Living Life in Drive!

Looking for True Love

2012-01-23T18:10:00.000-08:00

February is already here which means Valentine’s Day isalmost upon us. Or, as one of my good friends refers to it, “National SingleAwareness Day.” Marketers say that those three familiar words – “I Love You” –are written more at this time of year than any other. So simple to speak, sodifficult to understand, and so nearly impossible to truly demonstrate.

All too often in our culture it seems “love” is conditional.Though many of us may have vowed (or may someday) “until death do we part”, wedon’t really mean it. Not really. It seems that when the going gets tough thetough get going – right out the front door. The divorce rate is the highestit’s ever been, if people even bother to go through the motions of a marriage.“Cohabitating” is the most popular form of relationships in America today. Let’stry it out first. Let’s not commit until we’re sure. There are more children beingraised in homes where at least one biological parents is absent than at any othertime in our history. And it’s destroying our country from the inside out.

It’s not quite the fairy tale many people had imagined. Froman early age, girls dream of a storybook wedding with a happy ending. “Onceupon a time” and “happily ever after.” The desire for true love is encoded deeplyinto our emotional DNA from our very beginning. We live for it. We yearn forit. We desperately NEED it because we’re designed that way by our incredibly wiseCreator. Unfortunately, many of us spend a lifetime in pursuit of an elusive happinesswe never find. As Plumb sings so eloquently, “There’s a God-shaped hole in allof us…that only He can fill!”

Depending upon which version of the Bible you read, you’llprobably find the word “love” mentioned at least 500 times throughout theScriptures. Indeed, it’s one of the most used words in all of God’s letters tous. We read grand phrases like “No greater love than this” and “Because God soloved the world.” We skim by them quickly without stopping to fully digesttheir meaning.

To actually understand true love is to be willing to completelysacrifice everything without question. True love equals giving up one’s rightswithout hesitation. True love means living for others instead of our American dream.Not a popular message in a culture where athletes & movie start are paidmillions, and are often quoted as saying things like, “I’m just getting what’smine.”

When God showed us love through His son, Jesus, it was agenuine reality show of complete selflessness. He gave up everything so wecould have everything. He held nothing back so we would lack nothing. It wastrue love on display for the entire world to see. It’s that love the world is urgentlysearching everywhere for today.

So if you’re looking for true love and hoping to findhappiness, stop looking in all the wrong places. Just listen carefully and you’llhear the words of the Father: I love you! My friend, that’s all the love wereally need.

Time for a Change

2011-12-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it seems that only one thing in life is constant: things always change. Whether I like it or not my favorite TV shows always get cancelled, my technology eventually becomes outdated, my cars definitely wear out, and my favorite jeans usually shrink (or at least that’s what I tell myself :)

The name of our church and school have even changed. It’s something we’re energetically embracing but certainly didn’t see coming just a few short months ago. It obviously didn’t take God by surprise, but it’s been something we’ve had to work through because it was so unexpected.

I’m convinced God loves to use the unforeseen events in our life to test our character and to teach us to trust Him completely. Though I’d much prefer everything to proceed according to my carefully conceived plans, I’d never need faith in God if there weren’t any of life’s “surprises”. Change is part of His plan.

So, as we move into this new year of 2012, I believe more than ever God is calling us to embrace change - HIS plans for change in our lives. It’s time to stop making our usual excuses and make this the year we finally see real spiritual growth in our lives. Let’s embrace what God has for us and see where His plan will take us! Haven’t we tried it our way long enough? It might just be time for a change.

Giving Thanks in the Storm

2011-11-19T19:41:00.001-08:00

Have you ever been driving down the highway when it starts raining so hard that you have to pull over because you can't see more than just a few feet in front of you? You want to keep going but the circumstances just won't allow it. You're forced to endure the storm and wait for a break in the weather. So there we sit - tapping on fingers on the steering wheel, just itching to put the car in drive and step on the accelerator.

Isn't that just like life? We're in the middle of something that will cause the world to stop turning if it doesn't get done on time when bam! Thunder rolls, clouds break loose and here comes the blinding rainstorm.

I don't like to wait. I'm usually on a fairly tight schedule. Things to do, places to go, people to see - you know the drill. I can tend to be somewhat (or maybe alot) impatient when something unexpected interrupts my schedule. Now before you judge, you're probably exactly the same way whether you admit it or not - one way or another.

Somewhere in heaven, I envision God having a small chuckle at our expense. We're in a hurry. He's not at all. We want to keep moving. He wants us to slow down.

Years ago when I was a very small child, my family was on a road trip to Texas. We experienced four - count them, four simultaneous blown tires while on the road. We were forced to stay the night in a small town where we hadn't planned to stop and wait until morning to replace the tires. As my father flipped through the TV channels, he found that a blinding sandstorm had caused a multi-car pileup several miles down the road where, guess what, we would have probably been had it not been for the blown tires. My parents immediately gave thanks for the "storm" of tire problems.

So when we find ourselves in the middle of an unexpected storm, perhaps we should stop and give thanks and trust God to be in control. His view is better, His wisdom is greater, and it might just save us some difficulty along the way.

Giving Thanks

2011-10-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

One of the things that continues to amaze me (and depress me :) about myself is how quickly I forget. Except for the things I wish I’d forget. Those I remember! If only I could reorient my upside down memory...

Something that’s enjoyable for me in the autumn season is the freshness of the morning air. I love to stop for a minute and just breathe in the fragrance of nature around me that is obediently following God’s design in the changing of the seasons. You see, trees don’t worry or fret. They’re just along for the ride. Leaves don’t get upset because their time is ending or express that they deserve a few more weeks before they fall to the ground. They simply know their place in creation and are grateful.

As I stop to look around my life, it strikes me that there is so much for which to be thankful but so little that I actually appreciate. I’ve been blessed with an amazing wife, but how often do I tell her? We’ve been given three wonderful children, but am I sure they know how I feel? I’m blessed to pastor a life-giving church but do our people sense it in my demeanor? I’m honored to be principal of a fast-growing Christian school with a committed staff and great students but is it evident in the words I speak?

In my heart I’m a very grateful person. I know, without a doubt, how incredibly privileged my life has become, and truthfully, always has been. In the timeless words of Scripture, I have been “blessed beyond measure.”

Recently, our family was forced to say goodbye to my wife’s father. At only 58, we certainly thought we had many years of laughter and life experiences still ahead. And though many fond memories were made in those last few weeks, the stark reality is that those days will never come again.

Our life on this earth is far too short to spend time dwelling on things we don’t have - things we probably don’t even need. Instead, may we develop a desperate focus on the real issues of life, and take the time - today - to let the people God has placed in our life know exactly how much we value their presence. And may it become more than just words, but translate into lasting action that makes an eternal difference. Today, let us choose to give thanks.

A Season of Rest

2011-09-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

Just in case you haven’t looked in the rear view mirror lately, summer is behind us - it’s officially over! The days are starting to get shorter, the nights are beginning to get longer, and the earth, according to God’s design, is beginning the process of much needed renewal. Leaves will turn amazing colors and then fall to the ground, temperatures will slowly drop, and a brisk chill will often fill the air.

The cycle repeats itself every year without fail. It’s because the earth knows that periodically it needs to slow down, to come to a long-anticipated season of rest. If it’s going to produce flowers in the spring and harvests in the summer, it must take some time to regenerate from the roots up. Instinctively, all of creation willingly enters a time of reduced activity to renew, refresh and restore. All of creation, that is, except mankind.

We don’t want to slow down so we “discovered” electricity! Though it’s most often a blessing, it has also produced light bulbs that illuminate our homes and streets no matter the hour. New York has become the city that “never sleeps” - perhaps there’s a reason it has the highest crime rate!

In case you didn’t realize it, you need rest! When’s the last time you took a full day off? You need it! Even God modeled a day of rest for us! We all need to learn how to turn off the television, power off the cell phone, ignore the email and intentionally take some time to rest!

Beyond knowing we need it, God also commanded it! It was no accident that God said, “Remember the Sabbath Day - keep it holy!” Jesus later reiterated this divine demand when He said that the “Sabbath was made for man.” It’s so easy to self-justify and say, “But God, this HAS to get done or...” Or what? The earth will fall off its axis? Time will come screeching to a halt? The sky will suddenly fall and Chicken Little will have been right the whole time?

Believe me, I’m preaching to myself when I say, “Take some time off!” To renew your mind, to refresh your spirit, and to restore your strength. Hmmm, might be a sermon in there somewhere!

Never Forget

2011-09-06T10:23:00.001-07:00

The older I get the easier it is to forget things. We men are even accused of being “intentionally” forgetful about some things our significant others consider important! Birthdays, anniversaries, and the list goes on.

Sometimes we forget to pick up the kids or that crucial appointment that’s been on the calendar for weeks. There are some things, however, that we never forget. The incidents of life can leave indelible impressions on our minds that seem to never fade away. A smell can bring back a memory from decades earlier. A conversation can remind you of a loved one long gone.

But most things seem to drift off into the abyss of our memory over time. Have you ever tried to recall who sang a certain song or the name of a movie you saw a few years back? If you’re like me, those things can haunt you until you finally break down and do a Google search to find the answer and give your brain some relief!

Apparently the ancient Jews had recall issues. So many times in the Old Testament, they were commanded to "build a memorial" to remind them of what God had done for them so they wouldn't forget in the future. Some of those memorials are still visible today.

God knows us all too well. Sometimes life gets so busy that it's easy to not keep in mind how many times God has sustained us in the past. But as we review life in the rear view mirror, we overwhelmingly see the hand of God in our lives. Life, as they say, is crystal clear in hindsight.

This Sunday, we will remember September 11th - perhaps the most memorable day in modern American history. For some, it will stir up feelings of anger and frustration. For others, it will remind them yet again of a loved one who was lost on that dreadful day. We all remember where we were on the day the towers fell.

Though we will never forget what happened that day, we must also remember it was Almighty God who saw us through. The following Sunday in 2001 saw the largest increase in church attendance in our history because we somehow instinctively know where to turn when life gets tough.

We must never forget how good God has been to us. We must never forget how good God will always be. We must never forget that He has sent the Holy Spirit to be our companion & guide through life, especially on the days when we need Him the most.

Thank you, God, that You never forget about us.

Declaring our Dependence

2011-06-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

One thing for sure about we Americans – we like being independent. We proudly celebrate our unique personalities and promote our cultural diversity. The world can see our wide-ranging variety in everything from our cars and clothes to our comedy and coffee.

And none of us like being told what to do! Even as young children, we utter natural phrases like, “You’re not the boss of me,” “You can’t make me,” and a plethora of others. We’re strong-willed, single-minded, and we definitely don’t like other people getting in our way.

On one hand independence is an amazing thing! Without it our Founding Fathers wouldn’t have had the courage to begin this great experiment called a Republic. Without independence we wouldn’t have historical legends such as “The Boston Tea Party” or “The Winter at Valley Forge.” The call to “live free or die” resounds through our past as a rallying cry for freedom that was heeded by thousands of Americans in a brave new world. Many of them did indeed give their lives. It was this God-given yearning for personal independence that became the building blocks of this incredible country.

Yet, the vast majority of the framers of our constitution knew one thing beyond any doubt: if this nation were to succeed it would require a total dependence upon Almighty God. John Hancock said, “Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual…Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.”

Somehow, along the way, we’ve lost our way, and we can’t seem to find our way home. We’ve grown so independent we’ve attempted to erase God from the equation. Somehow freedom “of” religion has been slowly redefined as freedom “from” religion, and our country is paying a high, perhaps irreparable price.

Most Americans would be shocked to know that the phrase “separation of church and state” appears nowhere in any of our nation’s founding documents. Not a single time. In our quest to become independent, we’ve continued to separate ourselves from the God who granted us our independence in the first place.

Certainly true independence must acknowledge an inner dependence on a God who is simply greater than us. One of our greatest presidents, Ronald Reagan, said clearly and simply, “Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure.” Amen.

But perhaps the only way to return our country to a complete and total dependence upon God is to begin by declaring our dependence upon Him in our personal lives. We can lament our politicians and lambast our elected officials, but if we actually lead by example in our homes and our businesses, maybe our government would take notice.

So this July 4^th, amidst the fireworks and the fanfare, perhaps we can celebrate a personal “Dependence Day”, admitting openly and honestly that we are “one nation under God”, and then go out and live like it. If we don’t, our great nation may just become a part of history instead of continuing to make it.

The Real Miracle of Easter

2011-04-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in that proverbial, eternal winter?

Sometimes it certainly seems like the darkness can last a lifetime. Those dim, dreary days can stretch on almost forever. It’s as if an eternity can pass until we once again feel the sun’s warmth on our face.

But something special happens when the sun finally breaks through those gloomy, gray clouds of depression. Hope is suddenly renewed, joy is instantly restored and, somehow, everything just gets clearer. Each new spring feels like an incredible miracle of nature, and we wonder how life could be any better.

It’s a seasonal event we relish with great anticipation. Flowers bloom. Picnics are planned. Weddings are scheduled. In short, the miracle of life begins anew.

But what if there was an even greater, unending miracle of life? What if there was a wonder not subject to the changing of the seasons; an experience that could bring us hope that would never fade with the summer sun?

We all can get “stuck” in the dark days of winter. It doesn’t matter who we are or the successes we’ve experienced. Our happiness can wane. Our health can fail. Our finances can plummet. Our relationships can get rocky. Life just happens.

Even the men who were closest to Jesus – the disciples who walked with Him everyday – came to a point where it seemed they had lost all hope. Jesus had been killed and was now dead and buried. Roman soldiers were actively searching for their hiding place. The disciples’ lives were in grave danger and there was no rescue in sight.

They lost their faith on a Friday. And although they couldn’t see it through their tears of despair, Sunday was just around the corner.

And so we find it in our lives. If the enemy of our souls can cause us to focus on everything that is wrong with our lives, and we choose to believe there’s no hope of change, he wins. When we allow the circumstances of our daily existence to overwhelm our minds, we can easily begin to believe our faith is pointless, the Bible offers no solutions, and life was just meant to be “survived” instead of lived to the fullest.

But when we decide to place our faith in Christ, and truly believe in the miracle of a Sunday resurrection, our lives once again find renewed hope. We experience an overflowing source of joy circumstances can never quench.

The same power that raised Christ from the dead and rolled away His tombstone is the same power that dwells in Christians today! We choose to believe that all things are possible through Christ who gives us strength. (Phil. 4:13)

So this Easter, no matter how dark the “clouds” in our lives may seem, we can allow the power of Christ to work a resurrection miracle! The days of spring will eventually pass, but the joy of the Lord will last a lifetime!

Church: God’s Example of Real Love

2011-02-06T17:45:00.000-08:00

Ah, February! The month of love. Optimism abounds as more couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day than on any other day of the year. Gifts are given. Flowers are delivered. Stuffed animals the size of small houses are purchased with mortgages attached. It’s all in the hopes of catching that special someone’s attention – or perhaps holding it a little while longer.

Pessimists, however, would swear the holiday was invented by Hallmark and Hershey as a way to make more money. Some Scrooges even boycott the occasion! To them, apparently cards and chocolate equal the way into your checkbook rather than into a significant other’s heart.

Buying love or showing affection? It’s all a matter of perspective. When we value a relationship, we’re willing to invest our hard-earned resources. If there’s no perceived value, there’s no willful giving of our time, money or anything else for that matter.

And speaking of resources, at some point, almost all couples in love decide to have kids. Why?! For the sheer joy of raising children? Not really! It’s often motivated by a sense of personal continuation. In other words, we have a desire to leave a legacy.

Almost two thousands year ago, Paul wrote some timeless words about love and legacy. He reminded us of the best example we have when it comes to giving of ourselves to someone else.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. (Ephesians 5:25)

Jesus loved the church so much He was willing to die for it – even before it existed! It was, in effect, the legacy He left behind and will return for someday. Before He ascended to heaven, He reminded us of how important the church was to Him and should be to us (Matthew 16 & 28). Paul later added even more emphasis.

“Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds. Don’t stay away from the church meetings, but meet together and encourage each other.” (Hebrews 10:24)

When we love something we invest our lives into it. It’s true of life-long relationships, and it’s true of our involvement in our local church. When we realize God, the Father, sent Jesus, who gave His life for the church, it helps us understand how incredibly important it is for us to be actively involved in our local assembly of believers.

Just as any valuable relationship requires consistently giving of our time and emotional energy, our Christian walk requires a regular investment in our relationships as well. We need each other! Missing church regularly is something we just can’t afford. It’s no mistake our culture places so many other events on Sundays. Certainly life happens occasionally, but our commitment to coming together is vital!

We were not designed to “do life” alone! When we realize how desperately we need the consistent strength and encouragement we receive from our spiritual family, it helps us to block out the distractions that would keep us from fully engaging in the best life God has for us.

Our lives were redeemed because of Jesus’ love for the church. Our response is to willingly invest our resources and to gratefully show our affection. It’s all a matter of perspective.

Simplify the Season

2010-11-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

Ready or not, here comes the holiday season. Thanksgiving just passed and Christmas is around the corner. There’ll be gifts to buy, parties to attend, roads to travel, family to see, food to eat and many frustrations to avoid. We’ll all do our best just to keep our sanity.

Life can be extremely busy even under normal circumstances. It seems there’s never enough time in the day to accomplish everything on our list. How do we decide what will get done and what will be put off for another day? How do we determine what’s so important that it has to be done NOW?

Ask yourself this question: How many things am I currently doing because I feel obligated -- either out of friendship or relationship? These are things that you don’t really want to do but would feel guilty if you didn’t.

It prompts the introspective question, “What really matters in my life?” For those of us who profess to be Christians, we probably know the biblical answer -- God and family must take priority. But often what we “know” doesn't necessarily translate into what we “do.”

Far too often we attempt to find our worth in our work. In other words, we hope that what we do makes us feel good about who we are. Consequently, we spend all of our time trying to please others and ourselves, hoping we’ll get enough done to make everyone happy at the end of our day.

Two thousand years ago when Jesus was asked about the most important way to spend our time, he answered very simply, “Love God and love others.” For him, it wasn’t any more complicated than that concise yet profound statement. Jesus taught that if we spend our time loving God and loving other people -- with our words and our actions -- then everything else will fall carefully into place.

Now Jesus didn’t say it would be easy. In fact, the Bible tells us that loving God and others “with all our heart, mind and strength” will be the most difficult thing we do in life. People certainly aren’t perfect, and even more -- our pride will almost always get in the way. We’ll have countless occasions to be offended and irritated. But if we’re to find simplicity by getting back to the basics of life, we have no choice but to make love our primary focus.

When we truly learn to love God passionately and love others unreservedly, we’ll find ourselves spending our time more wisely, doing only that which God really wants us to do. The urgency of busyness will fade in the shadow of what is necessary and expedient.

As we celebrate the holidays this year, let’s try to be a little less busy and a little more focused on the things that really matter. Let’s simplify the season and find time for what is truly important. Hopefully, we’ll all find faith and family at the top of our list!

Finding Rest

2010-09-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

It seems we’re all so busy with crazy schedules. So many responsibilities. So little time. For many of us “married with children” certainly becomes the definition for a very hectic life. How do we make it stop? How do we find rest? In Matthew 6:25, Jesus said, "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life…” Sounds great. But wow do we do that?

The dictionary defines rest as “relief or freedom from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs.” Jesus understood this because He was concerned about us trying to carry weight that’s too heavy for us. And He wasn’t talking about physical labor. He was talking about freedom from spiritual exhaustion.

Hawaii sounds good. Cancun even better. But since we can’t afford to go on vacation every other week, how do we find true rest?

When I was a young teenager, I weighed only 120 pounds. While working with my father in concrete, I would often have to carry (read: drag) 94 pound bags of cement off the back of a pickup truck to the gravel pile. It was very difficult because I was dealing with a load that was really too heavy for me to carry.

In Matthew 11, Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

The secret to rest isn’t avoiding responsibility or doing nothing. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to carry the load for us. That’s why Jesus called the Holy Spirit our “Helper”, and He outlined three “keys” for rest in these verses.

First, Jesus said we have to ask for help. Rest doesn’t come to us, we have to go to Him. He said, “Come to me.” It’s often difficult for us, even when we’re bone weary, to humble ourselves and admit our need for assistance. Perhaps the first step to rest is dealing with our pride.

Next, Jesus said we had to trade in our yoke for His. A yoke indicates a partnership, not a rest from labor. It’s a physical apparatus designed to make the burden lighter. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.” How much time do we waste trying to accomplish things in our own strength instead of just allowing the Holy Spirit to lighten our load?

It means we must allow God to teach us something new. We have to be willing to learn a new way of doing things because there’s a difference between being physically tired and spiritually weary. Jesus didn’t promise rest for our bodies, he promised rest for our souls.

Unfortunately, physical work will never end – it’s the result of the curse of sin from the Garden of Eden. But spiritual weariness is a sign that something is wrong – that we’re trying to live life in our strength. That’s why the Apostle Paul said, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

So when we grow weary, perhaps we can say this prayer together.

“Lord, I’ve been trying to “do life” in my own strength, attempting to accomplish things by myself. Today, I ask you for the Holy Spirit’s help because I’m weary from the load I’ve been carrying. I willingly acknowledge that I’m weary, worn out and I need to find spiritual rest. I’m willing to try doing things your way because it’s obvious my way isn’t working.

“Thank you, God, for loving me and sending the Holy Spirit to assist me. I gladly give you my frustration, my discouragement and my weariness. Please place your yoke on me today.

“In Jesus’ name I pray.”

Backing into a Ditch

2010-07-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, we will celebrate 20 years of marriage. It's so hard to believe that much time has passed so quickly! We took a couple of days and headed to Ft. Bragg, looking forward to some "alone" time and really just a chance to get away before the school season begins again in August.

After being unable to find our destination, backing into a ditch, having to call a tow truck, and just generally messing up our evening, we were finally sitting in a restaurant when the power went out. I looked at my beautiful wife and said, "Stick with me, baby, and I'll take you places!"

We actually had a great time for the next 48 hours, and that's how our marriage, and really our life, has been. Some days backing into a ditch we didn't see, feeling like we're out of "power", spinning our wheels but getting no place fast, having to call someone else for help, but overall really enjoying the journey.

God allows some "ditches" along the way to make us realize our need for Him and for the help of friends. Thankfully, people were home at the house near the ditch we backed into, and one of the guests who was there was able to call his father who was a tow truck driver. God had prepared our help even before we knew we needed it!

Help for your marriage, your family, your business, your job, your illness, your recovery is just a prayer away...and you just might learn something from the "ditch" if you thank God for the process instead of cursing the interruption.

See you Sunday! (IF we don't run into another ditch.)

The True Cost of Freedom

2010-07-06T14:48:00.001-07:00

Several years ago, an “instant classic” movie debuted in theaters. It was called “Independence Day,” and one of the more memorable moments is spoken by the Unit- ed States president after losing his wife to fatal injury. As he attempts to inspire and mobilize his rag-tag group of pilots and support personnel, he says, “Today, we fight for our freedom. Today is our independence day.”

I have celebrated several moments of independence in my life. My 16th birthday brought a measure of freedom as I received my driver’s license. No longer home-bound or dependent upon friends or family, I took to the road with the wind in my hair, footloose and fancy-free.

Eventually I finished college. “Now, this is freedom,” I thought. No more professors to please. No more exams or papers to complete. No more people telling me what to do or how to do it. I was finally on my own.

