Focus '15 - Be Ready - Entry # 9



Hi Friends!

I have been reminded anew in recent days that the way we do life has much to do with the way we choose to see the world - I think the picture above that my daughter took last summer while on a mission trip to Mexico illustrates this well - notice there are multiple ways to see the same scene depending upon the segment of a lens you choose to use or not use.

As Christians we are blessed in Christ with a unique way to do life should we choose to do so - the Bible teaches that when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord (see Acts 2:38) that we are given the unique lens of His Spirit - notice in the Scripture passage below what every scene in life can look like when we choose to live in the Spirit of Christ.

"With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2 MSG).

 

The fateful dilemma of seeing the world with shades of darkness - has been eradicated through the death of Christ on the Cross for our sins and His victorious Resurrection from the grave - because Christ has been-there-for-us and is here-for-us we have a unique way to do life that changes the way we see the world should we choose it.

 

I confess I need to choose that way more consistently.

 

What of you?

 

My desire is to consistently choose and to encourage other Christians to consistently choose to operate in the new power that is available to us in Christ - like a strong wind that magnificently clears the air - the Spirit of Christ cuts through the tyranny of any darkness we see in the world should we choose to operate in the power of Him being-here-for-us.

 

Operating like this is not for the timid - it is not that it requires an abundance of rule keeping but it does require that we consistently choose to love God above anyone or anything and that we also consistently choose to love our neighbor as ourselves - in doing so the promise of Christ is not that everything will always turn out nice but that everything will always turn out to be true.

 

The sun on the other side of the shades pictured above is always the sun no matter how you choose to see it - the same is true of the Son of God who came to this world to give us a very unique way to do life - it is not by our own might and power but by His power living in us and through us should we consistently choose it.

 

A new power is operating in Christians.

 

Will you consistently choose to use it?

 

Should you answer yes to that question the way you see the world and do life will be one where there are no idols between you and God - a life where your love for God and others is consistent with the love Christ demonstrated for you and for all people of all races in all parts of the world - a life that should take you to a neighbors drive-way and might take you to the streets of Mexico and beyond.

Friends when we consistently choose to do life in the Spirit of Christ others in the world will be lifted from the tyranny of darkness into the magnificent light of the Son of God who is always true - my prayer for you and for all who choose Christ as Savior and Lord is that the world will see that we are Christians by His love - His love being-here-for-us and operating-in-us in all that we say and do.

 

God's Peace,

Jeff

 

Focus 15 - Be Ready - Entry #8 - Pray for God's Sufficiency

Dear Friends,

As our nation celebrates a birthday and we give thanks for the freedom we enjoy - I ask you to join me in a prayer covenant with churches across America - believing God desires to heal our land.

Sadly - the recent egregious murders in a South Carolina Church and that of Cincinnati Policeman Sonny Kim who was killed in very close proximity to our church building - remind us that relational crisis has become more of a rule than an exception in our country.

Psalm 34:18 NKJV says  - The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit - would that America again have such a heart and spirit that only comes through repentance from sin and unity in faith and prayer.

The Bible says we reap what we sow - and culturally we have sown moral relativism into the hearts of our finest treasures - by teaching America's children that it is acceptable to abort life and redefine marriage without regard for the moral authority of Scripture.

As America listens to voices in the public square - may the voice of the church be the clarion bell that restores responsibility for unity of the spirit in the bond of peace that is available only through the Son of God - Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

In Christ the Bible says there is neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female - there is oneness in relationship with Jesus Christ - oneness that cannot be obtained through laws of the land that define the lowest acceptable standard.

In Christ there is the law of unconditional love for God and one another that defines the highest acceptable standard - the standard by which God created all men to live - the standard by which He sacrificed His own Son to bring us back to that life in Him.

My prayer is that all Americans and especially those Americans elected to lead our nation as one nation under one God - would fall to their knees and repent of sin - and then rise up with a renewed commitment to sow the seed of Christ in our nation afresh.

