So You’re Dead… Now What?

In two weeks… LifeChurch.tv.

Rid the Yard of Sticks

I’ll let this speak for itself when you read it.  Rid the Yard of Sticks  This article by David Crowder definitely met me where I am today.

Ride 4 Love

A couple of months ago I posted about the Ride 4 Love. 

So, Saturday morning we rode 28 miles and had a great time participating in the Ride 4 Love to benefit Love 146.  There were over 60 riders and we all raised close to a total of $20,000 for the event!  For a first annual event, this was AWESOME!  Thanks to all of you who prayerfully and/or financially supported us (Rob, Moly and Sally Peck) as The Well Team!   We raised $996!  We couldn’t have done it without you!  

Cruise Control

The last two days’ Swerve talks about “disrupting” the comfortable patterns we find ourselves in.  This has resonated with me in a big way!  There are areas of my life where I feel like I am on cruise control.  For me this means I am too comfortable.  Now comfort is fine, but not if I am “cruising” with regard to these main areas:

• My relationship with family and friends
• My prayer, worship, Bible study and obedience of God
• My leadership and love as a husband and father

Cruise control is fine if you’re on the highway and want efficient travel from point A to point B.  However, we should never “cruise” through life (and our relationship with God and others).  I want/need to be sharp, passionate, loving, wise, selfless (not selfish) and growing! 

Are you “cruising”?

 

Love My Enemies?!

Yesterday, our Pastor gave this great message on Loving Our Enemies.  It was taken from Luke 6 where Jesus commanded us to “love our enemies.”  This has always been a difficult passage for me to comprehend and practice.  The first difficulty I have is recognizing that I have enemies.  Unfortunately, there are three people who immediately come to mind when I think about this.  Think for a moment…who are your enemies?  Through a gross misunderstanding and miscommunication (there’s more to this, of course), I am quite sure these individuals are my enemies. 

For most, the natural response to those who hate (hurt) you, is to hate (hurt) back.  Jesus commands something against our natural instinct, “love your enemy.”  “Love” is not necessarily the hugs and kisses kind of love, but one that means to do the “right” thing.  The “right” thing is to, “do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  Jesus reminds us later in the passage, that it is easy to love those who love you (no credit is given).  BUT, to love those who hate you… wow! 

When we hate or hurt our enemy we:

1. We rob ourselves of our ability to heal.
2. We are not forgiving as we were forgiven (by Jesus).
3. We are missing out on the opportunity to restore a relationship.
4. We aren’t “loving our neighbor” (the second greatest commandment).
5. We are sinning.      

I think about my enemies all of the time.  It’s consuming at times.  I forgive them.  I pray for their forgiveness.  Honestly, I don’t know how to communicate with them effectively and appropriately.  I am afraid of rejection and further pain and suffering.  I am being selfish, I know.  I would love to restore our relationship…  It’s so hard. 

God loved me when I was His enemy.  How can I NOT love mine?  Are you loving your enemies?

 

Following? Or Just Walking in the Same Direction?

Awesome Monday Morning Devotional from Christian Surfers.  Check it out! 

Plugged In.

I have one buddy (yeah you, B) who at least once a month forgets to charge his cell phone and it dies.  It’s a pain for him (and me) because he can’t check his messags, make calls OR receive calls (especially from me…that’s how I know his phone’s dead – he DOESN’T CALL ME BACK). 

I was reminded of this truth this morning when I read my “Monday Morning Devo” from Christian Surfers and he talked about the ramifications of not being “plugged in.”  Think about being unplugged from your job, hobby, friend or relationship.  It won’t take long before it dies.  This is the way it is with our relationship with God.  Try not praying, reading or studying God’s Word for a week…  the connection, fire, love, desire, etc starts to die. 

It’s too bad we don’t have an audible “low battery” that goes off in our head when we need to reconnect.  BUT, maybe WE DO, and we choose to NOT PAY ATTENTION to it?!   Although we’d all recognize that we should just stay “plugged in” all the time with our relationships, jobs, hobbies…and God, it’s not that easy.

