Daily Rock!

Are you caught up in the adventure?  Do you feel the battle call?

I love the imagery in the Lord of the Rings.  The Dragons and the Orcs, swords, horses.  Movies like this vividly show the epic battle between good and evil. Sometimes when I watch a movie like that, I feel a little disappointed to return to my job the next day where I sit, staring at a computer screen all day.

I'll change my computer background again... a castle... cool.

Sigh

Action and adventure movies tug at something inside us don't they? 

What if there were some truth woven into those tales?  What if there were a warrior within each of us being beckoned to join an epic battle?

We have all read Luke 2 and are familiar with the earthly account of Jesus' birth.  The shepherds and the manger.  That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

However Revelation gives us the spiritual account of what it looked like in the heavens when Jesus was born.  Reading through these verses can feel like we are watching a movie trailer.

"Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.  Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.  She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter."And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.  The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." Rev 12:1-7 (NIV)

The battle came, the war was on.  This is the place where we live today, we live in the days of that epic battle. 

Notice what Jesus tells his disciples when they returned after he sent them out to preach the Gospel.  They were excited and told him, 

"Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:17-20 (NIV)

When Satan fell from heaven, what did he go off to do?

"Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus." Rev 12:17 (NIV)

Um, that sounds a bit like he went after you and I doesn't it?

Make no mistake, we are caught up in an epic battle.  There are people out there, each day having their lives ruined by Satan.  There are people out there who need to hear the words of our Savior.  There are people out there blind to the truth and dying in their sin.

The battle is for their very souls.  Keith Green once said something to the affect of, "This generation of believers is responsible for this generation of souls."

This is our place in the battle, ours and no one else's.

When Paul met Jesus for the first time, this is what he was told.  Let's think about these words today.  Take them to heart, this is our charge.

"'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.  I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them  to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "Acts 26:16-18 (NIV)

Do you feel the call?

Gather, grow and go!

Your Story!

Only you can tell your story.

People love to hear a story when someone has been rescued from disaster.  You see this on the news all the time.  Sometimes, like when there is a plane crash, the news media will interview someone who missed the flight just to get a story from a "survivor".

Really?  Your big story is you didn't get on the plane that crashed?  Wow, how do you feel, what was it like?

"Well, it was like this, I didn't get on the plane, it crashed and I wasn't on it!"

Sigh... is that a story worth telling?

We have a much bigger story to tell.

Those of us who have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ have been rescued from the Kingdom of Darkness and have been brought into the Kingdom of God.  Our life was crashing.  Jesus came into it, pulled us from the wreckage, and began to make something new.

That is a story.

We have all been saved from this dying world, each with a story to tell.

Reading Psalm 107 today.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south." Psalm 107:1-3 (NIV)

As Preacher Mike read in his sermon yesterday, "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." 1 John 3:8 (NIV).  Each of us were victims of that work.  Each having their life destroyed by the evil one.

We are the redeemed, we have been saved.  The way Jesus rescued each of us is an amazing story worth telling.  And the best equipped to tell your personal story is you.

Is there someone in your life who needs to hear your story?

Fully Alive!

Are you living your life fully alive?

A few years back I was talking to a brother who purchased a motorcycle and had gotten an amazing deal.  It was clean, garage kept, very low mileage and had lots of chrome! 

Its previous owner had purchased it as their first bike.  They rode it for a little while, and then had an incident that scared them.  Something about gravel on the road, almost going down. 

All of us who ride have been there, we've had those "oh my!" moments.  If you haven't... you will.  At some point in your riding experience you will encounter our old buddy, fear comes and a choice will have to be made.

At that moment we have two choices.  Keep riding, or give it up.  The "fear factor"  influences our choice.  If we choose to keep riding, we have no guarantee the next ride won't be our last. 

If we keep riding, we have accepted that. 

Many people in our lives don't understand that choice, to keep riding.  They pull us aside, tell us to stop.  Some of them care, they are afraid for us.  Some of them are simply afraid and try to influence us with the choice they have made for themselves.

Riding a motorcycle is not for everyone, but living a life fully alive is.  Fear of unknown consequences can cripple a life.  A lack of trust in the Lord and where He wants to take us can cripple our walk with Him. 

"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Matthew 16:22-26 (NIV)

Read that one part again, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"

If we hold back from God, cling to our life attempting to control everything by avoiding anything that looks risky, we will forfeit our very soul.  This reminds me of the song, The Rose by Bette Midler.

