Challenge Me

As a pastor, I tend to put a few messages together that are geared for one purpose...to challenge the believers in the room.  Many times, those messages come from something that the Spirit has laid on my heart as a personal challenge, but other times, I feel that it is good for Christians to be challenged in their thoughts, their views and their walk with Christ.  Today, I got my challenge form a book I started reading called "not a fan" by Kyle Idleman.  With just the prologue and first chapter, many of the things I have thought as a pastor or Christian, have been challenged.  It's one of those times where I believe as leaders, if we are going to challenge others, we must be willing to be challenged by others.  As of this morning, I'm hoping to be challenged more and more in 2011.  I hope that you too will say, "Challenge Me."

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Real Change

As we look to move into a new house this weekend, our family can't help but talk about change.  The kids are excited that they get their own rooms, for a change.  Will and Ryann are excited about changing schools.  Amy and I of course, will be looking at changing many of our current routines that we have been accustomed to in Tiffin over the last 4 years.  The new move even affects Mom because for the first time in her life, she will park in an attached garage.  This Sunday, I will be preaching on how true repentance must always bring change, in a message titled 'Stirred, but Not Changed.'  For too long, Christians have been stirred by a convicting message or a prophetic word but they fail to make a "Real Change", repent, and turn from the sin or temptation in their life.  It does the believer no good to feel sorry for themselves in the natural.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Still Alive

In case you are wondering, I'm Still Alive.  Things have been crazy busy lately for me; a week of Mega Sports Camp, followed by a week of Senior High Camp and leaving camp to close on our new house.  Things have been extremely difficult juggling schedules, traveling, and study time. The good news...God has been there every step of the way.  I am even more happy to be alive in Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-9 (NCV) ⁴ But God's mercy is great, and he loved us very much.⁵ Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God's grace.⁶ And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus⁷ so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus.⁸ I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.⁹ It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it.¹⁰ God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.