Act Your Way Into a Feeling

Act Your Way Into a Feeling

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by and the Scripture is by Dr. Tim Elmore, and the scripture is 1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Miami Vice was a story of two rugged cops who used unconventional methods to get their job done.  Don Johnson, star of the 1980s TV show Miami Vice, was the man back in his day.   He was cool and tough.  One day as he entered his hotel room, he saw a thief rifling through his fiances purse.  The man had just robbed the place and was determined to get away with his loot.  When Don Johnson saw the thief he didn't have to think twice.  He took off after the crook, wrestled him to the ground and held the thief until police came to arrest him.  One bystander commented, "It was an amazing situation, just like the show!"

Don Johnson had so embraced the character he played over and over, it was intuitive for him to pursue the criminal that day.  It was second nature.  He had "acted" his way into a character.  You are more likely to act your way into a feeling than to feel your way into an action.  There is power in raw action.

Psychologist George w. Crane become known for a case he handled with a female client.  The woman came to see Dr. Crane and told him she hated her husband and wanted to divorce him.  She told the psychologist how selfish her husband was, and she wanted to hurt him as badly as possible.  "Well, in that case," replied Dr. Crane, "I'd advise you to start showering him with compliments.  Make him his favorite meals and serve him in any way you can.  Do all you can to communicate you love him, and when you've become indispensable to him, then present the divorce papers to him.  This is the best way to hurt him deeply."

Dr. Crane sent her off and asked her to call in a few months to let him know when she was ready to begin the divorce proceedings.  Interestingly, she never called.  When Dr. Crane finally spoke to her and asked if she was ready for the divorce-she emphatically resisted.  "Divorce him?" she responded.  "I changed my mind.  When I began acting like I loved him, I discovered I really did."

We must become the change we desire.  We can't afford to wait until we "feel" like it.  We're more likely to act our way into a feeling than to feel our way into an action. 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Bible Doing

Bible Doing

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is from Bob Goff's book, Love Does, and the Scripture is James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

 

The first thing I did was quit going to what Christians call a "Bible Study."  A Bible study sounds like a wholesome thing to go to, and honestly, it is.  They can come in as many flavors as there are people leading them.  At the ones I went to, I learned a bunch of facts and information about Jesus.  We might be studying how a guy named Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus.  The leader would open up a reference book and say something like, "The word dead means in the Greek .  .  ."  And then he'd say, "In the Hebrew the word means . . . "  Sometimes he'd get really into it and talk about the difference between the Greek version of dead and the Hebrew version.  Then he'd ask us a compelling question.    Something like, "When was the last time you felt dead?  Huh?  I asked myself.  Honestly, who really needs to hear a definition of dead?  And what difference did it make?  I wanted to talk about how I could do a better job following Jesus, how to practice kindness, and what might be possible to do with my faith before I'm the Greek or the Hebrew version of dead.

 

The guy's intentions were totally pure, so I don't mean to trash him or anything.  Most Wednesday nights, when I left the Bible study, I found I couldn't remember a single thing we'd talked about either.  But then I realized the reason I didn't remember anything was because, in the big scheme of things, it really didn't seem important to me.

 

So I started getting together with the same guys each week and instead of calling it a Bible study, we call it a "Bible doing."  We've been at it for fifteen years now, and I've found there's a big difference between the two.  At our Bible doing, we read what God has to say and then focus all of our attention on what we are going to do about it.  Just agreeing isn't enough.  I can't think of a single time where Jesus asked His friends to just agree with Him.

 

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Objections to Reconciliation

Objections to Reconciliation

Dear Champions,

The excerpt is by Andy Stanley, and the Scripture is in the excerpt.

Objection number 1:  It's just so complicated with this person because the stuff is so incredibly big.

Reconciliation is not about working through the issues.  It isn't about condemning or making sure you are justified.  Reconciliation is, I am going to open up the door and send you an invitation.  We don't have to talk about any of the issues.  I haven't heard from you in a while, and I wanted to send you an invitation to see the kids.  Hope things are going well. 

Are you saying that we are just going to ignore all of that stuff?  Yes!   Remember that while you were still a sinner Christ died for you and me (Romans 5:6).  God just wants you to send a picture, a letter, or to reach out and give somebody an update.   Reconciliation isn't about rehearsing the past and getting everyone on the same page and dealing with the elephants in the room.  Reconciliation is in spite of all of that.

Objection number 2:  If I start going over there, then it will look like I'm condoning that relationship. 

That's not your real reason, and you are just hiding behind that.  You just don't want to move in their direction.  While you were still sinning with all of your sin ahead of you, Christ 2000 years ago died for you anyway.  He didn't condone your sin.  He just moved into your direction and life in spite of your sin and started working.

The biggest objection:  I don't care how many letters, pictures or invitations I send, it's not going to work. 

If you open up, send an invitation and move in their direction, it's going to work on you.  Whether or not they ever respond and do anything in your direction isn't your issue.  If you move in their direction, down the road you will say this.  "My attempt to reconcile became the center of God's work in my life.  God got more mileage out of that decision than any other decision that I have ever made in my adult life.  Something has happened inside of me."