When the seed of Christ is sown - the Bible promises a peace that passes all human understanding will guard our hearts and minds - would that all communities in our nation be integrated again by His seed of unconditional love for life and authority.

I leave you with a quote about God's Sufficiency - the quote was rendered in days past by Dr. Billy Graham - "Happy are they who mourn the inadequacy of self, for they shall be comforted with the sufficiency of God."

Please join me and others in churches throughout America as we celebrate our nation's birthday - may we continue to give thanks for the freedom we enjoy - may we also mourn the inadequacy of self and seek the sufficiency of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus 15 - Be Ready - Entry # 7

Hi Friends!

Many years ago I joined with some of my teenage friends and shared in a ministry called Vital Connections - we sang gospel music anywhere the opportunity presented itself - on one occasion we sang at The Ohio State Fair which is a testimony that nothing is impossible with God!

Connections have always been vital to my life and that is especially true in the church I minister with that bears that name - the Bible teaches that only by being connected with Christ through faith can anyone have eternal life with our Father in heaven - and only through a consistent connection with Christ can anyone have authentic power for living.

Summer 2015 we will be studying the New Testament book of Colossians at Connections Christian Church - the Apostle Paul wrote this book to combat errors that had come into the church through the influence of a pagan culture - and also to show the church they have everything they need in Christ to have a right relationship with God and one another.

Collosians 2: 8-10 says, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

Cultural Relativism or Christian Truth?

False Idols or the Supremacy of Christ?

Many or One Vital Connection to God?

Join us this summer as we study a book written to the church by an Apostle years ago where we will answer those questions and many more with respect to today - properly understand all the questions raised in this book answer the errors from the hollow and deceptive philosophies of the world in which we presently live - they answer the question "Jesus is Lord because?"

I pray you will enjoy this lesson series and your summer!

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus 15 - Be Ready - Entry # 6

Hi Friends!

I don't know anyone who wakes up in the morning and begins their day looking to lose - I believe we are hard-wired by God our Creator with an intrinsic desire to win - to live a victorious life that honors God and blesses others!

• What keeps us from that?

• Why are neighbors lacking relationship?

• Why are nations lacking righteousness?

The word is sin - the Bible (Romans 3:23) says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God - at the heart of our neighborhoods and our nations are people who have adopted a belief system that says winning is about self at all costs.

God in contrast says winning is about others at the cost of self - God demonstrated this on the Cross of Calvary when He allowed His Son to die and pay the penalty for the sins of humanity - even though His Son was sinless and owed no one anything.

In Christ that same selfless attitude is available to all who trust Him - the discipline of denying self daily and following Christ consistently is not for losers - it is for winners who understand victorious living is about honoring God and blessing others at the cost of self.

• How do we gain that understanding?

• Is there a shortcut to victorious living?

• Is there hope for our neighborhoods and nations?

Spend a few moments just now considering the legacy of Jesus Christ - I am confident you'll be overwhelmed with a renewed realization that victorious living is not about a single individual - it is about the relationships that a single individual has with others.

• Do you want winning neighborhoods?

• Do you desire winning nations?

• Will you choose to live for that?

To live victoriously is to live like Jesus - no individual in history gives us a better example of winning relationships in neighborhoods and nations - changing those begins when an individual chooses to lose self as Jesus did to live harmoniously with God and others.

• In Christ we choose to love all and hate none!

• In Christ we choose to include every one and exclude no one!

• In Christ we choose righteousness in individual and all relationships!

In Christ winning relationships come at the cost of self-interest - everyone wins when we choose to love and include everyone in the family of God our Creator and His Son Jesus Christ - do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus #15 - Be Ready - Entry #4

Hi Friends,

 

The Bible tells us (read James 2: 14-25) that faith in Jesus Christ without works is dead being alone - that faith alone is not sufficient for our relationship to be alive with God in Christ Jesus - the Bible says the devil has faith in God but is not working for God - the devil believes in God but his work is opposed to relationship with God.

Why do we work for God? - it is not to earn salvation through our works but to demonstrate our gratitude with grace for being saved from sin and death by the work of Christ alone - to follow Christ is to not only believe this truth but to do what He says to do with grace and gratitude for what He has done for us.