It's the heart afraid of breaking

That never learns to dance

It's the dream afraid of waking

That never takes the chance

It's the one who won't be taken

Who cannot seem to give

And the soul afraid of dying

That never learns to live

Jesus Christ offers an abundant life.  But in order to live it, we have to let go of everything and trust him.  We need to put aside our fear, throw our leg over the bike, and ride once more.

Daily Rock!

We live in interesting times.  A time when you can print something from a computer in 3D.  Open a program, create something, send it to the printer and there you have it.

Someone did this with a motorcycle. 

Cool concept, it was a full size bike. 

However no one could ride it.  It looked like a motorcycle but was it really a motorcycle?

A motorcycle, above everything else, was created for a purpose and that purpose is to be ridden.  To allow the rider to hear the motor, feel the vibration through their body as they ride full throttle, wind in their face. 

A motorcycle is a celebration of movement. 

That 3D sculpture looked like a bike, but it could not be ridden.   It may look like a motorcycle, but it does not act like one.

We too are created for a purpose.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

We can accept Christ, be saved, and then spend the rest of our time exercising our faith only by going to church.  What kind of faith is that? 

One without any movement. 

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?"  James 2:14-20 (NIV)

Love God, love people, do something about it. 

We need to get moving.  That's the only way to invite others to join the ride.

Daily Rock!

Are you a warrior or a casualty of war?

Yesterday we talked about being in "fighting shape" so that we can make our stand against the enemy of our souls.

This is pretty serious business, Peter tells us, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

The threat is out there, the enemy is real.

We are in a spiritual battle Paul says.  Over the years I have seen a lot of unbalanced teaching about how to handle this battle.  Because of these extremes, some people avoid the topic altogether.  Others practice spiritual warfare in a way that borders on the occult. 

But Paul is not telling us anything "out there" when he warns us of the battle and what to do about it.  Preparing for this is simply about the choices we make.  It means we take on a different lifestyle. 

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."  Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV)

Whole books have been written on these verses.  It's easy to get lost in the metaphor of the armor.  "How is truth a belt?  It holds my pants up?  What kind pants?  What if I am wearing a gym shorts, where do I put my belt?  I'm so confused..."

I find it helpful to start by just looking at the words.

Truth: You both know the truth and live honestly.

Righteousness: Right living, loving God and obeying Him and loving others.

The good news of the Gospel: Who is Jesus and what did He come to do?

Faith: "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb 1:11 (NIV) trusting in what God tells us in spite of what we see and experience. Putting that trust into action by the choices we make. 

Salvation: What are we saved from, and where are we going when we die?

The word of God:  Pick up your Bible and read it, study it.

These are the choices that the Holy Spirit empowers us to make, every day.  It is not a mystical armor, it is a way of life.  It is how we live in this world as disciples of Christ.

On the night before his crucifixion, "when darkness reigns" Luke 22:53, (NIV)  Jesus said, "for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in me." John 14:30 (NIV)

That's an interesting statement. Satan had no "in" with Jesus.  No hook, no way to grab hold of him and toss him around like he does you and I.  Why? Read through that list again. Jesus lived every moment of his life like that.

And He empowers us to do the same.  Spiritual warfare is far more about being prepared by living as we should.  Then we are strong enough, we can resist the enemy and he will flee from us. 

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (NIV)

Are you ready for a fight?

As I shared once before, I have taken up Taekwondo classes after not having so much as  thrown a kick in over 30 years.

It's an interesting experience, to say the least.

The other night I faced off for some light sparring with a black belt.  The instructor gave the command, and we began.

I was rather surprised at how I quickly got into sparring mode after so many years.  My mind remembered to tell my body what to do, throwing kick after kick.

My opponent  simply kept backing up, moving, side-stepping.  After about 45 seconds of this, I was doubled over sucking in air.

My brain may have remembered many of the moves, but my body was in no condition to spar.  Had this been a real fight, he could have just kept side-stepping me and waited until I was doubled over and ended it right there with one kick.  Fortunately for my sake, he was instructing me, not fighting me.

Have you felt like that in your life?  Your day goes on, all is fine, then the enemy comes along and the battle begins.  You get frustrated and start beating the air with your fist.  It doesn't take long for you to feel ready to give up.  Tired, doubled over, sucking air, you run to some old habits that you had long left behind when you decided to follow Christ.

Then comes the guilt of what you have done, the enemy gives you the final blow (he is the accuser of the brethren after all) and you are defeated.  Battle lost.

What is the answer?

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)

Notice it says here when the day of evil comes, not if, when.

Paul is saying the battle is inevitable because we are at war and, we'd better prepare for it.

