage Ref series, we've brought together pastors, counselors, and attorneys - all under the truth of God - to breathe new life into your relationship. The series isn't just for the married. It's for everyone, because most of the truth we are talking about has applications in just about everyone's lives.
It's an interactive experience. You've never seen anything like it - in church, at least. We like to say that you'll be challenged, changed, and charged up about your relationships.
See you Sunday!
The sobering truth is that the scriptures tell us that God is the one who justifies (Rom. 8:33). No human being - not a pastor, counselor, lawyer, or judge can do that for us. Only God can. The GREAT news is this: He's on our side, and He roots for our marriage!! That means there are no hopeless situations. There are no circumstances beyond His control. And best of all, He will help us work through them.
In The Marriage Ref series, we've brought together pastors, counselors, and attorneys - all under the truth of God - to breathe new life into your relationship. The series isn't just for the married. It's for everyone, because most of the truth we are talking about has applications in just about everyone's lives.
It's an interactive experience. You've never seen anything like it - in church, at least. We like to say that you'll be challenged, changed, and charged up about your relationships.
See you Sunday!
Monday, February 15, 2010
For Your Own Good
Have you ever considered John 16:7? On some level, I guess I’ve always considered its implications to be something along the lines of, “Of course it’s to my benefit that He goes away. That’s how salvation was bought.” But I’d NEVER considered the full implication of this verse.
To that point, Jesus had been walking with His disciples for a while, but had only walked WITH them. In order for them (and us) to have God IN us, however, He had to ascend and come back as the Holy Spirit. He tells His disciples it is for their good that He goes away. That way, He can indwell them (and us) so that they (and we) could be the temple where He lives!
What does that mean for you? The indwelling that this Spirit gives me means that how I feel/my circumstances DO NOT have to define my day. HE can define my day, no matter what my circumstance or environment! No matter what is going on around me, the Creator of the Universe lives IN ME, and all of His resources are mine because He knows me and lives in me. This really is a good thing!
So, what keeps you from experiencing His presence in your life? A couple of observations come to mind.
1) You do not belong to Him. If you’ve never given Him your life, you have not been indwelled by His Spirit. To solve this, place your hope and trust in Him today.
2) You’ve never really “needed” Him. For too many followers of Jesus, faith consists of asking His blessing on our already well-laid plans. We seek comfort, affluence, and prosperity, missing the fact that God is near to the broken hearted. Recently reading a book about the Holy Spirit, I read about a group of Korean missionary who were abducted by the Taliban. Two were martyred for their faith, and the rest squabbled over the honor of being the next to go. Before anyone else could be killed, the Korean government negotiated their release. Upon returning home, all of the former captives voiced a desire to be back in captivity because of the intimacy with Christ they found during their captivity. At their darkest hour, they found themselves closer to Christ than they ever had been.Their story reminded me that God doesn’t strive for my comfort or safety. He strives for His Glory.
3) Noise: our lives become so cluttered with busyness that we simply CANNOT focus on a relationship with Christ. With text messages, voice messages, music, television, reading, FaceBook, cell phones, etc., we lack the capacity for a quiet conversation with our Creator. Many times we create the noise with noble causes that seem to deepen our intimacy but only keep us from God.All too often we substitute a book, Bible study, or spiritual event for intimacy, quenching the Spirit in our lives and missing His presence in our lives.
Give your life to Christ. Realize your need for Him each day instead of comfort. “Unplug” for the sake of your relationship with Him. He has given you His Spirit for your own good.
To that point, Jesus had been walking with His disciples for a while, but had only walked WITH them. In order for them (and us) to have God IN us, however, He had to ascend and come back as the Holy Spirit. He tells His disciples it is for their good that He goes away. That way, He can indwell them (and us) so that they (and we) could be the temple where He lives!
What does that mean for you? The indwelling that this Spirit gives me means that how I feel/my circumstances DO NOT have to define my day. HE can define my day, no matter what my circumstance or environment! No matter what is going on around me, the Creator of the Universe lives IN ME, and all of His resources are mine because He knows me and lives in me. This really is a good thing!
So, what keeps you from experiencing His presence in your life? A couple of observations come to mind.
