King David had one awesome group of army commanders. In fact, the Bible calls some of these men his “Mighty Men”. Pretty cool name, huh? Two of David’s leaders were Joab and Abishai. And in two different places in the Old Testament – 2 Samuel 10 & 1 Chronicles 19 – it records Joab saying to Abishai, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you.”
Joab and Abishai had a brotherly love for one another. Proverbs 17:17 says, “a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” As these men were headed into battle they essentially told one another, “I’ve got your back!”, “I’m your friend & brother in these hard times and I will fight with you, and for you.”
I’ve got your back! Who needs to hear these words from you today?
]]>If it’s not exactly a curse word, is it still a curse word? For instance, the word “freakin”. Or calling something, not someone, “gay”. Or starting off your sentence with “What the…!”
I’m just curious. If somebody filled up a glass with half pure water and half sewage water, would you drink it? After all, [...]]]>
Chapel 4.29.09
If it’s not exactly a curse word, is it still a curse word? For instance, the word “freakin”. Or calling something, not someone, “gay”. Or starting off your sentence with “What the…!”
I’m just curious. If somebody filled up a glass with half pure water and half sewage water, would you drink it? After all, it’s “kind of” clean, right?
Or if I told you the mysterious fruit I was offering to you was “kind of” poisonous, but could be good for you…what then? Obviously, you wouldn’t opt for either the water or the fruit. So why the words?
And why do we create our own comfortable little gray areas for our speech? Is it so we can feel semi-rebellious and semi-obedient at the same time? So we can experience freedom to say what we want by justifying them through telling ourselves that they’re “not THAT bad”?
]]>Every morning I walk into my closet I have options. Warm clothes, work clothes, church clothes, summer clothes, and clothes I don’t even wear that need to be given away. And every day I try to find something I’ll “look good” in for that day.
Paul reminds us in Colossians to put on a different [...]]]>
Chapel 4.21.09
Every morning I walk into my closet I have options. Warm clothes, work clothes, church clothes, summer clothes, and clothes I don’t even wear that need to be given away. And every day I try to find something I’ll “look good” in for that day.
Paul reminds us in Colossians to put on a different kind of clothes. And we should be doing this daily. What are these clothes?
Colossians 3:12 says “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
I shouldn’t worry so much about the clothes that are hanging in my closet. Instead, I can see that my day would be totally different if I were more concerned about intentionally clothing myself with the attitudes & thoughts of God. It’s a conscious decision to clothe myself with a Christ-like persona.
I wonder if people are really that concerned with the clothes in my closet that end up on my back? Or if they really just want to see a kind and loving person?
Join me today in putting the right kind of clothes on, and hopefully others will notice Christ shining through us.
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” 3:14
]]>I shared that quote in a sermon over a year ago, and I haven’t been able to escape how simple yet powerful it is since that time. It’s a quick phrase that carries a lot of power for children as well as adults.
Faith in Christ is only realized when met [...]]]>
I shared that quote in a sermon over a year ago, and I haven’t been able to escape how simple yet powerful it is since that time. It’s a quick phrase that carries a lot of power for children as well as adults.
Faith in Christ is only realized when met with obedience. If I say I believe in Christ but am not willing to do the most basic forms of obedience, then am I really trusting Him with my life? And if your children say they love you but never obey you, then what you see and feel is contradictory to what they’ve said.
So, what’s love got to do with it? I encouraged the kids in chapel today to show their love by being obedient to God, which just so happens to include loving others. Love = Obedience.
1 John 5:3 – This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome
I love the rich adjectives in The Message Bible.
Check out Matthew 7:1-5, one of my favorites:
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless of course you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.”
Boomeranging! I love that word. And it is so powerful when speaking [...]]]>
I love the rich adjectives in The Message Bible.
Check out Matthew 7:1-5, one of my favorites:
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless of course you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.”
Boomeranging! I love that word. And it is so powerful when speaking to children about the way they treat others.
The tricky thing about sprititually “boomeranging” yourself is that our critical spirit doesn’t always come back to bite us while we’re watching and waiting. Instead it can come back and smack us in the head when we least expect it. So I guess you could watch and wait for your negative attitude to be returned, but boy that’s stressful. Instead, let’s just be nice, and we won’t have to be on constant look-out for the closest boomerang. That Jesus guy sure knew what He was talking about, even in our “contemporary language”!
]]>I hate stupid arguments. But I’m definitely not immune to them. And unfortunately, they don’t help my case for being a leader.
2 Timothy 2:23-24 reminds us that stupid pointless arguments only produce quarrels, which are anger filled fights that can break friendships. And that the Lord’s servant must not quarrel! Instead “he must be [...]]]>
Chapel 4.8.09
I hate stupid arguments. But I’m definitely not immune to them. And unfortunately, they don’t help my case for being a leader.
2 Timothy 2:23-24 reminds us that stupid pointless arguments only produce quarrels, which are anger filled fights that can break friendships. And that the Lord’s servant must not quarrel! Instead “he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful”.
Able to teach! Have you noticed that Child Leader’s are those kids who can generally be kind to everyone? And because of this maturity they become a teacher even to their peers. Instead of having to act out or attempt at grabbing another’s attention, they simply lead by their actions. They don’t get into stupid arguments (as much) and they’re not rude to others. But as it is with everything else, they’re taking their model for conversations and relationships by watching their parents.
It’s hard to respect or follow rude people. The Child Leader must be kind to everyone, avoiding pointless arguments. Help your kids become leaders and teachers to their own generation. Then we’ll have the joy of watching them change the world for Christ.
]]>James 3:10-11 [NIrV] Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it shouldn’t be that way. Can fresh water and salt water flow out of the same spring?
Words are so powerful. It’s been nice to be reminded of that the past few weeks. And I encouraged the kids today to [...]]]>
Chapel 4.7.09
James 3:10-11 [NIrV] Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it shouldn’t be that way. Can fresh water and salt water flow out of the same spring?
Words are so powerful. It’s been nice to be reminded of that the past few weeks. And I encouraged the kids today to make sure that the words that come from their mouths are not only refreshing and pleasing to God, but also refreshing to others. Are our words refreshing to others?
Just like a glass of bitter water, I certainly don’t want to serve people up with a nice warm glass of bitter words. Neither are received very well, and both could be spit back at us.
]]>The past couple of weeks we’ve been covering the power of the tongue. After understanding that the thoughts that are in our minds then fill our hearts and overflow from our mouths, we’ve discussed just how powerful those words can be.
Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your [...]]]>
The past couple of weeks we’ve been covering the power of the tongue. After understanding that the thoughts that are in our minds then fill our hearts and overflow from our mouths, we’ve discussed just how powerful those words can be.
Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Using a large plastic sword and a box of first-aid supplies, I stressed the contrast of just how powerful our words can be to either destroy or build and heal one another. Don’t forget that after being pierced with a sword, there will be some scarring. We should forgive one another of hurtful words and seek forgiveness when we are hurtful. But wouldn’t it be great if we never had to ask others for forgiveness due to our careful and wise use of our words?
What are you doing with your words today? Are you building others up? Or tearing them down?
Are your words piercing? Or are they healing?
]]>