Most everyone who reads this blog has professed faith in the work of Jesus Christ - but are you doing what He asks you to do? - are you motivated to do what He asks you to do by grace and gratitude for what He has done and is doing for you?

A resurrected church is alive - it is a church that is deeply committed (read Matthew 28:16-20) to carry out the great commission of Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost - the motive of a living church to seek and save the lost is grace and gratitude for what Jesus has done and is doing in our lives.

The devil believes in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus but the devil's work is opposed to the work of Jesus - the devil is a great example of how faith in Jesus without works for Jesus results in a dead relationship with God - a relationship where one is eternally separated from God.

If the church is to have abundant life in relationship with God - we must increase our faith and our works in the person and power of Jesus Christ - (read Matthew 7:21-27) Jesus said wise people not only listen to what He has to say - wise people do what He says to do and live to tell the story of what He has done and is doing.

Easter is an awesome time to renew our faith in Jesus Christ - it is also an awesome time to renew our works in the person and power of Jesus Christ - faith without works is death sealed in a tomb and separated from God for eternity - faith with works of grace and gratitude is an open and empty tomb.

Faith with works of grace and gratitude in the person and power of Jesus Christ is a church that is alive and growing - it is a church that will never be separated from God because it is alive and growing in eternal relationship with Him - it is a church that lives to celebrate the open and empty tomb of its Savior and Lord.

Happy Easter and God's Peace,

Jeff

Focus '15 - Be Ready - Entry # 3

Hi Friends!

During the days leading up to Easter we are going to be looking at what the Bible says about love - more specifically what the Bible says about sexual intimacy - my hope is that we debunk myths, denounce sins, and dial-in the healthiest perspective possible of one of God's greatest gifts to humanity.

The season of Lent is often used as a time to give something up in order to draw closer to the suffering that Christ endured for us - my hope is that this lesson series will cause you to give up anything that is grey in the area of sexual sin - and embrace sexual intimacy in LIGHT of God's Word.

Ephesians 5: 9-10 (NIV) says, “Live as children of LIGHT (for the fruit  of the LIGHT consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the LORD.” 

You may already know what pleases the Lord in the area of sexual intimacy - if so this should be a great and fun review - if not this lesson series should serve to help you unpack some baggage in your life that is more than likely hindering and hurting the best life God has available for you.

I ask for your prayers for my preparation and presentation in this series - the church tends to leave this topic in our schools and theaters - my desire is to be very sensitive and respectfully tactful as we learn more about the gift of sexual intimacy from God's Word as children of LIGHT without shades.

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus '15 - Be Ready - Entry #2

Hi Friends!

Our focus in 2015 is to "be ready" (found faithful) when our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ returns for His Church - our vision is to "connect people to our loving God and each other through a personal relationship with Jesus" - we seek to do that by fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus (see Matthew 28: 18-20).

I deeply desire for us to continue to do that as Connections Christian Church and in praying about that "today" I was drawn to Psalm 96 - some scholars believe this could be a Psalm of David - because it closely resembles David's hymn of praise in 1 Chronicles 16:23-36.

Psalm 96 tells us how to praise God "today" and everyday - we can sing about Him, tell others about Him, worship Him, give Him glory, bring offerings to Him, and live holy lives unto Him - as Christians we seek to do all these things through the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

I encourage you to continue to live and love all people intentionally - reaching out to others with the truth and grace of Jesus who saves all who put their faith in Him from eternal death (eternal separation) from God - continue to be faithful to fulfill the great commission of Christ Jesus.

God's Peace,
Jeff

Psalm 96 (NIV)

Psalm 96

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
² Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

⁴ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵ For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
⁸ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
⁹ Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
¹⁰ Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.

¹¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
¹² Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
¹³ Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Focus '15 - Be Ready - Entry #1

Hi Friends!

