The Secret of Waiting
Begin to view life from the perspective of the Ageless One.
by Bob Sorge

The secret place is a time machine, transporting us from our time zone to his. Here we step into the eternal and begin to view all of life from the perspective of the Ageless One who is without beginning or ending of days. From this vantage, waiting on God takes on an entirely different hue.

The closer you get to God, the more you realize he’s in no hurry. There is no frenetic hurrying in heaven, only calculated purpose. “Whoever believes will not act hastily” (Isaiah 28:16). Those who step into God’s time zone will not allow urgent matters to press them into acting too quickly and getting ahead of God.

Many of us approach our secret place with a checklist of activities, and we check them off mentally once they’re completed:

Confession of sins
Worship, praise, thanksgiving
Bible Reading
Meditation
Intercession
Journaling

Then, once we’ve completed everything on our list, our time in the secret place is finished. But is it really finished? There is yet another element to be included—waiting on God.

One of the best descriptions of waiting on God is found in Psalm 123:2, “Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he has mercy on us.” To wait on God is to stare at his hand. We stare at his hand for two primary reasons: to serve and minister to him in whatever way his hand might signal us to fulfill; and to wait until he moves his mighty hand on our behalf. Waiting on God is not watching television until God chooses to move; waiting on God is attentively gazing upon him with undistracted focus until he has mercy on us. And until he acts, we just wait on him and love him, I would say it this way: While waiting for God, wait on God.

Someone once said, “We should seek his face and not his hand.” I disagree. We seek his face and his hand. We seek the intimacy of his face, but we also seek the power of his hand. It’s not either/or; it’s both/and. We so long for the release of his power that we gaze with rapt attention upon him until he moves on our behalf.

Waiting on God may be the most difficult of all the spiritual disciplines, and perhaps that’s the reason so few truly practice it. Just sitting in his presence and gazing … it can be agonizing to us who have become accustomed to being bombarded with data and stimuli. We lack the attention span to wait on God. But he knows that, so in his kindness he designs scenarios that will help us learn how to wait on him. Once we press through and cross the boredom threshold, we open to the joys and adventures of waiting on God.

To wait on God successfully, we must come to derive more fulfillment by being with him than by working for him. When being with him fully satisfies us, we can wait for as long as necessary—just as long as he stays with us. This is why Jesus could wait to minister until he was 30. He was totally satisfied in his relationship with his Father. I think Jesus could have just as easily waited until he was 90 to begin his ministry because the presence and affection of his Father made him complete.

Some of the greatest assurances of Scripture are offered to those who wait on God.

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor
perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
who acts for the one who waits for Him (Isaiah 64:4).

Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on
you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who
wait for Him (Isaiah 30:18).

Regarding the latter verse, I have heard some teach, “You’re waiting for God, but God’s waiting for you.” While that may be true in some instances, it is not the truth of Isaiah 30:18. When it says, “The Lord will wait,” it doesn’t mean that God is waiting for you to do something; it means that God is strategically delaying his miraculous visitation because he has greater things in store for you than you’ve even asked for. But to give you the fullness of what he has planned for your life, he will use the season of waiting to prepare you as a vessel, and also to prepare circumstances around your life so that you will be able to step forward into the proper sphere when his release comes to you. He’s waiting so that he can crown you with an even greater blessing.

Many today commonly embrace the idiom, “It is insanity to keep doing what you’ve always done and expect different results.” While that statement may be true in some arenas, it is not true when it comes to waiting on God. Waiting on God is so powerful that the enemy will do everything in his power to dissuade you from maintaining your watch. He will tell you that you’re insane to keep waiting on God in the midst of your pressing circumstances. He’ll tell you that waiting on God is changing nothing. But those who know the ways of God are aware of Joseph’s testimony: Even though you may wait on God for many years, there is a day coming when God will change everything in a moment of time! He may take seemingly forever to get around to it, but once God moves, he can change everything in a day.

One of the greatest incentives of waiting on God is found in Psalm 104:4, “Who makes … His ministers a flame of fire.” The original word for “ministers” (Hebrew, sharat) speaks of someone who waits on, who serves, ministers, attends. Sosharaf hints of intimacy, referring to those servants who serve in closest proximity to the king. And here’s what God does with his ministers who wait on him: He makes them a flame of fire! He ignites them with the passions of his heart and enflames them with zeal for his face and for his kingdom.