Every night before I go to bed, I plug my cell phone in.  If I don’t, I get nervous it will die the next day (although I know it will last 3 days on a single charge).  It’s become a habit.

On that note, almost every morning I spend time reading my Bible and praying before I head off for the day.  Even though I know I could probably go for days (and I have ) without reading and praying, I feel like I need to enter the day fully charged.  It’s become a habit, too. 

Thank God for the ability we have to be “plugged in” to Him.  Also, thank God for His not EVER letting us die (unlike a cell phone) after we plug in for the first time.

How do you remember to stay Plugged In?

It’s Not The Question, But The Answer That Matters…

I check out a blog daily from LifeChurch.tv that has some amazing content and challenging info.  Yesterday and today, there are some “Ministry Questions” posed within the posts that have caused me sit up and do a gut/heart check.  Most of these are gripping!  I encourage you to find someone in your life who can hold you accountable by asking you these questions on a regular basis.  Here are the questions (if there are more in the days to come, I will add them):

1. What did I learn in God’s word this week?
2. Is my burden for prayer growing or diminishing?
3. Does my heart break for the things that break the heart of God?
4. Have I grown accustomed to or accepted sin in my life?
5. Am I doing ministry out of an overflow of God’s work in my heart or out of my own strength?
6. Has my teaching and ministry deepened, changed, or evolved in a positive way in the last year?
7. Do I have a sincere peace that I’m living an authentic life of spiritual integrity?
8. Is my heart growing larger for people and God or is it shrinking?
9. Am I closer to God today than I was a year ago?
10. Do others comment that they can clearly see evidence of God’s work in my life?
11. Are the people closest to me in ministry lifting me higher or dragging me down?
12. How have I intentionally developed the leaders around me in the past week?
13. Am I speaking transparently with at least two other close trusted friends on a weekly basis?
14. Am I submitting myself to the correction and coaching of at least two mentors?
15. Am I holding a grudge against someone?
16. Am I speaking well of other ministers?
17. Am I falling for the temptation of comparing, complaining, criticizing or gossiping?
18. Are my words and relationships characterized by words of faith or negativity?
19. Do people enjoy being around me or am I often “down”?
20. Have I made at least three new friends (in and out of ministry) in the last year?

Love146 and Ride4Love

On June 28th, 2008 there is a ride to support Love146 and their mission. 

If you haven’t heard about Love146, check out their ministry/cause/passion at www.Love146.org.  Check out the stats, videos, etc… you will not be the same after you visit their site.

They need riders and volunteers for this event.  The ride will start in Ballston Spa, NY.  Molly and I will be riding.  If you are interested in more info, speak to us or check our their ride site for this event at: www.ride4love.com.   Sign up!  Let’s RIDE 4 LOVE together!

Check out the video below.  If this doesn’t grab your heart… you must be DEAD!

 

The Well’s “Big Give”

Guest Blog – Molly Whittaker

WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE?!

We at The Well, are going to do exactly that (make a BIG difference).  We are going to affect people’s lives, in a different way.  It all starts with just one person and then multiplies.  The Well’s ”Big Give” a spin-off of Oprah’s, “Big Give.“ We have divided those attending The Well into two “teams” (there is no competition) and we will work together as a team to help someone(s) in need.  We will use the resources we have collectively within our group to reach out to creatively and effectively make a big difference in the life or lives of an individual or family. 

The intention behind this is to reach out to someone(s) in need in our community, or surrounding communities and meet needs that we couldn’t meet if we were working alone.  Our hope and prayer is to display the love of Jesus.  Imagine all of the people who will be touched as we pool our collective prayer, resources, network and energy.  Please pray fot the right people to come onto our radar and that God will direct us how to be used in His way. 

I have sent an email to all of you who attend The Well your “team” assignments.  Please call or email me if you have any questions or you want to be a part of this loving micro mission.

Much Love, Molly

Molly@ComeToTheWell.tv