BARNA ON THE NEW FACE OF TEMPTATION

CHOOSE SABBATH

 I am writing this post on my sabbath.  To be honest, I found it among my drafts and I really don't remember whether these are my words or I got them from someone.  But it's still worth sharing. - STEVE

Your challenge today is to choose to Sabbath.
Choose to Rest instead of Work.
Choose to Trust instead of Hustle.
Choose to Sip coffee instead of Pound it.
Choose to Talk instead of Tweet.
Choose to Refill instead of Pour out.
Choose to stay in Jammies for as long as possible instead of getting Dressed.
Choose to Sabbath instead of just taking a Day Off.

HAND RAISING IN CHURCH

Let's have a little fun today with Tim Hawkins.  I suspect there's a discipleship lesson in there somewhere - or maybe just some holy frivolity. - STEVE

JESUS NEVER SAID IT WOULD BE EASY

DO LESS BETTER

 by STEVE DUNN

I have always  been a person who seems to seek busyness.  I once described myself as a "recovering workaholic" and someone who knew me well quipped, "Relapsed would be more accurate."  My schedule generally has been full and I have had several Facebook friends who have said, "Your Facebook page makes me tired." I tend to be optimistic about how much I can accomplish in a day or week, and my assessment would be accurate if days had 28 hours and weeks had nine days.

There is no Bible verse to proof text this attitude.  "Busyness is not next to godliness" unless you are reading 2nd Imaginations in the latest version of the Apocrypha.  The outcome of extreme busyness is generally not pretty. Whether you rust out or wear out - out is out.

It's taken two bouts with burnout to get me to give serious attention to my busyness addiction; and even now I need to be vigilant about saying "yes" when I need to say "no".  At some point busyness robs you of joy and true productivity.  It's hard to be content and fulfilled when you're exhausted. Some things take time and solid attention. Trying to do too much usually erodes quality or sustainability.

One of the lessons we need to learn to combat this insidious busyness is to claim a new core value:
DO LESS BETTER.

Many of us carry some old tapes that warn against laziness.  "Idle hands are the devil's workshop" has been used many a time to provide a verbal kick in the rear to someone.  Yet sometimes, idling is needed to get warmed up for the journey.

Some of have tapes that say "Measure up!" or "Prove yourself!" or "Always Look Busy!" As a result we press on to produce and take our worth in the quantity we produce rather than the quality of what we produce.

But our self-worth is first tied to who we are. What we do comes next.  And in God's scheme of things, quality always trumps quantity.  "Whatever you do in word or deed, do it as unto the Lord." (Colossians 3:17)

Maybe we find greater joy if we attended to doing what we do well and not worry so much about how much we do.  White Castle and other mass producing hamburger joints can plow out tons of little meaty sqaures fried in onions, but does anyone seriously think they as good as that turkey you ate at Thanksgiving which cooked for hours before it was served?

So here is my counsel, especially as you get ready for the insanity that is the pre-Christmas season in America.  Do yourself a favor. DO LESS BETTER.

(c) 2012 by Stephen L Dunn

This thoughtful blog from Michael Reynolds is a good way to start the week being an authentic ands maturing disciple of Jesus Christ. - STEVE

What Has God Done For You Lately?

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Michael K. Reynolds

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What has God done for you lately? What has God done for me lately?
Have you ever realized that many of our complaints today are about things we once fervently prayed for in the past? Our answered prayers have become today’s whine.
I have. And I am ashamed.
For instance.
PAST PRAYER: Lord, please help us buy this house.
TODAY’S WHINE: A house that has dropped fifty percent in value with the market crash and a mortgage that is difficult to meet each month.
TRUTH: It gave our family shelter from the storms for many years and it’s still worth more than when we bought it.
PAST PRAYER: Help me start a business of my own.
TODAY’S WHINE: A company that is now challenged in a difficult economy.
TRUTH: The business has provided for my family for fifteen years.
PAST PRAYER: Please help me land a book publishing contract.
TODAY’S WHINE: Seemingly impossible writing deadlines.
TRUTH: Many other writers would do anything to have my “problems”.
PAST PRAYER: Please help me buy a car that will last a long time.
TODAY’S WHINE: I drive a car that is seventeen years old.
TRUTH: This amazing car has been mostly trouble-free for seventeen years. 
PAST PRAYER: Lord, please encourage this precious woman to say “Yes”.
TODAY’S WHINE: A wife who questions some of my plans.
TRUTH: What bothers me most is she’s RIGHT. My bride is my most trusted adviser. 
So the better question is this: Why does God do ANYTHING for me lately?
There are SO many others who have so much less than I do, and bear it with a smile.
Paul wrote it beautifully when he shared:
⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Tim 6: 6-10 
Piercing myself with many griefs? I am guilty as charged. Father, please forgive me. Give me a thankful heart for every breath I breathe.
What about you? What has God done for you lately?

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BABY STEPS OR FIRST STEP

Part 1 on Intentional Spiritual Growth

by Steve Dunn

Pop psychology often offers overly simplistic solutions to life's challenges. This video clip is a classic example of such solutions, which often fail because the problem is greater and more complex than we would like it to be.

There are indeed baby steps to be taken at first, but the ultimate goal is to be able to run the race and not grow weary. The apostle Peter reminds us that growing in Christ is a process--one that is continuing, intentional and progressive. We read in 2 Peter, chapter one ... His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (vss 3-8)

The bottom line, however, or should we say, "starting line," is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We don't grow up to be a mature Christian, we become that new creation which matures as a Christian.  Doug Fields reminds us that "God provides the power for transformation. We provide the cooperation."

Maturing in Christ is not self-improvement or learning to cope with life, it is a new life altogether made possible by the grace and power of Jesus Christ who comes to dwell within us through His Holy Spirit.

We begin with a very simple acknowledgement of our need for Christ and an acceptance of the gift of life that he offers.  That's  the first step.