Taekwondo is a fun way for me to get into shape and sure there are some self defense aspect of this.  But it is useless in the battle that Paul is talking about.  A spiritual battle needs spiritual defenses and weapons.

We may live in a free country, but spiritually this is enemy occupied territory.

We'll take a look at that armor tomorrow.  But for now, let's take an honest inventory of what we do, each day, to prepare for this battle.

By the way, Refuel tonight is a great way to prepare.  Coming to church midweek can often give us the strength we need to walk in victory.

The GIFT, or the GIVER!

When God blesses you with something do you pay more attention to the gift or the giver?

In John chapter six, Jesus had just fed 5,000 people, meeting their physical need for food with a miraculous sign.  The crowd's response was they wanted to force Him to be their king.  Why not?  A king who could simply make food appear where there was none, that's a good trick!

Jesus withdraws from them.  We pick up the story in verse 22.

"The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.  Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.  Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"

Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.  Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." John 6:22-26 (NIV emphasis mine)

Clearly they were only looking for their next meal.  They ate the fish and bread, but had missed the point of the sign.  A sign points to something, and this sign had pointed to Jesus himself.  He was teaching them something about himself by meeting their physical need.

Let's continue.

Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

So they asked him, "What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" vv 28-31 (NIV)

Aren't we just like that?  Jesus' last miracle wasn't enough for them, and often times it is not enough for us.  That was yesterday Jesus, what will you do for me today?  You want me to believe in you, what will you do for me now in exchange for my belief?

Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

"Sir," they said, "always give us this bread."

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." vv 32-35 (NIV)

The blessings in our life are always meant to teach us something about our Father in Heaven, to draw us into a closer relationship with Him. 

Are you looking at the gifts or the giver today?

The lesson is clear, the giver is all we need. 

Do Something Impossible!

Have you ever felt like the Lord is asking you to do something impossible?

Perhaps forgive someone who hurt you badly; or maybe meet a need you simply don't have the physical means to.

How do you respond? 

Reading John 6 this morning.

"When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"  He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. John 6:5-6 (NIV)

Jesus points out the need to Philip, he begins the dialogue about it.  How will we accomplish this Philip?  What are your thoughts?

Jesus is engaging in a conversation with Philip to test him, yes, but also because there are two things going on here.  The obvious need for feeding the people and the need inside Philip to understand  the God he is serving better.  Philip needs a bigger picture of who God is.

Philip is where you or I might be in this, he realizes they cannot meet the need themselves.  He gets out his calculator, formulates a plan, and realizes that even six months of work can't provide everyone with a mouthful.

The answer, Philip concludes, is "It' can't be done, impossible".

7 Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" John 6:7 (NIV)

Andrew speaks up, perhaps a little closer to the answer.  But he still hasn't conceived in his mind  what Jesus is going to do.

"Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,  "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" John 6:8-9 (NIV)

And that is when Jesus acts, after both Andrew and Philip have seen that they cannot accomplish the task with their own means.  They don't have the resources, and the only person they can get hold of to help is a small boy.

Conclusion, the task is impossible.

But then Jesus reminds them, by his actions, that He is with them. 

And He can do the impossible. 

"Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish." John 6:10-11 (NIV)

Often we don't realize that when the Lord brings these things to our attention, he is starting a dialogue with us.  Jesus is always about our relationship with Him.  He wants more than workers, he wants family members.

What would happen if Phillip had simply said, "we can't do it" and walked away?

What do you feel the Lord is calling you to do today? 

Daily Rock!

Two things stand out to me in the daily news.  First is the violence people are capable of, this seems to be ever increasing.  The recent church shooting is only one example of this.

The other is the seemingly endless resources given to many famous people who seem to lack the character to do anything good with those resources.  The worse they behave, it seems, the better off they are.

Reading Psalm 37 this morning.

"Do not fret because of those who are evil

    or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,

    like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good;

    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,

    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

    trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

    your vindication like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:1-6 (NIV)

This makes me think about high school, yes I can remember that far back!

Some people were popular, seeming to get all the breaks.  That tiny world seemed all so important when I was a student.  Then came graduation day.  In one moment, everything changed, school popularity and success (or lack there of) vanished in an instant, real life began.  I actually remember thinking as I walked out of the parking lot, "none of the things I worried about matter anymore, it is all gone."

David encourages us here to keep our eyes on the Lord, being fretful or envious profit us nothing.

Because that day will come, and when it does all these things we worry about will vanish.

Daily Rock!

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head?  It just goes around and around.

