“A healthy community is not a place of perfect people.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 54). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

That is the truth.  Health from a Spiritual standpoint means that I am honest and also accepting but not perfect.  The truth is, I cannot be honest and perfect.  Because in all honesty I know I am not perfect.  I can have God’s perfect love inside me but my actions are still not going to be perfect.  That is what growing in the Spirit is all about.

I like what he also says right before this quote, “We are all hypocrites in transition. I am not who I want to be, but I am on the journey there, and thankfully I am not whom I used to be.”

Somebody says, “I don’t want to go to church because there are so many hypocrites there” and that is the truth.  We are all hypocrites but hopefully in transition.”  Now the problem is if I am using someone who I believe is a hypocrite to keep me from God.  If I am doing that then that person is closer to Him than I am. 

Now the key is there are some hypocrites who are not in transition.  That is a problem.  They are saying one thing and not striving to be who God calls them to be.  But if they are going to church the potential is there to hear something or see something and the Holy Spirit could quicken their desire to grow.  But the other problem is, the only person I really know is me so how can I judge someone else.  And I know that I have a long way to go to be like Christ.  You see, honesty and acceptance is the key to a healthy community.

My honesty about my imperfection and my need of His grace and His love will help me to accept your hypocrisy in transition.  We have not arrived yet but we are on the journey and God wants us to and we need do it together.

So how are you doing?

“It’s time to recognize the opposite of ‘me’ isn’t ‘you,’ but ‘we.’”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 53). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

The problem with the “we” is that for so many there is pain.  They can handle the “me” and the “you” but have problems with the “we”.  And that is where the despair, the loneliness, the isolation come from.  “You” and I, (“me”) were created for “we”.

Now in looking at the “you” there can be a wall of separation but not with the “we”.  I mean the “you” has hurt me.  I can’t trust “you”.  “You” have disappointed me.  But with the “we” there can be connection, relationship, community, support, love and power.

Everyone is looking for the “we”.  But there is danger in connecting with the wrong “we”.  The key is to first connect with the right “we” and then go from there.

Scott Daniels the Pastor of Pasadena 1^st Nazarene Church was talking about the problem of kids growing up in the church and then leaving at around 19 and then coming back at around 30.  The good thing is coming back at 30 but the problem is that during that 10 to 11 year period they were gone they made some of the major decisions of their lives without a “we” God focus.  They chose a mate that didn’t have a “we” God focus and when they came back to God it was a problem.  The “we” becomes a “me” and a “you” and no marriage can work that way.

So the first “we” must be a connection with “me” and “God”.  That relationship makes a difference with all the other relationships in my life.  He is where the “me” and “you” truly becomes a “we”.  He gives "me" and "you" the authentic love that makes a true "we". 

So is it all a “me and “you” or is there a “we” in there?

“Knowing doesn’t make the difference. Doing does.”

A thought by Andy Stanley, (2009-03-31). From his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 178). Thomas Nelson - A. Kindle Edition.

Now knowing that I have another 20+ lbs. to lose doesn’t make the difference. Walking that extra mile, not eating the maple scone and drinking that water does.

Knowing the path I need to take to get where I want to go doesn't make a difference.  Taking it does.

Knowing from this friend that a certain guy will take care of a certain task and having his phone number doesn’t make the difference.  Picking up the phone and getting an appointment with him does.

Knowing that the place to start in finding out about what Christ is like is the Gospels in the New Testament is great information but doesn’t make the difference.  Reading the first verse in the first chapter of Matthew does.

Knowing that my car is close to running out of gas is important but doesn’t make a difference.  Stopping at the nearest gas station and filling it up does.

Knowing that I want to get back with that friend that I hurt is insightful but makes no difference.  Calling them up as soon as possible to get together with them and then asking them to forgive you for hurting them does.

Knowing that your spouse needs you to say you love them doesn’t make a difference.  Telling them you do and meaning it does.

Knowing you kids needs some time with you doesn’t make a difference to them.  Taking each one out for some personal time just the two of you does.

Knowing your spouse is having a very difficult time at work and really needs to talk about it doesn’t make a difference.  Taking some time and just stopping and listening to them talk does.

Knowing that you are spending too much time at work doesn’t make a difference.  Reevaluating your priorities and refocusing does.

Do you get the point?

“The greatest opportunities require the highest risk.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Locations 1405-1406). Kindle Edition.

Today is in Margaret and my life a very exciting day.  It is our daughter Stefanie’s birthday.  She was born 30 years ago today between 12:00 am and 1:00 am in Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana.  The fact of being a parent is for sure one of the greatest opportunities two people can have together but it also has such high risks in it.

There is the risk of childbirth.  It can be a life and death situation.  Nearly six months back we saw that potential when Stef and Andrews’s little Harper was born.  She was at risk.  Margaret and I barely made it from Pasadena, California to Las Vegas, Nevada before Stef went into the delivery room.  The birthing of a child has risks.

