Remember That?

Have you ever asked, or do you ever get asked: "Remember?" We all have, as it is a common conversational question when talking about the past. Sometimes, like during a test in a class at school, we might even have asked ourself the question(repeatedly) trying to recall some covered material that had been previously considered not relevant...oh wait, now I remember, that was me (I'll bet I am not alone though).

What about memorizing things? We all memorize what is most important, yes? Our phone numbers, addresses, important places we visit regularly, etc. We memorize them so that when we need the information we have it at hand. Unfortunately, with advancing technology we no longer have to memorize as much as we used to. Information that was normally hard to find, we either memorized or looked it up at a later time. Now we simply "google" something, and can look up almost anything instantaneously! I believe this is both good and bad.

Since we have the ability to access information instantly at the touch of a few buttons, we no longer have the need to memorize some information. Like phone numbers - I don't memorize them because my phone has them, but what happens when we lose our phone? We are totally lost! I am not saying technology is bad, but when it stops us from utilizing our God-given ability to memorize information, I think we are cheating ourselves. Think about it for a minute, and consider what is stored in your memory bank. David (of David and Goliath fame) spoke to what he stored in his:

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Ps. 119:11

Seeing as one can't really store anything in one's heart, we can safely say that David was referring to his memory. David stored up God's Word in his head, so that when he needed to focus his thoughts or needed a reference for a decision, he would have it in his memory. Albeit, David had a selective memory a couple of times, and failed to pull from God's Word in making a few key decisions, he still finished well, and is known as a man after God's own heart.

Memorizing God's Word affords us information we can call upon when we need it and are without the immediate ability to read it or look it up. Were you aware that in Scripture, Jesus quoted from 24 different Old Testament books roughly some 180 times? I would say this suggests that memorizing Scripture is useful.

What we fill our heads with matters, and it has nothing to do with capability or quantity. As a matter of fact, instead of trying to remember the most, give it a shot and start memorizing what matters most - and I am willing to bet you will use it more than you might think.

In His grip,

Pastor Pat

Look Out?!

Did you ever play fort when you were a kid? I know I am dating myself, but before our entertainment became hand held electronics, there was a time when entertaining happened with our hands, playing with our friends. When we played fort, I loved to be the "lookout". My job was to look for any signs of the approaching enemy and warn my friends of the impending attack...it was cool, and I felt kind of important.

As I grew up, the things I was on the "lookout" for changed, and they have changed for all of us. We no longer feel any need to look out for approaching enemies to warn of an attack, and we have switched to looking out for "our own". We take charge of what belongs to us, and keep it safe and free from harm. We look out to make sure we get what we believe we need protecting the lifestyle our own have become accustomed to. This is not condemnation, but actualization of the realty of growing up in the modern times.

But something inside of me yearns to be a "lookout" again, partly because I don't think this is the way it supposed to be, and partly because I think we are under attack by an enemy. The enemy is complacency and our goal is no longer conquest, but comfort, and I believe we have got it all wrong...

And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40 ESV

Maybe instead of looking out for what we have, we could start looking out for those who have less. Maybe then, we could push back this enemy of complacency, and fight to be a "lookout" for the "least of these"...and that just might change everything, ushering in His Kingdom.

Join me and become a lookout again, and let's see what happens! Oh, and by the way: I triple dog dare you!  

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat

Accountable

The majority of people who hear the word “accountable,” understand it to mean someone’s responsibility for something, or someone. For example: parents are accountable (responsible) for the actions of their minor children. OK, you get this, right? But is it just me, or is this “accountability,” viewed as negative? Like you are only held “accountable,” when something goes wrong?

When we speak of “accountability.” we are almost always looking for the place we can put the blame for something that has gone wrong, or for the wrong actions of someone. We don’t usually look to give credit to “others”, when their children or responsibilities are doing well, do we? So when we hear the word “accountable,” most people prepare to be judged and/or accused of something.

Accountability does not mean having Christians looking over your shoulder and criticizing your motives for everything you do. But, some church people have high-jacked the term as belonging exclusively to the Christian community, and use it as an excuse for criticism and open judgment of other Christians, and that is just plain wrong!

Everyone should be accountable for doing the right thing, and to other people. But the process of accountability needs to be one of permission and invitation, and not persuasion and assumption. Can I get an AMEN here?? So how does this happen? First, as a professed follower of Christ, or Christian, you should be living your life according to the life and teaching of the One you profess to follow. Next, you need to invite another Christian(s) to hold you “accountable” to this profession. This means then that if  (really “when”) you go off course, you have given someone permission to remind you who you said you were following, and what they see that is in opposition to that.

In other words, we as fellow Christians should be holding each other accountable to the Biblical standards demonstrated and taught by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ willingly. Not out of guilt or in an attempt to “appear” more Christian, but out of a deep sense of community, based on love, building each other up. This is why we need to be together as believers more than just on Sunday. We need multiple contact points during the week with other believers, who are hearing the same messages and studying the same Scriptures, and who have permission to speak into our lives without fear of offending us.

Do you get this? Will you be willing to be accountable? Share this with another brother or sister in faith (again mandatory they are a believer) this week and ask them to hold you accountable to what you say you believe…I triple dog dare you.

You will never be the same…and isn’t that the point of the completed work of Jesus on the cross after all: changed lives – will you change yours and be “accountable” for it?

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,” – Jesus (Matt. 12:36)

Well?

In His grip,

Pastor Pat

Unstick Yourself

Getting stuck is more than often not, a pleasurable experience. Like for some, getting stuck in the ten item or less line with a guy who has a cart-full in front of you at the grocery store, or in traffic is horrible. Or maybe you feel stuck in your job or a relationship. Whatever is making you feel stuck is a problem, and any help in the matter would be much appreciated, right?

Getting stuck is pretty much a guarantee, so what we need help with then is not avoidance tactics, but help for what to do to get through it. So then the process is about getting through these events so we can become "unstuck". There is a tool offered by God that has, as its purpose, to move us, and keep us moving should we become stuck: faith.

What? Am I suggesting that all it takes to get unstuck is to believe you are not stuck any more? Like some kind of mind-over-matter thing? I am not saying anything of the sort. What I am saying is that God knows us and offers us a tool to help get us through all of life's stickiness. This is not a quick-fix or any kind of hocus-pocus mumbo jumbo. It is faith, and not just any kind of faith. Man made faith creates confidence in man, but the faith I am suggesting offers a strength and confidence that surpasses understanding (Phil. 4:7).

This faith is offered by God, and is given to the degree by which we accept it, make room for it, and recognize it - where it comes from, and in whom we rely on it for. This faith is a location thing because it is faith "in" Christ. In, being the operative word here, as a reference to location or position and not just who He is as the Christ. Jesus IS the Christ (Messiah) our Savior, and the invitation to believe IN Him, is one that provides all the tools to get through any sticky situation life offers...interested?

In His grip,

Pastor Pat