Or someone starts singing something like the theme song to Gilligan's Island or whistles Andy Griffith.  And there it is, every word and every note.

It is amazing how much we can store in our minds.  It's the repetition of those things that have driven them deep inside us, ready to come out at the slightest prompting.

Reading Psalms 119.

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word."  Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)

Here the psalmist is saying "With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth."  He is hiding the Word in his heart, speaking it, thinking about it.

This is more than reading the Word.

Try this today, take a scripture, even a few lines of this Psalm.  Write it down (don't print it, write it out) and put it into your pocket.  As the day goes on, speak it.  Think about what it says, how it applies, why it is important.

When evening comes, as you lay down to go to bed, try to recall the verse.

This is how we plant the word of God deep into our hearts.

Daily Rock!

What information fills your mind?

In The Lord of the Rings, Pippin finds a palantír and is drawn to it.  A palantir is a big glass orb that shows you truth.  But the problem is it only shows you selected truth, edited truth.  And that is not the whole truth.  Truth, taken out of context, can become a lie that infects our world view. 

We are surrounded daily by information sources that also show us selected truth.  Anyone who watches the news can testify to this.  It seems only the lives of the worst of humanity are displayed there.  If someone does something truly heroic, it is added as an afterthought.  The majority of what is presented is negative.

On Facebook people follow this pattern.  Other than what someone had for dinner that night, it seems people post mostly what they are angry about, not what inspires them. 

I have found that after a daily dose of this, I feel run down and tired.

Are we inspired by what we allow into our lives?

In Philippians Paul tells us, 

"Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do." Phil 3:17 (NIV)

We need role models, heroic lives and deeds to learn about and be inspired by.  The Bible of course is full of them.  And there are people in our lives we can observe as well.

Today, try something, take note of just how much negative information comes at you.  How does it make you feel? 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.." Phil 4:8 (NIV)

Perhaps it is time to edit what is allowed into our minds.  To be inspired to live a life worthy of the calling we received. 

It's Been A Long Ride!

Have you ever been frustrated when life isn't going your way?

I'm sure we all have. 

It's a hot day, you're on your bike.  There is one car ahead of you at the light.  It is spewing out hot exhaust to add a little zest to the sun that is beating down on you.  You stare at the back windshield of the car at the stick figure family, the mom, dad, two kids, a dog and a cat somehow mock you with their little smiling faces when you think that your life did not turn out that way.

What is with those stick families?

It's been a long ride, and you just want to get home.

The light turns green, you pop into first, get ready to move and feel some wind in your face bringing sweet relief

And the driver ahead is committing the unpardonable sin of texting.  They don't move, and neither do you. 

Stick family still happy and mocking.

You give a little toot on the horn, they look up, and see the light. 

And for the next ten minutes or so you don't enjoy the wind, you contemplate the nerve of that driver and their stupid stick family that cause you to wait an extra three seconds.  Thoughts of all that has gone wrong in your life, all that is going wrong flood your mind.

"Where are you God?"

Frustration often comes when we have a clear idea of how things should be, and they don't turn out that way.  Some of these times are minor, as with the texting driver, others can be much harder and last far longer.

And we wonder where God is in all this.

It may come as surprise to us that God's goal for us is not to give us an easier life. His goal is to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:17-18 (NIV)

Although we are not who we used to be, we are not yet who we shall be. 

Between being transformed into the image of Jesus and where we are now, lies a road full of all our self centered thinking, nature, habits and sins.

All of that needs to go.  All of that needs to die a painful death.

I wear a patch on my vest of three skulls.  It's not my idea, I saw it on a Freedom T-shirt.  The three skulls are me, myself and I.  They need to die.

 We have two goals in our life.  Our goal for an easier happy life, and God's goal to transform us into the image of His Son.  When the two collide, as they often do, the result can be frustration, hurt, and anger on our part.

That is the self, the flesh, the sin nature not wanting to die.

We often ask, "Why are you letting this happen, Lord?" implying that He should not.  That's the wrong question.  Better to ask, "What are you trying to change in me with this Lord? Help me to see it, help me to act in agreement with who you want me to be."

Being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ; that is more important than anything else in our life. In the end, that is all that matters. 

And here is the painful truth.  God will allow anything into our life He needs to in order to make that happen.  That means pain, that means hardship, and yes even some texting driver slowing us down.

We need to let go of it all, and embrace what God is doing in our life. 

Like Preacher Mike often says, "It's easy...but it's hard."

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:12-14 (NIV)

Daily Rock!

My legs are a little wobbly this morning.