Then raising them to adult hood has risks.  But there are so many great opportunities along the way.  I love the privilege of being a parent and I love the privilege of being a grandparent.  But it all started with another great opportunity that also was a great risk when I asked Margaret to be my wife and she said, “Yes.”  And it for sure has been worth the risk.

Life has it’s opportunities that have great risks involved in them, but they are so worth the risk.  I hurt for people who have all through their lives taken the safe way.  They were afraid and so they let so many great opportunities go by the way.  In reality they haven’t really lived life, they have just existed. 

I have a friend who lives on the east coast who is afraid to fly.  He’s never seen the Rockies in Colorado or the Sierras’ of California.  Of course he has never seen Hawaii.  His fear kept him from experiencing so much of God’s wonders. 

Others have lived the life of a single because of the fear of rejection.  Oh there is nothing wrong with being single but not because of fear. 

There are so many great opportunities out there that God has prepared for us to enjoy and experience but in all of them there is some risk involved.  But there is also a God who will be there to guide you through those risks.  That is what faith and trust is all about.

So what great opportunity are you afraid to take the risk to do?

“Perhaps with unlimited time we could make more of our dreams come true.”

A thought by Andy Stanley, (2009-03-31) from his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 158). Thomas Nelson - A. Kindle Edition.

Right at this time as a retired minister there are three churches in three different areas of LA that I would love to give the rest of my life to be a part of.  Not as a minister but as a committed laymen.  Two of them when I took a weekend off from the church I pastored in Las Vegas I would make it a point to visit at least once a year.  The other I visited once.  They are all great churches with great pastors who I have listened to their sermons and read all their books for years.  But life is getting shorter each day.

Now as a consumer Christian I could just float from one to the other.  Just drinking in all the good stuff but I don’t believe that is the way one truly makes a difference and fulfills a dream.  There must be a commitment involved to one dream.  And that can be difficult sometimes to stop and decide which one is the one you were created to do.

Now I believe God gives us some latitude but He only gives us a limited amount of time to live and fulfill the dream. 

God gave me a dream that I gave over 15 years of my life.  It didn’t end the way I thought it would but He used my commitment to that specific dream to make a difference in so many ways.  I thank Him for allowing me to live out those 15 years but I also am seeing  In reality it was a dream that was given to me over 25 years ago that is now being fulfilled.  Life is exciting!!
that I am on a continuation of that one dream but in a different location and in a different approach.

So what about you?  Remember, all the dreams you have can’t be realized because of limited time but there is one or two that you will have just the right amount of time if you make a commitment to start today to prepare and to do.  Again I say life is exciting when you have a dream and you make a commitment to it.

So which one are you going to go for?    

“There is really nothing you can do about your worries since they are oriented to the future.”

A thought by David Stoop from his book, You Are What You Think (Kindle Locations 1267-1268). Kindle Edition.

That is a good way to put that.  It is a wasted use of our emotions.  It’s useless but we all do it.

What is your biggest worry today, right now?  If it is something that you can do right now then it’s not a worry, it’s a choice. I choose to take care of it or not.  The doing or not doing then will bring about a good or bad resolution of the problem. 

Now let’s say you are worried about getting your electricity turned off at home.  You got a bill that said if you pay such and such on a such and such day then you will have electricity.  If you don’t then it will be turned off.  No amount of worry will keep that electricity turned on.  You either pay it or not. 

You say but I am worried about not having enough money.  Well worry still doesn’t do any good.  Making arraignments, borrowing money, asking for help, working, selling something or other options will go toward the solution to paying your bill.  But worry won’t do anything except keep you from doing something.  It is a waste of time.

All worry does is defeat you. discourage you and paralyze you.  Now if that is what you want then go ahead and worry but do you really want to live that way?

Do you?

“The great danger of giving up on love is that we begin to give in to hate.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 16). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

And hate will consume you.  It is all encompassing.  That is why love is so important.

It is amazing how love overlooks the small stuff but hate sees everything.  Nothing goes unnoticed even things that aren’t there.  Hate takes little things and builds its own stories to prove that you should hate.  The story doesn’t even have to be the truth.

Love is life giving but hate kills.  It kills relationships. It kills hope and it can even kill you.  Love is your best friend and hate is your worst enemy.

Erwin also says, “When we love, we are moved toward forgiveness. When we allow hate to take over, we begin to live for vengeance.”

People aren’t perfect.  Even people we love so there is always a choice to be had when we are hurt.  We can dwell on it, build on it, let it consume us which in turn turns to bitterness then to hate or we can forgive them.  And the sooner you forgive the fewer scars there are to heal.  The longer you hold on the harder it is to forget and to forgive.

Real authentic love gives the other person the benefit of the doubt.  It strives to understand, it tries to allow them to be imperfect. 

So are you consumed by hate or filled with love?