Thoughts from a short "Vacation"

Terri and I took a few days this past week to travel south. Her nephew graduated from High School in southern Tennessee, so we took the opportunity to take a few extra days to relax (by the time we arrived back, we had driven over 1000 miles, so "relax" may not be the exact word!)

I had several thoughts while experiencing the different pieces of our trip.

1. We passed through Lynchburg, TN, home of the Jack Daniel's Distillery. The entire town seems focused on and dependent on this one business for it's survival. Everything centers around the product and any other product that can be invented to play off of this brand.

It made me wonder what it would be like if communities of believers could really be this same way -- completely centered and dependent on only Jesus for our survival. I see positive signs that this kind of "community desperation" for Jesus is rising up here at New Life. How exciting it would be to have increasing numbers...into the thousands...of believers dependent and focused on Jesus for our very existence. God would be glorified in the church!

2. While in Louisville, KY, we visited my parent's church. Knowing the recent history of this body (major financial snafus by senior leadership and then declining membership), I was impressed with a palpable sense of excitement and vibrancy amongst the people.

I think this comes from desperation too -- they'd seen the bottom and turned completely to Jesus for every answer and every need. Now God is bringing new growth and they rejoice in His provision. I see this too at New Life. A growing desire to be what God wants us to be -- both as individuals and as a church. We have seen challenging times in the past and now we move into the future with dependence and hope.

What do you think? Are you experiencing this in your life? Do you see it growing around you?

RISKING IT ALL FOR THE KINGDOM!

Well, the weekend is over and I believe that God challenged many, many people to look again at their lives and ask these three questions:

* Is there a Kingdom-sized, "Only-God-can-do-it" RISK that God is telling you to take?
* Are fears that you need to let go of so you can be subject, not to the fears but to God alone?
* What step is God asking you to take?

I feel as though God is taking many members of our congregation to a new level of dependance and obedience with Him! There is no way we can study the life of a great woman of faith like Esther and not evaluate our own "Kingdom-size" efforts. I talked with some who are on the verge of great things as they let go of fear or comfort or their own plans and follow God.

I'd love to know what some of these RISKS that God is bringing to the surface are. I hope you'll take a moment and share them here.

The Power of Desire

I talk to alot of people who say they want something. They want to change. They want to stop sinning. They want to love God more. They want to have a better marriage. They want to be consistent in their daily time with god. They want a spiritual partnership. They want...

I've decided that there is a word beyond "want", it's the word "desire". It's much deeper down within us than "want". It has to do with our value system -- what we truly believe. It comes often out of desparation, when we know that without Jesus, without complete commitment to Godliness, we will not move forward. We'll just continue to flounder around. We'll continue to constantly be frustrated by lack of progress.

What do you desire? What are you passionate about? What are you desparate for in your life? Whatever it is, it is achievable, but it can't be done in a "fast-food-window-style" way! It won't happen just because you think it's a great idea! It won't happen just because you have a great friend or counsellor who wants it for you! It'll happen when YOU get serious with God and tap into the power of desire! You'll work harder. You'll pray harder! You'll push yourself! You'll achieve a new level of accountability!

You'll actually DO IT!