Holy discontent?

I have been thinking a lot about my contentment level. I even recently brought a weekend talk called "Want what you have" which was all about happiness as a result of appreciating what you currently have and not always craving more.

But are there areas of my life that I am not supposed to be content with? Am I supposed to be content with my current level of growth? The fulfillment of my potential? Fruit of God's Spirit displayed in my life?

Bill Hybles writes about what he calls "Holy Discontent". This is the condition from which vision for something new and better for our lives arises. Could it be that there is much that we should not be content with. The world around us is waiting to be changed, the Kingdom of God is ready to be advanced, and people are needing to be shown the hope of the Gospel. If I become to content with my current situation I may not become a catylist for change.

I am to be content with what God provides for me yes, but I am not to be content with the condition of the world around me. May we have a holy discontent that produces holy vision for the difference that we can make in this life and in the lives of others.

Keeping the Junk Out

…Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” Pr. 4:23

I have been watching dilligently for everything that comes into my heart. No movies, no tv series, no random music, less news commentary, more inspiring reading, more uplifting people, more prayer. It is significant to note my level of peace and happiness just by more closely monitoring what gets in.

For someone who is series about transformation and mind renewal it is critical to be on gaurd for all the bad input that comes from poorly chosen entertainment and friends. Choose well and live well.

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!”


Peace,
Chris

Do you ever worry about anything? I mean really worry? Ever have anxiety that wakes you up in the middle of the night-grinding your teeth? How do you deal with worry and anxiety?

Worry is a notorious joy thief. It is impossible to worry and be happy at the same time. This week and this weekend at NCC I am discussing how to win over worry and experience joy.

Worry cannot be eliminated, it must be replaced.

Conflict Resolution

Philippians 4:1-3 (NIV) 1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.


We have been talking about resolving conflict which can be challenging. Which conflict resolution tip from our weekend talk would be most difficult for you? Which would be the easiest? What would motivate you to take any of these steps, no matter how easy or difficult?
1. Resolve conflict quickly – Don't let the sun go down while you are angry, Ephesians 4:26-27
2. Talk to the person, not about the person – Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-17
3. Get help if you need it – Matthew 18:15-17
4. Recognize where you are wrong first – Philippians 2:3-4
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood – Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31
6. Be quick to ask for and to give forgiveness – Matthew 6:12, 18:21-22, Colossians 3:13
7. View conflict as an opportunity – Philippians 1:15-18, 4:2-3
8. Focus on solutions, not blame – Genesis 50:15-21

Remember – the goal is to win a person, not to win an argument.

pressing heavenward

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV) 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

If you have been reading then you know I have been diligently seeking to set my heart back on pilgrimage…on things of the new heaven and new earth. I came across this C.S. Lewis quote from his book The Last Battle.

“As Aslan spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily evr after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their adventures in this world and all their life in Narnia have only been the cover and the title page. Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read; which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

What encouragement to my heart to press on to this day and take as many people with me as I possibly can on this Journey to the next life where all our hopes and dreams will finally be fully realized.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV) 13 …But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

A good example

Philip. 3:17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

That is a bold statement...pattern your life after mine. Can I say that? Is this what Jesus meant when He said to let our light shine before men? Isn't it so they can see? I am called to order my life (public and private) in such a way that is serves as an example to others. The pattern laid out is the way that Jesus lived.

1 John 2:6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.

The way I treat people, view money, entertain myself, schedule time, everything is to be "patterned" after the Christ-life. Paul said, "pattern your lives after mine" because he was in full pursuit of the life of Jesus.

So I am challenged with this today-can I say to others, "pattern your life after mine"? I can give it my best shot today. With God's help, I will set a good example today.

endulge me

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Phil. 3:17-20

Paul teaches us about another joy thief-the endulgent lifestyle. He says that it is possible to follow the wrong example. The affluent, comfortable, indulgent life is substituted for the abundant life that God offers to them through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can settle for the “good life” instead of the resurrection life. Everywhere around us we are shown images of luxury and convenience. We are told that this is life. Have what we want, when we want, and even more than we want. More is better. A bigger house. A nicer car. An extravagant vacation. A juicy steak. All these things are to be our “pursuit of happiness”.

According to Paul, this is what it means to “live as enemies of the cross”. The cross is God’s instrument to kill the sinful, uncontrolled desire to endulge our flesh. Sounds like a drag huh? Death to self never sounds good-especially when we are told so often in so many ways that we are to treat ourselves to so much.

Paul continues by saying that their mind is on worldly matters. All these people can think about is earthly, physically stuff. They get up from the lunch table and ask what’s for dinner. When they hear about green pastures they think about golf fairways, still waters cause them to envision fishing ponds, and fields white unto harvest equate with shopping malls.

