Conformed or Transformed?

The following is a post from my former Pastor and friend. It touched my heart and I wanted to share it with you and pray it speaks to you as well. I went to my cousin's memorial service this week. You would've loved Ed, he was a great pastor and a fun guy. I find myself sitting next to some of you in the stadium of questions. You know the place - it's the crowded arena that holds all of us who have had an experience that doesn't seem to fit in the game of life. I hugged Ed's wife, who now is without a husband, a father for their kids, a pastor, and even a church. I stood in the stadium next to her and felt a fraction of her pain. We cried. I walked and talked with my other cousin who is now without his younger brother and himself racked with pain from cancer - we talked about God, about questions, about hanging on. The stadium is often quite full. As I work my way out of the stadium I'm looking back making some observations. 1. The stadium of questions rarely h...

Life has been very hectic with the start of school this year. Andrew is in high school and just finished his driver's education. A lot of changes for us. I am finally finished with classes and tomorrow is my ordination ceremony down in Fremont, MI. It feels good to have reached that goal. I started this week with Pastor's Prayer and Fast Retreat down at camp. It was a good time to meet with other Pastors and get to know some of them, as well as the time of meeting with God. Betweeen the retreat and my ordination and my wedding anniversary this month, I have been in evaluation mode. I am evaluating each relationship I have: my marriage....both to Brian and to God, my relationship with my children and also my relationship in ministry. I have been overwhelmed this week by the deep responsibility I carry in each relationship. So, I am evaluating, setting goals and praying for each one. Here are some of the questions I am asking myself: 1. How much time do I spend on thi...

In my Spiritual Formation class with Mark Wilson , I was given these questions and they were very revealing in my own life. I would encourage you to use them in your own devotional time. They are from John Wesley's Holy Club and Loyola, the found of the Society of Jesus. Here is one set of nearly two dozen questions which John Wesley gave to members of his discipleship groups more than 200 years ago. The questions may have their origin in the spiritual accountability group started by Wesley when he was a student at Oxford -- a group that detractors called "The Holy Club." 1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite? 2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence? 3. Can I be trusted? 4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits? 5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying? 6. Did the Bible live in me today? 7. Do I give the Bible t...

I have been reading the Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis slowly over the past few months. There is so much rich material in there that I can't possibly take it all in by reading it through in a few days like I would like to. So, periodically I have been sharing a few thoughts from the book here. On how to aquire peace and on the desire to improve: "Resist one sin for a year!" Simple. We tend to look at all the things we need to do better in and then end up not doing well in any of the areas. If we became truely disciplined in ONE area of our life that needs attention, in a few years, we would cover some of the hardest things we deal with and be victorious. This idea reminds me of dieting. When I go on a diet, I tend to say "Ok, I am going to eat right, drink my water, exercise every day, and get good sleep" Yeah right! And day two of the diet, I am overwhelmed and discouraged because I can't change all those habits overnight. But....what if...

I forgot to post before I left that I would be gone for a week of classes last week. Sorry about that. It was the last required FLAME that I have to go to, but I will most definitely be back for ReKindle, as the time spent there is so valuable to ministry. It was an amazing week. I took Philosphy/Ethics and left there with one presiding thought.....KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND WHY....otherwise you will make decisions based on the situation rather than what is truely Biblical. It seemed that every question we faced brought up another opposing, sometimes just as good as the last. Frustrating, yes, but helping us own our faith. For those of you who know me...this kind of stuff makes me nuts, but I recognize the value in it, so I persevere through it! And then I was off to Spiritual Formation. It might better be called Revival 101. What an amazing time with the Lord. We were able to take some "time outs" to search our hearts and pray. When we were together in prayer, God...

We are doing a sermon series based on the movie "Facing the Giants" and today I preached on Complete Surrender. We ended the sermon with my first communion service that I have performed. I felt so unworthy to be serving. What an awesome privilege I have been given. Here are some of the notes from my sermon: What does it mean to love God more than anything else? The first time “love” is used in the Bible is when Genesis speaks of Abraham’s love for his son Isaac. Isaac was Abraham and Sarah’s only child, born to them when they were past child-bearing age. God promised to Abraham that Isaac would continue the legacy and ancestry of Abraham for future generations. Did Abraham love Isaac more than God? God was going to test Abraham’s commitment to Him by asking Abraham to do the unthinkable. Let’s read about it in Genesis 22...... Genesis 22:1-18 1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 2 Then God said...

