Articles
Being Real
The following article was published in the Arthur Graphic-Clarion in February 2017
In Acts 2 the early Christians were not only devoted to the ways of Christ they were also devoted to one another. Yes, it says that they shared property, possessions, and other things, but verse 44 says, “all the believers were together and had everything in common.” Does this mean they agreed on every little thing? No, I am sure that was not the case. They were human. What it does mean is that they were “real” with each other. They shared their deepest feelings, hurts, struggles, celebrations, etc. with each other in a very real and authentic manner.
This is something the Christian Church of today needs to encourage. This is something we need to make room for and give opportunities for people to share what is going in their life. This is what can truly bring Christian community to the church and draw us closer together as God’s people. When we can be open and honest with one another we can truly help each other in this journey of life.
Sharing our life stories with one another is one way this can happen. There is so much we don’t know about each other. If we find opportunities to open up and share what we have been through and how Christ has blessed us in life we will find help, encouragement, strength, and grace to move forward in what the Lord has in store for our futures together.
Someone once said, “The world at its worst needs the church at its best.” Being real and authentic with each other and how we live our lives in the world (including social media) can be a great witness for Jesus Christ. The first Christians practiced true community and verse 47 of Acts 2 says that they were, “Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Why? Because when people are real and authentic it is noticed by others.
Run the Race
Spiritual Dryness
My wife Rhonda and I recently returned from a trip to California where a current drought has everyone concerned and thinking about how they use their water. Water is one of our most crucial resources and when things become dry and parched it causes people to think about not only how valuable it is but how they are using it in their own lives. The same can be said about our spiritual lives as well. It is often in those times of spiritual dryness that we discover things that might need our attention or appreciation.
In 1986 two brothers who lived in kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee made an incredible discovery. As these two Israeli fishermen monitored their equipment on the beaches of Genesaret, they noticed something they had not seen before. Something covered in mud glistened in the sun. Upon examination, archaeologists determined that what the brothers had discovered was a fishing boat dating from the time of Jesus (AD 30-33). The only reason the artifact was discovered was because of a 3-year drought, resulting in unusually low water in the lake.
The Bible tells us that in times of spiritual dryness, God may uncover something of fabulous value within his presence. In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul is speaking of the many struggles that come along in life. He says that in life we are often pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But then he reminds us that those times of difficulty are refining us and shaping us into the person that God wants us to be. Physical and spiritual dryness can lead to times of a renewed life.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Positively Better
The following article was published in the Arthur Graphic-Clarion in June 2016.
In Ephesians 4 Paul reminds us that we need to be about building up and not tearing down. He says that we are to use words that build others up and words that will benefit those who are listening (or reading). These verses remind us that social media is not the cause of this, negativity has been around since Adam and Eve. However, it doesn’t mean that we need to participate either.
A couple of weeks ago the Champaign News Gazette newspaper interviewed the new Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman. They asked him what he told his staff in a recent meeting they had. He said that he was trying to encourage them to be positive and confident in the midst of all the negativity that has been flying around at the U of I recently. He said that we can make a choice each and every day to be positive instead of giving into this cycle of negativity.
That led me to think about the recent success of the Chicago Cubs. Even though they have a lot of talent on that team I believe their success last season and this season is largely due to the positive nature of their manager Joe Maddon. He did this same thing with the Tampa Bay Rays who were one of the smallest market teams in baseball before he came to the Cubs. He is a positive, fun, and encouraging manager and that has led to one of the best starts in Cubs history.
As Christians and followers of Jesus we have the responsibility to be positive encouragers in a world that is often filled with negative discouragers. It is not always easy, and I am not always successful at this, but it is a choice that we can make. We need to make the choice that the apostle Paul suggests in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Friends, this is positively the better way to live our lives!