Attempts at reconciliation always work in someone.  If you are a Christ follower, your responsibility is to do toward them what your heavenly Father has done toward you.  Our attempts to reconcile should not be based on their behavior or the fact that they are ever going to respond or that they deserve it.  Because Christ's love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14), we need to attempt to reconcile.  Christ's love for you and me compels us to set the table, open the door  and send the invitation.  Do everything in your power to make reconciliation possible just in case they ever decide to respond.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Another Great Man!

Another Great Man

Dear Champions,

 

The excerpt below was sent to me by Mr. Jim Mancke who is celebrating his birthday today.  He shared with me that not only did President Kennedy die on this day but also C.S. Lewis.  His response to my birthday greeting today is worth sharing with you.  The Scripture is James 4:6.  God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

 

Thanks for remembering this special day that is actually more special this year than ever. 50-years ago today, November 22, 1963,  I was in junior high school as a 9th grader. It was my birthday and with my being a young office worker, the office staff had surprised me with a very special birthday cake. As we were readying ourselves for the cake cutting, the announcement of President Kennedy being shot was made on the radio. Not long after that announcement came the more shocking news of our President's death. 

 

I was asked to go up the narrow stairwell leading to the roof of Evans Junior High School where the flag of our country was flying. My task was to lower that flag to half staff. As young as I was, I still considered it to be a very powerful moment in my life. I will remember it forever!

Interestingly, another great man passed away on that same day. His passing was obviously overshadowed by our President's death. His name - C.S. Lewis. His powerful writings have touched an untold number of lives and especially mine. He was able to express God's love for me in a way no one else has. One of his more moving writings reminds his readers to this day that a great "stumbling block" for mankind is our pride. As he phrased it -  

 

"There is one vice of which no man in the world is free," Lewis wrote, "which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else . . . The vice I am talking of is Pride . . . Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind …

"As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you."

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

 

The Message of Reconciliation-Part 2

The Message of Reconciliation-Part 2

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Andy Stanley, and the scripture is Romans 12:17-18 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.    If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Reconciliation became an unavoidable reality for me years ago when my relationship with my Dad was dead and dying.  I was going to see a counselor because I kept talking to my wife about it.  Finally she said, "You've said that 25 times.  I can't help you.  You need to tell someone else."  That's what we do.  We take all of our dysfunction from one relationship, and we just dump it on a new one.  Our husband and wives and kids are like, "What did we do?"

Finally I went to see a counselor.  During this time, a friend of my Dad called me and told me that I was wasting my time trying to reconcile with my Dad.  He said, "Your Dad is from a generation where he is not going to come around, and you need to stop trying."

That was all I needed to hear, so I went to my counselor.  "I've done all I can do.  I've done all I'm going to do, and even one of his friends said that I ought to be done."  My counselor wasn't buying it, so I asked him, "How long do I have to do this?  When can I finally give up on this?"  He said, "Andy, you can give up on your relationship with your father when your heavenly Father gives up on His relationship with you." 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

The Message of Reconciliation

The Message of Reconciliation

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Andy Stanley, and the Scripture is in the excerpt.

One of the worst lies that you can tell yourself when it comes to family is, "I don't care."  You were born to care, and if you don't care, there is something wrong with you.  There is a big old bungee cord attached to your belt loop.  You run and all of a sudden that bungee cord yanks you back to that time of your life when you walked away and decided that you didn't care anymore.  This applies to all family members, but where this comes most dramatic is in our relationship with our father. 

Christ followers can't live with the excuse that I don't care because Christ's love compels us, and we are convinced that one died for all and that those that live should no longer live for themselves (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).  Christ did for you something that was uncomfortable for Him, and now He is requiring for you to do something for Him that is uncomfortable for you.  

If you are a Christ follower your entire life is to be a message that says, "Did you know that you can be reconciled to God?"  Reconciliation is in spite of your sin.  God says that you have to reconcile with others in spite of their sin because I reconciled with you in spite of your sin.   Romans 5:8 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  

If we are not careful our message is this.  You can be reconciled to God in spite of your sin, but you can't be reconciled to me because of your sin.  I have standards, and my standards are higher than God.  When you became a follower of Jesus you died to yourself.  Jesus said yes to you so that you can now say yes to Him. 

You are to carry the message of reconciliation.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

All Stories Point to Jesus

All Stories Point to Jesus

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the scripture is in the excerpt.

It's interesting that the two English authors who are the most read authors in the English speaking language in the 20^th century were friends.  One of them led the other one to Jesus Christ.  One was an atheist (C.S. Lewis), and one was a Christian (J. R. Tolkien).  They took a long walk one day on the grounds of Magdalen College in Oxford, and Tolkien led Lewis to Christ by talking about heroes.  Lewis said, "I love the old stories of ancient heroes.  They really stir me up.  What a shame they're all myths."  And Tolkien responded, "But they're not all myths.  You know the story of Sleeping Beauty.  It points to the truth that true love can break the most powerful evil spell.  The story of Beauty and the Beast points to the truth that sacrificial love can transform the greatest horror.  And Jesus -- what a great story!  He's born in a manger, and the king tries to kill Him but He's saved at the last minute, snatched away, and escapes.  Then He grows up, and He takes on the great oppressive forces of life and of the world.  They take Him on, and they kill Him.  But, no -- He's raised from the dead! 

Here's what the wonder of the gospel is.  Jesus Christ is not one more story pointing to those great truths.  Jesus Christ is the truth to which all the great stories point.  In other words, Jesus Christ comes into the world saying, "I am the Prince who can break the spell with My kiss.  I am the Beauty who can transform the beast.  I'm the Hero of heroes, and I've entered into the world's story.  I'm going to put down every villain, and someday every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).  So come with Me, and I will enter into your life and be the Hero of your story.  Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will take the pressure off you -- and I will give you rest."(Matthew 11:28-30)

Believe the true story of Jesus.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

 

If You Want to be Great

If You Want to be Great

The short excerpt is by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page, and the Scripture is in the excerpt.

When I was a high school athlete, the water boys were usually the butt of a lot of jokes.  They did the job no one else wanted to do; they served the needs of those actually good enough to make the team.  They never took a shot, ran a race, or scored a goal, but they still served.  Yet they were often treated as the "least" important part of the team.

But Jesus never views those who play a seemingly "small" role as unimportant.  He never looked down on those who served behind the scenes or did jobs nobody else wanted.  In fact, Jesus flips that concept on its head.  He says that the least among us will be the greatest.  Those we consider great-the best players, the best coaches-will only be considered great in God's eyes if they serve like the water boy serves.

If you want to be great, you have to serve.  We are often just like the disciples.  We want to be great.  We want to be the star.  We want to have all the attention.  In Mark 9:33-37, the disciples were arguing with each other about who was the greatest.  Can you imagine?  Jesus, the picture and essence of greatness, was right there with them, showing them how to be great, and all they cared about was "who's number one?"  So Jesus called them all over and confronted them.  "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."   You'd think that would have ended the discussion.  But shortly after that, the issue arose again.  James and John, brothers, still didn't get it.  They felt entitled to some preferential treatment.  So they brought their mom along when they asked to sit on the left and right of Jesus in glory.  So Jesus answers one more time.

Mark 10:43-45  Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus came to serve out of the position of humility, not to sit in the place of honor.  He didn't seek status; He served.  Those whom we think are least important, God considers the most important.

We say all the time that we want to be more like Jesus.  But when's the last time you heard someone say they want to be "the least?"  Well, that's what Jesus became-the least.  He served us and continues to serve us.  Serving out of humility produces greatness.  There is no other road to greatness.  If you want to be great, serve everybody.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

It's Reasonable

It's Reasonable

Dear Champions,

The excerpt below is from an Andy Stanley sermon.  It wasn't Stanley that was speaking, but it was part of a skit that was being acted out.  The scripture is John 6:19-21 When they had rowed about three or four miles they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.  But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

When a dog bites a man, that's reasonable.  But when a man bites a dog, that is news. Critics say that all of the miraculous events of Jesus are fairy tales.  They say that a reasonable and rational person would never believe that a man walked on water, that a man calmed the storm with his voice, or that a man turned water into wine or that he raised people from the dead.  

The critics are right.  The idea that a man could do these things is as outlandish as a man biting a dog.

Jesus claimed not to be just a man, but that he was the Son of God.  The Son of God walks on water.  That's reasonable.  The Son of God sinks, that is news!

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

The In-Love Experience

The In-Love Experience

The short excerpt is from Gary Chapman's book, The Five Love languages, and the Scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Janice showed up to my office unannounced.  How are you today, Janice?"  I asked.

"Great!"  she said.  "I've never been better in my life.  I'm getting married!"

"You are?"  I said, revealing my shock.  "To whom and when?"

"To David Gallespie," she exclaimed, "in September."

"That's exciting.  How long have you been dating?"

"Three weeks.  I know it's crazy, Dr. Chapman.  I can't believe it myself, but I know that David is the one for me."

What has happened to Janice?  She has fallen in love.  In her mind, David is the most wonderful man she has ever met.  He is perfect in every way.  He will make the ideal husband.  She thinks about him day and night.  The facts that David has been married twice before, has three children, and has had three jobs in the past year are trivial to Janice.  She's happy, and she is convinced that she is going to be happy forever with David.  She is in love.

The person who is "in love" has the illusion that his beloved is perfect.  His mother can see the flaws but he can't.  His mother says, "Darling, have you considered she has been under psychiatric care for five years?"  But he replies, "Oh Mother, give me a break.  She's been out for three months now."  His friends also can see the flaws but are not likely to tell him unless he asks, and chances are he won't because in his mind she is perfect and what others think doesn't matter.

Dr. Dorothy Tennov, a psychologist, has done long-range studies on the in-love phenomenon.  After studying scores of couples she has concluded that the average life span of a romantic obsession is two years.  If it is a secretive love affair, it may last a little longer.  Eventually, however, we all descend from the clouds and plant our feet on earth again.  Our eyes are opened, and we see the warts of the other person.  We recognize that some of his/her personality traits are actually irritating.   Those little traits that we overlooked when we were in love now become huge mountains.  We remember Mother's words and ask ourselves, How could I have been so foolish?

We can recognize the in-love experience for what it was-a temporary emotional high-and now pursue "real love."  That kind of love involves an act of the will and requires discipline, and it requires the need for personal growth.   It is the choice to expend energy in an effort to benefit the other person, knowing that if his or her life is enriched by your effort, you too will find a sense of satisfaction of having genuinely loved another.  In fact, true love cannot begin until the "in love" experience has run its course.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Everyone Is Welcome!

