Last week I shared on another of the names of God in our aka:God series. Jehovah Roeh which means “The Lord is our Shepherd”. It also means to be companions, to associate with, to be a special friend, to shepherd, ruler, teacher.
In the bible a shepherd was responsible for the welfare of his sheep. His role was one of bring guidance, safety and security to get his sheep from one place to another. But if God is our shepherd what does that make us?
Wouldn't it be nicer to be likened to a lion, or maybe anything else that even resembles strength? But the truth is we are like sheep, fearful, prone to disease, easily lead astray, follow the crowd and sometimes not real smart...have a look at the video.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Do we see what He see's
I am presently sitting at Gold Coast airport waiting to catch a plane to Sydney so I can drive to Nowra for one of my friends opening of his new church facility. Its pelting down rain and all the arriving planes have been diverted. I hate waiting and even more tormenting not knowing, I really hate not knowing. Are we flying from here, will I make it in time, will I even get out?
Genesis 22 is one of the great bible stories of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham is about to sacrifice his son when at the 11.59 and 55 seconds God interrupts (I like those interruptions) and tells him to stop. As they lift there eyes there is a ram caught in a thicket which Abraham swaps out for his son. And Abraham's response! "You are Jehovah Jireh" which means the Lord see's and provides". What a great reminder when we are stuck at 11.59 with seemingly no way out, The Lord see's and provides. Thank God that His eyesight is better than ours.
Genesis 22 is one of the great bible stories of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham is about to sacrifice his son when at the 11.59 and 55 seconds God interrupts (I like those interruptions) and tells him to stop. As they lift there eyes there is a ram caught in a thicket which Abraham swaps out for his son. And Abraham's response! "You are Jehovah Jireh" which means the Lord see's and provides". What a great reminder when we are stuck at 11.59 with seemingly no way out, The Lord see's and provides. Thank God that His eyesight is better than ours.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Who moved the stone 2?
We pick up this story in Matthew 15 and Jesus is again confronting some Pharisees about their perspective about the disciples not washing their hands. Bottom line is they were angry because the disciples seemed to be ignoring these customs.
These few verses I think capture our leadership success or failure better than any other verse.
Matthew 15:15-20 (NLT)
Then Peter asked Jesus, "Explain what you meant when you said people aren't defiled by what they eat."
[16] "Don't you understand?" Jesus asked him. [17] "Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes out of the body.
Even the Pharisees didn’t argue with that one!
[18] But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. [19] For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. [20] These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!"
If we have heart problems we will have leadership problems. Just as a healthy lung can’t cover for a bad heart good leadership, great with people doesn’t make up for a corrupt heart.
A. What’s inside ultimately gets reflected on the outside.
1. Our words reflect the condition of our hearts (v. 18).
When we say, “I didn’t mean that,” the truth is that we didn’t mean to say that, but . . . we meant it. It was in our hearts and slipped out. In those unguarded moments, our hearts are revealed.
2. Our actions reflect the condition of our hearts (v. 19).
In youth ministry, parents would say about their kids, “He’s got a good heart, he just got into a little trouble.”—WRONG. Your child’s heart is fouled up. It’s a heart problem, not just a behavioral problem.
More next time!
These few verses I think capture our leadership success or failure better than any other verse.
Matthew 15:15-20 (NLT)
Then Peter asked Jesus, "Explain what you meant when you said people aren't defiled by what they eat."
[16] "Don't you understand?" Jesus asked him. [17] "Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes out of the body.
Even the Pharisees didn’t argue with that one!
[18] But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. [19] For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. [20] These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!"
If we have heart problems we will have leadership problems. Just as a healthy lung can’t cover for a bad heart good leadership, great with people doesn’t make up for a corrupt heart.
A. What’s inside ultimately gets reflected on the outside.
1. Our words reflect the condition of our hearts (v. 18).
When we say, “I didn’t mean that,” the truth is that we didn’t mean to say that, but . . . we meant it. It was in our hearts and slipped out. In those unguarded moments, our hearts are revealed.
2. Our actions reflect the condition of our hearts (v. 19).
In youth ministry, parents would say about their kids, “He’s got a good heart, he just got into a little trouble.”—WRONG. Your child’s heart is fouled up. It’s a heart problem, not just a behavioral problem.
More next time!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Moving Fast
Here is a great video that reminds us just how important it is to stay relevant with what is taking place around us. Although often viewed as "unspiritual" technology is still the best way to reach as many people as we can.
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