I don't know about you - but oftentimes I am so surrounded by the "here and now" that I fail to reflect on the "then and there" as I should - by the "then and there" I mean that day when we will be in our heavenly home with our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the biggest reasons we have to celebrate redemption from sin in Jesus - is that He promises to return for His church and take us to our heavenly home that He has prepared for us - but sometimes I think we see that as far off and fail to live each day as we should.

In Matthew 24: 43-44 (NIV) Jesus says "But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

My conviction is that the church (you, me, all followers of Jesus) must live with an expectancy of His return - as such this is one of my primary goals entering into the New Year - I want the church to "be ready" for the return of Jesus Christ.

I want us to live each day as if we expect the Lord to return that day!

I want us to breathe each breath as if we expect the Lord to return in that breath!

Matthew 24: 45-46 (NIV) Jesus says “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns."

Why would that be good?

Glad you asked!

Verse 48a (NIV) Jesus says "Truly I tell you, he will put him (the faithful and wise servant) in charge of all his possessions."

That is the opportunity that awaits for the church that is "ready" for Jesus' return!

But what of those who are "not ready" for Jesus' return?

Verse 48 b -51(NIV) Jesus says "But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

This doesn't take much explanation - Jesus clearly speaks to the reality of heaven and hell and says we are either going to "be ready" for one or the other - as such the hinge pin of our eternal destiny is ultimately found in living with an expectancy of our Lord's return.

Every day is to be the Lord's day!

Every breath is to be unto the Lord!

Jesus teaches that the "here and now" should not be centered in personal pleasure and self-promotion and putting others down - the church should live with an expectancy of the "then and there" - where each breath of every day is used to lift-up Jesus and fellowman in anticipation of His return.

Live with expectancy anticipating His return - be ready!

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus '14 Modeling Jesus - Entry #36 - Merry Christmas

Hi Friends!

The Bible tell us in Luke 2:11 that "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Jesus is the greatest gift - the perfect Christmas gift - and so the question is what will we do with the gift of Jesus this Christmas?

Will we stress out looking to buy that which cannot be bought by man but which has already been given by God? Or will we share the gift of Jesus which we have received knowing He is the priceless gift provided by God for everyone in the world?

My focus in life is to share as much love with as many people as I can - this Christmas that will involve purchasing and passing along some cards and gifts and sharing some meals and enjoying some fellowship and serving some others for sure - but to truly love others is to share the perfect gift of Jesus with them.

The perfect gift of Jesus was birthed in a Bethlehem stable - and ultimately wrapped on the cross of Mount Calvary on the original Black Friday - our sin debt was purchased and canceled by the atoning death of Jesus Christ for our sins - and His victorious Sunday morning resurrection gives us eternal life.

You can't put that on your MasterCard or Visa or American Express - you can't even pay for that in cash at  your local Christian bookstore or community Church - the perfect gift of God can only be received by faith to be shared with others in need of the same gift.

My prayer is that the biggest rush for the church this Christmas will be to share the saving gift of Jesus with others - I already have less stress just reminding myself that the perfect gift has already been provided and given by God for everyone on my Christmas list and in the world - what of you?

I encourage you to stress less - remember if the only gift you share with another this Christmas is Jesus that you will have shared the perfect and the greatest gift available to all - "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Merry Christmas,
Jeff

Focus '14 - Modeling Jesus - Entry # 35

Isaiah 26:4 (New International Version)

Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Nothing in this world is as Solid as the LORD - I encourage you to pray to Trust the LORD with your entire being - there is nothing too small or too great for the LORD.

The LORD is the Rock eternal - not a Rock - not one of many Rocks - but the Rock eternal - the Rock that cannot and will not be moved.

The LORD is always with you - the LORD will never fail you - the LORD will never forsake you - the LORD has you covered coming and going.

Trust in the LORD with every step - do the things the LORD asks of you the way the LORD asks you to do them - forever Trust the LORD - and give thanks that our God the eternal Rock is the LORD.

God's Peace,

Jeff

Focus '14 - Modeling Jesus - Entry # 34

2 Chronicles 5:12-14 New International Version (NIV)

12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.