When I was young I took Karate.  I studied for three years, three nights a week and on weekends. My body was in great shape.

I was a lot younger then!

So fast forward, some 35 years, I recently decided to take Taekwondo classes.  Last night was my third class and I was relearning stances and kicks I have not performed in all those years.

Remarkably so, my muscles locked into place, they remembered, my technique was actually very good the twelve year-old female black belt told me as she effortlessly performed the basic moves for me to learn.

Oh to be that young again!

However I am nowhere near the shape I was in back then, not even close.

My leg muscles quickly began to ache and throb.  Although they knew where to go and what to do they were not conditioned to do so.  After only a few minutes of kicking, jumping, and standing in a horse riding stance (picture sitting on a horse... now take away the horse and hold yourself there... yeah, fun!) my heart was racing, I was sucking in air, and my legs wanted to give out.

Reading 1 Corinthians 9 this morning, very fitting.

"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!  All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.  So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." 1 Cor 9:24-27 (NLT)

You see, it is not enough to know the truth, we must exercise our faith in order to live it out.  That means love others when you don't feel like it.  Tired?  Too bad, open that Bible instead of surfing the net.  Grab a devotional book, start reading it.  Make it to church, listen to the sermon and even take notes to review later.   Mind wanders when praying?  Grab a pen and paper, write out the prayers.

You get the idea.

Then, when that time comes when we need to be strong, we will be.  We will not just know the truth, we will be able to act on it.

Can you imagine what the church would look like if we all conditioned ourselves to win?

Daily Rock!

You need to love yourself first, then you can love others.

I've heard that statement so many times, I have even spoken it myself.

It sounds true doesn't it?

I get the idea, let go of the mistakes you have made, forgive yourself, move on;  then you can follow Jesus words and "love your neighbor as yourself".

But the problem with this teaching is that I don't find it anywhere in the Bible.

It is true Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself" but I think that's because he knows most of us already have the self love thing down pretty well.

Agape love is defined as " selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love".

The quick and simple definition is this; love is when the needs and dreams of another are more important to you than your own.

See the contradiction here?  Kinda hard to love yourself selflessly.  Accept Christ's forgiveness, yes;  forget the past sins, absolutely.  But if we focus on loving ourselves first, before we get around to loving others, then we will never get around to doing so.

Reading Philippians today.  Notice clearly how we are to imitate Christ here.

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV emphasis mine)

Love God, love others, do something about it.

Daily Rock!

Recently I was looking through some photos of a group ride my wife and I participated in to the OuterBanks a few weeks back.

One photo struck me.  We were stopped at a light, at the very beginning of the ride.  Beautiful day, all excited to head out for three days of riding and fellowship.

What stood out to me was the different bikes.  A Triumph, Kawasaki Ninja, couple of Harleys, and a Trike!  The photo was taken by the wife or our leader, as she sat on a Honda.

All of us different, all our bikes unique.  But all united in one purpose, heading in the same direction, taking the same journey.

I thought of that photo as I read Ephesians today.

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:3-6 (NIV)

That trike was steady and comfortable, but it can't take the twisties as well as that Triumph Bonny.  The two HD Sportsters are great bikes for one passenger, they are quick and dependable, but the Honda and HD baggers were far better suited for the passengers and longer trips.  For speed, there was nothing in that group that could touch that Ninja.

Each bike was different, but had its own strengths and weaknesses.  Just like the body of Christ, let's read on in Ephesians.

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,  to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

There is a very old saying, "United we stand, divided we fall".  Unity is essential to victory.  And today, more than ever we need to focus on what unites us, not on what divides us.

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Eph 4:14-16 (NIV)

May our actions and words today bring unity, not division.  Time is short and we have work to do.

Gather, grow and go.

Preacher Mike Beasley
Freedom Biker Church
919-550-FREE

What's On Your Mind?

What's on your mind today?

Each moment of every day will be filled with thoughts.  Some of these thoughts are task-driven.  What will I eat today?  What will I wear?  Where will I ride?

But then there are other thoughts.  Thoughts that shape desires that eventually lead to actions.  Thoughts like these often have triggers.  Something outside ourselves that can come along and at any moment get us on a particular train of thought.

Open an email, see the latest line-up of motorcycles from your maker of choice and suddenly you could find yourself thinking about buying a new bike. Next thing you know, you could be at the dealership, sitting on one, test riding it while the sales person jabbers away.  Before you know it, you are headed on down the road on that new bike with the freshly signed papers stuffed into your jacket pocket.

