Focus

Hey, Bloggers. This post started out at 7AM this morning but just now has become something I wanted to post. Some days are like that. Great expectations but detours come along and cause us to get off track.

It’s funny because I started out today to challenge you on how to keep your focus. Spiritual growth is actually a series of steps--one foot in front of the other. None of us wake up one day and say to ourselves, “Today I am a spiritual person.”  We may desire that, but it
never happens that way.

Growth of every kind comes from receiving the right stuff. If you’re a
plant, the right stuff is sunlight, water and plant food.  If you’re a person, it’s food, water, love…well, you get the point. Spiritual Growth only happens when we feed upon the God stuff in life. So what happens when the flow is
disrupted?   In plant life and human life the same results occur--stunted or
delayed fulfillment into the object God intended us to become.

I love Romans Chapter 12:2 where Paul talks about the transformation
of our mind--a metamorphosis, if you will, of our old self into the
nature of Christ. He states, “Do not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will
be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and
perfect will.”

So again HOW do we continue to keep our focus in light of so many
detours? If you are like me, I need a plan which holds me accountable.
I invited you to read with me through the Gospels this month, but I did
not give you a pathway to do so. Well, here it is. Click here and
download this 30 day reading plan through the Gospels…go ahead and do
it now. http://www.youversion.com/reading--plans/16-the-gospels   If the
link does not work, copy and paste.

Let’s get started.
Pastor Rip

Designations

 Philippians 3:10-12  

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,

 but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

What I have discovered on any journey is that you need to have some sort of idea of where it is you want to go. Even when I don’t have a particular designation in mind I go with the idea of discovering something new and in so doing I am never disappointed.

It happens however that sometimes I don’t start a journey with the end in mind and I have wasted many days and many miles just going. What I need is a plan or a focus or call it what you want, to give guidance to my path.

I remember receiving a Schwinn Bicycle for Christmas one year from my parents, however because my father worked strange hours he was not around when we opened our presents. There it was just waiting for someone to put it together so I could enjoy the thrill of new adventures…but there was a problem, a big sign, “SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED”.  I knew what it should look like, I had dreamed of riding all over town, I could see myself with hair blowing in the wind, but I did not know how to assemble the required parts.

This is so true in Spiritual growth, sometimes we dream about being a follower of Jesus, we try and look like Jesus, but the only way to be LIKE Jesus is to follow the assembly instructions.

So here is focus pathway number one: Agree with me to read through all four Gospels between now and the first of September. This will require that you read only about three to four chapters every day. Look for insights for your life, something new that you can share and then let me know what that is.

Blessings,

Pastor Rip

Road Maps

ROAD MAPS

Road maps…don’t like them, seldom use them. I think the problem with road maps is that they restrict me. I love to take the unmarked road and discover what is just around the next curve. The problem with that however is; more times than not this beautiful road ends at a crossroads or worse a dead end.

 Sometimes the choices are not clear as to which direction to travel. Sometimes you just get a gut feeling and go with the flow. All of this is fine as long as you have an internal compass to guide you path. Too often we think I can figure out the direction all by myself.

One day my family and I were driving the mountains of Colorado looking for Pike’s Peak. Here was the problem, we could see Pike’s Peak but we did not know which road to turn on to reach the road which would take us to the top. NO MAP! SO our day was filled driving in the general direction but never reaching the final destination.

Yes there were interesting sites to see along the journey but we missed the thrill of reaching the top on that journey.

The same is true of Spiritual Formation. Not all roads lead to growth. I love what the writer of Hebrews says about this,

“Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

SO what I m saying is this…I need a road map, a spiritual GPS to guide my life and so do you.

Our goal this week is to look at road maps and share ideas on how to find our way. Share your thought here.

Blessings,

Pastor Rip

Ran out of town

I don’t think of this happening very often...Jesus getting ran out of town.

But there it is in Matthew chapter 8, last verse. I forget how sometimes people do not want to change and how difficult it is to bring change to others. I take for granted that everyone would welcome Jesus, even though as I have traveled internationally I know that this is not the case.

Resistance in the world to the gospel abounds in many places. Hate and violence directed toward Christ followers happens on a regular basses. We don’t often reflect upon persecution, we live in a free society with religious freedoms....how free are we?

Freedom comes in many ways. Free to live where we want, free to marry the person we love...free to vote. However, when I look at that list what I see are not freedoms but privileges.

We live in a land of privilege where we have come to expect certain things and often we take those for granted. What then is freedom? I want to suggest one aspect is the ability to choose. You see Jesus got into trouble because He made a choice. He chose to set free the man processed,

He chose to proclaim liberation through life change if any person would just ask. Choice will always cause a reaction, good or bad.

I choose to side with Jesus in life matters. My choice is to follow Him. Watch out, i might get ran out of town. SWEET!

Whatever is is changing

I just read a quote that said, "You are not a human being BUT a human becoming". We, you and I are on a course of  life that God has put into motion. We are changing each day to become....What are you becoming? Great question dont you think.  What in the world am I becoming???

Change happens that is for sure. I am not the person I was just a few moments ago. I HAVE BEEN CHANGED? By my choices, my friends, my lifestyle, lots of things change me. I believe that God is about change as well. T

Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the patern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Change should happen. It's God's purpose for the living of our life. Renewing, transforming, non-conforming change.

I think a good place to start is to ask the question what needs to change in my lfe. What needs to change so I can become a person that understands GOD'S will for my life. By the way...that is the promise offered in Romans....

Think about it---it it will change your life.

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The power of thought...

All of us have been given the power to think. What thoughts are you having today? Good or bad? Faithful or faithless?

Thinking is a choice. I choose to think of things that can be either good or evil. Actually I spend most of my time struggling with wrong thoughts. Thoughts can deceive or they can build up. The beatuty of living as a Christ follower is that we have been given the mind of Christ to guide our thoughts if we avail ourselves to follow His ways. Read Philippians 2 5-8 for some insights.

Blessings

Rip

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Hi friends

I will Be on the road for the next month so the The Jesus Walk will be hit and miss as I have opportunity to access the Internet.

Pray for me as I go to India and share the gospel there. These are exciting times in the Kingdom of God and I want to encourage you to walk each day with Jesus...it makes the difference.


See you when I can!


Blessings,


Rip