1) You do not belong to Him. If you’ve never given Him your life, you have not been indwelled by His Spirit. To solve this, place your hope and trust in Him today.
2) You’ve never really “needed” Him. For too many followers of Jesus, faith consists of asking His blessing on our already well-laid plans. We seek comfort, affluence, and prosperity, missing the fact that God is near to the broken hearted. Recently reading a book about the Holy Spirit, I read about a group of Korean missionary who were abducted by the Taliban. Two were martyred for their faith, and the rest squabbled over the honor of being the next to go. Before anyone else could be killed, the Korean government negotiated their release. Upon returning home, all of the former captives voiced a desire to be back in captivity because of the intimacy with Christ they found during their captivity. At their darkest hour, they found themselves closer to Christ than they ever had been.Their story reminded me that God doesn’t strive for my comfort or safety. He strives for His Glory.
3) Noise: our lives become so cluttered with busyness that we simply CANNOT focus on a relationship with Christ. With text messages, voice messages, music, television, reading, FaceBook, cell phones, etc., we lack the capacity for a quiet conversation with our Creator. Many times we create the noise with noble causes that seem to deepen our intimacy but only keep us from God.All too often we substitute a book, Bible study, or spiritual event for intimacy, quenching the Spirit in our lives and missing His presence in our lives.
Give your life to Christ. Realize your need for Him each day instead of comfort. “Unplug” for the sake of your relationship with Him. He has given you His Spirit for your own good.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Where Are You?
According to Roger’s Innovation Adoption Curve, people fall into one of five categories. He defines the categories like this:
Innovators: Brave people pulling the change
Early Adopters: Respectable people, opinion leaders, who try out new ideas in a careful way.
Early Majority: Thoughtful people, careful, but accepting change more quickly than the average.
Late Majority: skeptical people, they will only use ideas or products when the majority are using them.
Laggards: traditional people, caring for the “old ways,” are critical towards new ideas and will only use them when become the main stream or even tradition.
Now, let’s have some fun. Go to my blog (http://www.thejiggybishop.com) and read these descriptions to someone who knows you well. Ask them which one you are. I would be willing to bet that most of us put ourselves on the more adventurous end of the spectrum than we really are. Post their responses as replies.
Innovators: Brave people pulling the change
Early Adopters: Respectable people, opinion leaders, who try out new ideas in a careful way.
Early Majority: Thoughtful people, careful, but accepting change more quickly than the average.
Late Majority: skeptical people, they will only use ideas or products when the majority are using them.
Laggards: traditional people, caring for the “old ways,” are critical towards new ideas and will only use them when become the main stream or even tradition.
Now, let’s have some fun. Go to my blog (http://www.thejiggybishop.com) and read these descriptions to someone who knows you well. Ask them which one you are. I would be willing to bet that most of us put ourselves on the more adventurous end of the spectrum than we really are. Post their responses as replies.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Knowing
The Bible tells us that man's ulitimate pursuit, the biggest blessing he can reap is to KNOW God. And yet, knowing God continues to be one of man's great challenges. He struggles with getting his head around eternity, he can't rise to the mind and thoughts of God. And a lot of folks check it in right there. It would be an impossible task except for one thing: God wants to be known...and more personally, He wants us to know Him.
God isn't Divinity in a vacuum. He is not a Deity on the dodge, ducking behind convenient theologies and religious rituals. He has openly and honestly addressed our human need and desire to know Him. The Bible tells the story of a God longing to be known by His creation. It's pages unfold that story in vivid vignettes. And those pages elicit a bold invitation for you and I to become part of the story.
Join Him this Winter as the family at The Heights Fellowship "steps into the pages" of scripture to meet a God who has always been working, pursuing, inviting, and speaking to our need to know...
God isn't Divinity in a vacuum. He is not a Deity on the dodge, ducking behind convenient theologies and religious rituals. He has openly and honestly addressed our human need and desire to know Him. The Bible tells the story of a God longing to be known by His creation. It's pages unfold that story in vivid vignettes. And those pages elicit a bold invitation for you and I to become part of the story.
Join Him this Winter as the family at The Heights Fellowship "steps into the pages" of scripture to meet a God who has always been working, pursuing, inviting, and speaking to our need to know...
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