Everyone Is Welcome!

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Andy Stanley, and the Scripture is John 14:6.  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  

Jesus is the Savior of the world.  He came into the world, and He made a very exclusive claim.  He said, I am the way and the truth and the life.  Nobody gets to the Father except by me.  I know that is narrow, and it's not politically correct.  It is the way that it is, and that's who I am.

"Andy, that's the part that bothers me so much.  That's just so narrow, and it's just not fair."

It may not be fair or politically correct.  It's just true.  Don't make the mistake of determining what's true by what's fair.  A lot of things are true that may not appear to be fair.  A quick illustration is paying taxes.  Imagine writing the IRS a letter. Dear Sir, I don't think the tax code as it is currently written is fair. Therefore, I do not think that it is true that I owe you this money.  What's true and fair may not line up. 

The question is this.  Is it true?   If it's true, it's up to you and me to take it seriously and to place our faith in the only one who has ever come into this world who claimed to be the Savior of mankind.

I'll tell you a little secret.  I think that it's fair.  What can be fairer than this? Everybody is welcome, every nation, tribe and tongue is welcome.  Americans aren't more special than others.  Everybody gets in the same way by faith, and the price for admission has already been paid.  What could be fairer than that?

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Becoming the Right Person

Becoming the Right Person

The short excerpt is by Andy Stanley, and the Scripture is Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

One woman shared the following with Andy Stanley.  She grew up in a moderately religious home and was kind of taught all of the right things.  After college she moved to Atlanta and just kind of immersed herself into dating the way the culture says to date.  She said, "It's not that I quit believing or had some kind of theological epiphany that Jesus isn't the Son of God or that the Bible isn't true.  I just decided that didn't matter at this stage of my life.  I'm just going to live the life and just get out there and date like crazy and hopefully find that right guy.  I was in pretty deep in that whole scene. 

One evening I was with a group of people, and there was a guy in the group that I had never met before.  We started talking, and he was the total package-looks, job, car, and personality.  He was also a Christian and was living out his Christian faith in the market place and in his relationships.  He had standards, and there were things he wouldn't do.  It just brought back things in my own past that I really used to believe and practice.  I said that all of that doesn't really work in this culture and in this stage of my life, yet here's this guy that is the whole package living out these values.

A day or so later I was at home and I was talking to my mom and I was going on and on about this guy, and my mom turned to me and said, 'Honey, the problem is that a guy like that is not looking for a girl like you.'  When my mom said that I just fell to the floor in a puddle of tears because I knew that she was exactly right.  That was the defining moment for me when I decided to do what all along I knew in my heart I needed to do.  That's when I decided that no matter how long it took, I was going to become the woman that a guy like that was looking for.   It was a total game changer for me."

Are you who the person that you are looking for is looking for?   The key to a great relationship isn't finding the right person.  It is becoming the right person.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining 

Connection or Distance

Connection or Distance

 Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is thought provoking and is by Danny Silk from Redding, CA.  The Scripture is Matthew 19:4-6 Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

The number one issue that leads to divorce is that I have changed my goal from connection to distance.  As soon as I do that in any relationship there's really nothing that you can do right.  When my goal is distance from you all that you can do is feed my justification for keeping distance from you.  So I misinterpret you, I judge you, and I assign motives to you that are not true so that I can protect my distance from you.  That's why it is so important that we learn to take responsibility for our goal in relationship.

If my goal is connection, then I need different skills to interact with you and to create and protect a connection.  When my goal is distance then I have different skills because all of my skills help me create the distance that I need to keep myself from you.  Am I managing my goal of connection with you, or have I changed my goal to distance?  That is the number one killer of relationships.

No one falls out of love.  You just change your goals.  You didn't fall out of love and you didn't fall in love.  You choose love, and you choose your goal.  Love is not a big hole in the street that you fall in.  You might have been very attracted to someone and that felt fantastic, but you chose love. When you committed your life to somebody, maybe you didn't understand what you were doing, but that was a decision that you made.  You decided to eliminate all of your other options and put your focus on this one person. That's a decision.  If you didn't make that decision, that's a bummer for you and the person that you married because you didn't understand covenant.  

You choose love.  You don't fall into it.  You don't fall out of it, you choose out of it.  This makes you very responsible for what you do in a loving relationship.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

P.S.  You have to ask the question why one would distance him or herself.  It is a protective mechanism within each of us.  It is possible that some people have a valid reason to distance themselves.

The Number 1 Regret

Number 1 Regret

 

The short excerpt is by Andy Stanley, and the Scripture is James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

The number one most common regret by people in the last days of their lives shared to Hospice nurse Branny Ware of Australia is that I wish that I had the courage to live a life true to myself and not a life other people and culture expected of me.  Most people had not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made or not had. 

Our days are numbered, but we live as though we are going to live forever here on Earth. Health brings a freedom very few realize until they no longer have it.  

Our time is limited, so we need to limit how we spend our time.  Our time is our life! 

