Life sure is consuming. We are so caught up in the day to day that's it's hard to see anything else. It amazes me that we live in a society that has more convenience than at any other time in history yet we seem to have less time for people, needs and relationships. We hurry here and hurry there and get nowhere. We zip home from work, either pick up fast food on the way home or microwave it when we get there so we can spend the evening watching Dancing with the Stars, The Bachelor, Heroes, House, or Entourage. We spend hours playing video games or chatting online or checking out all our friends on MySpace or Facebook.
What's funny is all I hear is about how tired everyone is. Of course in the next breath I hear about how late they were online or about the late show/movie they watched or something to that effect. We don't have time. We're too tired. Why?
Did I mention how caught up we are in just ordinary day to day stuff? We're not doing anything really significant with our life, yet we're consumed with our life. Weird. Is it just me? Am I just imagining it? Are people so caught up with themselves that they are consumed with themselves?
Not a new issue. Seems like that's what Haggai is addressing in this passage? People so consumed with their own life that can't see the bigger picture. When people, leadership first, finally opened their eyes and ears to God's message through Haggai their hearts were changed. The Lord stirred up their spirits. They got a fire to do something about their community and their efforts made a difference.
God's message in many places, homes and hearts is going unheard. There's an uneasiness that's rolling across our land. We're on our little merry-go-round, wrapped up in our little world as real needs go unmet, relationships crash and burn as our society slips into decay.
God, stir my heart. Light a fire in me and the folks at LifeSpring. Awaken us to your words and message of hope and healing and renewal and restoration and victory. Help up see what's really important in life. Unite us in purpose. Ignite us with your Spirit. Allow us to be an incendiary fellowship.
Showing posts with label action. Show all posts
Showing posts with label action. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Daily Reflections on Obadiah 1:1-4, 15-18 (Political Confusion and Every Day Life)
At an interview for the pastorate at a church I once served I was asked an unusual question. It was one that I'd never been asked before. I was asked who I voted for in the last election. I'd been asked a lot of seemingly out of nowhere types of questions in these type of interviews before, but nothing like that. I realized that I was dealing with a group of politically conscious Christians.
Interestingly enough, many of the high profile members of that church were active in local politics within the both the city and county. In fact we had the mayor, the presiding county commissioner, another county commissioner, several school board members, a county roads commission board member, library board member, parks and recreation board member, various community action groups, and more. We had people in the police dept., the sheriff's dept., community feasibility study groups, etc. It was quite an active group.
We also had a lot of people into the national political scene in those days. Rush Limbaugh was extremely popular. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority was big. Many were avid listeners of James Dobson and his political opinions and efforts. We even had people line the streets with abortion protest signs.
My concern was that as a congregation we were more concerned about political issues than we were about people issues. I often told them in those early years of my ministry there that the most politically active thing they could do was to lead someone to Jesus Christ. If they really wanted to change the world or our country or even our community, lead their friends, neighbors, political opponents to Christ. It's the most effective way to change a person's value system. When they are changed by Christ, life takes on a new perspective.
As we made the switch from fighting politics to ministering to people in real need, our church began to grow. We still had plenty of people involved in politics, but our energies as church begin to shift to making a difference through ministering and trusting God, not our government.
When I left the congregation, our influence in the community had actually increased. Whenever there was a need or issue in our community, they looked to our church for leadership, ideas and answers. We hosted health fairs, business expo's, business leadership meetings, art fairs, school events, club gatherings, kids athletics sign ups, conventions, conferences. And when the community faced a tragedy whether 9/11 or the death of significant person or teen in our community, they gathered at our facility.
Governments and governmental programs all have their place in society. They are God ordained. But trusting in and investing all our time in them causes us to lose sight of God, His truths, His standards, His ability, His calling. We get off base when we think our political ideology is the answer. Sorry to break it to you, but it's not. God is the answer and the truths found in His Word.
God, forgive my arrogance. I never want to lose sight of my calling as a believer in Jesus. Help me make a difference in the lives around me. Help me to see your bigger picture. Help me to remember that you're the one sets up and takes down governments. Help realize you're always in control.
Interestingly enough, many of the high profile members of that church were active in local politics within the both the city and county. In fact we had the mayor, the presiding county commissioner, another county commissioner, several school board members, a county roads commission board member, library board member, parks and recreation board member, various community action groups, and more. We had people in the police dept., the sheriff's dept., community feasibility study groups, etc. It was quite an active group.
We also had a lot of people into the national political scene in those days. Rush Limbaugh was extremely popular. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority was big. Many were avid listeners of James Dobson and his political opinions and efforts. We even had people line the streets with abortion protest signs.
My concern was that as a congregation we were more concerned about political issues than we were about people issues. I often told them in those early years of my ministry there that the most politically active thing they could do was to lead someone to Jesus Christ. If they really wanted to change the world or our country or even our community, lead their friends, neighbors, political opponents to Christ. It's the most effective way to change a person's value system. When they are changed by Christ, life takes on a new perspective.
As we made the switch from fighting politics to ministering to people in real need, our church began to grow. We still had plenty of people involved in politics, but our energies as church begin to shift to making a difference through ministering and trusting God, not our government.
When I left the congregation, our influence in the community had actually increased. Whenever there was a need or issue in our community, they looked to our church for leadership, ideas and answers. We hosted health fairs, business expo's, business leadership meetings, art fairs, school events, club gatherings, kids athletics sign ups, conventions, conferences. And when the community faced a tragedy whether 9/11 or the death of significant person or teen in our community, they gathered at our facility.
Governments and governmental programs all have their place in society. They are God ordained. But trusting in and investing all our time in them causes us to lose sight of God, His truths, His standards, His ability, His calling. We get off base when we think our political ideology is the answer. Sorry to break it to you, but it's not. God is the answer and the truths found in His Word.
God, forgive my arrogance. I never want to lose sight of my calling as a believer in Jesus. Help me make a difference in the lives around me. Help me to see your bigger picture. Help me to remember that you're the one sets up and takes down governments. Help realize you're always in control.
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