Then came jobs, marriage, children and so many other things we all experience in life. Every opportunity carrying with it the responsibility of fulfilling my role -- being the person others needed me to be consistently, not just when I wanted. “What happened to my freedom?” I wondered. “What happened to living by my own rules and schedule?”

Freedom and independence in our country are grossly misunderstood concepts. Today’s culture thinks freedom is about no one else telling us what to do or how to do it. We survive on government handouts and bailouts instead of using our freedom to provide for ourselves. Our Founding Fathers knew true freedom was found in the opportunity to earn your own way, care for others in need and live for something greater than just yourself.

When you hear someone say, as is so popular today, that our nation wasn’t really founded by Christian men, don’t believe it. It’s simply revisionist history that couldn’t be further from the truth. Any serious student of our country’s past knows without question that the concepts of freedom, independence and God were inseparably intertwined in the minds of our forefathers. They knew freedom came with a tremendous cost and needed, even required, the foundation of independence to be our faith and trust in God.

They also knew the only way to indefinitely secure personal freedom was to give their lives to serve others. It sounds like they had been studying their Bibles, because Jesus himself showed us, by his life, that true freedom is found in sacrifice. Jesus said, “Do you want to become great? Then become the servant of all. He who would become great must think of himself as the least.” Those words stand in such stark contradiction to the world we’re living in today. Is our focus to serve others or is it to make sure others serve us?

For me, real freedom actually came when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Free from sin I was now free to serve. Not to demand but to demonstrate Jesus’ love. That is the cost of true freedom.

Today, as we celebrate our nation’s independence, let’s remember that there is always a cost to freedom. We see it in our soldiers who so courageously defend us at home and abroad. We see it in the military families who so willingly sacrifice to allow our nation’s dads and moms to fulfill their patriotic duties. We see it in law enforcement and public safety personnel who put themselves in harm’s way every day so you and I sleep easily at night. We see it in public servants who choose a life of service because they believe in what this country was intended to be from the beginning . . . one nation under God.

Celebrate freedom today, and celebrate it enthusiastically! But be sure to make time to celebrate by serving someone else. Freedom to live. Freedom to celebrate. Freedom to serve.

Finding Freedom from Sin

2010-04-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

Sin. The word alone conjures up incredibly strong feelings. It’s probably the most hated and consequently avoided word in the religious world.

For many of us who have grown up in church, it seems Christianity is sometimes just a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” — a series of behaviors that, if adhered to, will make God pleased with us. We mistakenly call that list of behaviors “sin”.

Other churches, in an attempt to completely shed the rules of religion that have often been misused over the years, never even touch on the concept of sin. Instead, they opt for a more palatable message of “God is love,” preaching tolerance and acceptance far and wide.

So what does the Scripture really teach? Rules or relationship? Judgment or forgiveness? Guilt or innocence? Captivity or freedom?

Sin, according to the authority of the Word of God, is anything that separates us from God. It’s like when I travel, and I’m apart from my wife and children, I feel a loss. Something’s missing and I don’t feel complete.

Another example would be to think of sin like a broken bridge we’re all trying to cross. We mistakenly think we can cross the bridge on our own, or even worse, repair the bridge by ourselves. We must realize we can’t — no matter how hard we try.

The good news is that God is standing on the other side of the bridge, waiting patiently for us to accept His help. Jesus alone repaired that bridge so we could be reunited with God. Incredible!

My issue, though, after accepting Jesus’ help to restore my relationship with God, is learning to live my life free of the daily sin that weighs me down and consistently holds me back!

The Apostle Paul tells us we have been slaves to sin (Romans 7:14-15; 18-25). The harder we try to “do right”, the more we seem to “do wrong”. This shows us so clearly we need the Holy Spirit’s help in our lives every day or it’s hopeless!

Romans 6 tells us, because of Jesus’ death & resurrection, we are able to live under the freedom of God’s grace. But how do we accomplish that today? Here are three simple keys to living free from the power of sin in our lives.

First, we must realize that conquering sin is about surrendering control, completely giving ourselves to God. Completely means 100%, nothing less than all. What part of our lives are we holding back that is preventing us from forever conquering the sin that keeps us captive?

Second, we must realize that conquering sin is about yielding our pride. Paul told us to consider ourselves “dead to sin.” Dead people have no rights or expectations, no hurt feelings or personal issues to hold them back. They know their lives are no longer their own.

Third, we must realize that conquering sin is about accepting God’s grace, and living daily under His freedom. As Americans we understand freedom, and would fight to stay free, yet we somehow readily accept the loss of our spiritual freedom to perpetual captivity.

Unfortunately, because of our sin nature, guilt often feels more comfortable than freedom. We mistakenly believe we deserve to feel guilty, and suffer the consequences. Remember that God’s grace is allowing His strength to operate in us to accomplish that which we could never do on our own.

John 10:10 says, “The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. (God’s) purpose is to give (us) a rich and satisfying life.” To conquer sin we must readily accept God’s offer to build a bridge from Him to us. We must acknowledge we have sin in our lives that we just can’t deal with on our own, and allow God’s grace to help us. That requires letting go of our pride, and our pointless attempts to control our circumstances.

Freedom comes from the words of Psalm 103:12. “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” We can conquer sin once-and-for-all, if we’ll just allow God to do in us and for us what we could never do on our own!

Living Life Upside Down

2010-02-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

There are some things in life that would just seem wrong. A woman, for instance, who tells her husband he can watch as much football as he wants…and means it! Oh we’d like it, but it would quickly become a very self-centered and empty approach to life. “Self-centered” certainly describes our modern culture.

We have i-pods, i-macs and i-phones. We have Tivo, Kindles and Blackberrys. Our drink orders at Starbucks usually have names that are a mile long. Advertising slogans tell us things like, “You deserve a break today” (McDonalds), “Have it YOUR way” (Burger King), and “It’s everywhere YOU want to be” (Visa).

Our music that shaped a generation said, “Go YOUR Own Way” (Fleetwood Mac), “I Still Haven’t Found What I’M Looking For” (U2), and “I Still Can’t Get No Satisfaction” (Rolling Stones).

Philosopher Logan Smith wrote, “There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and after that, to enjoy it.”

These things may sound good to the ear, but unfortunately – or maybe fortunately - it’s not what God’s Word proclaims. I Corinthians 1 says, “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!…God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.”

When Jesus came to earth, He came to be the best servant of all. He wasn’t at all self-centered, He was intentionally others-centered. During His ministry He said things like, “Love your enemies” and “The least shall be the greatest.” That’s exactly how it works in the Kingdom of God.

Did it make sense for a King to be born in a manger? Does it make sense that though we deserve death we gain eternal life for free? The real truths of Christianity are that the wisest theologians know they are fools, the strongest leaders know they are weak, and the greatest saints know they are sinners.

In 1 Samuel 16, we read the story of the Prophet Samuel anointing young David as King, but only after Samuel had tried to crown all of David’s older brothers first. When Samuel saw the oldest brother, Eliab, he said, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

You see, God doesn’t care a bit about our human reasoning. I may be brilliant in my own mind, but my wife tells me the truth is much different! It’s usually when we start thinking on our own that we start to get in trouble.

God doesn’t care about our physical appearance or personal qualifications. David was certainly the least ready, but in God’s eyes he was the most qualified! Neither does God care about our religious heritage. Isaiah 64:6 tells us we are all infected and impure with sin.  When we display our righteous deeds,  they are nothing but filthy rags. It’s one thing we all have in common.

What God really wants is to turn an upside-down world right-side up. He wants to heal those who are hurting and to repair the things in our lives that have been broken...and He wants to do it in us and through us.

If we’re spiritually poor, God has good news for us! If we’re broken-hearted, God wants to bring us comfort! If we’re bound by habits and addictions, God wants to set us free! If we’re sad and depressed, God wants to bring blessing into our lives. If we’re worried and feel ourselves sinking into despair, God wants to give us a heart of praise and joy!

In short, the Kingdom of God is a kingdom of opposites. The more we surrender control of our lives to God, the better off our lives will be. The more we become “others-centered”, the more our own lives will begin to make sense. It’s called “living life upside down”, and it’s the only way to truly live!

Conflict at Christmas

2009-12-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

When Father Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics in 1818 to the now world reknown song, "Silent Night", I'm sure he had good intentions. And when Franz-Xaver Gruber set it to guitar music because the church organ was broken, so they could sing it together at that year's Christmas servce at St. Nikolas Church in Oberndorf, Germany, he certainly composed a wonderful melody.

But a more personal examination of the story indicates that the infamous night of our Savior's birth was probably far from peaceful and silent. Have YOU ever been in a delivery room? We have, three times in fact, and I would hardly describe it as silent. And definitely not peaceful.

In fact, Mary & Joseph were probably smack dab in the middle of conflict. Yes, conflict at Christmas! They had just traveled days, either on foot, donkey, or perhaps a small cart. Mary was tired, very pregnant, and needed just to find a place to lay down for a while. Like any good wife tired of traveling, she probably intimated that maybe Joseph should have called ahead and made reservations. Somehow, it had to be his fault!

And amid the frustration, the tiredness, the loneliness and the wondering where God was in the middle of their situation, God showed up. No, not in a way that fixed everything at the moment. They were still surrounded by smelly animals, in the middle of a barn, far away from home and the help of family. But He came to be with them. Emmanuel - God with us.

And that is still how God "shows up" in our everyday lives. Not to remove the burden, but to carry it with us. To walk beside us in the middle of what we're going through, because what we experience makes us stronger. Emmanuel. God with us. Not just then, but especially now.

So if you're experiencing conflict at Christmas, invite Emmanuel into your situation. Let Him walk through it with you and you'll experience that peace and silence - deep on the inside. God is with you.

Seeing the Goodness of God

2009-10-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

It’s often my privilege to share encouraging words with you in this column. As we begin this edition, I’d like to share a personal story.
A couple of weeks ago, I had an absolutely wonderful day that continually reminded me of God's goodness in my life. It's completely undeserved but so overwhelming and appreciated! And it usually shows up completely and totally unexpectedly.
Pastor Scott Hagan, my good friend and pastor of Mars Hill Church in Sacramento, called on Thursday evening and asked if I'd like to go to a football game on Saturday. Sounded ordinary enough, but this was to be no ordinary day.
I arrived at his home at just before 6:30 am, where I parked my car and joined him and a few others as we headed for the airport, eventually boarding an airplane bound for southern California.
After flying into John Wayne airport in Orange County, we secured a rental car and drove for about an hour until we reached the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. I had never been inside the Rose Bowl! After a Tri-Tip sandwich and glass of fresh lemonade, we enjoyed a great afternoon of football watching Cal play UCLA, with Cal winning in grand fashion! (Pastor Scott's son, Spencer, is a wide receiver for Cal.)
After the game, we got back into the car and headed to the airport with a slight detour to Outback Steakhouse. After a wonderful meal, we reached the airport, checked in, and literally walked to the gate just as we were boarding. I don't think we even broke stride. We were able to get front row seats in the plane, arrived safely back in Sacramento, and then made the short drive home to Fairfield.
It was an amazing day, but here's the best part. It was all absolutely FREE! A generous member of Pastor Scott's congregation treated us to the day. And that's when I once again remembered the goodness of God because that's EXACTLY how it operates in our lives. We deserve nothing, but Christ's death on the cross gives us EVERYTHING! We are heirs to the blessings of the Kingdom because of what He has done for us!
My day was a lifetime memory, but so are all the little things that God sends our way. As we go through our days, we must remember that the favor of the Lord is upon us! We must learn to see it all around us...in the loving glance of a spouse, in the warm hug of a child, in the laughter of a dear friend. It’s all evidence of the goodness of God. Let’s remember to engage it, treasure it and be grateful for it. Let’s allow it to overwhelm us as we live our lives. The signs of His goodness are everywhere. Are we looking for them?