What began with a thought inspired by an email, lead to a conclusion and an action.

What's on your mind?

Where did those thoughts come from?

What thoughts are you following lately to their logical conclusion?

Reading Ephesians today,

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath." Ephesians 2:2-3 (NIV)

Paul is saying here that we used to follow the desires and thoughts of our sinful nature.

But as Christians, we no longer live that way.  Yet the triggers, the ads, the external stimulation are all around us, all the time.  And much of that appeals to our sinful nature, drawing us away from a life centered on God.

That's why it is so important to renew our minds daily in the Word and to pay careful attention to the "ads" that pop up along the way.  Sin doesn't start with an action, it starts with a thought.

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" James 1:13-15 (NIV emphasis mine)

So what is the answer to this?

Pay attention to what is coming to your mind today and where it is coming from.  Reject the things that are not of God, and cling to the things that are.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 2:2 (NIV)

Preacher Mike Beasley
Freedom Biker Church
919-550-FREE

Wisdom Involves Choices!

Yesterday we took a handful of proverbs and sought to observe them.  How did that go?  Did you see the truth of these sayings?  I know I did.

Once upon a time, if you wanted to increase your knowledge, you purchased a set of encyclopedias.  All those books, from A to Z that would sit on a shelf and make you feel smarter just looking at them!

Now, you could buy a brand-new set for sometimes thousands of dollars, or you could do what I did and buy a set or two at a yard sale for a dollar.  What caused the decrease in value?

The age.  The knowledge in those books did not stay current, therefore they lost their value in a very short period of time.

The Bible is a set of 66 books penned by authors inspired by God, and the most recent in the collection is over 2,000 years old.  Why do these books stay so relevant as we observed yesterday?

Because the wisdom contained in them is a study of human nature and morality.  Things that don't change with age, truth that does not fade. 

Today the internet contains the wealth of current human knowledge and it is right there at our fingertips.  However, knowledge doesn't make anyone wise. (Just watch the stupid things people post themselves doing on Youtube... just sayin'..)

Wisdom is knowing how to apply  knowledge correctly.  Wisdom involves choices.

That is one reason the study of God's word enriches our lives.  Because time with Jesus, time in the Word gives us a wisdom that goes beyond "knowing a lot of things".  It confounds the wise of today and leads us down the path of salvation like a light in a dark place.

It enriches our lives.

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

Pay Attention!

Reading proverbs 22 today.

"Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
    apply your heart to what I teach,
for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you." Proverbs 22:17-19 (NIV)

Let's take a little walk through some Proverbs and then try something.  Let's follow these scriptures in a very practical way.

Read the following Proverbs, perhaps even write them or print them out.  Keep them with you all day with a pen handy.

See if you observe them in your day today, and make note of the circumstances.  Or,  you can think of times when you have observed the truth displayed here.

"An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
    is like an archer who shoots at random." Pro 26:10 (NLT)

"As a dog returns to its vomit,
    so a fool repeats his foolishness." Pro 26:11 (NLT)

"Interfering in someone else's argument
    is as foolish as yanking a dog's ears." Pro 26:17 (NLT)

"Just as damaging
    as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
is someone who lies to a friend
    and then says, "I was only joking." Pro 26:18-19 (NLT)

"To one who listens, valid criticism
    is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry." Pro 25:12 (NLT)

"Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
    is like taking someone's coat in cold weather
    or pouring vinegar in a wound." Pro 25:20

Tomorrow I will share a little bit more on this.

Daily Rock!

There is a huge difference between fast food and a home-cooked meal.

When I was a teenager I would be out with my friends.  When we got hungry, we'd pull into a fast food place and gobble down burgers and fries.

Then I would come home to my mother who had fixed a home-cooked meal.  I'd see the food left waiting for me and have no appetite.  "No thanks mom, I already ate!"

Sigh... what wouldn't I give for one of those meals now!

Feasting on the fast food took away my appetite for the meal my mother had prepared for me.  Although the hunger was gone, my body was not nourished.

The same could be said of when we eat the wisdom that the world has to offer and neglect the Word of God.   Feasting on whatever comes across on TV or the internet.  Much of what we consider entertainment out there today has lessons and is teaching us, whether we realize it or not.   Lessons on what success looks like, lessons on what beauty is, etc.

Reading Proverbs chapter 9 today, look how the Word describes God's wisdom.