13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

_______________________

Hi Friends,

The scene above happened thousands of years ago - but is one that we can recreate and make anew in our hearts and with our mouths and in our lives - each and every day.

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Let's continue to sing that song in unison - especially during the season of Thanksgiving - knowing the church is the temple of God and His Spirit lives in us (I Corinthians 3:16).

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Let's invite people in the world to sing that song with us - especially during the season of Thanksgiving - knowing we have been commissioned to grow the church in Jesus name (Matthew 28:19-20).

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Let's continue to serve others with a symphonic voice and a servant's heart - especially during the season of Thanksgiving - knowing humility best models our Savior and Lord (Philippians 2:1-11).

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Let's praise God as the trumpeter, harpist, percussionist, tenor, alto, soprano, bass - let's praise God with our gifts for His glory alone - especially during this season of Thanksgiving (Romans 12: 1-21).

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Let's say it and sing it throughout each day - especially during this season of Thanksgiving - knowing the church (God's temple; His people) will soon celebrate Christmas in a world that needs to see Jesus living in us (Luke 2: 1-20).

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Let's praising God with that song with every breath- especially during this season of Thanksgiving and Christmas - knowing God is so good and loves people so much that He gave us His only Son Jesus to save us from sin and death (John 3:16).

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

God's Peace,

Jeff

Focus '14 - Modeling Jesus - Entry # 33

Hi Friends!

As awesome and pleasing as this picture is to my eyes - the Scripture below reminds us to focus on an image that never changes - one that is eternally beautiful to people of the Christian faith.

As many of you know we have been focusing on this passage in our Daily Word Devotional Emails at Connections - I post it here in hopes that all who read it will be encouraged to think more frequently on things above - and to ultimately live in a manner that reflects the virtues of Christ Jesus.

May this beautiful and ever-changing season continue to be one of reflection for all - may your Spirit be replenished by the reality of Christ Jesus - and by the ability to face all earthly challenges (namely sin and death) with heavenly assurance in relationship with Him.

God's Peace,
Jeff

Colossians 3 New International Version (NIV)

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.


¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Focus '14 Modeling Jesus - Entry #32

Hi Friends!

As we enter a new month with the beautiful foliage of fall about us - I'm reminded that change is necessary and good - one thing I need to change and perhaps you do as well - is played out in vivid colors in The Gospel of Luke Chapter 10: Verses 38-42 - please take a moment to read this passage.

Admittedly I find myself very busy doing some seemingly good things "but only one thing is needed" - and so I need to remove some leaves of opportunity - perhaps even some colorful leaves of opportunity - and choose "what is better" - replenishing my Spirit daily in relationship with Jesus Christ.

Anxiety and frustration are now normative to many in culture - but those in relationship with Jesus are brightened daily by His unwavering peace - not a human peace - but His divine peace that supplants our worries and fears.

The transformation I am talking about is inward - it is in the heart of the believer that all things remain vividly beautiful no matter the season - for Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever - His love for us endures forever - in the meadow - in the valley - the peak of the hill - every step - He is faithful to replenish us continually.

See the Psalm below - notice He has us "lie down" before we stand up and walk - so I am encouraging you and confessing my need to be in deeper relationship with Jesus - I need to make some changes - I need to say no to some opportunities and take more time to replenish my Spirit - because "only one thing is needed."

God's Peace,
Jeff

Psalm 23 (NIV)

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Focus '14-Modeling Jesus-Entry #31

Hi Friends!

Fragmented and dysfunctional relationships appear to be increasing in our society or at a minimum are more readily magnified through social technology and spontaneous media.

The Bible says one thing never fails to mend fragments into functional and even flourishing relationships - that one thing is love - not love loosely defined but love defined unconditionally.

The best opportunity for all people to share genuine relational fellowship - is to respect the moral law of love modeled in the person of Jesus Christ - His love always exemplifies that which is true, right, and best.

I encourage you to take a moment to read the passage below - pause and spend some time in prayer - understand anew that our faith and hope in God must be great to experience restoration of civility and right relationships in our culture.