Overcoming Your Impossible Situation

2009-10-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

   In America, we proudly celebrate the 4th of July. We call it Independence Day, the day we declared our freedom as a nation. At the time, victory seemed almost impossible for our brave forefathers. Surrounded by seemingly overwhelming odds, it would have been easier just to give up, yield to domineering British imperialism, and be consigned to a life of endless foreign oppression.
   But they didn’t give up. They didn’t quit. They stared at the enormous barrier in front of them and decided they would rather die than not to be free.
   Often, in our personal lives, we experience that overwhelming feeling of oppression. Things seem beyond our control, and if we were to dare stand up to that fierce opposition, we might just die. Maybe not physically, but emotionally & spiritually—on the inside where the most damaging pain is felt so deeply.
   For those of us who know Jesus, our greatest day of freedom came when we accepted God’s forgiveness for our sins. What seemed impossible to our human minds was accomplished in just a moment of time. As the Apostle Paul said, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
   And if Almighty God, the Creator of the universe can toss our sins into what He calls the “sea of forgetfulness” never to be remembered again, then I ask you, my friend, is anything too hard for God?
   Jesus’ disciples were struggling with this very question. In short, they were being overwhelmed by everyday life. Knowing their struggle, Jesus challenged them with an eternal truth. “…with God everything is possible." (Matthew 19:26)
   Those things in our lives that seem absolutely insurmountable are barely a blip on God’s radar screen. Not because He doesn’t care—He cares very deeply! It’s because there is nothing too hard for God! He’s ready to intervene in our lives if we’ll just ask!
   Perhaps you struggle with forgiveness. Someone may have wounded you extremely. There is nothing too hard for God.
   Maybe you feel overwhelmed with loneliness. You may be around people but you feel as if you’re walking through life all by yourself. There is nothing too hard for God.
   Maybe you’re dealing with a chronic illness that just won’t go away, or worse, the doctor has given you a hopeless diagnosis. There is nothing too hard for God.
   You might be paralyzed by fear and not know what decision to make so, in the end, you make none. There is nothing too hard for God.
   Our current economy may have impacted you dramatically. You may be out of a job, out of money, and perhaps, even out of a home. There is nothing too hard for God.
   You may be dealing with the effects of personal loss, perhaps even a family member or friend whose life ended before you were ready. There is nothing too hard for God.
   Maybe you’re struggling with a life-controlling addiction. No matter how hard you try, you always end up right back where you started. There is nothing too hard for God.
   Your situation may seem impossible but I promise you it’s not. There’s only one real solution—only one answer that really works. Trust Him with your life today! Acknowledge your incredible need for Him today! We’re all in equal need of God’s mercy and grace—just sinners who need our past to be cast into that Sea of Forgetfulness, and need His help every day of our lives. “Too much to ask,” you say? There is nothing is too hard for God!

Changing of the Seasons

2009-07-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

It seems that seasons always change, although here in northern California recently we've been enjoying an extended spring which has been quite wonderful! But eventually, we know the wind will turn warm, and summer will arrive—whether we like it or not.

And that's how it always is with life. Seasons come and seasons go. It’s predictable and even expected. What’s unpredictable is what we’ll do with new seasons as they come our way.

Today, I experienced the end of one season and the beginning of another. It was my final day teaching at a local Christian high-school. I've thoroughly enjoyed my opportunity to invest in the lives of hundreds of students over the past three years. And while leaving in many respects is bitter-sweet, there is a new season that awaits as our church launches our very own Mars Hill Christian School here in Fairfield this fall.

One of the worst things we can do in life is try to hang-on tightly to an already departed season. It’s like walking around in the desert heat of Arizona in August while wearing a winter parka and snow boots. It’s uncomfortable, it’s unnecessary and it’s completely counterproductive. It saps our strength, steals our energy, and renders us almost completely useless.

Often in life God asks us to embrace new challenges, to run toward new seasons, but our head and our heart experience fear and regret. So, we try to hold on to the past for as long as we can, even if we don’t like where we’ve been. It keeps us totally distracted as we let it dominate our thoughts. It’s comfortable, it’s familiar, and it’s holding us back from fulfilling our destiny.

Ask yourself this question: “What do I spend my time thinking about? The events of the past or the possibilities of the future?”

God’s word encourages us to look forward and embrace what lies ahead because it’s impossible to move ahead while living in the past. Sure, we all have regrets—things we wish would have turned out differently, situations we wish we would have handled better. Maybe even things that were done to us and were beyond our control. The very words of Jesus tells us that anyone who dwells on the past is useless. Strong words? Read them for yourself.

"Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62,

Sure, it’s a farming analogy in a high-tech culture but the implication is very clear. So how do we stop rehearsing old memories, deal with the pain and get past the past? We forgive. We forgive others, and maybe, most importantly, we forgive ourselves. We can either spend our time crying over the proverbial “spilled milk” or we can go to the store and just buy another gallon.

For me, I know it’s time to grow up. It’s time to move forward. It’s time to look ahead and embrace what God has planned for us just around the next corner. A new season might be the adventure of a lifetime!

(originally posted June, 2009)

God's Solution for Life

2009-07-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted March, 2009)

Have you ever wished life had an easy button? I have one that looks great sitting on my desk, but what if it really worked? We have incredible inventions that simplify our lives. Cars, microwaves, cell phones, and my new personal favorite -- my GPS and Blackberry Storm. Unfortunately, I’ve found that although most things really can be simple, they’re almost never easy.

Think about becoming a great musician. It’s simple -- lots of practice. I took classical piano lessons for a decade. I’m thankful now, but I can tell you first hand that it wasn’t easy. Think about companies that are household names because they’ve focused on “simple.” Google has the simplest home page on the Internet. Everyone recognizes the little silver apple that adorns Mac computers. Southwest Airlines became the United States’ most profitable airline because it simplified how it handled passengers. Papa John’s Pizza says, “We have a simple formula for success: focus on one thing and try to do it better than anyone else.” It must have worked because they’re the fastest growing pizza chain today.

Even for Jesus, simple was a way of life. The Scripture says of him, in Matthew 8:16-17, “That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick.” Simple? Maybe for Jesus. But certainly not easy.

The Bible tells us Jesus operated in that kind of power and authority, that kind of simplicity because he committed himself to a lifestyle of fasting and prayer. That’s not easy. Many of us operate on a misguided idea that life should be easy. But if everything came easily, we wouldn’t appreciate what we have and we certainly wouldn't need faith. In fact, the Bible tells us it’s impossible to please God without faith.

So maybe we’ll never have an easy life, but we certainly can have a simple one. So what’s the key to finding simplicity? Here’s five things that can help.

First, give up on expecting easy! Jesus said, “Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Second, eliminate the unnecessary. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:9-10, “ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters.” If we desire what’s necessary, we have to eliminate the unnecessary. If I were brave, I would ask the ladies what percentage of the clothes in their closets they actually wear? But I’m not brave. Sometimes in life we must say no to “good” things so we have time for the best things, even if they’re enjoyable.

Third, ask God what he thinks is essential. The Bible gives us a great head start on that question, because Jesus identified the most essential elements of life in Matthew 22. “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Fourth, make bold decisions. There’s an obscure story in the Old Testament about King Hezekiah who “did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight.” He cut down an infamous statue of a bronze serpent that once brought healing to the Israelites but became an old tradition that no longer produced life. Sometimes things we’re holding on to really need to be let go. Radical change may be required.

Finally, embrace sacrifice. Jesus modeled this well for us. The solution to the reconciliation of man to God was simple: Jesus’ death on the cross. But it most definitely wasn’t easy. Simplicity requires us dying to ourselves. In Galatians 2:20-21, Paul says, Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion...The life you see me living is not “mine” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

On most days life won’t be easy, but it certainly can be simple if we embrace God’s solution for life.

God's Power for Your Situation

2009-07-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted January, 2009)

When I was a kid I knew exactly who I wanted to be when I grew up. There was one person who captivated my attention–one idea that captured my thoughts. If I could achieve this pinnacle of success I would know I had arrived. My dream would come true. I would be invincible. I could accomplish anything. More than money and more than fame–I knew who I had to become. I was going to be…Batman.

You know, the Caped Crusader. The Gotham Knight. Yes, those were the days. But somewhere between adolescence and graduation, reality dawned. Maybe it was when I had to make my first car payment. “Batman never had to get a job!” I’m sure I said to myself. The childlike faith was gone. I had lost the confidence that I could do anything…if I just believed.

As the reality of life settled in, my confidence continued to erode. Eventually, I felt like most adults do at one time or another: completely overwhelmed. All the “big boy” responsibilities came crashing in. Marriage, children, job, bills, mortgage–it was a whole lot easier believing I could be Batman than dealing with the pressures of daily life.

There was a man in the Bible who I think had a lot in common with me. As a kid he knew who he wanted to be when he grew up. His idol was their equivalent of a modern-day Super Hero. He was larger than life. When Joshua grew up, he wanted to be Moses.

Moses had delivered the Ten Commandments. He had seen a burning bush. He had talked with God face-to-face and lived. Everything had been going well for Joshua until one day, Moses died. Suddenly, Joshua was in charge. He had to lead millions of people to the “promised land”, and it wouldn’t be easy. “What do I do now?” He must have thought. Boy, can I relate! If someone handed me a utility belt and a cape, I wouldn’t really have a clue what to do with them.

Joshua was where we often find ourselves. He was overwhelmed– weak and totally afraid. In short, he was in over his head. How do we know? Because God immediately attempted to comfort Joshua as he faced his new responsibilities.

“I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people…do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

And so it was. Joshua would lead Israel to many great victories. Remember Jericho? That was Joshua. He had obviously dealt with his fear. He had certainly found his courage. Did he still feel overwhelmed sometimes? Probably. Did he still struggle with fear? Almost certainly.

It’s in our moments of greatness weakness when we need God’s strength the most. In the story of Joshua God promised him three things – they were the essentials to achieving his purpose in life. God said, “I will not abandon you.” Translation? God’s presence will always be with us. Then God said, “I will not fail you.” Implication? God’s power will always work through us. Finally God said, “I will make you successful.” Meaning? God’s promises will always prevail for us.

There’s no substitute for the power of God operating in our lives. When He’s working for us, there’s no one who can be against us. That’s why Psalms says, “(God’s) power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!”

When circumstance tells us our situation is impossible, our faith says anything is possible with God’s power. Jesus said, “Humanly speaking, it’s impossible. But with God everything is possible."

Do we really understand that God’s power is all we need? It doesn’t matter where we go or what we face. God is with us! His power has the potential to completely change our lives. It’s just waiting to be released into our situation.

Are you out of answers? Do you need the power of God? Be strong and courageous! Release the power of God in your life! It makes all the difference in the world!

Keeping our Focus

2009-07-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted December, 2008)

In case you hadn’t noticed, here come the holidays! Thanksgiving is in the rear view mirror while Christmas and New Years are looming on the horizon. It’s a crazy time of year to be sure.

In addition to the normal stress of life, it seems everything gets more hectic. At what other time of year do we park in the “south-forty” and then embark on an all-day trek across the parking lot just to get to the mall? Then there’s all the shopping, eating, parties, extended family...tired yet?

Under normal conditions, one of the hardest things to do in life is stay focused. We all want to be aware of life’s distractions and not allow them to keep us from the best things God has for us, but in today’s busy world, there’s just so many things demanding our attention.

In Philippians, Paul was struggling with some of our same everyday issues. So he developed a personal philosophy of living. He described it this way: “I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead”. He knew if he was to maintain focus, he had to start by looking forward and not dwelling on the past.

He also knew our world suffers from a complete lack of focus. In fact, statistics show that workers between the ages of 18 and 38 change jobs an average of 10 times! The average attention span for kids is only 3-5 minutes; for adults it’s just 20 minutes! Can you say lack of focus?

Jesus, in a moment of frustration while dealing with his disciples said, “What a generation! No focus to your lives!” He knew that we don’t experience God’s best for our life because we’re easily distracted by things that don’t last.

Scripture gives us wonderful stories about people who were able to stay focused and achieve God’s best for their lives. Jacob worked 7 years to gain permission to marry his wife, Rachel, and then another 7 years to earn her freedom. That’s focus! Noah worked 120 years to build a boat he wasn’t even sure would float. That’s focus—and faith!

Science tells us the same wide beams of light that warm our days can become so focused they cut right through steel. How do we maintain that kind of focus in a world where it seems there are never enough hours in a day?

There was once a man named Gideon who was to lead an army against their enemy, but his back was already against the wall. With an army of only 32,000 soldiers they were hopelessly outnumbered, and by the time God was done, there were only 300 soldiers left. It seems God was looking for the ones who maintained focus in the middle of trying circumstances. God promised Gideon, “With these 300 men I will…give you victory."

The tests of life reveal our ability to stay focused. Those 300 soldiers knew danger was nearby—they couldn’t afford to become preoccupied when the potential cost was so great.

What easily distracts us in life and keeps us from experiencing God’s best? Our job? Selfish desires? Pride? When the majority of Gideon’s men were tested, they lost focus. They left themselves vulnerable for attack.

1 Peter 5:8 tell us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy…he prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” But how do we stay alert?

Ephesians 6:18 says “Pray…at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert…” Do we react to situations or do we pray? We can’t allow life’s distractions to divert our focus from what’s really important. If you’re like me, you struggle with finding time to get to everything that’s important.

Gideon’s heroic story concludes with this entry. “Each man stood at his position…and watched as (the army) rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran to escape.” Gideon’s men didn’t lose focus. They knew what was important.

Without God’s help, our best efforts end in complete frustration. We want to be good parents and spouses, good friends and family, but we think if we try hard enough we can change…and get frustrated when change doesn’t last. Proverbs 4:25 give us hope. “Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good.”

So amidst all of life’s distractions during this crazy season, let’s indentify what distractions in life are causing us to lose focus. Let’s ask God to help us make this a season to remember!

No Room for Selfish Voting

2009-07-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted September, 2009)

In two short days America will go to the polls. Millions of us will exercise one of the most precious rights and responsibilities we have as citizens. We’ll cast our votes that will help determine the direction of our country.

Some of us will celebrate in victory. Others of us will be forced to accept defeat. Regardless of the outcome, this will be an election of historic proportions. Whether we elect the first African-American as President of our country, or the first female to the office of Vice-President, we’re living in unprecedented times.

When in our life have we faced so many issues? The economy is a concern to everyone. Immigration, though it’s taken a recent back-seat, is still an important subject to many. Terrorism and our national safety are more than just casual topics. These are just a few of the matters on everyone’s minds.

In addition to the presidential race and our national concerns, there are many propositions on the ballot that will set important precedents for our state. Proposition 8 – the marriage amendment, and Proposition 4 – parental notification for abortion, are both issues that people feel very strongly about.

How do we decide what’s right? How do we determine how to cast our ballot? For most of us, we align ourselves with one view or another based on our personal ideology - what we believe is the best solution, what we think makes the most sense.

In this “me-first” society it’s so easy to make our decisions based on how we think something will affect us. Which economic plan will most benefit my family? McCain’s? Obama’s? Who has the best plan to reduce my health care costs? Who will make it easier for our children to get a good college education?

Maybe it matters how we arrive at our decisions than just the actual decisions we make. As Christians, we believe the Bible – God’s Word – must be the foundation of every decision we make. So instead of deciding how a candidate’s policies will affect our checkbooks, maybe we should see how their personal character aligns with the absolute truth found in Scripture.

Consider this concept found in the book of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 33-34:“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.” (NLT)

If we prioritize the things that are important to God, such as character, compassion, and protecting the rights of those who can’t defend themselves, then everything we need will be provided for us. That’s absolute truth.

That’s why I’m not worried about the economy. My family is faithful to financially support the work of God, so God will be faithful to provide the resources my family needs. That’s absolute truth.

If we’re to truly live righteously, then there’s no place for “selfish” voting. It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s not even about us. It’s about what God’s Word says and holding fast to truth regardless of the perceived personal cost. What is God’s world view? What does He think is best?

What would happen in this election if we voted for Biblical principal before our personal preference? What if we chose our candidates based on character instead of personality? What if we determined our positions on ballots based on God’s heart instead of television advertisements?

Tuesday is coming. Let’s all choose to pray, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and then cast our votes purposely. Not just as Americans, but most importantly, as people who believe that God’s absolute truth will always triumph over man’s wisdom. Our future, and the future of our nation, absolutely depends on it.

Fireproofing our Relationships

2009-07-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted September, 2008)

This weekend, a fantastic movie came out called “Fireproof”. It’s the story of a young couple whose marriage is about to end. A well-made, completely engaging story, it directly addresses the subjects of forgiveness, rekindling lost emotions, addictions, and ultimately, finding and accepting the love of God.

To fireproof something means to make it “capable of withstanding damage by fire.” If we can anticipate life issues and prepare for them, our relationships can remain strong when the proverbial fires of life come our way.

Our basic problem, and it may come as quite a shock, is that men and women are different! It’s the first crack that develops in our relationships. “How do I relate to someone who is so different than me?”

In Ephesians 5, God tells us to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” The word “submit” means “to give up my individual rights.” Translation? If our marriages and relationships are to work well, we have to learn to surrender our rights while looking out for the best interests of others.

This is pretty tough stuff since we live in a society where we’re told to demand our rights and stand our ground. In fact, giving up personal rights is completely against our nature. But sacrificing our selfish desire is an essential part of healthy relationships.

In our house we have one TV. Most Sunday afternoons, I watch football, especially when God’s team, the 49ers, are playing. Some days, however, we watch some completely uninteresting show on Bravo or HGTV. Therapists would call it compromise. Scripture calls it preferring others instead of ourselves. It’s the principle of mutual submission and it’s one of the keys to a great marriage.

Later in Ephesians, we’re told “each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Notice that husbands & wives aren’t given the same command! Men are commanded to love their wives, while women are required to respect their husbands. While it’s true women want to be respected, at their core they need to be loved unconditionally. And though men want to be loved, at our core we need to be respected for who we are.

These aren’t options. Scripture tells us they’re our sacred responsibilities, whether we feel our spouse deserves it or not. And that’s the basic difference between men and women—love and respect.

There are some other (funnier) differences between men and women. For instance, scientists note that from the first moment of birth, little girls have more lip and mouth movement than boys. In fact, a Harvard study of hundreds of preschoolers found that 100% of the sounds coming from little girls were actual words while only 60% of sounds coming from preschool boys could be found in a dictionary. The other 40% were sound effects!

Thousands of women were asked how much time they needed to spend with their husbands in meaningful conversation. The average answer was 45-60 minutes per day. When men were asked the same question, they responded with 15-20 minutes—per week!

Men need respect. Women need love. And it’s usually the lack of these two basic elements that leads to broken relationships. It’s much like our relationship with God which became broken when sin entered the world. That’s why God sent his son, Jesus, who died to himself on the cross so our relationship with God could be restored.

In the 1960’s, the Beatles wrote a huge hit called, “All you need is love.” The lyrics were deep. “All you need is love. Oo, oo, oo, oo, oo. All you need is love. Love. Love is all you need.”

Good song. Terrible philosophy. Because it takes a lot more than love to fireproof a relationship in the 21st century. It takes effort, sacrifice, personal denial and mutual submission. If we’re going to raise the level of our relationships, then we’ll have to practice giving up our rights and prioritizing the needs of everyone else in our lives. It’s called fireproofing. It’s not only a great movie, it’s an even greater way to live!

Chasing Lions

2009-07-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted August, 2008)

History is full of people willing to believe in their dreams. The Wright Brothers created an airplane when others contended “man wasn’t made to fly.” Henry Ford mass manufactured automobiles when people shouted, “Get a horse!” The Biblical general, Gideon, went into battle with 300 soldiers against an army of thousands—and won.

More recently, an unknown teenager was told “skateboarding isn’t a real sport…get a job.” Now, he’s not only a cultural icon, but has a new ride at our very own Discovery Kingdom. “Tony Hawk’s Big Spin” was inspired by his unequaled achievements.

They all overcame great criticism and personal doubts to achieve lifelong dreams.

Deep in the Old Testament is an obscure character named Benaiah. Eventually becoming the captain of King David’s bodyguard, his beginnings were much more anonymous. The 2nd book of Samuel, chapter 23 may contain the most understated Scripture in the entire Bible. Verse 21 says,

“Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.”

He did what? This short sentence requires more than a casual glance. Chased a lion? Seriously? Where I come from, we run away from lions, not toward them. If that wasn’t crazy enough, it was a snowy day when visibility was poor and sure footing evasive. Instead of escaping while he could, he leapt toward danger.

I’ve occasionally watched Animal Planet with my daughter. Have you ever seen a cornered wild animal? It usually comes out with claws swinging and jaw snapping. Yet somehow, miraculously, Benaiah prevailed.

Hopefully, we’ll never run into a real lion in the wild, but we all face “lions” in our lives from time to time. How we respond when these opportunities arise reveals much about our character and undoubtedly determines our future.

How do we view our “lions”? Are they potential for success or a problem to avoid? It’s been said there are no rewards in life without risk. We either run and hide, giving into our deepest fears, or we chase our God-ordained destiny by seizing our God-ordained opportunity. In fact, maybe taking no risks is actually the biggest risk of all.

I remember being almost too scared to ask a pretty young girl out on a date when I was seventeen. Today, we’ve been married for eighteen years and have three wonderful kids. I guess the risk was worth it!

We must be willing to take risks if we want to enjoy the rewards of life, but we don’t have to risk on our own. God is in the business of strategically placing us in the right place at the right time. Nothing just happens.

Benaiah didn’t just happen to trap and kill a lion. God sets us up for success—we just do the best we can with what we have right where we are. We see limitations but God sees possibilities. They may never seem to show up at the right time or place according to our human estimation. But with God’s help, we can learn to seize them anyway.

Many things keep us from chasing our lions. Overwhelming odds. Suffocating fears. Paralyzing insecurity. Overcoming these obstacles may be extremely difficult, totally opposite to our natural tendencies. But with God, we know all things are possible!

I’m convinced our greatest regrets in life will be missed opportunities. So we must make the most of each day—with our spouses & children, our friends & family, even our businesses & careers.

No one likes living with regrets, but we all have them. Our calling in life is not just to run away from bad things, it’s to run toward good things. In essence, it’s to chase lions—to live on the edge instead of playing it safe. Why? So we can be the way God designed us—fulfilled as we dream…fulfilled as we achieve...fulfilled as we succeed. And our success brings God the glory He rightfully deserves. Our chase is a part of His grand story.

So today, let’s decide to seize our opportunities. Let’s choose to stop running and start chasing our lions! Benaiah did, and so can we.

Living Each Day with Joy & Purpose

2009-07-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted July, 2008)

As Americans we tend to judge everything. We have favorite movies and TV shows, favorite songs and foods, favorite sports and vacation spots. Some people even make their livings by being “classification experts” – we call them movie and restaurant critics, news reporters and talk-show hosts, sports commentators and political pundits, and the list goes on. Even in our daily lives it seems everywhere we go people are always making quick determinations and offering their unsolicited opinions – about everything including us.

As students in school we’re judged by how well we do on tests and quizzes. Sporting contests always come down to the final score. How often are we asked to rate something on the proverbial scale of 1 to 10? Even in the hospital we can’t get away from it! Doctors & nurses ask us to classify our current level of pain. (Is 11 ever an option?)

We learn at an early age to rate everything based upon our perception of personal value. How does it help us? What do we think based upon our life experience?

Even in church it seems we classify everything – including people – according to a perceived “level of holiness”. Saints and sinners. The best and the worst. The holy and the profane. But whose perceptions are these? Certainly not God’s, because we know that He sees everyone equally once they’ve given their hearts to Christ.

I’m convinced one of Satan’s biggest weapons in our daily lives is to develop in us the destructive habit of judging others through our human eyes and unattainable standards instead of viewing people, ourselves included, from the eternal perspective of our Heavenly Father.

If we could ever realize our true identity – our intrinsic value as children of God – our lives would never be the same.

So let’s start at the beginning. Scripture tells us we’ve all equally missed the mark. There are no degrees of sin so we all equally need a Savior. And once we’ve given our lives completely to our Creator, we don’t have to worry about how we measure on that 1-10 scale because God doesn’t have one. We’re accepted by Him simply because of who we are.

Once we know our true identity we are truly free to live. We don’t have to live by other people’s determinations of us because all that matters is what our Father thinks of us – and He loves us like crazy!

Most importantly, once we stop being so hard on ourselves and judging our lives by human standards, we can begin to walk in the daily victory that belongs to us…it’s our true destiny. And that’s where our “real” classification comes in. We’re not just “saints” and “sinners”. In fact, I prefer to think of myself as a Superhero!

Sure, we have cultural icons that are the “superheroes” of our society. When someone asks, “Who’s the greatest basketball player ever?” we probably respond with “Michael Jordan!” When someone asks, “Who’s the most influential music artist today?” many would probably respond “U2”.

Maybe when you hear the word “hero” your mind turns to our military, soldiers who lay their lives on the line every day for our freedom. Or maybe it’s the police and fire personnel from September 11, 2001, who will forever be etched in our memories and our hearts.

I believe a Superhero can be anyone who, by the grace of God, overcomes personal odds and lives a godly example in front of those around them. Not a perfect person, but one who knows they’re identity in Christ, and faithfully uses their life to point other people to Jesus.

Maybe we’re like the Old Testament character Gideon. He characterized himself as “the least in my entire family,” yet he went on to become one of the greatest warriors in Bible history. Without God he was nothing, but with God, he could accomplish anything.

So how do we see ourselves? Are we like Superman or Tim Allen’s character Tim Taylor? Wonder Woman or Lucille O’Ball?? (Sorry to all you “I Love Lucy” fans!)

We must choose each morning to begin our day by seeing things from God’s point of view! 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that old things are passed away and ALL things are become new! Colossians 3:10-11 encourages us to “put on” Christ’s image of ourselves every day!

We must decide today, with God’s help, that we will no longer allow Satan to lie to us about our true identity as sons and daughters of the King! We must allow God to give us the courage to believe we really can live a life filled with joy and purpose every single day.

That’s what being a Superhero is all about.

Making Time for Today

2009-07-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted June, 2008)

As I write this article today for Pastor’s Perspective, I’m sitting in a comfortable hotel room in Kentucky. My family and I made a beeline out of town the moment school was finished so we could enjoy a much needed family vacation. Over the past two years we’ve been busy with life – and for us that included planting a new church in Fairfield. It’s been a long and rewarding process, but the church is now on its feet, we’re concluding a remodeling process in our new location, and it’s finally time for us to start making more time for each other.

It’s amazing how fast the past 27 months have passed for us. From the moment we arrived in town in March, 2006, it seems like life has certainly sped up. And it just keeps getting faster. It’s a phenomenon we all probably experience. We parents know there’s really no way to explain this concept to our children. Mine think from time to time that our clocks actually move backwards (like when they’re waiting to drive or turn that “magical” age of 13!)

As a kid I loved to watch the Japanese cartoon, Speed Racer, and dream of race cars with secret buttons and driving at breakneck speeds with no consequences. I am, after all, a distant relative of the famous Nascar driver, Cale Yarborough. Speed runs in my blood – or so I like to think. But these days I’d settle for something a little slower – something that allows me to pay more attention to the blurry details of quickly passing scenery.

This is where I admit to also being an avid Star Trek fan. No, I don’t dress up in costumes and go to conventions (that would be my sister.) But I have always admired the sense of exploration and urgency that each of the Star Trek Captains possessed. There was always a sense of living in the “now” and not constantly looking toward tomorrow.

In the 7th Star Trek movie, “Generations” (#11 comes out next year!), there’s a curious line spoken by the conflicted villain, Dr. Soran. Haunted by past memories of his wife and children being taken from him unexpectedly, he says, “Time is the fire in which we burn..."

For those of us who have shared his torment with past regrets, we might be tempted to agree. If we’re constantly looking in the rearview mirror of life, we most likely will never be satisfied with what we see. Conversely, if we’re always looking ahead to a better tomorrow, it probably will prove frustratingly elusive.

Maybe the secret lies in living our lives in the “now”. King Solomon, over three thousand years ago, confirmed this divine concept when he said in the book of Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a time.” He was emphasizing the idea of fully living in today, engaging our present and not being consumed by past failures or distant futures that may never come.

How much time do we spend hoping, wishing, craving things we don’t have instead of enjoying life with our family right where we are? Sure, our current situation probably isn’t exactly like we’d desire it to be, but that’s why Jesus told us that worrying about life doesn’t change anything! Jesus always lived in the moment, seizing opportunities as they came His way.

As my kids are growing older – they’re currently 16, 13 & 9 – I’m resolving to make the most of every opportunity I have with them because time is passing and these present opportunities will never come again.

The old saying goes, “Time is a gift from God…that’s why it’s called the present.” We’re meant to use it wisely and carefully because it can’t be replaced. Or as my favorite Star Trek Captain, Jean Luc Picard, would say, "Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived."

Let’s resolve today to make each moment count. For us, for our families, and for eternity.

Overcoming an Overwhelming Life

2009-07-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

Overcoming an Overwhelming Life
(originally posted May, 2008)

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed by life? Too many proverbial “irons in the fire” and not enough time to get everything done? Maybe you’re willing to deal with your situation, but just don’t know how. It’s simply too big–way beyond your control and you don’t know what to do. In a word, you’re overwhelmed.

If you’re like me, you think it’s easier to just go on a Tahitian vacation and deal with it later! We’ve probably all felt that way. But for Christians it’s a little confusing because God’s word tells us we’re supposed to live overcoming lives, yet many of us feel like we’re barely hanging on. How can this be?

It was apparently no different for the infamous King David thousands of years ago. He recorded his emotions in Psalm 55:1-2, “Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.” (NLT)

One thing is certain: God never intended us to feel overwhelmed by our life. He spoke through Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT) God always provides a way of escape. But how? What is “the way” and how are we shown?

Even Jesus’ closest friends–the disciples who were with Him everyday–suffered from the same human flaw. As they talked with Jesus after the resurrection, they asked repeatedly, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?" (Acts 1:6 NLT)

They were really saying, “Lord, we’re tired. We don’t know how we can go on…” They were hoping Jesus would conquer the Roman Empire immediately, because if not, they faced certain torture and death. They were weary. They were scared. They were overwhelmed.

God, who in His sovereignty knows everything about us, knew we would face situations we couldn’t handle on our own. That’s why He sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter, our advocate, our companion in this daily life.

So how does the Holy Spirit help us overcome an overwhelming life? He gives us supernatural power when we need it most by providing us with daily strength beyond our own abilities. (Luke 24:49) He brings new life to our spirits and helps us maintain our relationship with God, our Father. (John 3:6-7) The Holy Spirit reveals spiritual truth to our natural minds so we can understand Scripture and see how it relates to our life. He also–and this is my personal favorite–gives us wise advice. He’s our personal attorney when we’re in over our heads. (John 14:15-18)

So how can we experience God’s power in our everyday life? Three things on our part are critical. First, we can listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He’s always speaking but we must be quiet enough to hear. Then, we must be willing to act on what we hear – regardless of the perceived personal cost. James 1:22 asks us to be “doers” of the Word and not just “hearers”. We must choose to trust God even when it doesn’t make sense.

Finally, let’s rely on the Holy Spirit to give us the strength we need. Paul s said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

So the next time we’re overwhelmed by life, let’s take the time to stop and listen. The Holy Spirit is speaking. Let’s allow Him to give us the courage to listen and obey in every life situation.

The Highway of Life

2009-07-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

The Highway of Life
(orignally posted April, 2008)

One of my favorite animated movies – yes, I said animated – is Disney/Pixar’s “Cars”. Its soundtrack includes a great song by Rascal Flatts called “Life is a Highway”. Whenever I hear the song it reminds me that we’re all traveling on a highway every single day, whether we like it or not. And as life continues to pass by, seemingly at increasing speeds, I’m becoming more and more aware of how quickly the scenery is changing.

In one short week from now, my wife and I will experience the pleasure (we think!) of our oldest child turning sixteen. It was only yesterday we were taking him home from the hospital. We blinked and now he’s a sophomore in high-school. The time has passed so quickly it’s almost frightening. At the very least, it forces us to take stock of how well we’ve spent our time over the last decade and a half.

Recently, as I was wondering where these last sixteen years had gone, I read a passage of Scripture that caused me to stop and think about how quickly our time on this earth passes, and more importantly, about how we spend it.

In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul pens this thought provoking passage. “I…beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling…Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

If our mission in life is to live worthy of our calling, we must understand what that calling is…what purpose God has called us to fulfill. Scripture sums it up for us pretty simply. Love God. Serve each other. Reach the lost. That’s why we’re here.

We hear a lot in church about loving God, and we’re constantly reminded to “be Jesus” to people we meet, but how often are our thoughts directed toward serving those closest to us? We must remember that old phrase, “charity begins at home.” God is serious when He calls us to serve – and He expects us to start at home. It’s one of His rules. And though most of us don’t like rules, based on the words of Paul in Ephesians, here’s four “rules” for experiencing rewarding, family relationships.

First, we must be humble and gentle in dealing with each other. The Bible tells us “God gives grace to the humble.” In other words, His strength is available for those who are willing to admit their weaknesses.

Second, we’re to accept each other with God’s love because, simply, He accepts us. Again, the Bible says “love covers a multitude of sins.”

Next, we’re always to be patient and make room for each other’s imperfections. Proverbs 16:32 tells us it’s “better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.”

Finally, we’re encouraged to allow unity and peace to hold our families together. God tells us that if we “discipline (our) children…they will give (us) peace of mind and will make (our) heart glad.” But He also balances our focus with the words of Philippians 4. “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

As we ride along on this highway of life, let’s be sure to make the most of our journey. The scenery is constantly changing, so don’t blink too often!

The Secret to Successful Relationships

2009-07-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted March, 2009)

Relationships. They affect every area of life. If you’re like me, sometimes you think it would be easier to not depend on anyone else. But then, in a rare moment of sanity, you realize there’s no way we can make it through life alone.

Relationships can be so frustrating. We trust. We hurt. Our bruises cause us to be more reserved next time. But this is not how God intended us to live. He wants our relationships to bring joy.

So what’s the secret? How do we maintain fulfilling relationships?

The answer isn’t what you might think, but Jesus gave it to us personally. “The greatest among you must be a servant“. (Matthew 23:11) The Bible teaches that sincerely serving each other is the secret to great relationships.

Jesus came to earth to serve, so our purpose in life should be the same. In Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The word “serve” is an old Shemitic term which means “to bind”. We are bound to “servanthood” because we’re children of God. So who should we serve? God. Spouses. Children. Parents. Employers. Employees. Friends. Enemies.

Enemies? Did God really say that? Luke 6:35 says, “Love your enemies! Do good to them…your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.”

You see, sometimes God tells us to serve when human wisdom tells us to run.

There’s a great story in the Old Testament about a man named Jacob. He was in love with Laban’s daughter, Rachel, and agreed to work for seven years to gain her hand in marriage. Ladies, how would you feel if your husband or boyfriend was willing to work seven years just to have a relationship with you?