Jesus showed us a mind-set and an example: He did not grasp and cling for status, he viewed Himself as a servant to others, He humbly obeyed God, and embraced suffering for the sake of others. This is the pattern Paul speaks of in Phil. 3:17. We are to take note of people who live like this and follow their example. The mind that is set on spiritual things is the mind that has life and peace. The mind set on the flesh is death.

I am taking a fresh look at my mind-set. I’m trying to break the mental gravitational pull of earth and set my mind on the Joys of heaven. My citizenship is there not here. I am trying figure out how to travel this country a little lighter. I owe too much money for too much stuff. I’m not taking any of it with me anyway-it only wieghs me down.

Keep moving forward

The other night I watched Disney's recent movie"Meet the Robinsons" where a small boy abandoned to an orphanage overcomes life's biggest challenges by keeping moving forward. He fails time and again but keeps moving forward. Eventually he meets with the fulfillment of his dream to have the love of a family.

God spoke to me through that cartoon. In fact, I drew great strength as I reflected upon my own journey through the ups and downs of life. Refusing to quit-continuing to bring God my heart-not allowing my feelings to dictate-and just "keep moving forward" have served me well over the years.

I think Paul said it as good as anyone, "one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

As I look to the next leg of my journey, I don't know all that I will face. But I intend to keep moving forward until I reach the finish line and win the prize. Let us finish well.

A Prayer for a Fresh Start

In many ways this week feels like a fresh start for me-a beginning of a new decade. In my morning reading I came across this prayer:

Dear heavenly father,
Thank you for new beginnings! Infuse me today with a fresh dose of your Holy Spirit, and fill me with thoughts that strengthen my character and cause me to grow fully into the image you intended for me when you brought me into this world. Help me preoccupy my mind with thoughts of you, with thoughts that are pure, true, lovely, and worthy of praise. Heighten my awareness so that my thinking doesn’t unconsciously drift into the negative, limiting, and counterproductive patterns that ensnare so many.

Protect me from the temptation to complain, condemn, or focus on what’s wrong with things. Instead, elevate my thinking and open my eyes so that I see your presence in all situations. I want to appreciate the abundance that surrounds me and activate the joy that is hiding within me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Steal my own joy?

I am learning in a much deeper way that my own mind can be my greatest joy thief. Would you allow a thief to come into your home and stay? Why do so many of us allow thoughts that rob us of joy to persist in our minds when we can clearly choose to think differently?

The other day my wife and I sat before our day began and selected some “home base” thoughts that we wanted to think throughout our day. These thoughts were true and lovely and virtuous. As the day progressed there were plenty of things that sought to get me off track in my thinking. Critical, negative, even unbelieving thoughts sought to take up space and send me in an opposite direction than what I wanted to go. I had to re-take control all day long. Real discipline in thought is not easy, but it is profitable and peaceful.

Sometimes I feel like I am arguing with myself. I guess in a sense I am. Negative thinking corrupts your brain and triggers harmful mental states such as anxiety, moodiness, depression, and irritabilty. Unless I argue against these thoughts and replace them with better and higher thinking my life experience will be mostly negative. Most negative thinking patterns are simply bundles of lies that if examined could be exposed and replaced by true joy producing thoughts.

It will take time but I expect to think more joyful, hopeful, truthful thoughts from now on. I don’t want to steal my own joy by choosing to think incorrectly.

Think about it

Ok so I’m reading a very good book right now entitled The 4:8 Principle. Today I read, “Neuroscientists can now demonstratethat every thought sends electrical and chemical signals throughout your brain, ultimately affecting each cell in your body. Thoughts influence your sleep, your digestion, your pulse, the chemical makeup of your blood, all other bodily functions. The secret conversations you hold in the privacy of your own mind are shaping your destiny little by little.”

The average person thinks some fifty thousand thoughts a day. Wow! Is that good news or bad? Food for thought huh?

What do you think about yourself? What do you think about your abilities, gifts, ect…? Do you think God is good? What kinds of thoughts are running around loose in your head? I am learning to think more about what I’m thinking about. My thoughts determine my experience of Joy.

Philip. 4:8
And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Thinking excellent thoughts is the goal. Think about it.

Chris

Fruit of my lips

Proverbs 10:21 (NIV) 21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

It is so true that the words we say can be the difference in others lives. They are the fruit of life. Our words come out of our mouths and into the hearts of so many who need to hear something good. And since God has given us new and good hearts our words can be transformative for others. I am hoping to say some good things today-some delicious things today.

Proverbs 25:11 (NIV) 11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

By the way…I think I made it through a whole day yesterday without negative speech!

Each word a gift

29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. 30 Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted. Eph. 4:29-30

Ok so 36 hours have passed and as far as I can tell my speech has been uncorrupted. No griping. No complaining. No criticism-nothing negative at all. My goal is that my words would be a gift and that the Holy Spirit who indwells me would not be grieved but pleased with the words that I choose. I have never thought of my words as a gift before. I like that.

