40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Sharing Your Life Message

Main Idea: Our greatest purpose on earth is to share the message of what God has done, through His Son, Jesus, on the cross.
Most impactful verse: "Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:16-17 TEV)"
Most impactful concept: When we are witnesses, we are not called on to prove that our message is true - we are simply called upon to share what we have experienced.
Other thoughts: I was struck by the comparison that Rick Warren makes in this chapter to a courtroom - witnesses are called to share their experiences, while it is attorneys that are called to prove the case. That is an important distinction for anyone who is afraid to simply share with others about Jesus. We are called to be witnesses. I also thought that there was a lot of truth in the comment that people cannot argue with your own personal experience the way that they could argue with an opinion or a concept. That also should take away some of the scariness of sharing about Jesus. One thing I hope we all do is pray for the loving heart of God to consume us for each unbeliever that we know. Our silence may make the difference to their eternity.

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirty-six: Made for a Mission

Main idea: We were made for the same mission as Jesus Christ - to invite everyone into an eternity of righteousness with God.
Most impactful verse: "You must warn them so they may live. If you don't speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible for their death. (Ezekiel 3:18 NCV)"
Most impactful concept: "You must warn them so they may live. If you don't speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible for their death. (Ezekiel 3:18 NCV)" (And yes, I know that's the same as the verse just above...that's the point....)
Other thoughts: While we might be able to say that 'this ministry' or 'that ministry' within the church is not specifically something we were shaped to do, every member of the church has a responsibility to continue the work of Jesus and bring as many people into the good news as possible. We still rely on God's strength and leading in this pursuit, but we must consider this responsibility as belonging to every one of us. The very thought of not doing this and then reading the above scripture makes my blood run cold. While I have never been one to quote William Booth, I will fight to the very end to see as many people turned around and heading for Jesus as possible.

I always love it when Aaron White (The Salvation Army 614 Vancouver) posts his thoughts on the ArmyBarmy blog. Here's what he had to say today. It's got truth and a pursuit of unity as its foundation. (Thanks, Aaron!)


Saturday, October 29, 2005

...and dance like John Travolta...

I received an interesting quote from a friend the other day.

"I want to prepare like an evangelical; preach like a Pentecostal; pray like a mystic; do the spiritual disciplines like a Desert Father; art like a Catholic; and social justice like a liberal."(I know some people will be upset about the liberal bit, but there has been a very strong liberal tradition of social justice. And the word means different things to different people, so don't get hung up on it).

If you haven't read Richard Foster's Streams of Living Water, you really should. It talks about how different streams of Church tradition (Justice, Evanglical, Contemplative, Incarnational, Holiness, Charismatic) all have their root in Jesus, and all express something of the character of Christ.

We are at our strongest when the streams flow together in one river, and we recognise the value that other streams bring.

Grace,
Aaron


I love the "one body, many members" part of the church of Jesus. It's one of our greatest strengths (and sometimes one of our greatest stumbling points). We often think of this concept congregationally or in reference to individual people, but Richard Foster hits the mark in this book when looking at the bigger picture of the denominations of the church. Whether God intended the church to be fragmented in this way or not, He can still use it for good. We know He will.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirty-Five: God's Power In Your Weakness

Main idea: God chooses to use weak people so as to maximize the display of His power.
Most impactful verse: "We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7 TEV)"
Most impactful concept: Ministry begins with vulnerability. You can impress people from a distance, but you must get close to them to influence them.
Other thoughts: Ministry beginning with vulnerability - it makes me wonder how often the attack against God's ministers (all of us in the body are ministers) makes us 'gun shy,' so to speak, and therefore we protect ourselves from further hurt. And while we are busy protecting ourslves, we cannot be as vulnerable, and therefore there is less intimacy and perhaps less effective ministry? Certainly if we are only attempting to show our powerful or "together" side of ourselves, God's great power is not seen as easily. If we show what we can do, where is there a peep-hole to see what God can do? The concept is Biblical and true, but oh, Lord, help us to understand that when we place our trust in You, even for the protection of our hearts and emotions, that You will never prove Yourself false.

I've noticed lately in some other people's blogs that they write at the start of their blog, "What I've Read Today..." or "Currently Listening To...." Tonight I was curious to know what people's reactions might be if I revealed that what I've been reading is the score of a Luciano Berio composition in an anthology on Music of the Twentieth Century. I imagine some people would be surprised. (Though I imagine most people who know me well would not be overly shocked....)

I was curious, though, at my own reaction to studying this score. The piece, a folk song entitled "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair," is what is usually termed "modern music" in the classical realm - in other words, it was composed around or after the turn of the 20th century. (Actually, not particularly modern anymore, but more so than Mozart or Beethoven....) Now, I'm not sure this will make sense to anyone not familiar with score-reading or even music reading, but it's odd! The voice part has bar lines - it is separated into regular parts, pretty much a necessity in music if you want all your instruments to play together. But the viola part has no bar lines at all! In fact, its first line has instructions that read "independente dal canto" or "individually sung." What?!? As I continued to read the piece of music and heard it play in my head I decided I didn't like it. It was too unorganized, too crazy, too "outside the box." (To give you a slightly better feel for what I mean here, basically you would not be able to tap your foot along with the music - there would be no specific beat....)

And then I stopped short. Don't I love music? All kinds? Especially all kinds of classical music? Didn't I learn to appreciate 20th century music when I studied it for four years in university? Yes, unless my memory is really bad. So why the quick judgement call on a piece of music I've only heard in my head? (My head does sometimes play wrong notes....)

And then it was like God dropped a little thought into my head (after the Berio excerpt was finished). It went like this: "Doesn't that remind you of how sometimes people - including you - shut off the possibility of worshipping to music that is outside of their box?" Huh. Yes, it does.

