on the walk

Here is a link to today’s reading:

James 1:2-4

Jesus promises that those who follow him will face suffering. It is a reality of this world and a specific consequence of following Jesus as the King of a new kingdom. Even when we suffer from evil that God did not cause, God can work in the context of that evil to produce good. The only question that remains is whether we will trust that God can use the trials we face to teach us perseverance which will result in maturity.

Today’s Challenge:

What trials are you facing today? How have you chosen to respond to those trials. Are you open to learning even from your suffering? Talk to God about your suffering. God can handle a frank conversation. Ask that God will use your suffering to teach you. Continue Reading »

Here is a link to today’s reading:

Philippians 3:10-16

Change and growth are hard. Trying news things and learning new things are never easy. But the alternative to growth is death. This is true in our physical bodies and in our spiritual life. Even Paul, the greatest evangelist and church planter of the first century, recognized that he had not made it to the place God wanted him to be. He wrote the letter to the church in Philippi late in his life and still he saw the need to press on and keep growing. Paul had accomplished a lot and could have rested on that, but instead he looked forward to the growth God has planned for him.

Today’s Challenge:

Even with one month to live there is growing to do. Don’t let yourself get proud about where you are. Keep your eye on the horizon ahead of you. Write down four ways you would like to grow in God’s direction. Pick one growth goal to keep in front of you during the One Month to Live challenge. Make a plan to press on toward that goal. Continue Reading »

Here are some great thoughts on worship from a good friend of mine who is wise beyond his years.  (And that is saying something because he is getting up there. )

The Art of Worshipping God

Here is the opening,

My highest goal in worship planning is that our worship at Grandview proclaim God’s greatness … while reflecting our gifts from God. This goal can be difficult road to travel, causing disappointment on many sides. Some folks prefer worship to reflect the gifts and tastes of previous generations, without taking our own gifts into account. Other folks prefer the “new” church, which winds up being a somewhat generic, church-in-a-box, nothing-but-beat, just-do-what-the-cool-church-does model that ignores as much of the past as possible. Continue Reading »

Here is a link to today’s reading:

Aaron ran into the plague to save the people. He stood between the living and the dead. You can do that today. Loving others completely will include sharing the good news about what Christ has done. To avoid mentioning the truth that could save someone’s life may be socially polite, but it is not love.

Today’s Challenge:

If you had one month to live, who would you need to tell about Jesus? What is stopping you? By staying silent, are you loving them completely or just doing what is easy? Pick one person you need to talk to about Jesus and commit to a friend that you will tell them in the next thirty days.

Textual Reflections:

This is a fantastic story.  In the climactic moment we are told that Aaron stood between the living and the dead. The plague was not his fault.  The people had rejected God, and yet God was not willing for God’s wrath to be fulfilled.  But someone was needed to stand in the way.  Can you imagine the fear that Aaron must have felt?  Running out into the death.

That is the fear I often feel when I take the risk to tell someone the good news that can save their life.  But unless I am willing and unless you are willing to face this fear, who will stand today between the living and the dead?  I want to be that one.

on the walk

-Ethan

Here is a link to today’s reading:

Hebrews 10:19-25

Some people makes us better just by being around us; others drag us down. Christians are called to sharpen each other, to “spur one another on to love and good deeds.” Proverbs 27:17 reads, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” That is the vision for how Christians should interact. Let us never forget God’s call that we be spiritual whetstones for one another.

Today’s Challenge:
If you had one month to live who could you help sharpen with encouragement or a word of wise counsel? Are you connected with people who sharpen you or leave you dull? Discuss with a friend or with your challenge group how you could help sharpen each other. Continue Reading »

Here is a link to today’s reading:

Matthew 18:21-35

When a major company is in trouble with overwhelming debt they usually ask for a bailout. Our relationships need the same thing. Forgiveness is the art of offering a bailout those who have wronged us. Some wrongs can never be set right. Unkind words can never be unsaid. The only way to repair the damage to you and the person who wronged you is to forgive the debt. This is what God has done for us and what God calls us to do for others.