So today I am giving the gift of words. I am going to use words that lift people. I am intentionally seeking to help with what I say. I am hoping to make the world a better place with the power of well-chosen words. You can too.

Father, help us to give Joy to the world today. Help us to hold out the word of life to all those who hear. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and speak through us today!

Creating Harmony

Psalm 133:1
“How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!”

In thinking about being in tune with God and others, I realize that I have to practice my part if the song is to be beautiful and harmonious. In the end, none of us are soloists but are part of a beautiful choir singing the new song of life in Jesus. Working on my part is important if the song is to be in harmony with others.

Just acknowledging the ideal of harmony with others is a big step. To be aware of its importance and understanding my relationship to others is key-to be in tune with Jesus so I can be in tune with others. Making harmony a priority is the biggest step anyone can take. To consciously set out to create harmony as a personal life goal is huge.

Cultivating the habit of noticing and paying attention to others helps create harmony. Self-centered people destroy the harmony of any environment. Unless everyone in that group wants to tune themselves to the selfish one. When I notice others in detail I am better positioned to understand them and what is happening around them. “Paying” attention is critical. The word pay is interesting to me because I find that real focused attention to others is costly. It many times comes at a price-usually to my own ego or selfish desires.

Learning to listen more deeply is one of my personal goals for the coming year. Empathic listening and “feeling with” people as they speak does much to harmonize relationships. The deliberate investment of my heart in others is what I’m talking about. To create harmony and live in unity is to give Joy to the world and I believe it puts a smile on the face of Jesus.

Romans 15:5-6 (NLT) 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tuned to Middle "C"

“…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” Phil 2:2

I remember when I was a little kid (back in the 70’s) a commercial would play at Christmas time where people from all over the world came together to “teach the world to sing in perfect harmony”. There they are from Africa, Europe, Asia, and North & South America holding candles and harmoniously coming together in unity. What is this that has done what so many have failed to achieve. What is this that has broken down the walls of division and hatred and created such Joy? COKE! Yes its coke the “real thing”.

Harmony is a beautiful thing when it is achieved. I have a lot of experience trying to make it. In music, some of my most enjoyable moments have been in performances where I and others found our parts and perfectly harmonized to make something beautiful. I have also been in other moments where we made something altogether different and, well let’s just say, less than pleasant. If you think about it, your experience will bear this out-good harmony in music always produces a smile while bad harmony will almost always educe a frown (unless you politely fight it).

Life is like that as well. There are times when I find “my part” in relationship with others and harmonize to create something beautiful.

When we moved to Las Vegas, we loaded our piano on a moving truck and drove across the county. The 1000 miles of starts, stops, bumps, and climate change took a toll on the instrument. It had to be tuned. The first thing the man who tuned it needed to do was find “middle C”. From the orientation of middle C the rest of the keys find there correct sound. Then the piano can make beautiful music for all to enjoy.

We are told in the book of Philippians to “have this attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. Apart from finding middle C (Christ) and tuning myself to Him, I will experience an unpleasant lack of harmony in life. In music there are major and minor chords that can be played. Apart from Christ people major on the minor. Pettiness, selfishness, pride, and rivalry win the day. Jesus teaches us how to major on the majors and in humility find ways of coming together to do beautiful things. We can bring Joy to the world as we “esteem others as better” and “look to the interests of others”. Our homes and places of employment can be transformed into harmonious environments of cooperation, effectiveness and great joy as we find “middle C” and adjust our hearts to him. Keeping Him at the center helps us to sing our part.

Jesus truly can teach us all to sing in perfect harmony. He is the real thing!

My source of Joy

The other night I was watching an interview on Lary King with Winona Judd. She was talking about her current victory over depression which led her to alcoholism. She said something that I may never forget: "Now days when I start to reach for a drink, instead I reach for relationships." She went on to explain that healthy, loving relationships was what she always needed and did not have. Now her happiness is found in love with other key people that she allows into her life.

I have found this to be true as well. Joy for me is found in relationship to others who I am exploring what it means to give and recieve true love. Nothing matters more than relationships. Those who devalue relationships lose out on much of life's joy. Paul recognized this in his letter to some of his friends. They had a "special place in his heart" and were a constant source of joy in his memory bank. He could simply think of them and experience joy. Listen to the message paraphrase:

"It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. 8 He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!" Phil. 1:7-8 (MSG)

Jesus taught us that the secret to joy was loving each other the way that He loved us. To lay down our lives for each other and serve one another in love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:11-14 (NIV)

My joy is ultimately found when I listen to Jesus who leads me to live an others-centered life giving myself away in loving relationships with those He loves. I am glad that Jesus is showing me this again. My joy is expanding as I obey Him in this. Like Winona, I too am reaching for relationships.

May the Joy of Jesus be in you today and may your joy be full!