We need revival when.... ... when we do not love God as we once did. ... when earthly interests and occupations are more important to us than eternal ones. ...when we would rather watch TV and read secular books and magazines than read the Bible. ... when our Christianity is joyless and passionless. ... when we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives. ... when we make little effort to witness to the lost. ...when we have time for sports, recreation, and entertainment, but not for Bible study or prayer. . . . when we do not tremble at the power of God. On the other hand, the characteristics that take place when revival comes are... ... a deepened spiritual hunger ... intense fervent prayer that is enjoyable not dreadful ... repentance ... reckless abandonment and surrender to God ... a fresh fullness of the Holy Spirit ... spontaneous evangelism and soul winning ... restored relationships ... a spirit of thanksgiving and joy ... increased hunger for God's Wor...

O MOST kind, most loving Lord, Whom I now desire to receive with devotion, You know the weakness and the necessity which I suffer, in what great evils and vices I am involved, how often I am depressed, tempted, defiled, and troubled. To You I come for help, to You I pray for comfort and relief. I speak to Him Who knows all things, to Whom my whole inner life is manifest, and Who alone can perfectly comfort and help me. You know what good things I am most in need of and how poor I am in virtue. Behold I stand before You, poor and naked, asking Your grace and imploring Your mercy. Feed Your hungry beggar. Inflame my coldness with the fire of Your love. Enlighten my blindness with the brightness of Your presence. Turn all earthly things to bitterness for me, all grievance and adversity to patience, all lowly creation to contempt and oblivion. Raise my heart to You in heaven and suffer me not to wander on earth. From this moment to all eternity do You alone grow sweet to me, for You alone ...

"If you want to learn anything worthwhile, seek rather to be unknown and to be thought of as nothing." - Thomas A Kempis This is the true concept of humbleness. I want to serve and do things for God, but I need to do it for the Lord…serving Him only and if nobody else ever knows or acknowledges it, the fact that God knows is enough and satisfying to me. But, to do nothing, because I can’t be known while doing it is sin. It’s hard not to want recognition for our work, yet our soul motivation should be out of a love for God …nothing more….nothing less.

James 2:18 You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Here are some good words from Neil Anderson: When my son Karl was just a toddler, I would stand him up on the table and call for him to jump from the table into my arms. Did Karl believe I would catch him? Yes. How did I know he believed? Because he jumped. Suppose he wouldn't jump. "Do you believe I will catch you, Karl?" I might coax, and he may nod yes. But if he never jumps, does he really believe I will catch him? No. Faith is active, not passive. Faith takes a stand. Faith makes a move. Faith speaks up. There are a lot of Christians who claim to have great faith in God but are spiritually lethargic and don't do anything. Faith without action is not faith; it's dead, meaningless (James 2:17, 18)! If it isn't expressed, it isn't faith. In order to believe God and His Word, we must do what He says. If you don't do what He sa...

There is a great post about criticism and hurts on Perry Noble's site. We need to stay focused on playing our game for an audience of One. Only what God says counts! It's so easy to get our eyes off the good things and focused on the one bad thing. If 10 people say good things and one person says a bad thing, that is where we, by nature, focus. If 10 people say bad things and God says "Good job, I'm pleased!" then that's all we need. Today I play for an audience of One. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdX-77UhwgU

"O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart, that so desiring, we may seek to find you; and so finding you, we may love you; and loving you, we may hate those sins from which you have redeemed us, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen."

My daughter and I love smoothies for breakfast and this morning was no exception. Olivia and I put the strawberries, pineapple, banana, yogurt and cranberry juice in and the big moment came (for a 7 year old that is).....the time to push the button and blend it up. She pushed the button and we were saying "woohoo it's almost smoothie time!" when out from the bottom of the carafe started oozing out smoothie. I turned the machine off and lifted up the carafe (dumb, dumb, dumb) and the whole bottom came off the carafe and smoothie ran like a waterfall all over the countertop, down the front of the cupboards and onto the floor. Olivia said, "MOM, QUICK, 10 SECOND RULE!!!" (for those of you who don't know what that means.....it means....quick pick it up within 10 seconds and the dirt won't stick to it and we can still eat it!) I wanted to be mad. I was disgusted and frustrated and immediately remembered my devotional from the previous day. I am reading Joyce ...

This is a great prayer by Charles Stanley: Good morning, Lord! Thank you for assuring me victory today if I will but follow Your battle plan. So by faith, I claim victory over: ______________________________________. To prepare myself for the battle ahead, by faith I put on the Belt of Truth. The truth about You, Lord, that You are our Sovereign God who knows everything about me, both my strengths and weaknesses. Lord, You know my breaking point and have promised not to allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. The truth about me, Lord, is that I am a new creation in Christ and have been set free from the power of sin. I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit who will guide me and warn me when danger is near. I am Your child and nothing can separate me from Your love. The truth is that You have a purpose for me this day, someone to encourage, someone to share with, someone to love. Next, Lord, I want to, by faith, but on the Breastplate of Righteousness . Through this, I guard my...

I read the following interview from Leadership Journal with Sarah Cunningham that addresses the issue of the 20-something age group. I believe that when it comes to formal worship, we worry much about music style and programs and how "the seeker" will like or dislike things. I think that as much as they may not initially understand all that is going on in the church, I believe what they are looking for is something real. They want to see transformation and heart change. They don't want to be a part of something where people are just going through the motions and having a fun time. Programs and music are important, but as Sarah said, "faith systems that don't compel transformation are empty."

I find that there are so many lessons we can learn just by listening to our children. This morning, my daughter wanted some toast with her breakfast. So, she popped the bread in the toaster and when it popped up, I grabbed it and said "would you like me to butter your bread?" She replied "Mommy, that's not bread, it's TOAST!" Somehow her bread had changed into toast in the toaster. I explained to her that the toast was still bread but had changed it's form. When I became a Christian, I was still Joy, but I had changed forms. It changed the places I went, the way I thought and talked and the friends I had. Everything that I did changed. My priorities were different. When I am baked in the presence of God, it changes how I look, just as bread being baked in the toaster changes how it looks. So, when you look at your life, is it obvious that there has been a change in your life? Have you allowed the Spirit to change you from bread to toast (or s...

I watched the Passion of the Christ movie for the very first time today. We had it at our church a few times, but I always helped with the kids and never actually got to see the movie. Here are the notes from my journal: So much to say and yet no words.... He offered pardon and received none. He offered love and received hate. (and then after a time of intense prayer....) these songs: Jesus, I love you! I worship and adore you! Glorify your name in all the earth! Glorify your name! Glorify your name! Glorify your name in all the earth! Spirit, I love you! I worship and adore you! Glorify your name in all the earth! Glorify your name! Glorify your name! Glorify your name in all the earth! Father, I love you! I worship and adore you! Glorify your name in all the earth! Glorify your name! Glorify your name! Glorify your name in all the earth! Lord, I come to you. Let my heart be changed, renewed. Flowing from the grace that I've found in you. And Lord, I've come to know, the weakn...

I spent about 5 hours at the church yesterday between a meeting and cleaning out the ministry office. There are (or should I say were) books in that office about how life is changing and and how to deal with all the new changes happening in life. I checked the date and it was from the 1970s. Hmmm???? Hot off the press and a must read? Not exactly. Every "new" thing that book talked about is outdated. I threw out a lot of stuff as well as have a huge pile to donate to Goodwill. You and I wouldn't think of using the "new" material I found today, as things have changed so much it isn't relevant. I wonder how many times God wants to do a new thing in our life and we are still hanging on to the old thing he once did. The "amazing work" that God did in our life at one time is great, but wasn't meant to be the only work God wants to do. What amazing work does God want to do in your life? He wants to use you. What do you need to throw away...

It's 2007 and time for New Year's resolutions. But what is a resolution anyhow? I looked it up in the dictionary and there are many definitions, depending on what you are talking about: a computer screen, the law, music, optics, or a solution. The definition I liked for the occasion is "firmness of purpose". When I look ahead at the goal, my purpose is defined and I can press on toward the goal. So, as I look at this year, I have a few goals. The normal things like, more exercise, eating less and healthier, reading my Bible, yada yada yada....good things, yes....but the goal is "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. (Phil. 3:14) Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us RUN with perseverence the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the...

I read Neil Anderson's daily devotional. I thought this one was especially good and worth passing on....it speaks for itself..... 2 Corinthians 5:17 If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Being a Christian is not just a matter of getting something; it's a matter of being someone. A Christian is not simply a person who gets forgiveness, who gets to go to heaven, who gets the Holy Spirit, who gets a new nature. A Christian, in terms of our deepest identity, is a saint, a spiritually born child of God, a divine masterpiece, a child of light, a citizen of heaven. Being born again transformed you into someone who didn't exist before. What you receive as a Christian isn't the point; it's who you are. It's not what you do as a Christian that determines who you are; it's who you are that determines what you do (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 2:9, 10; 1 John 3:1, 2). Understanding your id...