Father, Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Our Time is Limited

Our Time is Limited

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Andy Stanley and the Scripture is Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Branny Ware is an Australian nurse, and she spends most of her time in Hospice with people that are in their last days of their life.  She asked these patients of hers if they had any regrets.  She began to hear a pattern, so she wrote them down.  The second most common regret is that "I had worked too hard."  Every single man at the end of his life said this.  They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship.  Women also spoke of this regret, but many of them were from an older generation and had not been bread winners.  This means that if we don't learn to number our days that we will misspend our time and life and we will have a regrettable and avoidable regret.  When you think that you have all the time in the world and then you suddenly realize that you don't have all of the time in the world, you can't go back.  These are men and women that are numbering their days because they cannot avoid any longer that their days are numbered.

So what are you going to do with this wisdom you now have that comes with living as if your days are numbered?  What are you going to do with that when you look at your current schedule, pace and limits?

"But Andy, if I don't do as much as I can I will never make it."

What is "it"?  You better make sure that you have chosen the right "it" because you could spend your whole life trying to make "it" and get to the end and realize that it was the wrong "it".

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Mom

Mom

Dear Champions, 

On Friday night, July 5^th, I went to visit my mom in the nursing home.  I had gotten several texts that day saying that she was doing much better, so I was excited to see her.  When I got there I held her hand, and we talked.  Among other things, I told her how much that I loved her, and I told her what an amazing mother that she was.   I told her that her grandson and granddaughter, Sam and Rachel, had won the counselor dance competition at Camp Greystone the night before.  She responded that she already knew that because their mother, Pam, had already told her.  I noticed that she was having a hard time talking because her breathing was strained, so I told her that she could just listen and I would do the talking.

I reminded her as I had done a lot recently that the only way to get to heaven was through Jesus.  I shared Scripture verses.  John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."   Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."  I reminded her that even though she was an amazing mom, that when she died, that the only way to get in heaven was by totally trusting in Jesus.  

I brought my ipad so I played a handful of my favorite Christian songs.  How Beautiful by Twila Paris, I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me, Hold Me Jesus by Rich Mullins, God of Wonders by Mac Powell & Daneille Young, Above All by Michael W. Smith, Breathe also by Michael W. Smith, In Christ Alone by Brian Littrell, Testify to Love by Avalon, Untitle Hymn (Come to Jesus) by Chris Rice, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Chris Rice.

Finally, I prayed with her.  In my prayer I asked God to give her more of His Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13), and I heard Mom whisper back, "more of your Holy Spirit."  I asked God to heal her body among many other things, and then it was finally time to close and say goodbye.  I kissed her on the forehead and told her that I loved her and would be back the next night.  She said that she loved me too

The next day around noon I received a message to call my wife, Beth.  She told me that my mom had just passed away.  I had no expectation that she would tell me that.  I guess that I'm never ready to say good-bye to someone that I love so deeply. 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

If I'm Secure in Christ

If I'm Secure in Christ

 

The first two paragraphs are by Tim Keller of New York City, and the rest I completed.  The Scripture is 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

The Christian singles at Redeemer really aren't that different than everybody else in Manhattan.  In most of Manhattan the men wouldn't even think about dating any woman who is overweight or any woman who is not really good looking, and the women would not even think about dating any man who is not on a pretty good looking career track.  It's no different inside the church than outside the church. 

Do you know why the average Christian single cannot bear to even think about looking at somebody with wonderful character and deep spirituality but who really isn't very cool, polished or good looking enough.  It's because their self-esteem can't handle dating somebody like that.  It is one thing to experience God's grace, but it's another thing to look at people differently through the lens of God's grace.  When you do this, you view social reality different (end of Keller excerpts).

If I'm insecure, then my spouse has to be perfect.  I tell her that she needs to work out and eat right and be a certain size.  I explain that it is for her health.  The real reason is that I need her to look good in order to make me look good.

If I'm insecure, then I push my children to be the best athlete/musician/scholar, etc.  You have to practice and practice and practice.  I tell them it is for their own good.  However, it is not be about them.  The better they look, then the better I look.

This "if I'm insecure" list is endless.  However, if I'm secure in Christ and my foundation is there, then maybe I can love others more like Jesus. 

 Acceptance leads to influence.  We close down around rejection, and we open up when we feel accepted and loved no matter our performance or behavior.

 Champions, have a great summer!-David Vining

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Susan Neder, and the Scripture is Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

True hunger and thirst are a matter of life and death and reveal deep and profound needs.  They are cravings which don't end unless they are satisfied.  In spiritual well-being, hunger and thirst for righteousness are the same thing:  A real need which must be satisfied if we are to be healthy.  A characteristic of a child of God is this craving which must be satisfied.

We can be invited to a banquet with all of our favorite foods but have no appetite for them if we eat a lot of junk food just before the banquet.  Likewise, we can lose our appetite for Christ if our lives are too busy for Him or if we feed our mind with spiritual junk food and unwholesomeness. 

Looking at life in America today reveals great driving hungers, a restlessness, always looking for something else, something more, something that will satisfy, something that will entertain.  There is a sense that something is missing even when things are going well.  The deepest things of this life do not satisfy because they weren't created to satisfy us.  We were created to be satisfied completely by a relationship with the one who made us.

We could talk for days about what righteousness is, but basically it means being like Jesus.  If we are truly hungering and thirsting after righteousness, after God Himself, He promises that we will be given what we desire.  We will never fill ourselves with righteousness.  Instead, it comes in a very different way.  Our hungering and thirsting is satisfied in the person of Jesus Christ alone.