Most importantly understand that God is love - realize afresh that His love is greater than even our hope and faith in Him - His love for humanity never fails to save, strengthen, and fully sustain humanity.

May we turn to Him - may the love modeled in Christ Jesus be evident in each of us and may the world know we are Christians by our love - the love of Jesus working through us to enrich relationships.

God's Peace,
Jeff

1 Corinthians 13 New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.


¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Focus '14-Modeling Jesus-Entry #30

Hi Friends!

Few things say fall to me like football - admittedly it is my favorite season of the year on several fronts - in addition to football it's also the season when you can bow-hunt whitetail deer in Ohio - and in my innermost being I'm still optimistic that the Red's might make a run at the fall classic.

But beyond the bonfires and festivities of fall - there's something about families settling back into their communities, schools, work, and church after summer that is very appealing to me as well - in this age of instantaneous social media I think it's increasingly easy to take one another for granted - to expect relationships to stay strong without too much discipline.

When fall rolls in I am reminded anew that great football traditions and successful whitetail hunters and world championship baseball teams have at least one thing in common - each of them are very disciplined in the fundamentals of their games - some call it old school but more accurately I would call it proven school.

Proven school is that methods may change but fundamentals for optimal outcomes never do - the Bible affirms this formula for successful living when it tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) - and therein lies our hope for stronger relationships with one another.

While seasons and methods change the values and virtues of our Lord and Savior never do - and so rather than take one another for granted with the often limited touch of social media - I am recommending that we relearn the discipline of relationship building in all seasons in our communities, school, work, and church.

Consider this - the outcomes we respect the most on the gridiron and in the hunting blind and at Great American ballpark all find their origin in consistent discipline which is in fact the very nature of Jesus Christ - that's why Jesus calls all people to be His disciples.

Consistently modeling the behavior of Jesus is to deeply invest in personal relationships with others within our sphere of influence in all seasons - no one has changed less and loved others more than Jesus - so let's look to him this fall and in all seasons and be more disciplined in strengthening our personal relationships.

As I look to do that - please know I'll be rooting for the Red's and the Madeira Mustangs and the Ball State Cardinals (go DH) and for THE Ohio State University Buckeyes to all enjoy success - and for whitetail hunters everywhere to thin the population of deer with respect to the driving safety of all.

But most of all I will be rooting for you and me - I want us to be disciplined and to remain connected to Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord - to consistently share His unchanging values and virtues with our family and community and work and school and church.

No one has changed less and loved others more than Jesus - if ever I would be found quote worthy please know you can quote me on that - no one has changed less and loved others more than Jesus - let's continue to model His discipline and fundamentals this fall and in all seasons.

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus '14-Modeling Jesus-Entry #29

Hi Friends!

As many of you know we're in a lesson series where we're looking to Scripture to provide authentic answers for troubling times - and troubling times are not only in the Middle East but in Middle America (reference the news from Missouri) - and even in Middle Madeira (see the local news) where many who read this blog live.

One answer that Scripture provides to relational crisis is a single word with multiple applications - the word we discussed today is humility - I believe the Biblical definition of humility is to think more of God than we think of anyone or anything.

Jesus modeled humility in thinking of God above everyone and everything - and the Apostle Paul encourages us to embrace the Spirit of Christ in every aspect of living (see Philippians 2) - in so doing Scripture promises that troubling times will be transformed to peaceful times that surpass human understanding.

This evening I simply want to encourage Christians to humble themselves as Christ did - to put the will of God above everyone and everything and depend upon His Word to be the resource that will best bring calm to the storms of life - may the supernatural peace of Jesus be manifest through the church to the hearts (the Middle) of humanity throughout the world.

This is my prayer this evening - that people everywhere would turn to Jesus and find rest for relational conflict that can be modeled for future generations through the unity of His Spirit - and the relational bond of His Peace.

In Christ,
Jeff

Focus '14-Modeling Jesus-Entry #28

Hi Friends!

Some days are filled with opportunities that are really beyond words. Today was such a day for me. I really can't fully express the emotion, conviction, passion, or essence of the worship I experienced and enjoyed today in a church building, a stadium, and a car ride with friends of faith.

To that end, the Scripture below is the one that flooded my mind and heart as I sat down to share this blog with you this evening. I just want to encourage you to continue to praise the Lord for His great love and faithfulness and goodness and rejoice that in Christ we belong to Him.

God's Peace,
Jeff

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

¹ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
² Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

³ Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Focus '14-Modeling Jesus-Entry #27

Hi Friends!

Unless you have been been in a far away place without any form of communication, odds are good that your mind like those of most people on the planet, has been inundated with discouraging and troubling news in recent days.

Thanks be to God that Jesus provides authentic answers for troubling times. He invites us to come to Him in our weariness and with our burdens and He promises to give us rest when we choose to do so. Contextually (see Matthew 11: 28-30) Jesus guarantees His peace is different than that in the world.

The Bible consistently tells us that Jesus provides peace that passes all human understanding (see Philippians 4) as His peace guards our hearts and minds. Therein is where the proverbial rubber meets the road: the Bible teaches that lasting behavioral change requires a permanent change of our hearts toward God in Christ.

Tragically, some refuse to believe that truth and as a result the world continues to morally decline with man's inhumanity to man reaching new and epic proportions. I encourage you to remember that our responsibility is to pray for everyone, even our enemies, asking God to intervene in a way that turns all hearts toward Him.

There is a statistic that says the phrase "fear not" is used in the Bible 365 times: one for each day of the year. I have never counted to check the validity of that statistic but I am confident we have nothing to fear of man (be afraid of man) in as much as we fear (revere) Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

The invitation of Jesus is for all people to come to Him and find rest. If you haven't made that decision please do so today. If you have please pray for others to do so and heart-by-heart, person-by-person, the world will come to know the peace of Christ that protects His followers from eternal harm.

Our current lesson series at Connections is centered in the gospel of Christ as recorded by Matthew. The word gospel means "good news" and our focus is to preach and share as much "good news" about Christ in a troubled world as we possibly can.

Please join us and worship and pray with us as we seek to be instruments of blessing to all mankind.

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus '14-Modeling Jesus-Entry #26

Hi Friends!

The photo above includes members of our family (Daniel and Grace) as they recently ministered in Mexico on a short-term mission trip.The home in the background was built to bless a family and as you can see in the picture, the family and ministry team are pretty pumped about the new home.

The leaders of this mission work are John and Jane Ray and the homes are built through YWAM (Youth with a Mission) where they have served Christ internationally for many years. Specifically, the homes are built as part of Olivia's Basket to honor the Ray's youngest of four daughters (Olivia) who died tragically doing ministry a few years ago.

The Scripture passage I asked my children to read and study each morning and evening of this trip was Philippians 2:1-18 and my prayer was that the attitude of Christ described therein would shine through them as stars as they held out the word of God to others (verse 16). As I prayed that prayer throughout each day of their trip, I was subsequently drawn to another Scripture which I have posted below.

Matthew 9:35-37 (NIV)

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Would you join me in looking up and around and asking the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field? If your heart is moved with compassion by those you see in need of Jesus, would you carefully consider God's Will for your personal role in answering this prayer?

There aren't many workers in the picture above but  much work was done in a short period of time through the power of Christ to the glory of God. How much more can be done through you and me and the church in reaching others with the compassion of Christ in our lifetimes? 

Friends, I know God wants more from me and I believe He wants more from all of us...He wants us to consistently have the attitude, the compassion of His Son Jesus for lost souls...He wants us to consistently shine like stars in the universe which is ripe and ready for harvest. 

As we pray about that, let's keep one another posted about all the ways that God chooses to answer that prayer through each of us. May He continue to bless Olivia Ray's legacy as her family faithfully lives to bless others with the compassion of Christ in her memory. Thank you John and Jane and family.  http://www.oliviasbasket.org/why-we-do-what-we-do/#

 

God's Peace,

Jeff (and Carolyn and family)