Some people like to musically worship through hymns, and therefore detest the contemporary choruses. Some people prefer the contemporary choruses and therefore despise the old hymns. Some people like both of those but can't stand the stuff in between (1905 or 2005, but don't give them something from 1967!). It's such an old conversation, I know. But is it done? Beyond styles of music there are also styles of worship leading. Do we really need to find our favourites just to be free to worship? Or should we instead be trying to find God in the midst of even the music or leadership that is not our favourite? Would that not be something that promoted unity in the body and brought great pleasure to our great God?

I find that even though I speak about this a lot with pretty much anyone who will listen, it is an issue that still comes up for me - if a song is 'tired' in my estimation, can I still worship Almighty God through it? Or do I give up and wait for something I like better or that resonates more easily with me? If I don't care for the worship leader, either their style of leading or them personally, will I persevere through my own humanness to find the only worthy God? I am working on it. I hope you are, too.

"A heart in love with Jesus does not need its favourite song, led in its favourite key by its favourite worship leader to lose itself in the arms of God. A heart in love with God needs one thing: God." - Jami Smith




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirty-Four: Thinking Like a Servant

Main idea: Being a servant includes actually developing the mindset of a servant, not just executing the actions of one. You must think like a servant.
Most impactful verse: "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God ... so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. [In reference to the washing of the disciples' feet.] (John 13:3-4 NIV)"
Most impactful concept: Each of the five things that Rick Warren outlines as having a servant mindset was impacting:
(1) Servants think more about others than themselves.
(2) Servants think like stewards, not owners.
(3) Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.
(4) Servants base their identity in Christ.
(5) Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.
Other thoughts: Again, the more I read about the true heart and mind of a servant, the more my prayer is, "God have mercy on me, and make me a truer servant."

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirty-Three: How Real Servants Act

Main idea: Real servants are available all the time, for small tasks, without requiring notoriety.
Most impactful verse: "If, as My representatives, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child, you will surely be rewarded. (Matthew 10:42 LB)"
Most impactful concept: (1) God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways that are different from our individual "SHAPE" for ministry that we learned about a few chapters previously, and (2) Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.
Other thoughts: After reading this chapter, I am forced to examine myself and ask if I am really a servant - a servant like Jesus - to the core of my being. I want to be. Lord, help me.

Well, apparently Brent (one of my teens at the church) declared that last week was "post a blog about Brent week" and I missed it. No, that's not quite true, I was sort of ignoring it. (Sorry, bro, but it's true....)

But tonight I read his blog and realized that I am very impressed with this young man of God. Three weeks ago he heard God tell him to start a meeting of the church in his high school. He talked to his counsellor about it right away and got permission to do it. Then the schools when on strike for a couple of weeks, but they were back in yesterday and this group had their first meeting at lunch time today. Here is a young man who heard the call of God, responded, was not deterred by a delay and pressed on. That immediacy of obedience reminds me of Elisha....

Which also reminds me that this son of the King walks in His spiritual gifts: prophecy, leadership, and others. He prays for the sick and worships with abandon. I'm almost hoping he doesn't read this so that his humility is not damaged or endangered in any way. All these things he is only through the grace of an almighty God who sees fit to use whomever He chooses to use. Brent simply said 'yes.'

What do you have to learn from a 16-year-old man of God?

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:12-16)

'So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah.
"Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you."
"Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.' (1 Kings 19:19-21)




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirty-Two: Using What God Gave You

Main idea: Discover what God wants from your life and offer this as service to Him to the best of your abilities.
Most impactful verse: “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to. (Ephesians 5:17 LB)” and “Try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities. (Romans 12”3b Ph)”
Most impactful concept: (1) Volunteer while you are figuring out what your are shaped for in ministry, and be ready to accept that you’re not suited for that particular role, and (2) We’re getting ready for eternal responsibilities and rewards - we should work at developing the skills we are using for ministry.
Other thoughts: Experimenting in different ministries until you find the one that God gifted you for is tough. It is a good concept, and I like it, but it requires a teachable spirit - one that is able to hear, “I don’t think this is a good fit for you.” It also requires boldness in pastors and leaders. Boldness to be able, in love, to say to someone, “I don’t think this is a good fit for you.” (That’s hard for pastors! I hate trying to gently tell someone they actually can’t carry a tune in a bucket, especially if they think they’re Whitney Houston!) If you choose to experiment to find out how God wired you for service within the church, be ready to humbly accept that a certain ministry may not be for you, and with enthusiasm move on to the next option you want to try. If you’re from our New Westminster congregation, remember our recent drama presentation - NO ONE would want “Ron” continuing in hospital ministry! We’ve have to build more hospitals! I wonder where “Ron” will end up serving in ministry?

Do you ever read something in the scriptures that you know you've read a million times but all of a sudden it impacts you greatly, as if you've never read it (or at least never understood it) before now?

That happened to me as I read Galatians today. Galatians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the Christians in Galatia, who were going back to practicing all the rules and regulations under the law. Now, the law was given by God through Moses as a way for the people to be OK before God, but became essentially useless after Jesus, who died once for every man's every sin, because no matter how cool we are, we could never live up to the law. (And if you weren't Jewish, you were pretty hooped no matter what.)

Anyway, background information aside, as I was reading today, I was completely struck by how clearly Paul outlines that the law, first of all, was given 430 years AFTER God promised Abraham to redeem all people through Abraham's seed (Jesus), so therefore the law did not come to replace or to nullify the original plan and promise of God. AND, Paul goes on to explain that the law was never intended to bring eternal life and righteousness - that was impossible. It was impossible to fulfill the law. That's not why Jesus came to die and be raised to life - He was coming anyway. And it did not take away the need for Him to come. In fact, it was never even able to or designed to take away that need.

Paul goes on to explain that the law was given to the us because we were thick (OK, that's the Baker paraphrase) and needed a tutor to learn some things before Jesus came. We needed to learn that we had no ability to fulfill the promise of eternal life in ourselves and following rules - we needed Jesus to come. There was no other way.

There was only ever one plan. Jesus. The cross. For everyone - Jews and Gentiles. Praise the Lord.