The Bible says those seven years seemed like only a few days to Jacob. How did the time go by so fast? Jacob was gladly serving from his heart. It seems time passes quickly when our “heart is in it”.

However, after seven “short” years, Laban cheated. Citing family tradition, he gave Leah, the older sister, to Jacob instead of Rachel. After Jacob’s initial rage subsided, Laban brokered a deal to get another seven years out of Jacob for Rachel.

Laban was a liar. Pure and simple. How would we respond today? File a lawsuit? Demand our rights? Make sure everyone knows we were wronged?

While our solution is to demand our rights, God’s solution is to surrender our rights. Just like He did on the cross, we must constantly be willing to serve. Jesus said it this way. “Do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too…Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.” (Matthew 5:39-42)

Jacob’s response to Laban? He accepted the terms. Relationships mattered that much to him.

Now don’t be fooled. Having a servant’s heart isn’t always easy. It often involves sacrifice–it inconveniences us and costs us something. It usually demands selflessness–compelling us to “rearrange” our priorities. And it always requires submission–truly humbling ourselves to appropriately honor others.

Jacob was willing to put fourteen years of his life on hold because he understood the principle of serving others.

But our flesh (mind) will say, “It’s too hard!” We must remember that one day we’ll stand before God, and the words we want to hear are recorded in Matthew 25:23. “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

For our faithful service to others, one day we’ll reap a reward of eternal joy. So keep serving. It’s the only way to true success!

A Fresh Start

2009-07-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted January, 2008)

Ah, January! A month of new beginnings! A chance for a fresh start in every area of our lives! Our hopes soar, our spirits lift–it’s a chance to begin again!

So now that it’s a new year, what resolutions did you make? Have you been able to keep them so far? For just a moment, let’s imagine it’s now December 31st, 2008. How did your year go? What did you change? What got better? What stayed the same?

For many of us, this year will hold some special events and even a few surprises. Some of us may have a child graduate from school and we’ll experience the proverbial “empty nest”. Other of us may change jobs–planned or unexpected, and maybe even move to a new city. Certainly, we’ll all face some unexpected challenges.

Not so? Ask yourself what happened this year you weren’t expecting? You see, how we begin a year has a lot to do with how we finish. To embrace a successful 2008, our minds must be set, our spirits determined, and our hearts ready for what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us and through us this year.

In Genesis, we find a story about one of the best fresh starts in history! It’s the story of Adam and Eve. Their future was set. No sin in the world. Everything was perfect. All they had to do was obey one little rule…and despite their best intentions, they blew it.

God had a wonderful plan for their lives, and Satan knew it. You see, as terrible as it may sound, Satan also had a plan for their lives, and he has a plan for us in 2008! He attacked Eve where she was most vulnerable. She desired the wisdom she needed but thought she didn’t possess. Her heart longed to please her husband. Unfortunately, good intentions never seem to justify disobedience.

For Adam, he chose instant approval over eventual accomplishment. He wanted to see respect in Eve’s eyes, but he knew better than the choice he made. Once he ate the fruit, both of their eyes were opened, and shame entered the picture.

Fear and shame are never from God. Never. Adam and Eve responded to God’s question in the garden, “Why were you hiding?” with the response, “We hid because we were naked.” But they weren’t naked at all. They had already made clothing. But in our human insecurities, we always feel as if people can see right through us.

Fear is one of Satan’s biggest weapon’s that holds us back from fulfilling our destiny. What are we afraid of? Afraid we’ll fail? Afraid we won’t meet expectations? Afraid we’ll disappoint someone else? Maybe even ourselves?

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) says “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” The Holy Spirit is ready to give us what we need to succeed in life: power, love and self-discipline. So based on these three areas, here’s five keys to having a great 2008!

First, embrace God’s grace as our only way to true satisfaction. Grace is really God’s strength operating in our lives to help us do things we can’t accomplish by ourselves. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that the key to having true power is realizing our complete weakness. We can’t do anything on our own, but through Christ, we can accomplish anything!

Second, realize the crucial importance of having life-giving relationships. Adam and Eve’s casual friendship with the serpent led to their failure. Though we’re called to love everyone, we must be careful about whom we allow close enough to influence our daily lives.

Third, be excited to engage in the process of personal, spiritual growth. Again, Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” Sometimes, regardless of the cost, it’s just time to grow up.

Fourth, be aware of our attitude in every situation, whether large or small. How we respond under pressure is a direct measure of our personal spiritual growth. How are we doing?

Finally, treasure our time and guard it wisely. Maybe we should allow our priorities to determine our calendar, and not the other way around!

More than we do, God desperately wants to help us experience a fresh start. Let’s allow Him to help us make 2008 our best year yet!

Simplifying the Season

2009-07-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted December, 2007)

So, I realize I'm a little slow. It usually takes a while for me to catch on, but since when did Christmas start in September? Our lives already seem so busy. Work, family, church, friends...there’s barely any time left for ourselves. And then sometime right after the 4th of July...wham! Here comes the holiday season.

Even for those of us who look forward to the "most wonderful time of the year", it can still be a time of increasing stress–endless shopping lists to complete, "one more" Christmas party to attend, church and school programs to see, family gatherings to endure, and, oh yeah, let's not forget that growing mountain of credit card debt to pay off. We start looking forward to the season being over and everything finally getting back to “normal”.

But if that's all Christmas is to us then we're completely missing the joy that comes from embracing the simplicity of the season. Maybe it's time we learn to simplify.

Sounds great in theory, doesn't it? But how do we do that? Which tasks do we cross off our lists? Which important items go undone? Who do we disappoint?

Or maybe the answer to simplifying our lives lies in controlling our thoughts–how we choose to think about our lives, especially at this time of year.

It’s been said that the average American works 50–60 hours a week at a job we don’t enjoy, to buy things we really can’t afford, to impress people we really don’t even like. So when we're tempted to stretch our budgets beyond reason to keep up with everyone else's charge accounts, let’s remember that the gift of family and friendship is one of the best gifts of all.

You see, God intended our lives to be simple. His formula for life isn’t complicated. Love God and love each other. Everything else is just tinsel and lights. So when we see those distant family members with whom our personal connection may be a little strained, may we remember that Jesus came to earth on Christmas day to heal our broken relationships–with Him and with others.

And if we’re to prioritize our relationships, it means we must address the difficult issue of time.

All too often in our lives, good things can become the enemy of great things. We get pulled in so many different directions that we end up doing nothing well. We must learn to use that great, globally understood word: NO!

God designed us all with a unique passion and purpose to fulfill, and that’s where we need to spend our time. Ecclesiastes tell us that “There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.” (MES)

God didn’t intend for our lives to just be busy, He intended them to be fruitful. He knew that busyness produces stress, but true fruitfulness produces peace. Jesus said, in the Gospel of John, “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.” (NLT)

We can spend so much mental and physical energy dealing with various life issues that we don’t have any strength left for our primary responsibilities. Like loving our spouse, raising our kids, and impacting the lives of those around us.

During this busy season, ask yourself if the things you’re doing in life are a scriptural command such as teaching your children or helping the poor? Are they a direct, personal word from God for your life such as a life direction you’re destined to pursue? Are you carrying a burden or responsibility you’re not intended to carry by praying about situations but not leaving the results of life with God?

Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. So if we find ourselves too busy, too overwhelmed by the stress of the season, then maybe it’s time to ask God to help us learn to simplify.

Prayer: As Easy as Breathing

2009-07-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted September, 2007)

Prayer. It's so simple. We all know how to pray, right? We probably did it almost every night when we were little kids. "Get ready for bed. Brush your teeth," our parents would say. "Remember to say your prayers!" So obediently (or maybe grudgingly) we'd kneel beside our bed and fold our hands. "Our Father, Who art in heaven..." Or maybe it was "God bless mommy, and daddy..." Or maybe we didn't pray at all...

Eventually, though, we grew up, and prayer became less of a routine and more of an occasional necessity. We found ourselves returning to prayer only during holiday meals or in times of desperation and crisis.

Regardless of how often we may or may not pray, it's a simple thing to do. Just talk to God, right? How hard could it be?

So if we all know how, why don't we do it more often? Why is it usually our last resort instead of our first thought? Why are over 75% of pastors across America - yes, pastors - very dissatisfied with their prayer life?

The answer is simple: because things get wearisome when we don't see prayer making a difference in our daily lives. Oh, it's fine for the next guy, but you see it really doesn't work for me. Been there. Done that. Outgrew the t-shirt.

Or maybe you tend to be the "fix-it" type. Why pray about something you can solve yourself? God doesn't really care about the little things anway, right?

The secret to effective and rewarding prayer - a prayer experience that energizes and enhances your life - is to understand who you are as a child of God. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are a kingdom heir! You have the full rights and privileges afforded the child of a king!

We don't have to pray and only hope that God will hear us. We can KNOW that He hears us and will not delay in coming to our rescue! We must learn to believe and trust in the power of simple prayer.

Prayer is simply a conversation with your Father, who just happens to be the Creator of the universe! He's waiting for us to come to Him and talk about how our life is going.

Think of a close, personal friend whom you talk frequently. Maybe it's your spouse, or someone else you've known for years. How do you feel after having a good, long, soul-baring conversation? Energized? Relieved? Encouraged?

That is the essence of prayer. It's a two-way dialogue between friends. Did you know that Scripture tells us that we are called "friends of God"? Once we understand the nature and authority of our relationship, then we're ready to implement a few practical steps to appropriate the power of God into our daily prayer life.

First, we must believe in God's ability to meet our need. Hebrews 14:16 tells us that God is always ready and willing to help us when we need it. There's nothing too small for God to notice or too big for Him to handle.

Second, we must realize that we can pray at any time and anywhere. We don't have to wait until we're at church or some quiet location. I've often offered a quick prayer to God right when the need presented itself. He doesn't expect our prayers to be long and complicated, and they certainly don't have to be eloquent. He just expects them to come from the heart.

Finally, don't be afraid to be persistent. A consistent prayer life not only develops our faith and strengthens our character, it also moves the heart of God.

And as we pray, we must remember the truth of Hebrews 10:23-24. "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise."

So in those times when we wonder where God is and if He's actually heard us, we can remind ourselves of those three "F's" of Scripture we've already mentioned. God is a loving Father who cares for us deeply, His Word is always faithful, and He will always answer us because He chose to call us friends.

So, when's the last time you prayed? Why not give it a try today? God is just waiting to hear from you!

Facing Your Giants

2009-07-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

By Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted June, 2007)

You remember the story. Maybe from when you were a little kid in Sunday School. It's the stuff of legends. Millions of wide-eyed children have listened intently, completely captivated by such an incredulous tale.

As adults we may have relegated it to simply being a fairy tale. An implausible legend exaggerated over the years. One that really doesn’t have any bearing on our lives today.
But to dismiss its importance is to neglect the miracle of faith. To miss the wonder of belief. Holding relentlessly to the childlike ability to trust in something bigger than ourselves gives us the strength to hope. Dare we believe that the historic God we read about in the pages of Scripture is still willing and able to involve himself in our lives today?

David was a young man of few years and even less experience, so he was just naive enough to accept that God’s Word was true. When opposed, not by just an almost ten–foot tall Neanderthal, but also by his king, his nation, his friends and his family, David simply shrugged off their skepticism, and ran quickly and confidently to face Goliath. This mammoth warrior was shouting racial epitaphs at the entire army of Israel, suggesting they had questionable parentage and an impotent god. He ridiculed them mercilessly and shamed them constantly. He stole their self–respect and their dignity. Yet, David was undeterred. The Old Testament book of First Samuel records the only words David spoke directly to his enemy. “I come to you in the name of the Lord...Today the Lord will conquer you...This is the Lord’s battle, and He will give you to us!”

And God did.