Today’s Challenge:

What relational debts are you owed? How would you experience freedom if you released those debts? What relational debts do you owe? Are you ready to ask for forgiveness? If you had One Month to Live who would you seek out for reconciliation? Why wait? Continue Reading »

Here is a link to today’s reading:

Philippians 2:1-13

“Me first, me first,” children call out as they run to the front of the line at the slide or at snack time. As we age we learn to be more guarded, but many of us never lose that attitude. But Jesus has a different strategy! Jesus’ strategy calls us to love completely by placing the needs of others ahead of our own. You can do this because you can trust God to take care of your own needs.

Today’s Challenge:

Who have you hurt because of your “selfish ambition”? Whose needs are you called to make a priority? How can you let God work in you to accomplish God’s good purposes (v. 13)? Continue Reading »

Here is a link to today’s reading

John 13:34-35

Life is about relationships. No one sees this more clearly than those who see death fast approaching. Jesus was approaching death when he taught his followers this new commandment, “Love one another like I have loved you.” The command to love others was not the new part. The new part of this is the command to love like Jesus. Jesus love is complete love even to the point of sacrificing himself. Jesus teaches us that when we love like that, everyone will know whom we follow.

Today’s Challenge:

What priorities get in the way of the relationships you need to value? If you had one month to live, what practical changes would you make to demonstrate that relationships matter most? Which of those changes can you put into motion this week? What relationships need an hour of your undivided attention? Write down one person that you want to start loving as Jesus loves you, AND how you plan to show that love. Continue Reading »

[Note: For those of you following the One Month to Live series, don’t worry it will be back on Monday.]

On most nights, the night ends for my boys with prayers.  After a story (if there is time), PJ’s, bath, teeth, water, music and lights out, the boys and I pray.  Everyone gets a chance to pray.  My youngest (3.75)is on a bit of a strike right now, but my oldest (6) loves to pray.  Our evening prayers are mostly thank you’s although we have been talking about how it is good to tell God other things as well.  We can tell God about our worries and fears and even talk to God about things that we want.  Nevertheless on most nights it is a list of thank you’s.  A pretty typical prayer segment sounds like this:

Thank you for this day and thank you that we got to play the star wars video game and that we got to eat apple slices for snack and that we got to make what were they called  (I whisper wreaths) oh yeah that we got to make wreaths even though daddy wouldn’t let me do it by myself or use the what are they called (clippers) even though they are just like big scissors and I know how to use scissors thank you anyway and thank you that daddy is going to remember to put butter on the toast right away next time so that it will melt but thank you for toast anyway because that is a special breakfast and it is important to be grateful even when we don’t things exactly the way we want them and thank you for mommy who is the best mommy in the world, Amen.

A couple of night ago was a surprise variation.  After a prayer through a days worth of gratitude he paused and said,

And God, about the bee, thank you and no thank you.  Thank you that I found out that I am not allergic to bees and that it didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it would so that now I can be like daddy and not be afraid of bees, but not thank you that I got stung today.

I am not sure I have much to add to that.  I have suffered very little in my life.  But that is exactly how Christians should feel about the little suffering I have done.  Thank you for the good you do through it, but not thank you for it.  We are not called to be masochists.  We don’t have to pretend that we are grateful that we suffer.  The scripture is full of the lament of those who suffered and told God in pretty clear language that they were not happy about it, but we can learn to trust God and be grateful in our suffering for the good that God can work.

Suffering is a reality of life.  When I suffer I pray that I can so straightforwardly say to God, “thank you and no thank you.”

on the walk

-Ethan

Here is a link to today’s reading:

Ephesians 1:15-23

You need to know three things: the hope of your calling, the riches of being part of God’s people, and the incomparable power of God for those who believe. Knowing and trusting God’s power is the key to living a passionate and risky life for God. If Gideon didn’t trust God’s power, he could never have gone to battle, and if you do not know God’s power you will never be able to live your life full-out.

Today’s Challenge:

What is an area of your life in which you need God’s power? If you knew that God’s power was sufficient for you what would you do differently? Talk to a trusted friend and ask for prayer and then take a step that depends on God’s incomparably great power. Continue Reading »