I suppose that all these revelations I found today were somewhere in my head, and perhaps they aren't earth-shattering to you, but I understood this more this afternoon than I think I ever had before. If you want more, definitely follow up the first three chapters of Galatians with Romans 11 (about the irrevocability of Israel's calling and how their hearts have been hardened for time so that we non-Jews could have the opportunity to believe). It makes for good reading and study, especially when taken together.

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. (Galatians 3:17)

Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. (Galatians 3:19)

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. (Galatians 3:21)

Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:24-26)




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirty-One: Understanding Your Shape

Main idea: Our shape for ministry is also defined by our abilities, personality, and experiences.
Most impactful verse: "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT)"
Most impactful concept: About abilities: (1) many studies reveal that the average person possesses from 500 to 700 different skills and abilities, and (2) to discover what God’s will is for your life in ministry, seriously examine what you are good at doing (and what you’re not). About personality: two people may have the same gift, but if their personalities are different that gift will be played out in very different ways. About experiences: God allows us to go through experiences (even painful ones) to teach us to help others in similar situations.
Other thoughts: The more I read about how we are shaped for ministry, the more I feel it validates what I have passion for doing to bring God glory. I have many good friends who live in the downtown east side, and for some reason their particular ministry (actually, I think it is properly defined as mission, which we’ll get to later in the book) makes me feel that what I do is not enough or that I have taken the “easy way out.” My head knows that this is a faulty thought process, but there are times when my heart goes to that place. Continuing to read scriptures about how God has uniquely created me to do what I’m doing for His glory is encouraging and affirming - exactly how I believe I should feel if I am in His will for my life. (As a side note, I hate that enemy tells us these lies even about our service to God! Praise the Lord for His Word that brings us all truth!)

Idols scare me.

Not in the way that I suppose that statement might be taken - I am not afraid of idols in themselves, demons or the plans of the enemy. I have power through the authority of Christ to deal with these things, and though I have on occassion momentarily panicked before kicking some demon butt, I am not living in a place of fear of those little critters.

What frightens me is our tendencies as the bride of Christ to look for idols. Or worse yet, to have found an idol and not even know it. Doug Burr in his blog on Saturday (October 22nd) talked about how sin creeps up on us, it doesn't always jump out make itself obvious. Have we examined our lives recently to discover and erradicate any idols that might be there?

Here are the kind that frighten me the most: the kind that are so ingrained within the church that to speak against them can (and usually does) bring strife in the body. They are powerful - no, let me re-phrase that - they have been given too much power. By us.

Idols scare me because they endanger the purity of our offering to God. They endanger the wholeness of our devotion to Him and they sacrifice both our witness of God in the world and our intimacy in relationship with Him. They have to go. And sometimes it feels like playing "Where's Waldo" to find them and be honest with ourselves as the bride of Christ about where they are, about what has too much importance in our lives, and about what is damaging the purity of our relationships with an all-deserving God.

May our eyes be opened to revelation.
May our hearts be soft to accountability.




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirty: Shaped for Serving God

Main idea: Two of the things that help shape what we were created to do in ministry are our spiritual gifts and our passions (heart).
Most impactful verse: "There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. (1 Corinthians 12:5 NLT)"
Most impactful concept: Two characteristics that you are serving God from the heart are enthusiasm and effectiveness.
Other thoughts: For some reason this concept of our passions being part of the thing that shapes us for service is very important to me. Perhaps because I'm a musician? And to have an intense love for music and all its inner workings seems an almost personal thing rather than something that will edify the body. Yes, it is used in musical worship ministry, and considering that seeing God glorified in the way He deserves is also a passion, that fits very well. Together with my spiritual gifts and experiences, etc., the music works to be used in that way. But occassionally I feel that to just sit and listen to a Beethoven symphony or Mozart's Requiem and dissect its finer points of composition is my favourite thing in the world to do. I wonder if doing that and enjoying the way God created music is in itself worship? In the movie "Chariots of Fire" the main character wants to be a runner instead of a missionary because he says that when he runs he feels God's pleasure. I used to think that my love for classical music and just knowing about how music works was rather selfish, not much used to anyone except myself and a bunch of other slightly obsessed musicians. But the more I think about it and read things like this chapter, the more I begin to understand that without that passion in my life, I would be unable to do much of the ministry that I'm in. Praise the Lord that He knows better. Praise the Lord that He made music so complex and cool, and lets me use it to magnify His holy name.

Here's a great quote that has surfaced at least four times this week - usually a sign that God is trying to say something:

"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."
- St. Francis of Assisi

Interestingly, with all the times this quote has come up, the concept came up in Bible Study this morning again with this scripture:

"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." (1 Peter 3:1-6)

What a firm reminder that we are not just to speak the right words or read the Bible and not let it impact our lives. We are called to live out every breath as followers of Christ and representatives of His great glory and grace. What an awesome task. And a joyous responsibility. May we be filled with the Holy Spirit for all strength and wisdom to walk this out.




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Accepting Your Assignment

Main idea: We received salvation to serve God and serve others (or serve God BY serving others).
Most impactful verse: "He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves. (Romans 2:8 NLT)"
Most impactful concept: "We don't serve God out of guilt or fear or even duty, but out of joy, and deep gratitude for what He's done for us. We owe Him our lives. (page 228)"
Other thoughts: This, though it is being called service for the purposes of this book and our own understanding, is WORSHIP. It is a response to the revelation of God and to His amazing work in our lives. Our responding to Him is worship. Our service to Him and to others for His glory is worship. We were saved because God loves us. We serve because we love God. It's all part of His plan. "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." (Romans 12:1)

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-Eight: It Takes Time

Main idea: It takes time to develop maturity - there are no shortcuts.
Most impactful verse: "These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! (Habakkuk 2:3 LB)"
Most impactful concept: God's delay does not mean He has forsaken or forgotten - His timing is perfect for develping our maturity.
Other thoughts: Two little thoughts. One: I like that this chapter suggests keeping a journal. I started doing that a few years ago - tracking the things God was saying and doing in my life - and being able to look over those things even years later has been incredibly encouraging and reminds me, too, of the things He has called me to that I may have let slip or forgotten. I am not (or was not) by nature a journalling kind of person, but what blessings has God bestowed through that discipline! Second little thought: God is never overdue. I love that. It needs no explanation.

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Defeating Temptation

Main idea: There is alway a way out from te temptation to sin.
Most impactful verse: "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16 NIV)"
Most impactful concept: The reason we hide our faults is pride.
Other thoughts: Thinking about hiding our faults and wanting to be seen as OK.... I think this is a larger thing in the church than I would like to be able to give credit to. In the church we all know that we are broken sinners - that's why we came to Jesus in the first place - and though He is in the process of making us whole and holy, we still mess up and have struggles. So why is it that we cultivate this feeling of having to have it all together? I love this James scripture (I love the book of James in general), because living it will not only protect us from the specific sin we are struggling against, it will also protect us from the deadly sin of pride. God loves humility. God loves truth. If the truth is that we are caught in sin, confession to each other will help heal and protect. I guess the catch is that we must trust each other and be found worthy of that trust.

I've been continuing to ponder some of the material I'm reading the The Purpose Driven Life. I suppose that's exactly the point of going through the book - any teaching book, in fact.

Here's what is stuck in my head: it is this concept of every trial, every trouble, every problem in our lives being something that God uses to develop our character so as to be more like Christ. I have known and understood that concept for many years. The application of that concept into some of my daily thinking is something that I am just starting to realize is still lacking. Certain things that happen in life I can fully accept and see as God's hand striving to offer me opportunities to trust Him more and to display more the character of Christ. Other situations just, well, irritate me! Not overly spiritual, but still true. And yet, the Bible makes it quite clear that even these situations, as well as the ones that hurt or confuse or burden us, are things allowed by God in the pursuit of making us more like Christ.

The bottom line is we still have to choose - we choose to recognize the problems for what they can be in God. We choose to accept them into our lives. We choose to walk away bitter or, as Rick Warren says, better.

I hope I will always choose better. I pray I will always choose better. Open my eyes, Lord, to see not just the hard part of the trouble, but the potential for growth and knowing You more.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28-39)




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-Six: Growing Through Temptation

Main idea: Every temptation is an opportunity not only to sin but also to do good. Temptation keeps us dependent on God.
Most impactful verse: "For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these vile things come from within. (Mark 7:21-23 NLT)"
Most impactful concept: It is not a sin to be tempted.
Other thoughts: I like the place where Rick Warren makes the point that you can't claim to be good if you've never been tempted to be bad. It reminds me of a saying that my university friends and I used to say to each other: 'Don't confuse purity with lack of opportunity.' Back then we were specifically talking about sexual purity. Some of the Christians that we knew were overtly proud that they were virgins, but the truth is that some of them had never been faced with the opportunity to sin in that way, so really what they had experienced was perhaps a conviction, yes, but one that had never been tested. It's good to know what you would do when tempted and to be sure enough that when the temptation does present itself, you are able to recognize the right way, and walk in it. It's also good to know what you think you can handle, and not put yourself in the tempting situation if it's likely to be too much (so saying, perhaps we were a little too harsh with our university friends). And if you find your conviction isn't quite as strong as you thought - call on God, He will always provide a way out before you sin.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-Two: Created To Become Like Christ

Main idea: We were created to have our character developed to be like Christ.
Most impactful verse: "You were...created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:24 GWT)" (This doesn't, by the way, mean we automatically are like God....)
Most impactful concept: Move ahead in your weakness - when we move ahead and step out in weakness we prove our trust in God, His trustworthiness (because He will never let us down) and His great power (because in our own weakness we can't do anything great).
Other thoughts: I think many Christians mistakenly think that life after salvation will be a piece of cake. But Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)"
Once we realize this, and that the troubles are allowed into our lives by God Himself, then we will begin to understand that they can each be used to develop a deeper, more Christ-like character in each of us.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-Three: How We Grow

Main idea: We are not intended to be saved and stay as spiritual infants our whole lives. We must choose to grow and mature.
Most impactful verse: "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. (Proverbs 4:23 TEV)"
Most impactful concept: "The Christian life is far more than creeds and convictions; it includes conduct and character. (page 183)"
Other thoughts: I think this is an excellent chapter for new believers - one that outlines a process to becoming more like Christ and more like the man or woman God created you to be and finds pleasure in. I like that it outlines a process, not an instantaneous change when you choose to believe. First, you believe. Then, you decide to become like Christ (this is just the decision, not the actual action). Then, you allow God to change your thoughts. Then your changed thoughts allow your actions to change. In this way we walk through a process towards being mature. And I know that in my own life, this process is acted out in many different areas at a time, and each of those areas might not be at the same step as others. I may be mature in one area, while still seeking to decide to develop my character in another. But as long as we're still pressing forward in each area, we will see God transform us into Christ-like individuals, and therefore a Christ-like church.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-Four: Transformed By Truth

Main idea: Abiding in the Word (the Bible) and not only reading it but accepting its truths and applying them to our lives will transform us to be more godly.
Most impactful verse: "Truly happy people are those who study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy. (James 1:25 NCV)"
Most impactful concept: A Bible on the shelf is worthless.
Other thoughts: I have heard it said that we live in a generation that is "spiritually illiterate." I love how the Bible promises happiness to those who read and digest the Word. I have found in my own life that reading the Word is key to having an intimate and alive relationship with God. The less I read it, the more I being to look again for other things or people to fill that void that the lack of the voice of God leaves.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-Five: Transformed By Trouble

Main idea: Troubles and problems are a key way God helps us to grow and be transformed into being like Christ. They each have a purpose.
Most impactful verse: "Our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT)"
Most impactful concept: Many people choose bitterness about their problems instead of the 'betterness' that God intends for our lives.
Other thoughts: As I read through this chapter, and especially about troubles always being an opportunity for our growth in God, it occurs to me that, again, it is entirely up to us. God intends for every trial in our lives to be an opportunity to grow and mature and be forced back to His feet again and again. But we have the ability and even the right to deny this growth and to simply view every problem as only "attack" or "just the way life is." I wonder how fast we would grow if we were watching for how each problem in our lives, large or small, could induce us to grow. If we're not sure what that looks like, no problem - we'll then just turn and ask the Father. He may answer us in His Word or through prophecy or through looking back on that problem when it's over. But He will certainly answer.