If we hungering and thirsting after this righteousness, it will show.  People who really want something always give evidence of that fact  and do not just sit down, passively waiting for it to come.  They actively pursue what they desire.  The more we are filled with Him by meeting Him in prayer and in the Bible, the more we hunger and thirst for more of Him, never having enough because He is so wonderful. 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Blessed Are the Meek

Blessed Are the Meek

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is mainly by Susan Neder with a little help from Tim Keller, and the scripture is Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Many people connect meekness with weakness, but meekness refers to power under control. It is used of a spirited animal who is trained to obey a command.  Think of a wild horse that has been bridled.  His power is still there, but it is being channeled by another.  After it has learned to accept its master's control, it is able to race more powerfully than ever.  For us, this means a submitting of all that we are to the leadership of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

From Tim Keller:  I know all kinds of people who say, "I'd like to become a Christian, but does that mean that I have to drop my girlfriend because she is not real big on faith?  Does this mean that I'm going to have to spend less money on myself because I really like this and that sort of activity?  I'd like to become a Christian, but do I have to do this and this and this?"  They are saying.  "I'd like to give God the Lordship of my life as long as I can stay in control."  Ultimately, after all of the thinking, at some point you're going to have to say, "I don't even know what it's going to bring into my life, but because Jesus has done so much for me, I give up the Lordship and control of my life.  I am no longer the Lord of my own life, but I am the servant." (End of Keller Quotes)

Meekness accepts God's dealings with us as good, so we accept them without rebelling or resisting.  It refers not to just outward behaviors but to an inward condition of our hearts and minds.  At its root, it is a trusting and submissive attitude toward God.  Therefore, true meekness musts spring from who we think God is, and how He expresses that toward us.  Unless we know Him as good, loving, forgiving, and seeking only the best and highest for us, how can we trust him?

Jesus describes Himself as meek.  He was not meek because He couldn't help Himself, but He chose to place Himself in trusting submission to the authority of His Father.  He said, "My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish His work."  I do nothing, but what I see my Father doing." 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Running Away Or Returning

 Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Henri Nouwen, and the Scripture is Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Judas and Peter present me with the choice between running away from Jesus in despair or running to him in hope.  Judas betrayed Jesus and hanged himself.  Peter denied Jesus and returned to him in tears.

Sometimes despair seems an attractive choice, solving everything in the negative.  The voice of despair says, "I sin over and over again.  After endless promises to myself and others to do better next time, I find myself back again in the old dark places.  Forget about trying to change.  I have tried for years.  It didn't work and it will never work.  It is better that I get out of people's way, be forgotten, no longer around, dead."

This strangely attractive voice takes all uncertainties away and puts an end to the struggle.  It speaks unambiguously for the darkness and offers a clear-cut negative identity.

But Jesus came to open my ears to another voice that says, "I am your God, I have molded you with my own hands, and I love what I have made.  I love you with a love that has no limits, because I love you as I am loved.  Do not run away from me.  Come back to me--not once, not twice, but always again.  You are my child.  How can you ever doubt that I will embrace you again, hold you against my breast, kiss you and let my hands run through your hair?  I am your God--the God of mercy and compassion, the God of pardon and love, the God of tenderness and care.  Please do not say that I have given up on you, that I cannot stand you anymore, that there is no way back.  It is not true.  I so much want you to be with me.  I so much want you to be close to me.  I know all your thoughts.  I hear all your words.  I see all of your actions.  And I love you because you are beautiful, made in my own image, an expression of my most intimate love.  Do not judge yourself.  Do not condemn yourself.  Do not reject yourself.  Let my love touch the deepest, most hidden corners of your heart and reveal to you your own beauty, a beauty that you have lost sight of, but which will become visible to you again in the light of my mercy.  Come, come, let me wipe your tears, and let my mouth come close to your ear and say to you, 'I love you, I love you, I love you.' "

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

The One Concern

The One Concern of the Devil

Dear Champions,

Thursday, May 2nd was the National Day of prayer , so that is the reason for this scripture and short excerpt found in Jim Cymbala's book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.

Satan's main strategy with God's people has always been to whisper, "Don't call, don't ask, don't depend on God to do great things.  You'll get along fine if you just rely on your own cleverness and energy."  The truth of the matter is that the devil is not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials.  But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we lift up our hearts to God.

Listen to David's confident assertion in Psalm 4:3.  "Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him."  That was David's whole posture, his instinct, and especially his approach to warfare.  It doesn't matter what the Philistine armies have.  If we call out to God, he will give us the victory.  If we backslide and don't call, then we can be defeated by a tiny army.

I can almost hear David saying, "You can chase me, you can persecute me, you can do anything you want - but when I call on God, you're in trouble!  The Lord will hear when I call to him."

The devil is not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials.  But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we begin to lift up our hearts to God.

Are not we all prone to be a little cocky and think we can handle things just fine?  But let some trouble come, and how quickly we sense our inadequacy.  Trouble is one of God's great servants because it reminds us how much we continually need the Lord.  Otherwise, we tend to forget about entreating him.  For some reason, we want to carry on by ourselves.

From 18^th Century Teacher Jonathan Edwards:  "The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from prayer.  He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, pray­erless religion.  He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray."

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Susan Neder, and the Scripture is Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Luke 7:37-38,47  When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. . . . I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

In the story of the sinful woman, we see two very different persons and heart attitudes.  The Pharisee, Simon, was cold, satisfied with his own integrity, judgmental, critical and not even providing Jesus with the barest minimum of courtesies.  "The woman who had lived a sinful life in that town was conscious of her sinful past, rejoicing in her forgiveness, and lavishing on Jesus the outpouring of her love.  Simon does not cast himself at Jesus' feet because his proud heart was not broken.  He sits opposite Jesus, confident and satisfied with himself.  Yet, the woman is overflowing with lavish love for Jesus, bathing His feet with her tears and perfume, wiping them with her hair.  Her repentance and sorrow for her sin (mourning) had led her to the joy of her forgiveness.  The one who had the biggest debt canceled was the one who loved greatly.

The mourning Jesus speaks about is the mourning that comes from an awareness of our sin and a right understanding of the evil of sin.  We need God's help with this as we have such a desire to excuse and defend ourselves.  Today, we have a superficial and wrong conception of sin.  We don't see it as the cancer that God says it is- a cancer which will destroy us.  Therefore, we don't deal with it as we would as a cancer that we must be rid of.

We don't stop with the mourning, but we go on to the comfort?   In fact, it is only out of this deep conviction of sin that the joy and the comfort of the kingdom becomes ours.  This is true not just as we first come to Him but as a style of life.  We recognize something in us as sin, and at first it gets us down (mourning).  But, if we allow this awareness to drive us back to Jesus, then peace and happiness return, and we are comforted in the reality of His forgiveness and cleansing. 

This is the astounding meaning of this Beatitude.  Great sorrow over our sin leads us to great joy and comfort as we bring it all to Jesus.  Dealing with our sin in this way brings us "joy unspeakable and full of glory."  Not to live like this means that we have to hide much of who we really are from ourselves and each other.  Let's pray for eyes to see ourselves and our sin as He sees it, and then let's respond to Him as did the woman in Luke 7 whose heart was overflowing with love and joy for the greatness of His forgiveness?

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

A Time For Everything

A Time For Everything

The short excerpt is part of the forward by two-time NBA Coach of the Year, Hubie Brown, in Tony Ingle's book, I Don't Mind Hitting Bottom, I just Hate Dragging.  The Scripture is Ecclesiastes 3:1,4  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. . . . a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Tony's Cherokee High School team was playing Marietta High School (which just so happened to have 6 foot 9 future NBA standout Dale Ellis on its roster).  Tony came up with a trick play called, the "shake and bake."  Now, get this picture in your mind:  it's a big game, the place is packed, and his team is down five points with the ball out of bounds underneath the basket.  Tony called time out to encourage and reinforce instructions.  The players returned to the court and got into their respective positions.

Then, on the slap of the ball, three of Tony's players dropped to the floor- jerking, shaking, and pretending to have seizures.  A Marietta player bent over to assist a player who was convulsing on the floor, and the ball was tossed to the front of the rim where a Cherokee High player scored a layup!  The place went nuts!  The crowd was hysterical!

Champions, hope this made you laugh or at the very least put a smile on your face!  Have a great week!-David Vining

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

 Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller and Susan Neder, and the Scripture is Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Tim Keller says the following:  "For many, it is not your sins or your badness that keep you from God; it's your damnable good works.  It's the things that you think make you good enough.  There are two ways to try and kick God out of your own life and take control and be your own God and your own Lord and Master.  One way is to be absolutely bad.  You say, "I'm going to cheat when I want to, I am going to lie when I want to, and I'm going to commit adultery when I want to.  The other way to completely kick God of your life and totally control Him and be your own Lord and Master is by being good.  By being good you can tell God, "You owe me."  By being good you can tell other people that you owe me.  And by being good you completely zap your life of joy because you look at your goodness and you say that you can do better.  You deserve better.  But if you look at your badness and you see your unfitness, then you can see what Jesus Christ has done for you." (end of Keller excerpt)

We cannot be filled until we are first empty.  Poverty of spirit is basically an attitude toward ourselves as we come face to face with our loving and holy God.  It is a consciousness of our need and inadequacy.  Yet, it is a moving from that recognition not into depression, or an attempt to fix ourselves up, but to cry out to our merciful God for His mercy and forgiveness.  It means to trust not in ourselves or anything we must do or possess to make ourselves acceptable to God.  So, poverty of spirit is the foundation and center from which all the other Beatitudes radiate, for unless we know how poor we are, we'll never reach out for Him.  The whole of life is this:  Total dependence upon the Spirit of God no matter what you do.  How blessed are the poor in spirit.