"Wisdom has built her house;
    she has set up its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
    she has also set her table.
She has sent out her servants, and she calls
    from the highest point of the city,
"Let all who are simple come to my house!"
To those who have no sense she says,
"Come, eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and you will live;
    walk in the way of insight." Proverbs 9:1-6 (NIV)

Today, will we feast on the fast food of the world, or stay in the hunger for wisdom and sit down with the Bible to be nourished by His Word?

The Desire To Belong!

The desire to belong somewhere runs deep inside all of us.

I finished reading a book this past week called "Under and Alone", the true story of an undercover agent who infiltrated the Mongols MC back in 1998.  William Queen, not only patched in, but also became an officer in the club.

What I find interesting about his story was how conflicted he was.  He knew he he had a job to do, yet the brotherhood and the love they had for him, especially when his mother died, got to him.  The indifference he felt at this time from his fellow ATF officers compared to the outpouring of sympathy and love of the club members left him feeling guilt over his eventual betrayal.  At times like that, he would actually have thoughts of leaving his ATF life behind and riding off with the club.

The desire to belong is a powerful force inside each of us.  To belong, many people sacrifice a lot of themselves.

Reading 1 Peter this morning.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God." 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)

"So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:5 (NIV)

The legitimate desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves is met in Jesus Christ.  We are his body, none of us are alone, we belong to Him and to each other.

It's Easy, But Hard!

This morning I was reading the book of Ephesians.  I just kept reading this verse over and over again.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  Eph 3:16-19 (NIV)

To know love that surpasses knowledge.  How do we do that?

I asked the Lord, how we can know this love.  The image I got was of a fist, then an open hand. 

A fist can do nothing but defend or strike, it is tight and stays on guard.  It has room for nothing. 

Take a moment, make a fist, feel the tension in your hand.  Do you feel like that on the inside?

But an open hand can touch or wipe a tear, it can also receive the love of God. 

Sometimes we can be like that fist, full of anger.   At times we can think about the hurt another caused us and be in that anger.  And then, other times, we can be angry at ourselves. 

The result is the same.  We are balled up inside, like a fist.

"human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." James 1:20 (NIV)

The first step is to unclench that fist.  To be willing to let go of the anger.  Be in a place where you are willing to receive.

A fist can also be a means of defense.  I'm not angry, but I'm on guard.  I won't allow myself to be open to anyone or anything,  I'll defend myself at all cost.

Anger or defense, the result is the same.  A balled fist has no room for anything  else.

Ask the Lord this morning, are you a fist or an open hand?

We need to be open, unguarded to understand the love of God, and to love others with it.

It's easy, but it's hard.

Daily Rock!

Another weekend is almost here, I marvel at the fact that we are already into June.  The cold and icy roads of this past winter are a vague memory, this year is half over.

Wow!

As Preacher Mike once said, life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end the faster it goes!

The world has such a persistent message.  It tells us to focus on the here and now, to be successful, to have a good job, nice home, cars, vacations, all of that.

But with each passing day we are getting closer to an inevitable end to all of this.

Reading in 2 Peter this morning.

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 2:10 (NIV)

All of it will be gone.  Will there be anything man-made in heaven?  Yes, scars made from four nails and a spear.

If we spend our time and talents chasing after what the world tells us to, we are building something that will one day be completely destroyed.  I'm not saying we shouldn't work, own a house, etc.  But we need to do these things knowing they will one day be gone.

Peter continues;

"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." 2 Peter 2:11 (NIV)

I wonder sometimes, if we spent half the energy we do on trying to make this temporary home comfortable, and instead put that toward being holy and godly, what would our lives look like?

Let's take a moment and prayerfully read this parable.  Let us ask the Lord for eyes to see.

"Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"  Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.  He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.  And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

"This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:13-21 (NIV)

Daily Rock!

Recently I was in a hotel, tired from the day's riding.  I turned on the TV, flipped channels to a sitcom and watched.

Now I need to preface this with a statement, I really don't watch TV anymore.  If I watch a show I stream it on the internet.  Maybe an hour a week, if that?  I just don't find most of it interesting.

So what I saw just struck me.

The show played for about five minutes, then I counted over a dozen fifteen second commercials.  Each designed to make me feel as if something were missing from my life unless I bought what they were selling.  Then back to the show that again played for a few minutes and back to the commercials.

After about fifteen minutes of that, I shut it off.

The sheer abundance of those commercials reminded me of how media overloaded our lives are today.  How we just get messages in magazines, on the internet, radio, constantly, all day long.

And at the end of the day, what is the fruit of all this?  Do we feel we are living the abundant life Jesus promised?

That brings me to Proverbs 4.  The entire chapter is a plea to chase after wisdom.

"Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.." Proverbs 4:10-13 (NIV)

This is why we so desperately need time in the Word each day.  The Bible is the source of God's wisdom.

Today, let's think about this call...

"Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
    she raises her voice in the public square;
on top of the wall she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:
"How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate knowledge?
Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings. "Proverbs 1:21-23 (NIV)

-MB

Don't Miss The Point!

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 (NIV)

Do we talk more about God than to God?

On our ride to the Outer Banks this past weekend, we stopped at the Hatteras Lighthouse.

There in the parking lot was a small, beat up car with a motorcycle strapped to the top of it.  As you can well imagine, the owner, a young man, and his vehicle got a lot of attention.  Smartphones and cameras were out snapping photo after photo.  We could all see the bike, it was lifted up, prominently displayed.  We knew the make (an old Honda Rebel) and discovered that yes, it still ran.  He was just transporting it that way.

But you know, even though that young man clearly valued the bike, displayed it for all to see, and even spoke about it to others, he was not riding it.  He was not experiencing the motorcycle as it was meant to be used.

Jesus took every opportunity to get away to secluded places and pray.  And we can even see, when he didn't have the time, he made the time.  Not out of some sense of guilt, but out of the love relationship he had with his father.  Talking about God, lifting up God for all to see wasn't enough.  He wanted to spend time with his father.

We are saved not just from our sins, not just from this world, but to restore a right relationship with God.  To walk once more with Him as Adam did in the cool of the Garden.

If we miss that, we miss the point.

-MB

Daily Rock!

This past weekend we went on a three-day ride covering over 500 miles.  We went to the coast of North Carolina, the Outer Banks.

By far, one of my favorite parts of that ride is the bridges.  Not the flat ones as much as the high ones that ascend in a way that makes me feel like I am riding up the back of a huge brontosaurus.  You know, the dinosaur that Fred Flintstone slides down when the show hits quitting time? 

There is one bridge that goes over the Oregon Inlet.  As ride it,  I immediately feel the wind rushing around me as I ascend. If I keep my eyes on the road ahead, all I see is the seemingly endless pavement until I hit the top.  That is when I get this amazing view of the Inlet that takes my breath away.  It lasts only moments as I begin my descent back down, but it is incredible.

There are several bridges like this, but on this ride, this one was by far my favorite.

Life as a Christian can be a lot like climbing that bridge on a motorcycle.  It can feel slightly intimidating and a little dangerous.  It is sometimes tempting to turn back to our own life when things seem too hard. 

But imagine if I stop before reaching the top, I will never see that vision of God's creation.  I will miss what makes the climb worth while.

As Paul says in Philippians chapter 3,

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:12-14 (NIV)

Never forget this world is not our home, and we have that prize waiting for us at the end.  As Jesus said in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (NIV)

We are not promised an easy life, but we are promised the victory in Christ.  And at the end, when it is all said and done we will reach the top, we will have eternal life with Him.  The vision that awaits us there is beyond our imagination and will last for more than a moment, it will be for eternity.

Daily Rock!

I'm not much of a highway rider.  I prefer the quiet country roads and twisties.  That is what me and my Sporty are made for. 

In light of that, the way home from a three-day ride to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, going 75 to 80 mph on the open highway with no windshield felt a little trying.  The wind beat against me like a constant enemy, wearing me down.  After about a hundred miles of that, my whole body was tense and tired. 

Like I said, neither myself nor my bike are made for this.

But when we pulled off 64 west and onto 39,  I was back on the country roads I love so much.  My body began to relax.  The pounding wind was gone, replaced by a much gentler cooling breeze.  Then, when we rolled onto 42 , closer to Freedom, two BBQ brothers waved to us as their bikes roared by.  It was as if a perfectly timed, "welcome home" had been arranged. 

I was home, back on the roads where I belong.  Every part of me eased into the bike and relaxed again.

Life can feel like those 100 miles, and it is easy to forget that we are not made for this world any more than I was made for that highway.  We don't fit here because this is not our home.  As much as we may try sometimes to make this world a comfortable place for Christians to live in, it will never feel like home.

Jesus said, in his prayer to the Father in John 17:14-17 (NIV),

"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."

This reminds me of a song we sing at Freedom, I'll leave you with those words to ponder as you begin your Monday morning.

Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the outside 

Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing but am I alive?

I will keep searching for answers that aren't here to find 

All I know is I'm not home yet 

This is not where I belong 

Take this world and give me Jesus 

This is not where I belong

-"Where I belong" - Building 429