My apologies for the lack of 40 Days of Purpose accountability blogs this weekend - they are coming today! I have been away with the Youth and Young Adults of our province at an event called Youth Together 2005, where Salvation Army people aged 15-30 from all over the province gather together to praise and learn more of the Lord God Almighty.

On Saturday afternoon I was privileged to witness something close at had that I'm not sure I have ever witnessed with that kind of impact before. One of my boys (boy? He's a young adult, actually, but I still like to call them 'my boys' or 'my girls,' because I love them) made a decision that will change his life and assure him a place with Jesus for all eternity - he accepted God's amazing gift of salvation during one of the seminars. After being led into a time of quiet prayer and reflection, the kids were instructed to head to the back of the room, and if they had decided for the first time to follow Christ, they were to give the seminar presenter a hug. When this fellow stood up, I watched him walk to the back, look at the presenter, and then reach out and hug him. (And then I cried like a baby....of course....most people would expect nothing less....)

I wish I could explain the difference in his face. I wish I could explain (or even grasp) his explanation of the difference in how he felt. But for just a moment, I felt I could see into the heavens and understand that THIS - not healing the sick, not raising the dead, not feeding thousands with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish - THIS was the greatest miracle I had ever witnessed. I was witnessing at that very moment the miracle of a life snatched out of the clutches of inherited and even intentional sin - literally saved - by the amazing love of a tender God and His obedient son, who walked every step of the way to the cross and decided to let Himself be hung and killed there so that we could know Him, be with Him, and love Him in purity. If you haven't met Him yet, His name is Jesus. He died for my boy that accepted that gift this weekend. He died for me. He died for you.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)





40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Eighteen: Experiencing Life Together

Main idea: True fellowship consists of being in honest, mutual, sympathetic and merciful community with other believers.
Most impactful verse: "Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19 NIV)"
Most impactful concept: Fellowship happens when mercy wins out over justice.
Other thoughts: This chapter contains some tough concepts to practically master, especially when it comes to allowing our own rights and feelings to be laid down for the purpose of others. But isn't this exactly what Jesus did? Couldn't He have proclaimed His innocence and fought for justice and saved Himself from the agony of the cross? Yes, He could have. But He Himself longed to be in real fellowship with us, so He chose instead to sympathize with us (to walk the path of sin with us) and to be merciful to us (to not remember our faults, but to wipe them out in the only way He could). I'm pretty glad He did, and thinking about it that way will continue to help me to lay down my own rights in favour of being in true fellowship with the body.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Nineteen: Cultivating Community

Main idea: Being in true community requires a commitment to both authentic fellowship and to the people within it.
Most impactful verse: So many: "You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour. (James 3:18 MSG)" "...speak the truth in love.... (Ephesians 4:15)" "Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help to make him right again. (Galatians 6:1-2 NCV)" "Be devoted to one another like a loving family. Excel in showing love for each other. (Romans 12:10 GWT)" "Gossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships. (Proverbs 16:28 TEV)"
Most impactful concept: People who are confronted about gossiping or being divisive in some way may get mad and leave the church or the group they are in, but the true fellowship of the church is more important than any individual. (Translation: Protect the body.) We can't allow fear of their potential reactions to cripple us into allowing this within the body of Christ.
Other thoughts: Just a short thought on this: If it takes both God's power and our effort to produce a loving Christian community and God's power never fails, I wonder whose fault it is during the times we can't get along? Let's not worry about being right anymore - let's worry about being in right relationship with each other.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty: Restoring Broken Fellowship

Main idea: Broken fellowship must be restored, not ignored.
Most impactful verse: "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. (Ephesians 4:29 TEV)"
Most impactful concept: Broken relationship is a disgraceful testimony to unbelievers.
Other thoughts: Wow. As I read through this chapter I realized how little we as the church of Christ live out the Biblical principles outlined in this chapter. This chapter might start being required reading for everyone I pastor, and regularly for myself as well.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twenty-One: Protecting Your Church

Main idea: Each and every believer has a responsibility to protect the unity of the body by abstaining from certain actions and displaying certain attitudes - this is maturity in Christ.
Most impactful verse: "Fire goesout for lack of fuel, and tensions disappear when gossip stops. (Proverbs 26:20 LB)"
Most impactful concept: Conflict is usually an indicator that we have shifted our focus onto the wrong thing.
Other thoughts: This chapter very easily flows from the last chapter. I find it interesting that the week after having a huge discussion with the Youth and Young Adults about gossip, it's here in almost every chapter we are reading this week. I also find it interesting that so many people (including adults) think it's OK to 'vent' to a safe person - someone you trust. Even I think that way and act that out. But I now think that I am wrong - that we are all wrong. The Bible is entirely clear. Go to that person alone. If they won't listen to you, take someone with you, and so on (Matthew 18). But it is still all about private reconciliation. Words have power - if someone I think very highly of speaks poorly of someone else, I will tend to think poorly of that person as well - how twisted is that? I had nothing to do with that opinion being formed, or the rift that was created between my friend and that person. I think this chapter is great - not easy to live out, but if we pursue unity and really love the church with passion, we will with God's help be able to re-train ourselves. And if we disregard these things, we will only hurt the body, hurt ourselves, and earn God's anger. In my mind, that's worth working at change and maturity.

