Better Together

In our society, we celebrate the individual, right? Individual accomplishment reigns as the supremacy of a sport. Even on a team we have the MVP (Most Valuable Player). Yet when it comes to problems and pain, we seem to have this overwhelming desire to come together and share in our sufferings. Why is this?

We are designed to be in relationship. Although individual performance is, in itself, not a bad thing, the process of acknowledging this, has as a by-product, a cost that falls on those who are defeated. We have become so accustomed to this, we even have entire television shows dedicated to bloopers, or audition failures, that we laugh at. Not the worse thing ever, but hardly the definition of better together, right?

Better together works, when at its core, is the practice of generosity. Look at this verse:

Acts 4:32 (NIV) 
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” 

Did the early church have more than we do today? Not by a long shot. The early church simply had folks more committed to each other than to themselves. Generosity fails when it has, as its condition, the goal of equality.

Equality is not what makes generosity work. Actually, equality is really only defined by comparison (equal to what?). What makes generosity work is contentment. I can be generous when I am not worried about what I have, in relation to what someone else has: that is comparison. Contentment dies a slow painful death when held in the light of comparison.

When we live our lives compared to anyone except Jesus Christ, we will lose contentment. Only with a proper perspective of what we have, as being gifts from God, can we live generously. We then, can give what we have been given, in the form of treasure, talents, and time. Not giving compared to a salary or a situation, but in light of what has already been given to you.

We are better together because of what we give, not what we have. So do you give out of comparison or in response to what you have been given. The latter is how we can act Christ-like, and truly be “Better Together”.

…just prayin’

In His Grip,
Pastor Pat

Return on Promise

Promises, promises...we all make them and we all want to keep them. Most promises are made with the best of intentions, but unfortunately, life seems to creep in and make some promises impossible to keep. Breaking a promise does not make you an evil person, so let's not go there. But where I think we should go, is why we make them in the first place.

I believe we all want some kind of guarantee, and promises are a way we can sort of guarantee things to each other. Some are bigger than others, but we all make them. I think this is because we live in an uncertain world and uncertain times where we are guaranteed little to nothing.

Guarantees are great, let's face it. Everybody listens to a product pitch when we hear the words "Satisfaction Guaranteed or your money back." Funny thing is, even though we buy products that are guaranteed to satisfy and they fail (more than don't, right?), we don't always return them and exercise the guarantee...it's just too much of a hassle. I bet the product manufacturers are banking on this.

What if we found something that was 100% guaranteed, it worked 100% of the time, and never failed...would you want it? Of course you would, who wouldn't? Well guess what? There is a place that contains no (zero) empty promises: His Word (the Bible),

"so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,  but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:11 NIV.

So think twice before you make a promise, and if you need one, choose the one that has a guarantee, and has never returned empty.

...just prayin'

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat

High-Flow

Rivers flow, stream flow, and even electricity flows. To me, the word “flow,” creates images of direction of movement that is calm, and maybe even peaceful. One thing that I know for sure, is that anything that is flowing, has to have a cause: something flowing into it as its source, right? Otherwise, the river or stream would stop flowing and dry up.

This same truth is applicable to us as well. So in order for something to flow out of us, we need to have something flowing into us. Let’s skip over the gross body talk about flow, and let’s focus on our hearts and minds, and dare to ask ourselves the question: What is flowing through you? What flows out of you is directly related to what is flowing into you. And when it comes to our spiritual lives, there can only be one source: the Bible.

Most everyone knows “about” the Bible, but not as many “know” the Bible. If you desire the things of God to flow through you, then you must be filling yourself up with the things of God, makes sense, right? What are you watching on TV? What are you reading? What are you letting flow into your heart and mind?

John 4:13-14 (NIV)
¹³ Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

So here is the source that never dries up, never runs out, never leaves us wanting more…AWESOME!!! Finally, a source that is constant. A source that is trustworthy and pure. A source that if it flows into me, it can flow through me. Do you want to be a person of God, where God flows through you, or just one who knows about Him? The difference between knowing and flowing is all in how often are you drinking from the source, because, one drink a week won’t do… Open His Word often and with the intent of letting it flow into you so it might be the first thing that flows out of you.

…just prayin’

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat

Relevant??

What does it mean to be relevant? It has become the church buzzword for the past few years, and it begs defining, right? Relevance is determined by the current situation and the people involved. When one attempts to be relevant to one group, one can alienate another. For example: Trying to be relevant to the “younger” generation at church through social media, might cause the “older” generation to feel tuned out, as they have no connection to it.

So how does one, or a church for that matter, become relevant? I say we STOP trying. Relevance is all about our importance, what we can contribute or bring to the table. If Christ is sufficient, then we need only Christ, and our relevance is irrelevant…see where this is going?

Jesus was first tempted by Satan to be relevant in Mathew Chapter 4: “…Turn these stones to bread…”(v.3). Temptation was for Jesus to respond and do something. Satan was saying to Jesus “Come on, if you are who you say you are, then YOU should be able to DO something about it…”. Jesus did not respond by doing something, He responded by quoting God’s Word.

In other words, Jesus was saying and pointing to what really was relevant: God. Jesus’ mission was to proclaim God’s Word, and when He was tempted to prove His power through relevant behavior, He chose His mission, over His appearance, or need to be relevant.

Does that describe your behavior when faced with the opportunity to be, or claim, relevance? Does it describe your church? Seeing that we are the church, His Body, I would have to say both answers would sadly be the same…they were for me when I asked them.

So as we move to 2013 let’s try something different, something revolutionary – to be LESS relevant. The only way Christ and His church will become MORE relevant, is if we become less…

I say we give it a try; it’s my resolve for 2013…join me.

…just prayin’

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat

Looking Ahead vs. Looking Up

As 2013 gets off to a start, everyone has different hopes and dreams of what the New Year can, and will, hold for them. We spend most of the year focused on where we are, compared to where we want to be. We call this goal setting for the most part, and we use these goals as measuring sticks to mark off what we consider to be successes throughout each year. There is nothing wrong with this logic, but it has its flaws.

The problem for most of us is, we spend considerable time comparing. Comparing where we have been, by looking back, to where we want to be, by looking ahead. Problem is not that we are looking, but that we never look up. Often focusing so much on what is next, we miss what is now.

No combination of destinations, possessions, or experiences can give what an experience with the Almighty God can…

Isaiah 45:22 (NIV)
"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”

My New Year’s resolve is to spend more time experiencing my Creator, the Living God, and less time moving to the next experience.

…just prayin’

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat