Category Archives: Just a Thought

In 2014, Burger King replaced it’s 40-year-old slogan, “Have it your way.”  I can still hear the song in my head after being bombarded with it through advertisements, “your way, right away at Burger King now.”  If we think about this for just a minute, doesn’t it sound self-centered?  This slogan worked.  Why?  Because it tapped into a natural tendency of all of us, a desire to get what we want when we want it.  It reveals a consumer-driven mentality that often warps our view of how things should be.

You choose the restaurants you eat based on this tendency.  Do they have what you want?  Will they provide what you want in a way that satisfies?  If either one of these is not met, we simply refrain from going there again.  I am sad to say this mentality effects the church more than we would like to admit.

I remember sitting down with a couple about 9 years ago.  They were upset with their church.  It didn’t have the youth program they were looking for, the music was not exciting enough, and they wanted something better for their kids.  Does this sound familiar to any of you?  I have to say, I hear something similar to this quite often.  After visiting with them, I encouraged them to go to their church and start getting involved.  Instead of being disappointed with what the church did not offer, serve the churches need by filling that position.  They did, and it turned out to be a very fruitful time for them.

1 Peter 4:10 tells us “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. . .”  As a church member, we are called to serve each other.  This includes the local church context.  Let’s take this a step further.  It means that our primary purpose in the church is to serve, not necessarily to be served. When you are a member of the church, it is not about what the church offers you, but what you have to provide the church.

Maybe you are disappointed in the church, and perhaps you think there are ministries the church should be doing.  There may be a ministry at the church that you feel is inadequate.  Instead of leaving or looking for something else, ask yourself this question, “Am I willing to contribute my time and talents to make it better?”  If you are not, there is a deeper spiritual problem.  The church is not about having things your way, it is about serving God with everything you have, and I believe you will be served as you begin to serve.

As I traveled last week, I heard an interview on the radio.  During the interview, the interviewee expressed that she wanted to encourage people to follow their passion.  Yet, in the same interview she admitted that some people have trouble finding their passion and for those that do, they rarely get the break they need to make a living in that particular venue.  When it comes to a career, there is an idea that permeates through our society that says to find your passion and then pursue it.  I put before you that this is not necessarily a biblical view.  Instead, we should work in the opportunities we are given with passion.

First, we do this because glorifying God is our primary passion and desire.  Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30).  Worldly passions change.  Think back over your life and the significant ages: 5, 10, 16, 21, 30 . . .  Did the things you were passionate about change?  Probably.  Our heart is fickle, and the things we enjoy doing may change several times through life.  Temporary objects can only bring temporary satisfaction and fulfillment.  When we focus our passion and desires on God, we find that he is satisfying because he is constant and eternal.

Second, Scripture tells us “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. . .”  Behind this verse is an idea that God gives us a portion in life with which we should be satisfied.  Therefore, if our passion is bringing glory to God, we should work at any opportunity we are given with passion.  Why?  It is a moment to bring him glory, and in doing so, we will find satisfaction and fulfillment.

I do not know who you are or your circumstances.  You may be looking for a job, or you may be dissatisfied with your current employment.  You may be tired, frustrated, disgruntled, or all of the above.  Are you working as though you are doing it for God?  Do not seek a worldly passion, be passionate about where God is using you in the world.  If you are looking for a job, find one and work at it passionately as though you are working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).

My prayer is that we would be a people passionate about serving the Lord where we are placed.  As believers, he is our passion so no matter where he puts us, we can find satisfaction and fulfillment.

The University of Arizona found that the average person speaks about 16,000 words a day.  Using their results, we could assume that the average person speaks 5,632,000 words a year.  That makes for a long conversation.  Think of it this way.  This article averages 500 words a week.  That means that throughout a year if all words were recorded, it would be enough to fill this column 11,264 times.

We use a lot of words.  Some are large, and some are small.   We know people that sound like human dictionaries, and we know people that are professionals when it comes to expletives.  Language is a powerful tool, given by God.  It can cheer our hearts, make us weep, and alter the atmosphere around us.  Even though the number of words we speak is vast, they are still numbered.  At the end of the day, you will have expressed a certain amount of words.  There comes a point when words cannot be added to the day, and there is never a point when you can take back the words you have said.  Knowing this, it would be silly for us not to use our words wisely.

Jesus told his disciples that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart (Mt. 12:34).  We can probably do an adequate job of assessing our hearts by the words that come out of our mouths.  I am not suggesting you analyze the words that come from others.  I encourage you to evaluate your own words.  How do you use them?  Do you spend your time spreading gossip? How do you speak of others?  Do your words build up or tear down?  These are essential questions to ask, especially in the midst of a conversation.  However, this is by no means an exhaustive list.

So, is there a way for us to evaluate our words without listing questions?  After all, we only have 16,000 words a day.  Let’s not spend them all asking questions about our speech.  Psalm 19:14 is a petition for God’s help and an expression of desire, “Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”  I do not mean to oversimplify, but of the 16,000 words, we speak each day, how many of them are used to tell people about God and what he has done?  Are they pleasing and acceptable to him?  Remember language is a gift from God.  Therefore, it is meant to be used for his glory.  How will you use your words today?

“I have peace about my decision.”  Have you ever heard this statement?  We often treat peace is a sign of God’s approval and blessing.  Sometimes this statement is used in regards to a decision they are making and sometimes it is used in regards to a circumstance in their life.  Honestly, in either case, God can give you peace when you are walking in his will, but I put before you that Satan can imitate anything that God can do.  Therefore, we ought to not trust our feelings, even a peaceful one.  Let me illustrate this with two men in the Bible.

First, there is Jonah.  You know the story; Jonah runs from God, boards a ship, gets swallowed by a fish, gets vomited out of a fish, and then goes to give God’s message to the Ninevites.  Second, there is Jesus, God Incarnate.  He came to earth and brought salvation through his death, burial, and resurrection.  Both of these men had times of peace and times of turmoil, but let’s look at a similar situation in each of their lives.

For this, we turn to Jonah 1:5 and Matthew 8:24.  There are several similarities in these two accounts.  First, both Jesus and Jonah were on boats with seasoned seamen.  Second, they were both asleep.  Finally, they were both asleep during a storm that caused the experienced seamen to worry.  In both of these situations, Jesus and Jonah seem to be at peace with their circumstances.  In fact, Scripture tells us Jonah was “fast asleep.”

Here’s the problem.  In the middle of the storm, both men were peacefully sleeping.  Jesus was walking in obedience to God, but Jonah was not.  However, Jonah was still at peace enough to be “fast asleep.”  Peace is not always a sign of obedience and God’s approval.  So, if we can’t trust our feeling of peace, then what do we trust?

First, we look at Scripture.  We must see if our decision is in line with what God has told us in the Bible.  This is not a one-time visit for guidance.  We must immerse ourselves in the daily pursuit of God’s voice through his Word.  Second, we look to the council of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We allow them to challenge our thoughts and hone our understanding with their experience.  Fellowship with one another is a great gift.  However, I give you one warning, never consult man before consulting God.

Don’t use your feelings and don’t assume that your feelings are a sign from God.  Use Scripture and fellowship with other believers to help guide you.

School is underway, along with afterschool practices and homework.  The reestablished routine is comfortable to some, yet restrictive to others.  With the beginning of school comes an excellent opportunity to start going back to church.  Your summer may have been filled with travel and other plans that took you away from Sunday worship, or it may have been a while since you darkened the doorway of your local church.  Some may be afraid the roof will cave in if they go to church (I assure you, do not worry about this, the church has insurance!)  I want to encourage you, as the kids and teachers go back to school, to go back to church.

People give many reasons for not going to church, and I want to look at two of them.   First, they see no need for the church.  They can have a relationship with God, through Christ and do not need the “organization.”  Second, they feel the church is full of hypocrites, or they just don’t like the people that attend.  Let me tell you, if you hold either of these positions, you are correct.

First, it is possible for you to have a relationship with God, through Christ and not attend church.  However, I want to let you know two things.  1) You are missing out on a crucial part of God’s purpose for our life and 2) there is a level of intimacy with God that you are not experiencing.  You see, we were created as communal people.  God said in Genesis 2:18 that it was not good for man to be alone.  Furthermore, we were redeemed by Christ to be a part of the church, the body of Christ (Take a moment tonight and read the book of Ephesians).  We were created and redeemed for fellowship with other believers and the primary place we experience this is as we worship together.

Second, the church is not perfect, but honestly, neither are you.  Sure, there may be people at a church that you don’t like, but go anyway.  Maybe you have a legitimate reason for no longer attending your former church.  If that is the case find another church.  You won’t find a perfect church, but you will find one that needs you just as much as you need them (which is more than you both realize).    We need each other to grow, that is why God tells us in Hebrews 10:25 that believers should not neglect the meeting of the body.  So, I encourage you to use the start of the school year to go back to church.