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Seventeen: A Place To Belong

Main idea: We all need to belong and be committed to the church as our family.
Most impactful verse: "If you know people who hav wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. God after them. Get them back. (James 5:19 MSG)"
Most impactful concept: "Isolation breeds deceitfulness; it's easy to fool ourselves into thinking we are mature if there is no one to challenge us. Real maturity shows up in relationships. (page 134)"
Other thoughts: Rick Warren is excellent at giving us those little catch phrases that pin-point a Biblical concept in one or two sentences. This chapter is chock full of them. Here are some of my favourites:

"Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. (page 133)"

"'Mind your own business' is not a Christian phrase. We are called and commanded to be involved in each other's lives. (page 135)"

"The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment. Attenders are spectators from the sidelines, members get involved in the ministry. Attenders are consumers; members are contributors. (page 136)"

"God wants you to love real people, not ideal people. (page 137)"

I was reading one of my Youth's blogs tonight (check it out here - October 5, 2005 entry), and she talks about focusing on God. She explains that when she practiced focusing on God more, her whole outlook on her day and the events in her life were changed, as was her daily experience.

Lately Psalm 16:11 has proven to contain a truth that has somehow got deep into my soul, and it seems to be the same concept as this youth has been lately experiencing. "You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever." In the presence of God there is fullness of joy. That doesn't mean that there will not be sorrow, or that we'll be happy all the time and walk around like a freakishly large animated smiley (seriously, how annoying would that be?). But imagine the purest friendship you have ever had - the security and intimacy of it, and how it was the safest and happiest place to be - and imagine living in that place. Storms come - it's OK. Hard times fall - it's OK. Sorrow comes - it's still OK. Underneath it all is this flowing wave of joy - a joy that means you don't need to worry about how to deal with all those things, because God is there and He will deal with it like a good father and husband, taking the burden of it and in His wisdom dealing with each situation.

Relying fully on Him.
Being ever in His presence.
The reality of fullness of joy.

What a great God.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)





40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Fourteen: When God Seems Distant

Main idea: Regardless of our feelings or emotions, God is real and He is always with us.
Most impactful verse: "I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:8, Psalm 37:28, John 14:16-18, Hebrews 13:5)"
Most impactful concept: Commonly in the church we seek after an experience rather than seeking after God. Feelings are too often used as conclusive proof that we have had an encounter with God.
Other thoughts: I think it's important for us to remember that though every relationship will contain emotions and feelings, no relationship should have its quality be based upon them, least of all our relationship with such an almighty Being as God. Too many times in the church we have "thrown out the baby with the bathwater" and said that 'emotionalism' is evil and shouldn't be in the church. I suppose there is some truth to that - emotionalism probably shouldn't be in the church, but emotions sure should. If I am hopelessly in love with someone, I imagine it would be impossible to keep my emotions - all kinds of emotions - out of that relationship. At the same time, relying on those emotions as a way to mark where we are at in our relationship with God is a dangerous and false guide. He is always with us. He will never forsake us, regardless of how we feel.



40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Fifteen: Formed For God's Family

Main idea: God's idea was always to invite every person to be a part of His eternal family.
Most impactful verse: "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure. (Ephesians 1:5 NLT)"
Most impactful concept: He didn't need a family - He desired one. He was already complete in fellowship within the Trinity.
Other thoughts: There are many thoughts that are sparked by this chapter, including those on baptism, authentic fellowship, soldiership, etc. However, because I think many of them rest in the catagory of 'opinions' and possibly not opinions shared by all others in my part of the family of God, I am going to keep them to myself, at least for now. This is not out of fear, but rather out of love for other members of my spiritual family and a desire to continue to aggresively pursue unity amongst the believers. Perhaps we will talk about them at another time.



40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Sixteen: What Matters Most

Main idea: The greatest thing in life is love.
Most impactful verse: "When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10 NCV)"
Most impactful concept: We are called to love, but are actually called to particularly love the family of God.
Other thoughts: What a great chapter. This is something I've been talking to the Youth and Young Adults in our congregation about a lot lately. We say we love each other, but words that are not backed up by actions are meaningless. Love - placing others' needs, feelings and even desires above our own. What would the church look like if we truly loved each other? Would we have a better witness in the world? Would we be far less wounded? I wonder what it would even be like to allow each other to hold us accountable when we don't exude love in a Christ-like way (by the way, please don't confuse saying hard things to each other or holding each other accountable as not having love - sometimes this is the greatest love and will result in deeper relationship and more spiritual maturity). I'd like to see what the outcome would be if we really loved each other within the church. I imagine we would have a greater capacity to love those outside the church.

Here are a couple more highlights on the Listening Prayer seminar some of us have been at this weekend. Brad talked about how to weigh a prophetic word to determine whether it's accurate:

1. Test the person (what is their life and character like - do they portray the character of Christ? are they abiding in the body of Christ?)
2. Test the content (does it align with scriptural truths? does it line up with confirmation from the body of Christ? does the Spirit of peace confirm it within your heart?)
3. Test the spirit (find out if the spirit giving the word is actually from Jesus - does it acknowldege that Jesus came in the flesh?)
4. Test the fruit (like the fruit from Galatians 5:22 and James 3:13-18, the fruit of a good word is willingness (looking to please God) not willfullness (looking to please self)

These are just tidbits - I would love to reproduce all Brad taught, because it is so simple! Summary: God is speaking, all the time, to all of us. We just need to tune in and ditch the lies that "we made it up" or "God didn't really say that."

He probably did.
Test it.
Then believe it.

"It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." (Joel 2:28-29)

I was at the first session of the Listening Prayer Seminar I with Brad Jersak tonight. Here are some highlights of the ways that we God speaks to us:

1. Through invitations
2. Through the Bible
3. Through teachers/preachers
4. Through songs (Christian or Secular)
5. Through dreams (which might be (a) a cleansing of our minds, (b) a message about how God feels about something, (c) a message about the enemy's plans, or (d) a clarification of how we feel about something)
6. Through conviction of sin/convincing of righteousness
7. Through a burden to pray
8. Through promptings to action

I also loved the analogy that Brad used regarding how much God is speaking to us - he compared it to radio waves. They are all around us all the time, but unless we actually tune into them, we don't know they are there. God is speaking all the time - we need to tune in.

If you're local (a Vancouverite) you should definitely come to the rest of the session, tomorrow. Brad assured us that it is stand-alone teaching, so you won't be lost by not having attended this evening. It starts at 9:00am at Cariboo Hill Temple Salvation Army Church - 7195 Cariboo Road in Burnaby. From my experiences at this seminar before, it's liable to be a life-changing day.




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Thirteen: Worship That Pleases God

Main idea: God is pleased when we worship accurately, authentically, thoughtfully and practically - He wants all of each of us when we worship Him.
Most impactful verse: "Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that will please Him. (Hebrews 12:28 TEV)"
Most impactful concept: Where (or how) you worship is not as important and why you worship and how much of yourself you offer to God when you worship.
Other thoughts: I am finding it hard to have little thoughts for this section of my summaries while we are reading about God's worship. It is the ruling passion of my life (I'm hoping that's obvious if you know me) - to see God glorified in the way He truly deserves. All I can really say tonight is go read this chapter. Even if you're not following along or have fallen behind, don't miss this one. Oh, and chapter eight - go read chapter eight. It's foundational to a Biblical understanding of worship.

As Tara Ayer has so wonderfully pointed out in the past, my cat is prophetic. Here is what her little life is speaking to me tonight....

My poor kitty. If you don't like cats (Darren Hailes! for shame....) you'll probably never see the pathos in this mental picture, but my poor baby is wandering around with a bucket on her head. No, she didn't just decide to wear one, nor is she having a particularly embarrassing day. She had surgery yesterday, and isn't permitted to get her sharp little tongue at the area with the stitches.

Here's what I noticed when I was watching her in the last day or so:

The bucket (OK, it's actually called a cone) on her head is hampering her normal movement and actions. For example: in the mornings when I get up, or after my coming home when she is greeting me, she will spend a good deal of time rubbing her face against the corners of walls. With the bucket on her head, all that happens is that she bangs the bucket on the corner of the wall. One would think that once or twice would be enough to remind her that it's there, but no, she does it over and over again.

Also, she has a poor perception of where the edges of the cone are. I'm not sure if her peripheral vision is poor, but she'll be calmly walking into a room past, for example, the organ, and WHAM! she smacks her cone into the organ, not having properly judged the space needed to get by. For the last day and a half, the effects of the anesthetic and bucket combined have made her wobble around the house, swerving here and there until finally deciding to fall over into a lying down position (I'm really hoping the "drunk cat" affectation will go away shortly - it's hard to explain why a Salvation Army cat is not a teetotaler). She is also unable to get comfortable enough to really sleep (she usually twists her body around so that her head is upside-down), so I'm not sure she's getting good sleeps just now.

And if all that wasn't enough, the surgery was on her - ahem - butt, so she is shaved in a not particularly socially acceptable spot. (Perhaps that's the reason for the bucket?)

How is this prophetic? Well, as always, I'll put a disclaimer on whether the cat is actually hearing from the Lord. But as I was watching her just now, it reminded me that often we have blinders (or buckets) on. Perhaps they're things that are even there because we've been injured in some way, as the kitty was, or perhaps they are things we have chosen to put there - sin, past hurts, ungodly teachings - but they are blinders nonetheless, and as such they keep us in a continual state of wobbling around. Over and over again we might try to do something without being aware that there's no positive result. We try to do the things we've always been used to doing, and possibly not even noticing that they are ineffective or even distructive. And our judgement can be really poor, causing us more hurt or more wounds.

What's the solution? As always - God. Jehovah Raffa - God our Healer. Seek after the One who created you and therefore knows intimately how to fix the broken parts in our lives. Do you ever feel like you're wearing a bucket on your head? Ask the Lord to heal the wounds and take off the bucket when His timing is most appropriate. He is faithful.

And now, just to make you laugh a little....



















40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Twelve: Developing Your Friendship with God

Main idea: Friendship with God is developed through honesty, obedience, shared values and zeal.
Most impactful verse: "Passion for Your house burns within me, so those who insult You are also insulting me. (Psalm 69:9 NLT)"
Most impactful concept: You are as close to God as you choose to be / Intimate friendship with God is a choice, not an accident; you must intentionally seek it.
Other thoughts: I LOVE that Rick Warren addresses this. So many time I hear people say silly things like perhaps, "I would have the kind of intimacy with God you have if I were single like you, but I have to look after my husband and family, and that takes time away from God." I have always thought it was a cop-out. Now I'm more convinced than ever. I also love the fact that according to James 4:8 ("Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.") our closeness factor is entirely up to us. No more saying, "I just don't feel God near me." Probably when that happens we haven't spent enough time with Him, developing our frienships with Him.

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Eleven: Becoming Best Friends With God

Main idea: God wants to be in friendship with us, not just feared by us.
Most impactful verse: "[God] made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find Him. (Acts 17:26-27 MSG)"
Most impactful concept: Friendship with God is attained through constant conversation (us speaking to God) and continual meditation (God speaking to us).
Other thoughts: Like any friendship there is a time and place for both parties to converse and share thoughts and secrets. I like this picture of God. I like, also, that it is continuous. When I don't see a close friend for a period of time, we are often not quite as close as before - that takes time to build again. For many, thispicture of friendship is a difficult picture to come to grips with, considering God is also so incredibly HUGE that He created everything and is to be feared above anything else. But this is what makes His frienship so special - He deigns to call us friends; it is up to us to remember that even our intimate frienship with Him we are not only friends, but still also sons and daughters, servants and created beings.

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Ten: The Heart of Worship

Main idea: The core (heart) of worship is surrender - a voluntary offering of ourselves to God.
Most impactful verse: "'Father, everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will, not mine.' Mark 14:26 (NLT)"
Most impactful concept: We won't surrender to God until we trust Him, but we won't trust Him until we get to know Him better.
Other thoughts: To follow up that concept above - trust comes through intimacy, but intimacy is often difficult without trust. I guess that sounds like a nasty cycle except for one thing - God can't fail you. He can't fail in anything and He is actually not able to be untrue to any of His promises or to any of the things that the Bible says about Him. So as we get to know Him better - like, through reading the Bible and so on - we will trust Him more. And the more we trust Him, the easier it will be to surrender our very lives and hearts to Him.

Words have power. We say that a lot, we know it, it's scriptural (see Proverbs 8 and Proverbs 10 to start). But I've noticed that we often talk about words having power in the negative sense. For example, words have power to curse or hurt or even cause a kind of death.

Words also have power to heal, to encourage and to bring life. I was on a quick phone call with a friend of mine last week, and at the end of the conversation, he said, "Karyn Baker, you're very precious to me!" What amazing words. Words have power. Those words, spoken without an agenda or a prompt, spoke life and love into me that day. Words have a lot power.

In the book of James we are told that you can't have a mouth that blesses or worships God and also speaks badly about people around you. Ever slander someone? Gossip? Verbally bash someone in anger? I certainly have. Because all people are created in the image of God, God clearly says that to curse (or speak negatively against) someone else is the same as speaking against Him. Whoa. That makes me want to keep my mouth shut more. Jesus goes even further - He says that to even hate someone in your heart puts you in danger of Hell - John fleshes that out for us by telling us it is the same as physically killing them.

We know we are supposed to be devoted to one another in love. How often do we communicate that love out loud? Is that so hard? Yes, I suppose sometimes it is. But from my personal experience, the more you do it, thinking only of that other person and not what you will look like, the easier it comes, until the language of love through words simply flows fluently out of you.

Can you imagine if we all worked at having words of blessing and love flow out of us as easily as we breathe? We would truly reflect Christ, and I can imagine the bride of Christ as one defined by unity and love.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:9-12)

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Matthew 5:21-22)

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. (1 John 3:14-15)




40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Nine: What Makes God Smile?

Main idea: We can makes God smile be certain actions or attitudes.
Most impactful verse: "By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what He was told.... As a result, Noah became intimate with God. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)"
Most impactful concept: Noah's obedience brought him the pleasure of God's intimacy.
Other thoughts: Bringing God pleasure (or smiles) is something that He has uniquely created each of us to do in our own way. I liked the story about Chariots of Fire, because it reminds me that just doing what we were created to do will make God smile. The factors of trust and obedience must play heavily into this, though, because we might be mistaken about the reasons we were created, whereas God, the Creator, knows exactly why He made each of us. I guess listening to Him continually is the key there. Also, Noah trusted and obeyed God, which brough God pleasure, but also brought Noah intimacy with God. It's not one-sided, though our hearts and actions should be pure enough that it could be.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Eight: Planned For God's Pleasure

Main idea: Every one of our lives was created to bring God pleasure.
Most impactful verse: "You created everything, and it is for Your pleasure that they exist and were created. (Revelation 4:11 NLT)"
Most impactful concept: (1) If worship were just music, then non-musical people could never worship, (2) Worship is not for our benefit, but rather God's, and (3) God loves all kinds of music, because He created it all.
Other thoughts: I LOVE this chapter - it encompasses everything I have been learning and teaching for years. It's so true! Worship is not about music - I myself have been working for some time now to even change the way that I speak about this concept, not from a religious standpoint, but simply from a desire to remind myself of the facts presented in this chapter. Music that we sing together whenever we gather is, hopefully, worship to God. But not because it's the music part of our gatherings, but instead because of what our hearts are doing at the time we sing! I personally am trying to talk instead about "musical worship" or "worship through music" - and then perhaps "worship through tithing" and "worship through teaching" and "worship through sports" and so on. Not everything we do is worship (yet), because that requires our hearts to be continually doing everything to bring God pleasure and glory. But maybe someday everything we do will be.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Seven: The Reason For Everything

Main idea: Everything was made for God's purposes and pleasure.
Most impactful verse: "For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for His glory. (Romans 11:36 TLB)"
Most impactful concept: We are to RECOGNIZE His glory, HONOUR His glory, DECLARE His glory, PRAISE His glory, REFLECT His glory, and LIVE for His glory.
Other thoughts: All of our dreams in life are even all about God. Our careers are all about God. Our families are all about God. Our jobs and our friends are all about God. And not in the sense that He fits into a part of them, but rather that they should all conform to the concept above - they should recognize, honour, declare, praise, reflect and live for His glory. That's a very different concept than the world tells us about our lives and the way to live - they tell us it's all about ourselves and what we want. It's not. It's all about God - since He made us, He has a right to demand that we fulfill the reason we were made - to bring Him glory.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Six: Life Is A Temporary Assignment

Main idea: Our life on earth is actually very short; we need to make sure we are focused on Godly things because the earth and all it contains is not our true and eternal home.
Most impactful verse: "You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way. (James 4:4 MSG)"
Most impactful concept: "You will never feel completely satisfied on earth, because you were made for more. You will have happy moments here, but nothing compared with what God has planned for you. (Page 50)"
Other thoughts: Our emotions often play us false - we often react as if the world is ending when we fight with loves ones, lose a job or a friend, or our plans don't work out the way we dreamed. But if we really grasp this concept of this not being our permanent - or even long-lasting - home, then our focus would be on God and His priorities. I pray that we are all loosed from a desire to follow the culture of our world that is so deeply rooted in us - uproot us, Lord, and plant eternal things into our hearts and minds.


40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
Chapter Five: Seeing Life From God's View

Main idea: Life is a test, a trust and a temporary assignment.
Most impactful verse: "Do not comform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complex change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God. (Romans 12:2 TEV)"
Most impactful concept: Everything in life is a test, and how we react to it or handle it will both develop and display our characters.
Other thoughts: The standards of this world are so ingrained in us that we often don't even realize that they are there. If we are truly to be transformed by God - have a complex change of our minds - we need to critically question everything in this world - every test, every concept, and every ideal - and measure them against the truths of God's Word. If they don't measure up, we need to ditch them.