Living Messengers

In his book, Lifestyle Discipleship Jim Petersen makes the case that "Our basic strategy for connecting with an unbelieving world is going to have to change." In the past we've assumed that if we opened the church doors, sooner or later the world would come to us. That is no longer so. We live in the first unchurched generation in American history.

Our task is to bring Christ to them - whoever and wherever they are. We are called to serve Christ as insiders in an unbelieving world. That becomes impossible if we segregate ourselves from non-Christians, hunkered down with Christians in holy huddles. Petersen holds that we have "abandoned a post" that was uniquely ours by leaving the world to simmer in its' own stew. You see, Christians often have the mistaken impression that becoming an insider in the kingdom of God means being an outsider to the world. Jesus never avoided the world, even when grossly criticized for rubbing shoulders with sinners (Luke 15). Neither should we.

I like the way Bible teacher, Theodore Epp says it:
"Live as though Christ died yesterday,
rose from the grave today,
and is coming back tomorrow."

Now that's the heart of the matter.

When Heaven Throws a Party

When Jesus described the significance of a sinner on earth accepting Christ, His words shifted to heaven of all places. Jesus offered an intriguing glimpse into heaven at the moment a sinner repents:

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Lk 15:10

Let's see, the angels in heaven actually rejoice and celebrate when one person accepts Christ? Well...yes. I suspect if you or I scripted this phenomenon we might entertain the thought of angelic rejoicing if a nation, city or continent would turn to Christ. But heaven throws a party when one person makes that decision!

Earlier this afternoon a 24 year old man prayed with one of our counselors and accepted Christ. As soon as he left the counseling office he told our administrative assistant what happened. She repeated what his counselor had already told him: Luke 15:10. His response was, "That's awesome! It's hard to believe!"

Yet it's true; we are that important to God -- He values each of us that much.

Max Lucado asks: "When you hear of a soul saved, do you drop everything and celebrate? Do our chests burst with joy? Do we feel an urge to call out the band, and cut the cake and have a party?"

Heavenly angels did that very thing earlier this afternoon ---They joyously had a celebration. May the same be said about us.

Now that's the heart of the matter.

Look Up

Where we keep our focus is where we will live our lives. That means that there is a vital connection between where we gaze and how we live. Let me explain what I mean:
In Colossians we are challenged to move our eyes from focusing downward-on the dirt of the ground, to upward-on the greatness of Christ. Here's how it is paraphrased in The Message:

"Don't shuffle your feet along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to the things going on around Christ -- that's where the action is. See things from His perspective." Col 3:1-2

Several years ago a researcher traveled with a mountain climbing party as they attempted to reach the top of a treacherous mountain. What he concluded about their gaze is amazing. He found that there was a direct correlation between dark clouds and discontentment. When the mountaineers looked up and saw grey clouds obstructing the peak, they became frustrated, short-tempered and selfish. But on sunny clear days, when the peak was clearly visible, the climbers were upbeat and energetic.
We're like those mountain climbers. When our eyes are on Him, we have a passion in our lives and bounce in our steps. But if we hold our heads downward to focus on the rocks and dirt, we become grumblers. Magnify Him with your gaze and the rocks on your path will crumble.
Now that's the heart of the matter..

Successful Marriages

The number of "Marriage How-To" books grows each year. Visit your local bookstore and you'll find racks full of marriage books and manuals devoted to everything from how to make your marriage work; to daring one another, to giving more, to listening more, to communicating more, to loving more (not sure how that one works), and talking more. Whew!
Once in a while a book is published that gives strait-up, bottom-line, facts about marriage; success factors that can be incorporated into any marriage.
"The Necessary Nine" by Dan Seaborn et al, offers nine critical indicators of successful marriages. They are real, understandable and doable:
1. Establishing Cherishing Attitudes (Cherishing isn't something my spouse has to earn, it is something my spouse has to learn.)
2. Pursuing Financial Security (The # 1 reason couples argue)
3. Discovering Sexual Satisfaction (For men sex means sex; for women sex means moods, emotions and everything else.)
4. Spending Time Together (Marriage is a bicycle built for two...what replaced you on the seat?)
5. Developing Genuine Friendship (being chums, companions, comrades and confidants)
6.Valuing Physical Attraction ("I'm going to take care of myself for my spouse.")
7. Chasing Emotional Connectedness (In marriage you are a blend of 2 different things.)
8. Guarding a Peaceful Home (Be the ringleader of bringing peace to your home.)
9. Creating Spiritual Fusion (Bottom-line: All marriages need Jesus as the Head of the home.)

Incidentally, that #9 is most important: Recent research done at Fuller Seminary reveals that the probability of divorce for couples who pray together is 1 in 1052!
That's the Heart of the Matter.