Category Archives: Life Purpose

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Models Wanted – Momentum Day 22

Scripture:  Acts 22

Key Verse: Acts 22:22-23

“‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ “

I like pictures.  Tell me what you want and I will have more questions, but show me a picture and I will surely understand.  I recently sat down in the barber chair and the young new stylist looked at me and said, “what are we doing to today?”  I said, “I’m not sure, what do you think?  She proceeded to show me a glut of pictures of what I might look like if I were in a GQ magazine.  I looked at a picture of the well sculpted hair and said, “that one, but I’m going to keep my shirt on.”

In the above passage the apostle Paul was fighting for his life and at the same time contending for the Gospel of Jesus.  He was uniquely a Jew and a Roman citizen.  His whole life screamed that transformation was possible.  He paints a picture through telling his story of how he met Jesus.  The underlying krux of this whole persecution of Paul is that he is just as ordinary as everyone else, but he happens to know what he wants to look like…Jesus. Paul does what Jesus says despite being a cheat, a murderer and a liar.  On a road to Damascus he saw a clear picture of Jesus and said, “that is the picture right there.”

Here is the problem: Okay, you aren’t going to find Jesus walking the earth.  He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, scripture, prayer and all creation. However, you will find people to help you figure out the next steps in your life who also bear the identity of Jesus.  This is where modeling comes in.

How do I find a good model?

#1 Recognize you need more than one –  It is nearly impossible to find someone who is accomplished at everything.  They just don’t exist.  You need multiple models for different situations.  People to help you who specialize in certain areas.  Our media driven paparazzi culture has turned models into idols.  if you make your model an idol, you will surely be disappointed.

#2 Define what you want help with – If someone sits down with me and doesn’t know what they want, I can’t really help them over the long haul. Know what you want help with and then write down some specific preferred outcomes you have.

#3 Look at lots of pictures – You have to watch people.  I didn’t say envy or make an icon of someone, but be a diligent observer.  If it is in the area of family that you want a model, look for someone you can model your family after.  If it is starting a business, time management, spiritual discovery, or physical health, look for lots of different types of models.  Take every step to ensure they are authentic.  In essence, “Don’t take nutritional advice from an obese man.”

#4 Realize you are a model – This is key because you won’t fully own responsibility for yourself until you realize you are responsible to others.  Almost everyone is influencing someone.  I don’t agree to help someone unless they agree they will model it intentionally for someone else.  I want to plant seeds, not hand out fruit.  There is a difference.
Question: Who do you need to model your life after? write down some people you need to learn from in different areas…

Here are four areas to start with…

1. Spiritual health

2. Family health

3. Financial health

4. Physical health

One more thing...when you know what you want to look like, something has to give, people will be ticked at you.  The people might – just – start – a – riot…

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Tebow-ology

Ok, let’s just deal with one thing.  It is a pretty important thing.  perhaps the most important with Tim Tebow and his expression of faith.

Tim Tebow isn’t preaching this one thing, he doesn’t even subscribe to it himself (as far as I know). He doesn’t believe it.  He just has a habit of being likable, influencing and respectable.  As far as we can tell, he is using these traits to point to Jesus.  He raises money for Children’s charities, He loves Jesus.  He is an all around great guy. For the haters, whatever.  But for those who love Tebow from Christendom, this is what you may be falling into, it is what misinformed naive Christians subscribe to.  It is a perversion of following Jesus.  I now call it Tebow-ology. (maybe its unfair to use his name but it seemed appropriate)

It goes like this, God loves Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow loves God. God made Tim Tebow a celebrity. God helps Tim Tebow find a way to win football games. God is obviously for Tim Tebow more than the other team.  So therefore, if I could just love God more, like Tebow does, he will bless me more.  A further perversion is, “Jesus has chosen Tim Tebow and needs him to get his message out.”  “Hey, it is working for Tim Tebow, maybe it will work for me?”  It is so ridiculous but it is that simple.  Sure you haven’t said that, I don’t think.  In the back of your mind last night on that amazing, game winning, overtime play, I know you were thinking, “God obviously is for Tebow.  There goes God again, blessing Tim Tebow, making him a winner while he made all those other worldly NFL football Steelers evil.  He must love Tebow & the Broncs more than Roethlisberger.” I saw Big Ben point to the heavens when he completed the pass that tied the game in the 4th.  “Nice try Ben, but it’s Tebow Time” 

The lie is: “The better I am, the more Jesus will love me.”  Garbage.  This is a lie that will lead you to religion and failure.  Rule keeping and legalism.  Try harder and then, well, fail.

If we subscribe to, “The better I am, the more Jesus will love me,” we are saying we think when things are going wrong there must be sin in our lives.  There is something wrong.  God doesn’t approve. Garbage.  Suffering happens, regardless if you are more good or more bad.  Jesus suffered, we will to.  You can’t good works your way out of suffering and you can’t manipulate God to make you rich, famous have a more successful life. One third of the Psalms are of Lament, almost every OT book contains Lament. Read Ephesians 3, Paul wrote Ephesians from prison.

Life isn’t all Overtime Touchdowns and end zone prayers.  I want to see Tebow get sacked on his butt and do his Tebow prayer position. That would do more good for people to see.

That would represent more real life – God is faithful and loving through the SACKS and the Touchdowns. Tebow-ology is garbage Don’t believe it.  It stunts your growth.

This scripture is messing me up, let it rearrange your practices:  1 Thessalonians 5:18 “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Then how about this one… 1 Corinthians 11:30 “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” Ouch

I’m done now, thoughts anyone?

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BIG Dreams need small tasks

I have been needing to disconnect lately to think about the trajectory of my life.  I pray and plan for vision in two major areas, my family and 217church.  Once I start implementing, it is so easy to get distracted and derailed from a desired outcome.  I think it is because I lose site of the dream.  The tension revolves around this idea that you have to think about the big picture while you are doing the small tasks.  If you do this, the small things go in the right direction.

What small tasks are connected to your BIG Dream?  Hopefully, lots of them.  This week I get to celebrate all the small tasks Jesus did leading to the Big Dream of the resurrection.  Palm Sunday is next…

Dream big, plan well, implement methodically

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty”  Proverbs 21:5

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Day 22: Reputation

Title: Reputation

Scripture Read: Proverbs 22

Key Verse:  “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Proverbs 22:1

Observations:

Most people I encounter are trying to make more money.  We are obsessed with money and our things.  We want to have things because they give us comfort, pleasure and some of us quite honestly would like to quit our jobs and live the life “we have always dreamed of.”  This is a problem.  I love this Walt Disney quote, “”Find a job that you like so much that you’d do it without compensation; then do it so well that people would pay you to continue.”  A job is done not so we can just make money and provide for ourselves, but so we can advance the work of Christ, provide for others in need and make a difference.

When people think of your name, what do they associate it with?  Being esteemed and respected is a privileged place to have.  To have a name that is great creates emotions and visuals that bring peace and harmony to those in the world.  Ultimately, it all points back to Jesus and his influence on your life.  As he is made great in your life, you become influential.  He is the one worth magnifying.

Applications:

Titus has this card game called, “would you rather.”  Most of the cards are quite ridiculous and pose questions such as, would you rather drive a car blindfolded or ride a motorcycle with your eyes open on the edge of a cliff?”  But some of the questions posed cause you to really think.  One of the core problems with humanity is we desire power and position and then we abuse it.  This ruins reputation.  So many times we see politicians, athletes and actors who let the position or riches ruin their reputation.  What about me?  Would I rather have riches, fame and the good life with a tarnished name and a trashed reputation?  Or do I desire a great name with a humble life where I live modestly and serve and love people?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to desire a reputation that brings pleasure and honor to you.  Keep me from passions and pursuits that will damage my reputation and drive people away from you.

Burning Questions:

When People say your name, what do they associate it with?  If you died today, what would your reputation be?  Are you satisfied with your career and your passion for what you are doing in the workplace?

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Day 16: Engaging Life Purpose

I’m sure you noticed.  (maybe not) Yesterday, there wasn’t a blog and didn’t send an e-mail.  Why?  Simple, I read the Proverb a couple of times and to be honest I had nothing to say.  I started writing and nothing came through the typing.  I prayed and looked at the verses again and, empty, nothing came out.  What I am trying to say is, don’t beat yourself up.  I’m sure many of you have missed a couple days of reading and writing.  If you haven’t started writing yet, writing what God speaks to you is a powerful experience.  Don’t worry, you never have to share a word with anyone if you don’t want.  But I encourage you, if you haven’t started, we are only half way through the month.  Remember, it isn’t how cool it sounds or even about the punctuation and spelling, its about you and Jesus, one on one, him speaking to you, so here goes DAY 16, Hopefully I will see you at the Preview service tomorrow 10 am AMC 24

Title: Engaging Life Purpose

Scripture Read: Proverbs 16

Key Verse:  “The LORD works out everything for his own ends.“ Proverbs 16:4

Observations:

It is Jesus’ perfect will that is being accomplished in this world, nothing more and nothing less.  He is the one who put the Earth, Sun, Moon and stars in their places.  He is the one who was there when I was born.  There I was May twenty-five 1975, 9:29 am, feeble little unimportant me.  I was helpless.  Born into a crooked and depraved world.  I deserved nothing from Jesus.  I didn’t do anything that turned his head and I am nothing great to look at (although my wife thinks I am rather hot).  What I am trying to say is this; it is refreshing to not have to try and live my purpose for my life!  It is refreshing to live His purposes for my life.  It takes the pressure off.  Jesus thinks highly of me.  He doesn’t look at me with scornful eyes, he looks at me and says, “you are forgiven, my son, my most prized possession of all the creation.”  That gives me purpose.  He is worth living for.  I see that it is His end that the LORD works for.  No one has God on a string.  Jesus goes before me and fights my battles, (vs. 7) and he determines my steps. (vs. 9)

Applications:

Why do I even bother living on purpose?  Here are three reasons I choose to live on according to his purposes.

#1 Purpose gives vision – Where there is no vision the people perish.  When I answer the question, what is the purpose for my life, vision flows like an open spring.  It stimulates motivation.  I understand emphatically that one purpose for my life is to get restored to Jesus.  I start to see myself as Jesus sees me and man is that motivating.  It is his love for me.  God just wants to be with me.

#2 Purpose gives a plan – When I get a God given vision, Jesus gives me a plan.  He inspires specific action steps to get me where he wants me to go.  He breaks me down and builds me up through discipline and focus.  He starts to open up specific pathways to the plan he has called me to.  Sitting back and doing nothing is not an option.  He requires me to get to work on the plan and he gives me wise people around me to help get me where he is calling me.  (Prov 15:22, there, I just redeemed yesterday)

#3 Purpose focuses our priorities – How do I spend my time?  It needs to be focused and intentional.  Intentional living creates pathways to progress. Maybe you find yourself scattered? It’s time to live by a schedule and get real about expectations and then communicate them to someone who can hold you accountable.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to have strength through your Holy Spirit to live your purposes for my life. Help me to yield in my relationship with you, help me to encourage and build up the body of Christ and help me to serve and be desperate for people to come to you.

Burning Questions:

How can you cultivate deeper purpose in each of these relationships?  What is one tangible thing you will do in each relationship listed below?

-With Jesus?

-With those who know Jesus?

-With those who haven’t decided to follow Jesus yet?