Overwhelming odds. A seemingly impossible situation. They didn’t intimidate David. Do they intimidate you? Can you hear your giant mocking you? Can you hear him calling you names? Questioning your courage? Laughing in your face? Funny thing about giants…you never have to wonder who or what they are in your life! Can you fill in the blank? My Giant is ___________________!

We can see insurmountable odds; David saw unsurpassed opportunity. We can see inevitable pain; David saw his life’s purpose. We can see an apparent ending; David saw a new beginning.
So if you’re tired of being held hostage by your giant and you’re finally ready to do something about him, here’s three proven principles for “giant facing”.

1. Be ready when the time comes!David seized the opportunity of a lifetime in the lifetime of the opportunity. He could have chosen to cower behind his size, his age, his lack of experience, or any of a dozen other reasonable excuses, but he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. He had spent his whole life preparing for his big moment. After all, he was an expert marksman with his weapon of choice – a few stones and a sling. And he wasn’t afraid to use them.

2. Be willing to risk it all!David didn’t care who was watching or mocking him. He wasn’t afraid of looking the fool…it was God’s reputation on the line. He just couldn’t envision a lifetime of captivity without going down swinging. And David really didn’t imagine he could possibly lose.

Certainly, we can relate to David’s situation. We hope that we can muster his determination. We each have our “Goliaths”. We hear him morning and night calling to us, his thunderous voice echoing down the mountainside to the cave where we’re hiding. He tells us we’re overmatched and overwhelmed. There’s just no way we can ever win. So we think it would be easier to just deal with things as they are. Eventually, though, the pain of things staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change, and we realize we have no choice but to finally, deliberately answer Goliath’s standing challenge.

3. Be inspired to run! When the time came David attacked swiftly and with confidence! But here’s the key. David didn’t raise his sling thinking he could take down a giant with one small stone. Surely that would be impossible! But he knew that with God all things were possible. He just had to believe.

Many of us try for years in vain to slay our giants, but we’ve been “slinging” in our own strength. To win we must realize that our giants can only be conquered once–and–for–all in God’s ability and His alone. It’s His reputation on the line, remember?

Wait a minute. Did you hear that? I think that was your giant calling. Maybe it’s time to pick up a few stones.

Dreams

2009-07-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted April, 2007)

Remember when we were kids? I remember vividly dreaming of big things. Like what I wanted to be when I grew up, I hoped to be everything from a radio DJ to a criminal attorney. I was completely fascinated with TV shows that featured the lives of policeman and especially “private eyes.” I must have read each of The Hardy Boys mystery novels at least half a dozen times, always living vicariously through Frank and Joe, and hoping that one day I’d follow in their infamous footsteps.

Dreams. Big ones. Dreams that never came true. In fact, most of us are light years away from where we thought our lives would take us. So how did we get here? What happened to our dreams?

The questions remind me of one of the more famous Bible characters. You know the one. Hollywood has made movies about his life. We know how he was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, framed by a would-be lover, thrown into prison and forgotten. But do we remember why? It was all because Joseph had a dream.

In fact, he had two. Neither of which were well received by his family, especially his brothers. After hearing that they were apparently going to bow in submission to their younger brother, his ten older siblings promptly sold him into slavery after barely deciding to spare his life.

Joseph was only seventeen when his life took an unexpected turn - a giant detour that, at the time, was totally unjust and completely unexplainable to his mind. He must have thought at least a million times, “How did I get here?”

While we have the benefit of knowing the end of the story, Joseph was living it day by day. Torn from his home, made a common slave in a strange land, wrongfully accused, and sentenced to life in prison...all because he had a dream.

Have you ever had a dream? I don’t mean the childhood kind where we leap tall buildings in a single bound or sink the last second shot that wins the game. I mean the kind that might be buried deep inside your heart, safely tucked away where it’s safe and secure...and may never again see the light of day.

You know the one. It’s that crazy dream that someone else talked you out of . . . told you it was crazy. Told you that you were crazy. No way it could ever happen. Not in this lifetime. So you heeded such “wise” counsel and did what any practical person would do. You buried it. Buried that hope of one day owning your own business and leaving an inheritance for your kids. Buried that desire to own your own home and be out of debt. Buried that need to have a marriage that really works and a family that cares deeply for each other. Buried that dream of restoring relationships with your parentsor siblings. Buried that dream of...you fill in the blank here.

The amazing thing about shovels is that they work just as well when you need to dig something up, not just to hide something in a hole filled with dirt.

Joseph was sitting in jail, contemplating his lot in life, when he finally learned a valuable lesson. He could either waste away his years wondering what happened to his life or he could begin to bloom where he was planted.

Joseph threw himself into his work inside the prison and soon became second in command. Was it the fulfillment of his dream? Hardly, but it set his heart on the right path. He stopped looking behind him, wondering what could or should have been and focused on what was here and now.

Funny thing about dreams. They can either leave us constantly looking over our shoulder, wondering where we went wrong, or they can propel us forward, driving us to become all that God created us to be. And just when we think we may never see our dreams come true, suddenly everything changes.

Small Steps & Giant Leaps

2009-07-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted December, 2006)

For many of us it seems that our most anticipated Christmas gift comes each year not really on December 25th, but actually about one week later. To be sure, Christmas is a wonderful time for gifts and most importantly, family–especially now that I'm a parent. It's great fun to watch my kids excitedly tear open the wrapping paper and impatiently try to determine what new treasure awaits for them inside.

But for those of us old enough to have unfortunately experienced regret in our lives, we often desire a different kind of gift: one more opportunity for a new beginning–one more chance to chart a new course and do things right this time.

Thank God for January 1st! It always brings with it a wonderful opportunity for new year's resolutions and fresh starts. And for a few days–maybe even weeks–everything's good, maybe even great. We join a gym, watch what we eat, read our Bibles a little more, and do our best to live right. We spend more time with our kids, do some nice things for our spouse and try to be better friends and neighbors. Maybe we even get a little radical and try to watch a little less TV and pick up a book!

We're certainly full of good intentions, but somehow–sooner or later–good intentions fade, replaced by old habits with which we are altogether too familiar. And just like a old pair of comfortable shoes, we slip right into one more year of "next year" aspirations.

Why so often do our once great intentions end up discarded on the giant ash heap of our memories? And before you think I'm being a bit melodramatic, stop and think about how many resolutions you've actually kept from last year...and the year before–if we can remember them, that is.

Recently, I'm becoming more aware that the reason for my predisposition to not finishing what I've started isn't my lack of intention or even my initial effort. I want to change some habits in my life and become frustrated when I find myself right back where I started just a little while earlier.

Someone wise once said that the journey of a lifetime begins with a single step. Makes sense, doesn't it? But I wonder...when we take that first step do we have any actual idea where our journey will take us? Studies show that most of us aren't doing what we thought we would back when we had it all figured out in high-school. And we spend so much time planning our final destination that we miss the incredible scenery and lifelong relationships along the way.

Maybe it's more important to focus on the single step of the journey that's right in front of us than to constantly look such a great distance down the proverbial road. Maybe instead of trying to lose those 25 extra pounds this year we first try to lose five...and then five more...and then five more.

I was just 11 days old when man first walked on the moon on July 20, 1969. Astronaut Neil Armstrong spoke those now immortal words, "This is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." It seems that when we focus on our current step it's perhaps the best thing we can do for those around us in our immediate sphere of influence. Armstrong's words weren't just for Americans, they were intended for everyone who inhabited our planet. But it wasn't a grand proclamation of victory, it was a humble confession of co-dependency. We need each other.

So this year, let's not try to be the ultimate example of super-human perfection. There has only been (and only ever will be) one of those anyway. Instead, why don't we ask for God's help to do the best we can for today. One small step today–and tomorrow–will, by God's grace, result in one giant leap for a lifetime (and maybe we'll lose those 25 pounds along the way!)

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
Matthew 6:34 (MES)

All Things New

2009-07-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted August 2006)

The older I get the less I know. And I used to know quite a lot…or so I thought. I’m accustomed to being quite independent and self-sufficient. OK…some people might call it being stubborn and obstinate. But I’m coming to realize in significant ways that I apparently have a few minor limitations. You might call them flaws – but by any name they’re becoming harder and harder to conceal.

It seems I’ve spent far too many years desperately desiring and seeking the approval of others and consequently wasted a lot of precious time trying to be something I’m not – perfect. I realize that might come as quite a shock, but I do fall short in quite a few areas – and so do you.

Years ago the Holy Spirit spoke a special verse into my life that has ministered to me many times in very different ways. You can find the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

“‘My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In my younger days I used to dream of looking like Mr. Universe. Now, I just dream of keeping my hair. I’m becoming more and more comfortable with whom God created me to be—a weak, flawed person who desperately needs the limitless and always available strength of my Father. So, when I once again become frustrated with my “lack of progress”, I’m gently reminded that it’s only in my weakness that I can truly be strong. He who carefully conceived my unique design long before time began knows me well—much better than I know myself. His plans for me are always good—to give me a bright hope and an eternal future. He takes my past—all my brokenness and hidden shame—and makes something incredibly beautiful for His purpose alone. He gives me beauty for ashes and sends new mercies to my doorstep every morning.

I’m overwhelmed that He loves me and deeply grateful that He makes all things new.

All Things New
lyrics by Jason Yarbrough

Lord of the heavens
Maker of my heart
Creator of the universe
You knew me from the start
You see the deepest part of me
My brokenness and shame
You love the wounded child in me
I'm standing here amazed
Lord, I'm so amazed

I need You every minute of every day
Can't live without Your amazing grace
And Your mercy new every morning
Beautiful, You are lovely in every way
I'm overwhelmed that You know my name
Jesus, I love You
You make all things new

Now I'm living to see Your face
Now I'm holding to Your embrace
Now I'm waiting until the day
When forever I will sing Your praise

Worship While You're Waiting

2009-07-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

by Jason Yarbrough
(originally posted 2005)

From the very first time I really experienced God in worship, I found the energy and passion amazing and refreshing. There was an enthusiasm that was almost contagious.

It seems there's just something about worship that eases the mind and soothes the soul. Why? We were designed for intimacy, fashioned for a relationship with our Creator. And though time spent in His presence can be wonderful, the Lord wants to draw us further, deeper into an understanding of worship.

Recently, the Lord reminded me of the story of Abraham; specifically, the birth of his son, Isaac. After many years of waiting, Abraham saw the fulfillment of a long awaited promise. Can you imagine the party? The celebration must have been incredible! Abraham was, after all, extremely wealthy, and I'm sure he spared no expense on this special occasion. They praised God for the fulfillment of His word, rejoicing in His goodness. And it was appropriate, but I find it's often much easier to "worship" when there's reason to celebrate. It's much more difficult to sing His praises when the chips are down. Deep worship comes from the secret place of sacrifice.

Consider again Abraham. After a few years of celebration, God says, "Take your son, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt sacrifice to Me." Party over. You can almost hear the screeching of the record needle as it scratches across the turntable. "Excuse me, God, but would you mind saying that again?" Abraham's response is one of the most amazing moments in Scripture. For those of you with sons, would you even stop to consider this request? Yet, he dutifully begins to make preparation for the difficult journey.

Worship is a journey; its trail often marked by the tears of desperate hearts. After two days of the longest trip in history, Abraham breaks the silence by addressing two of his servants. "Stay here while the boy and I climb the mountain to worship." Really? Is offering that which you hold closest to your heart the true meaning of worship?

In that quiet moment just before Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, in the stillness of that brief instant, he heard the voice of the Lord. Abraham wasn't dancing. He wasn't celebrating. There wasn't a "fatted calf" in sight. Sometimes answers come in the silence; in moments of quiet reverance. Abraham heard the sound of a ram caught in a thicket and knew the Lord has "heard" his worship. Sometimes we just need to "be still" and know He is God. So the next time you celebrate His goodness, remember to also spend some time worshipping in "quietness". You just might hear your answer while you're waiting.