God’s flaming zeal empowers us to wait on him. Some of God’s most powerful angels, who burn with zeal for him, are described in the book of Revelation as standing at their post—where they’ve been standing and waiting for centuries—until the time when God signals their release (Revelation 8:2; 19:17). They are enflamed with zeal so they can wait. God is setting you ablaze with his fiery passions in this hour in order that you might wait upon him in holy passion and fiery ecstasy.

Take to heart the counsel of King David who, after years of proving this truth in his own life, left a legacy of wisdom for all men and women to follow. Receive it from a man who knew: “Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14).

Questions to Ponder?

Are you waiting on God? Are you waiting patiently, obediently?

Discussion Starter:

Tell of a time that you waited on God and what were your timing and expectations. Did God come through for you? Was His timing different than yours? Were you better prepared for the calling or blessing in God’s timeline or yours?

Posted in Life Application ]]> http://brianscorner.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/waiting-on-god/feed/ 0 brianscorner http://brianscorner.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/conflict-styles-survey/ http://brianscorner.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/conflict-styles-survey/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:36:58 +0000 brianscorner http://brianscorner.wordpress.com/?p=56 ]]>

Develop an Understanding of Your Behavior In Conflict Situations

CONFLICT STYLES SURVEY

HOW TO PROCEED… Please read carefully.

In your organization you are active in one or more committees, groups or departments which are responsible for signification programs. The group(s) to which you belong must meet regularly to make decisions. In addition, all group members must assume responsibilities for carrying out the decisions.

Following are twelve situations you encounter; In some of the situations you are the group’s leader, in others you are not the leader. For each situation you have five possible behavioral responses. Please study each situation and the possible responses carefully, then CIRCLE THE LETTER OF THE RESPONSE which you think would most closely describe your behavior response to the situation.

As you complete the survey, please remember this is NOT a test. There are no right or wrong responses. The survey will be helpful to you only to the extent that you circle the responses which would be most characteristic of your conflict management behavior in that particular situation.

CIRCLE ONLY ONE CHOICE FOR EACH SITUATION!

SITUATION #1:

YOU HEAD A TASK FORCE APPOINTED TO PLAN A LARGE CONFERENCE. ONE MEMBER HAS IDEAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE SUPPORTED BY THE REST OF THE GROUP. HE/SHE REFUSES TO GIVE EVEN A LITTLE BIT. TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Meet privately with the differing member to let him/her know you were not angry because of his/her position and encourage him/her, for the sake of future relationships, to be more flexible.
2. Ask the differing member to state why his/her ideas would result in a better conference. If he/she was unable to convince the group you would urge him/her to go along with the group’s plan.
3. State that as a leader of the group you do not want to make a unilateral decision, and call for a secrete vote on the two plans.
4. Point out that much time had been spent in an attempt to resolve the difference and, since the majority of the group was in agreement, move ahead with the group’s plan.
5. Ask the differing member to list points of disagreement with the group’s plan, and to define why his/her ideas would result in a better conference. Then you would provide a process for the group to reevaluate its own plan in light of this information.

SITUATION #2:

FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW THE CHAIRPERSON OF YOUR COMMITTEE HAS INAPPROPRIATELY USED HIS/HER POSITION TO INFLUENCE A DECISION WITH WHICH YOU STRONGLY DISAGREE.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Point out your perceptions to the group encouraging others to also reflect on the process by which the decision was reached. Press for policies to prohibit future inappropriate use of the chair’s position.
2. Let the chairperson railroad the decision and simply let the group live with the results, since they allowed the chairperson such freedom.
3. Challenge the inappropriate behavior of the chairperson and move for a recall of the decision.
4. State your perception and ask the chairperson to defend the behavior. If after the defense you were still convinced the chair’s position had been used to influence the decision, you would move for a recall of the decision.
5. Rather than putting the chairperson “on the spot” in front of the group, you would bite your tongue and keep your feelings to yourself.

SITUATION #3:

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PROGRAM WHICH IS STRONGLY SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION. YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED YOUR PLANS FOR THE COMING YEAR AND ARE BEING STRONGLY OPPOSED BY ANOTHER GROUP WHOSE OWN PROGRA HAS PROVEN INEFFECTIVE.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Prepare convincing information to support the need for your program ideas, communicate this to the entire organization, and proceed with your program as planned.
2. Feel your long-term relationship to the opposing group was more important than your program plans, and withdraw your plans.
3. Welcome the conflict as an opportunity to identify shared concerns and goals, and to promote better working relationships with the opposing group.
4. Attempt to find a solution that everyone could live with, by asking for an opinion by the top officials.
5. Meet with the group to explain your rationale for planning your program, inquire into the reasons for their opposition, and seek middle-ground agreements.

SITUATION #4:

YOUR GROUP HAS MET OFTEN TO WORK ON PLANS FOR THE COMING YEAR. THERE IS MUCH DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN CERTAIN MEMBERS. YOU ARE AWARE CONFLICT IS BREWING.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Encourage the group to settle the differences so they might not interfere with the planning.
2. Instruct the parties to get the differences out on the table in order that the entire group might search for mutually acceptable solutions.
3. Tell them they don’t all have to like each other, but they must work together to get the planning done.
4. Reduce the tensions by allowing more time for informal conversation and schedule more breaks during the meetings to allow persons to get away from the work for a few minutes.
5. Try to avoid open confrontation by sensing where persons are in relation to the issues and steering the discussion to consider middle group alternatives.

SITUATION #5:

YOU SERVE ON A STAFF OF THREE PERSONS. THE HEAD OF THE STAFF IS INSENSITIVE AND AUTOCRACTIC. THE OTHER MEMBER IS VERY ANGRY. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HOSTILITIES WILL OCCUR BETWEEN THEM.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Tell them their behavior is interfering with staff effectiveness, insisting they lay their personal animosities aside and begin putting their energies into productive activity.
2. Remain silent whenever they begin to argue, hoping they would work it out, or that the angry staff member would be able to fend for himself/herself.
3. Encourage them to lay their hostilities aside since conflict of this intensity might leave deep personal scars.
4. Try to avoid outright, hostile confrontation by emphasizing the need to reach agreement on roles and responsibilities that everyone could live with.
5. Share your observations of their behavior, ask each of them to state their own opinions, and press for a redefinition of working relationships to reduce the hostilities.

SITUATION #6:

AFTER MUCH CONFLICT, TWO GROUPS WITHIN THE CONGREGATION HAVE DEADLOCKED OVER PROPOSED USE OF SOME OF THE CHURCH BUILDING. YOU HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO MEET WITH THEM TO ASSIST IN BREAKING THE DEADLOCK.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Consider both sides of the agreement before stating your solution to the problem.
2. Encourage an open airing of their feelings and attempt to get the group to decide on a compromise plan everyone could live with.
3. Encourage them to work through their differences, being careful not to cause unnecessary pain for themselves or the congregation.
4. Remind them that as an “outsider” you actually could do very little to resolve the problem, but you were willing to help in whatever way you could.
5. Lead a process to allow airing of the differences, and to search for a mutually satisfactory alternative.

SITUATION #7:

INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS HAVE BECOME DISSATISFIED WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ARE INSISTING YOU RESIGN. SOME ARE THREATENING TO LEAVE IF YOU DO NOT. OTHERS ARE SUPPORTING YOU PRIVATELY, BUT ARE TAKING NO PUBLIC STAND.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Inform the group you have no intention of resigning, and you want an open airing of the grievances in other that some middle group may be reached.
2. Assume the public silence of some members indicates consent, and not wanting the group to lose any members, you would resign.
3. Determine the number demanding your resignation, and of your silent supporters. Having decided the majority was not calling for your resignation, you would announce your intention to stay.
4. Go to those opposing you to tell them you still care about them, and do whatever you could to restore good relationships.
5. Arrange a meeting with your opponents and supporters to discuss and search for ways to reduce the tensions and restore working relationships.

SITUATION #8:

YOUR SECRETARY, A RESPECTED MEMBER OF YOUR CHURCH, HAS WORKED FOR YOU FOR ONE YEAR. THE QUALITY OF WORK IS VERY UNSATISFACTORY. YOU ARE GETTING A GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Encourage your secretary to identify anything in the office situation that may be adding to the problem, and agree upon steps to correct the situation.
2. Increase compliments for tasks satisfactorily done while gently pointing out the trouble spots.
3. Live with the situation a while longer, hoping your secretary would begin to catch on to the office work.
4. Point out the problems with work performance, and if after a reasonable time it was still unsatisfactory, you would fire him/her.
5. State your disapproval with the performance asking for your secretary’s help to outline areas in which change was necessary, and steps to bring about improved performance.

SITUATION #9:

YOUR GROUP IS CARRYING ON A VERY EFFCTIVE PROGRAM. SOME MEMBERS ARE ADVOCATING CERTAIN CHANGES BUT OTHERS ARE DECLARING THE CHANES WILL WEAKEN THE PROGRAM. TENSIONS ARE RISING. YOU HAVE NO STRONG FEELINGS EITHER WAY.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Encourage the group to settle their differences, being careful no one is hurt in the process.
2. Listen to all sides of the issues before deciding what steps to take to resolve the conflict.
3. Keep the opposing groups from outright confrontation by suggesting middle-of-the-road alternatives. If this failed, you would establish group rules for avoiding deadlocks.
4. Bring the opposing sides together, define the issues as you see them, and suggest a process for resolving the conflict.
5. Allow the group to settle the matter on its own.

SITUATION #10:

A CLOSE FRIEND WITH WHOM YOU WORK IS PUSHING FOR A DECISION WHICH YOU BELIEVE IS POTENTIALLY DAMAGING OF THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Demonstrate your unhappiness with his/her position by refusing to discuss the matter at all.
2. Refrain from stating how strongly you disagree, hoping he/she would change without being pushed to do so.
3. Openly express your disagreement, and together search to find a mutually acceptable position.
4. State your position on the matter attempting to negotiate a position both of you could live with.
5. State exactly why you think his/her position is unreasonable and dangerous, urging him/her to change the position.

SITUATION #11:

YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A TASK FORCE APPOINTED TO PLAN A LARGE CONFERENCE. YOU HAVE IDEAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE GROUP, AND ARE CONVINCED YOUR PLAN WILL RESULT IN A BETTER CONFERENCE.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Disagree but not argue since you were one against many. Neither would you feel obligated to publicly support their plan.
2. Encourage the group to review both plans, identify points of agreement and of disagreement, and press for alternatives to reflect the best features of both.
3. Use all the influence you had in the group to get your ideas incorporated into the final plan.
4. Outline your disagreements with the group’s ideas and offer to join with them in building a compromise plan.
5. Go along with their ideas not wanting to block the group’s work simply because you were not personally pleased with their plan.

SITUATION #12:

YOU HEAD A COMMITTEE WHOSE EFFECTIVENESS DEPENDS UPON THE COOPERATION OF ANOTHER GROUP ENGAGED IN POWER AND AUTHORITY STRUGGLES WITH TOP LEADERS. THE CONFLICT IS EFFECTING THEIR PROGRAM, AND YOURS.

You Would: (Circle One)

1. Bring all parties together to discuss the situation, seeing to it that the needs of your group were included in any agreement which was negotiated between the other group and top leaders.
2. Strengthen your own relationship with the other group by expressing understanding to their position, which at the same time being careful not to hurt relationships with top leaders.
3. Stay out of the conflict by structuring your program to be less dependent upon the support of the other group.
4. Bring the parties together to explain how the conflict was effective your own program, and offer to mediate a mutually acceptable resolution of the conflict.
5. Meet with the group to point out that your own program was being adversely affected by their conflict with top leaders, and press for immediate solutions to the problem.

Books of the Bible Trivia

1. Who wrote the first five books of the Bible?
   1. Adam
   2. Moses
   3. David
   4. Abraham
2. Who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes?
   1. David
   2. Ecclesia
   3. Solomon
   4. Jeremiah
3. How many books of the Bible did Timothy write?
   1. None
   2. One
   3. Two
   4. Three
4. Who wrote the most books in the New Testament?
   1. Jesus
   2. Luke
   3. Paul
   4. John
5. In which book of the Bible is God not mentioned?
   1. Esther
   2. Ruth
   3. Amos
   4. Titus
6. How many books are in the Bible?
   1. 55
   2. 66
   3. 77
   4. 88
7. Who wrote the book of Lamentations?
   1. David
   2. Nehemiah
   3. Solomon
   4. Jeremiah
8. Who wrote the book of Acts?
   1. Paul
   2. Luke
   3. Matthew
   4. James
9. What is the longest book of the Bible?
   1. Genesis
   2. Revelations
   3. Psalms
   4. Isaiah
10. What is the shortest book in the Bible?
    1. Jude
    2. 3^rd John
    3. 1^st Peter
    4. Obadiah

Jesus Life Trivia

1. At which festival did the 12 year old Jesus stay behind at the temple?
   1. Feast of booths
   2. First fruits
   3. Passover
   4. Pentecost
2. Where was Jesus baptized?
   1. Jordan River
   2. Sea of Galilee
   3. Nile River
   4. Dead Sea
3. Who did Jesus stay with when he was passing through Jericho?
   1. Matthew
   2. Luke
   3. Zacchaeus
   4. Mary and Martha
4. Who poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet?
   1. Mary
   2. Martha
   3. Naomi
   4. Elizabeth
5. Whom did Jesus call the “generation of vipers”?
   1. The Jews of his day
   2. The Pharisees
   3. The Scribes
   4. The Saduccees
6. To whom did Jesus say “Get behind me, Satan”?
   1. John the Baptist
   2. Herod
   3. Pilate
   4. Peter
7. How many days of temptation did Jesus endure in the wilderness?
   1. 20
   2. 30
   3. 40
   4. 50
8. What was Jesus doing when a storm came up on the Sea of Galilee?
   1. Praying
   2. Sleeping
   3. Eating
   4. Preaching
9. Which of these disciples did Jesus take with him into Gethsemane?
   1. Thaddaeus
   2. Matthew
   3. James
   4. Nicodemus
10. Where was Jesus when he rose into heaven?
    1. Jerusalem
    2. Mount of Olives
    3. Galilee
    4. Nazareth

Jesus Miracles Trivia

1. Jesus walked on what body of water?
   1. Caspian Sea
   2. Dead Sea
   3. Sea of Galilee
   4. Mediterranean Sea
2. Out of what woman had Jesus cast 7 demons?
   1. Rhoda
   2. Margaret
   3. Martha
   4. Mary Magdalene
3. Jesus healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law of what?
   1. Blindness
   2. A broken hip
   3. Fever
   4. Leprosy
4. What was the occasion for Jesus turning water into wine?
   1. Wedding
   2. Funeral
   3. Passover
   4. Bar Mitzvah
5. What tree did Jesus cause to wither up?
   1. Olive
   2. Date
   3. Fig
   4. Pomegranate
6. A gentile woman from Canaan begged Jesus to heal her daughter, who
   1. Had leprosy
   2. Was lame
   3. Was demon-possessed
   4. Had died
7. Whose daughter died while Jesus was on the way to his house to heal her?
   1. Jairus
   2. Jamtha
   3. Jonas
   4. Jacob
8. In what city did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead?
   1. Bethesda
   2. Capernaum
   3. Nazareth
   4. Bethany
9. How many baskets full of pieces were left when Jesus fed the 5000?
   1. 4
   2. 12
   3. 20
   4. 24
10. Who climbed out of the boat to meet Jesus walking on the water?
    1. John
    2. Peter
    3. James
    4. Matthew

Life Application…IV

Financial Crisis

We are where we are!

I know that sounds obvious but we have arrived at this point as a society and country due to things that were set in motion many years ago. Now where do we turn? Many of us know very little about what it means to be in a national recession much less a national depression. Yes, we have lived through downturns in the economy yet nothing so seriously threatening as what we are facing now.

Our government is currently planning a financial bailout (although they don’t like using the word bailout) of our national financial crisis. The sum total of the plan as originally presented is $700 billion. Let me write that out for you in $700,000,000,000. At a rate of $191M/day, it would take more than 10 years to spend $700B.

How do we as a nation pay for this? Tax dollars! This equates to somewhere around $2300/person (man, woman, and child) over a 1 year period. I can only think of one word, FRIGHTENING!

Below is an interesting email that I received regarding the planned bailout of AIG.

OK…..here’s a plan I could live with.

Hi Pals,

I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve
It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S.
Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child.
So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.


Of course, it would NOT be tax free.

So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife team has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college – it’ll be there

Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car – create jobs

Invest in the market – capital drives growth

Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who
lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting
back. And, of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of
trickling out a puny $1000.00 (“vote buy”) economic incentive that is being
proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S
Citizen 18+!

As for AIG – liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.

Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion

We Deserve It Dividend more than do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .


And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5
Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Kindest personal regards,

Birk

Check this out! This is a national deficit counter or clock showing what the national debt of the US is by the minute. Once you open it, hit refresh a few times and watch it grow.

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

Challenge Questions of the Week:

Where do you stand on our current financial crisis?

Are you making changes to your financial planning at current?

Life Application…III

Community

Do you know your neighbor?

Have you made it easier to not know your neighbor today? As you drive home from work today stop in front of your house and consider a few things:

· Do you have a garage that you park in?

· Do you have a privacy fence in your yard?

· What entry door do you most commonly use? Is it in front or back?

· Do you have dogs, large or small?

· Do you check your mail from your car or walk to get it?

· Do you spend time outside or stay inside most of the time?

· If you do spend time outside, where do you spend it?

Psychologically speaking, where you live and how you live, often but not always, tells a lot about you. The tendency exists for people to gravitate to the areas where they feel most comfortable or fit best.

Challenge Questions of the week:

If your home could speak, what would it say about you and how you live?

Name your five nearest neighbors and how many people are in the family.

Choices

As I look around I see my life as a one decision after another, decisions on what to wear, decisions on what to eat, decisions on what to say, decisions to write this blog and its content.  What happens next seems to be determined by the decision made previously, an endless domino effect or chain reaction.  I have to admit that the choices that I am faced with are not always as simple and rudimentary as the examples above.  Some decisions carry a heavy burden and have far reaching consequences.  Some decisions carry such weight that they affect me physically (i.e. ability to sleep, appetite, blood pressure, etc.), emotionally (i.e. my mood for the day, etc.), financially (i.e. can I pay my bills this month, will my family have food to eat, etc.). 

If this perspective is true, can life be summarized as the result or consequence of each and every decision we make? 

The Road Not Taken

                        By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Challenge Questions of the Week:

What is the biggest decision that you have ever had to make in your life to this point?  What were the results?

Dependability and Integrity

Sometimes when discussing Christian values, dependability and integrity get overlooked.  Do you ever wonder why this is the case? 

There are two sides to this coin that you must look at.

Heads

Think of a time when you asked for help with something.  It may have been because the task was too big for one person to complete and you needed the help or you may have asked for help for companionship or relationship value.  The need may have been great or small, important or unimportant, urgent or even tragic.  Did that person come through for you?

Tails

Think of a time when you were asked to assist with something or perhaps run down a list of appointments that you have made.  The appointments may have been personal or professional.  They may have been doctor visits, business meetings, luncheons, or spiritual growth sessions.  Did you leave anyone hanging?  If so, how did it make you feel?  How do you think it made that person feel?

Mathew 21:28-32 (NIV)

The Parable of the Two Sons

 28“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

 29” ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

 30“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

 31“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
      ”The first,” they answered.

   Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Challenge Questions of the Week:

Are you reluctant to ask for the assistance of others?  Why or why not?  Do you worry whether the person you asked will come through for you?

What does the term patronize mean to you?

Is the number of people that you can depend on high or low?  Why? 

We now understand that often times the world does not see Christians as we would have them see us, as we think they see us, or as we see ourselves.  Why is that the case?  Why is the term hypocrite so readily used to describe Christians today?  Is it because we act differently because of our beliefs?  Or is it that we should act differently because of our beliefs but instead act more worldly than our words?

Leviticus 20:26
You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Why did God set us apart or call us to be set apart?  What is it inside Christians that should make us different?  Why should we want and need to share it?

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…

Does our witness align with the fruit of the Spirit that Paul is talking about?  Does our life align with it?  If it does not align are we hypocrites?

Challenge question of the week:

Do you like being told that you are doing something wrong?  Why or why not?

The World

Last week we stopped to think about how we look at the world around us and the others that are in the world.  This week we will go a bit farther and reflect upon what the world sees when they look at us.

Do we ever stop to look in the mirror?  Have we become so glossed over that we don’t see what others see?  Let’s face it, it is easy to look at others and judge, criticize, or otherwise find fault but what does our own reflection tells us about ourselves?  Are we honest with ourselves or do we deceive ourselves? 

If you asked ten impartial people who are acquainted with you but are not close to you to describe you and your character, what would they say?

Honest          Truthful          Trustworthy              Impulsive           Arrogant           Nice

Cruel             Friendly         Miserable                 Grouchy             Disrespectful    Lazy

Impatient       Eager             Mean                       Enthusiastic        Cheerful           Rude

Responsible   Dependable   Accountable             Selfish                Proud               Weak

Wise             Sincere           Genuine                   Fake                  Thankful           Warm

One label that we often get saddled with is the “H” word, hypocrite.  Why do you think that Christians are so readily labeled this way?  Aren’t we supposed to be different from the world? 

Leviticus 20:26
You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

What did Jesus mean when he said:

Matthew 5:13-14 

 13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

 14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.