The recognition of our need is not just bad news.  Acknowledging our need before God, who longs to address that need is the very beginning of life in the Kingdom of God.  Recognizing my inability to make myself good enough for God, to save myself, makes me open to receive the Kingdom of God through the gift of the finished work of Jesus.  This is both the entrance into the Kingdom and the continuous way of life in the Kingdom.  Jesus exemplified this way of dependence on His Father.  "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father doing."  May it be our Be-Attitude as well, and open to us the riches of the Kingdom of God.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

 

Absolute Truth

Absolute Truth

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by RC Sproul, and the Scripture is John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Koran (Islam's holy book) says, "Jesus . . . was only a messenger of Allah . . .Far is it removed from His (Allah's) transcendent majesty that He should have a son."  In other words, Christianity says Jesus is the Son of God, but Islam says Jesus is not the Son of God.  Are Christianity and Islam the same about Jesus?  Can both religions be true?  Two contradictory statements can't both be true at the same time in the same way.  Without assuming that principle (called the law of non-contradiction), no meaningful statement about reality is possible.

The point is that truth is not relative.  Jesus claims that there is one way to get to heaven, so all roads do not lead to the same path.  Truth is truth.  We all know that 2 + 2 = 4.  Relativism is more than logically impossible; it's morally unthinkable.

If nothing is true, nothing is immoral.  Not torturing infants.  Not the Holocaust.  Not slavery. Not rape.  Not drive-by gang murders.  Not nuclear destruction.  Not cannibalism.  Not oppressing women.  Not racial bigotry.  Not any evil act.

And that's both relativism's downfall and its attraction.  People often reject the idea of absolute truth to escape the idea of absolute morality.  They choose relativism to justify their own behavior.  But deep down in their consciences, all people know (even those who don't like to admit it during a discussion on truth) that some acts are absolutely wrong.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

P.S.  When someone tells you that no one can know the truth, ask them how they know that  is true.

 

The Real Jesus

The Real Jesus

 Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the Scripture is Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

If you see the real Jesus, then you are attracted to Him.  If you are attracted to Jesus, then that shows that you are at least looking.  When I see someone who is attracted to Christ, but he says, "I don't want this.  This will ruin my life, and my family will laugh at me.  This will probably change everything, and I don't want this."  I'm much happier about your state of condition than the people who have never struggled or wrestled. 

Until you see not only the attractiveness of Jesus but also the utter demands that intimidate and scare you to death, you haven't really come to grips with the real Jesus.  People that say, "Of course I have always believed, but I don't believe that you need to get fanatical about religion."  These type of people haven't seen the real Jesus.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

P.S.  The gospel message is that you are more sinful, evil and weak than you ever dared believe, but you are more valued, accepted and loved than you ever dared hope.

 

The Road of Life

Dear Champions,

The poem is by an unknown author, and the Scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

THE ROAD OF LIFE

 At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge,

keeping track of the things I did wrong,

so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die

He was out there sort of like a president.

I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him.

But later on when I met Christ,

it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,

but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ

was in the back helping me pedal.

 

I don't know just when it was

that He suggested we change places,

but life has not been the same since.

 

When I had control, I knew the way.

It was rather boring, but predictable.

 

But when He took the lead,

He knew delightful long cuts,

up mountains, and through rocky places,

at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"

 

I worried and was anxious and asked,

"Where are you taking me?"  He laughed and didn't answer,

and I started to learn to trust.

 

I forgot my boring life

and entered into the adventure.

And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"

He'd lean back and touch my hand.

 

He took me to people with gifts that I needed,

gifts of healing, acceptance and joy.

They gave me gifts to take on my journey,

my Lord's and mine.

 

And we were off again.  He said, "Give the gifts away;

they're extra baggage, too much weight."

So I did, to the people we met,

and I found that in giving I received,

and still our burden was light.

Champions, have a great couple of  weeks!-David Vining 

Why?

Why?

Dear Champions,

This week and next week are both poems, and the authors are unknown.

WHY?

 

I walked today through the slums of life

Down the dark streets of wretchedness and of pain

I tried today where few have tried

And as I walked I challenged God

 

I saw the sots in the ballrooms

I saw the prostitutes in the dance halls

I saw the thieves as they picked pockets

I saw men and women living in worlds of sin

And above the den I whispered, "Why God, Why?"

 

I walked today down the lanes of hate

Hearing the jeers of bitter men

Hearing the names as they cursed and spat

"Dago, Faggot, Nigger"

I saw the dejected men they stoned

I felt the anguish of their cries

I saw them as they slapped the lonely

As they turned their backs on human needs

These God called his sons

Gasping for air I cried, "Why God, Why?"

 

I walked today through wars' dregs

Over grave less men I saw the dead, the crucified,                             

 the headless, the limbless, the pleading, the crying

I saw the pain, the waste

I smelled the odor of rotted flesh

I saw the children gathered around

Watching, naked, hungry, weeping, diseased, dirty

The ruins, the agony, the despair, disaster all around

Blinded with tears I fled down the streets

I stumbled, then stopped and shouted, "Why God, Why?

Why do you let men sin, hate, suffer?

God, are you blind?  Are you wicked and cruel?

God, can you just watch and do nothing?

Why must this be?"

 

The world grew silent, I waited a reply, the silence was heavy,

I started to tremble, I waited long, half rebuking, half fearing,

And then I heard from close behind me

"WHY MAN, WHY?"

 

Author unknown

 

" The truth is, every problem in the world is all the result of our choice to do it our way.  Every war, every murder, every rape, every divorce, every prostitution, every needle on the streets with drug peddlers, every lie, every tear, every broken relationship, every problem in the world is a result of you and I choosing to do it our way."-Steve Chesnee

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining