It Takes Guts to Parent

It takes guts to parent.

It takes guts to parent because it takes guts to make hard decisions that the people you love most won't always like. Many emotionally needy parents become, in essence, bad parents because they cannot stand NOT be in a constant state of acceptance by their children, even though the appearance of not being accepted or loved is usually only very surface.

 Many parents become bad parents because they can't face their own emotions, and thus are stiff and mechanical with their children.

It takes guts to parent because you are the one that has to stand firm when everything seems to be falling apart.

It takes guts because your convictions about parenting and those of your spouse, if you're married, will conflict at times.

It takes guts because if you are a Christian parent, you are swimming upstream in the culture, so you have to say 'no' to your children more, and 'no' to people, institutions, teachers, etc., in the world more.

It takes guts because if you are a reasonably well-studied Christ follower, though you know we are victorious eternally, you also see that the world your children and grandchildren are going to live in will be a hard, hard place.

It takes guts to parent because to face your child, you have to face you, and you haven't been satisfied with you yet because you see all the yuck in you, and if you don't let the blood of Christ cover you daily, you'll mess this up!

So what do you do with that? Have guts. Make the hard calls. Love the hard love. Be tender when everyone else is hard. How? By giving up -- throwing in the towel! -- in your effort and letting Him take over. By minute-by-minute surrender, by deciding to do the hard stuff before you totally know how to do the hard stuff, knowing you're going to go forward in full armour, facing the enemy, in prayer.

It works. Have guts.

You Can Teach Your Kids The Word

Rick Warren writes, "Jesus taught profound truth in simple ways.We do the opposite. Many 'deep' teachers are actually just muddy!It's arrogance."

How does that relate to you? Easy. Don't let the 'church culture' fool subtly (and likely unintentionally) fool you into thinking you have to have a degree or be a formal teacher in order to be effective in shaping your children's lives with the Gospel. Note what Jesus said, and how He said it. Repeat it to them in terms every bit as simple. Jesus was all about simple. Powerful, but simple. That's how we lead our kids.


Links, Blackboard Material, Etc.

• Any of you blended families want to check this out and give me some feedback? http://www.blendedfamilyadvice.com/oct27blendedandstepfamilynewsletter
• Teach this one to your kids! " Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks a lot like work." Thomas Edison, via @davidlandrith on twitter.
• In my parent teaching, we talk a lot about genuine intimacy. In that context: "An intimate place is like my cupped hand. Neither totally open or closed, it is the space where growth can take place~H.Nouwen para J.Vanier
• Very practical tips for stress-free parenting: http://glynniswhitwer.blogspot.com/2009/09/10-tips-for-stress-less-parenting.html
• Insight, not endorsement, here on issue of 'yelling' as the new 'spanking.' I do not agree with the cultural norm against spanking, nevertheless there is value in consideration of this subject:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22yell.html?_r=1
• "Our kids want us more than stuff. If we thought about it, we want them more than stuff too. Fight for a relationship, not stuff." -- via Diane Runge (@dlrunge on twitter)

The (Unfortunately) Rare Mix of Worship and Teaching

Fellow Worship Leaders,

Yes, I said 'worship leaders,' though most of you are Bible Fellowship teachers. But if you and I lead properly, we are leading our people into worship! This message was driven home in my heart earlier today in a staff meeting, through dialogue with much of the team and Jeff Lawrence in particular.

The first key for preparation for your teaching is your personal worship. Jeff reminded us "your private (time with God) becomes public, but your public never becomes private."

In other words, you and I must teach from the resevoir of  a) the effort of our study; b) the illumination in that study by the Holy Spirit. All of that is arrived out through time alone with God, which includes study, reflection, prayer and simply "being still and know(ing) I (He) is God.

When we've prepared this way, we enter the teaching setting as a worshipper leading others in worship.  (And all worship leaders must be WORSHIPping or they are ACTing). Too often we think of worship as 'singing.' (and most of us don't need to be leading singing!). But in reality worship takes many forms.

So how might you take the people you lead into greater worship? Ask the Holy Spirit, but much of it has to do with the tone you set, the words you use and the way you use them. To worship God corporately in prayer means to have a closer encounter, not necessarily a longer list. In study it means to dwell upon His Word, let it wash over us, unpack it's deep meaning, rather than make quick application and move on. In 'body ministry' it means to stop everything and pray over a hurting person or couple, asking and actually expecting the Holy Spirit to intervene and literally make a difference. It is mysterious enough that I have a hard time explaining it, but plain enough that I know what it is not!

Ask yourself, 'What does 'worshiping God' look like,' and how can I lead my group into it?
For all the difficult of pinning that down, I know this: worshipping God in a Bible Fellowship or small group teaching setting doesn't look like rotely reading a lesson prepared somewhere else by somebody else, and declaring it a spiritual growth tool. Without the Holy Spirit and serious contemplation, such a lesson is merely words on a page!  Instead, worship is something more personal, raw, Spirit-engaging and intimate.

Worship at home alone. Worship with your family. Lead worship where you lead. The difference is the difference between God encounters, and mere religion.

Our Monday Choice

It's Monday morning, and you and I have a choice: complain, or conform (to His image).

I'm reading a fine book by James MacDonald, 'Lord, Change My Attitude.' He writes a lot about the complaining of the Israelites, and how it got them stuck in the desert for 40 years.

Numbers 11:1, "And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp."

Do you want to be encouraged today and this week, or discouraged? Do you want to be an encourager, or discourager? It will all depend on whether you complain.

If you know Christ, you will spend eternity with our Father in heaven. On earth, you have the Holy Spirit for comfort and counsel. Those combined facts should result in a hardy, "I have no complaint!" from us!

Complaining belittles God because it attacks His sovereignty and shows no faith in His Spirit's guidance. Complaining drags others down. Complaining sets a "me, me, me" tone that is shrill to the ears of all around us and to the heart of God.

Count your many blessings (1 by 1!), I'll count mine, and let's encourage one another, as long as it is called today.

Equippers Newsletter -- Shorter Version, Just a few Snippets

• "He never thought he cared so much about the second hand . . . " -- From '33 Miles' One Life to Love. Your seconds count! Your minutes count! Love your children. Engage your family. Teach. Make - time - matter.
• "That man is lost, that man is cursed, who can find time for anything, but none to meet with God in is closet." Thomas Brooks, via @JohnPiper on Twitter. Do your kids know how to 'get in the closet with God.' Do you? Are you teaching them? Being still and hearing God -- communing with Him -- is utterly vital to knowing His will, receiving His peace, and having His power. We'll do some teaching on this.
• "Our kids want us more than stuff. If we thought about it, we want them more than stuff too. Fight for a relationship, not stuff," via @dlrunge on Twitter. 'Stuff' season - Christmas - is coming. Make some determinations now about the stuff/relationship balance, and how your schedule and finances will be effected by a God-centered adjustment.
• "Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry." Bill Cosby. OK, this one has no point but I thought it was funny.

The Bible & Dating -- What Have They to do With Each Other

What does the Bible say about dating?
Nothing in particular, but much in principle.

Our challenge as parents is to draw out the principles in the Word of God and apply them to life, in this case, to dating.

Some Biblically Discerned Principles for Dating

• We must not view dating as the world does.

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.”¬ – 2 Peter 2:20

Carefully consider and discuss as parents how the world views dating, then contrast it to the Word of God, and adjust your guidelines per.
The world ‘dates around’ for ‘fun.’ ‘Fun’ leads down all sorts of dangerous paths.

Young people of the opposite sex should be around each for the purpose of a) non-romantic friendship; or b) discovering their character for the purpose of consideration of marriage

Re-phrased, the principles of the Word of God would strongly suggest there should be no recreational dating. We as parents should not endorse that they get some practice for marriage. To be more accurate, Biblical dating might best be called courting, to distinguish intent.

↓Recreational Dating Defined↓

† Dating with no interest in long-term commitment
† Dating with a more goal of pleasant companionship in mind (that’s call friendship and is honorable apart from dating; friendship guidelines is a separate discussion)
† Dating with status in mind (parents, watch out for this one!), because everyone else has a boy/girlfriend.
† Dating with the point being to meet emotional needs (perhaps valid needs, mostly met the wrong way).

Key note→ Recreational Dating promotes easy-in, easy-out, serve-me-first philosophy of life. Kids ‘break up’ over the slightest of slights, on impulse. This has impacted the divorce rate today, where being unhappy somehow qualifies as a factor in maintaining marriage.

• A teen must find out if the person has been ‘born again’ and is committed foremost to Christ. John 3:3-8, Nicodemus story.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men.” ¬ -- Philippians 2:5-7

Victor’s translation→ “Think like Christ, Who was God, but didn’t try to attain the position of God. Instead he took the lowest position and served the lowest people.”

• We cannot marry an unbeliever (2 Corinthains 6:14-15).

Thus there is no reason to date one. This must be non-negotiable. There are no ‘outs,’ no excuses, no reasons. The challenge becomes, in teen friendships, where to draw the line between outreach and an inappropriate association. But that line isn’t even in question with regard to dating, and is for another conversation.

We’re not merely talking about making sure they ‘go out’ with a ‘church-going’ kid, but one who is genuinely expresses a love for Christ and shows a passion for spiritual growth.

• In all relationships, we must love the Lord above all else. Matthew 10:37-38 and many others.

When you see a relationship taking the highest place, over God, insist on and coach for an adjustment, and, if necessary, disallow the relationship. (With the difficulty of doing and enforcing this duly noted).

Until our children learn to have their deepest needs satisfied by the Lord (which they primarily must learn by you modeling it), they will seek that satisfaction elsewhere, in their immaturity not recognizing the shallow and errant nature of what they are receiving. When we see our children satisfied in romantic relationship in a way that only the Holy Spirit should satisfy, we have some coaching/adjusting/re-boundary-setting to do.

I am not saying that if you see a teenager showing satisfaction at being in a Godly relationship with a Godly person, something needs to change. I mean when that relationship is taking place, time, or energy that is being diverted from God. If a teen is putting a romantic interest ahead of God, he or she is practicing idolatry (Galatians 5:20; Colossians 3:5). YOU, parents, are the time management tool for your child. You can’t redirect their emotional energy, but you can re-direct who they are with and when.

How can you help re-direct focus from a person to Christ and keep the relationship?

How about having fellowship with the teen and their friend in the context of studying and applying the Word. Put them on your turf, then model behavior/focus.

• We cannot have premarital sex (1 Cor. 6:9, 13; 2 Tim. 2:22). It should be obvious that the issue is not as simple as saying, ‘Kids, just don’t have sex.’

We have to a) define sex. b) establish how far they can go in personal contact.
We will discuss this at length next week and/or the next.

The Bare Minimum Guidelines

1. No fornication (sexual activities) before marriage,
2. No adultery (cheating) inside a relationship, and
3. No dating a non-Christian

That's the list of 'no's'; what are the 'yes's'?
1. Learn to be a good friend and identify good friends, without the social trappings of concern over dating, most of which is peer pressure.
2. Focus on friendship -- great marriages often come out of great friendship.
3. Don't shop where you can't buy; if you're not old enough to court, don't date.
4. Let Jesus be your satisfaction in identity and emotion; when He fills all places, the unhealthy urge for someone else to please you diminishes and balances.
Teaching Exercise for Your Children↓

Rationale for exercise→Do you want your children to understand, agree with and amicably embrace – not merely obey – your position regarding dating/courting? Of course. So help them arrive at the point of view on their own. This exercise will take some time, so give them a few days to a week or two, and supervise that they are actually working at it.

• Ask them to write down any verses of the Bible that they think could impact their view on dating.
• After that (so that they do in fact study the Word without the internet) have them do internet study of what the Bible says about dating.
• From those two actions, have them write down what they believe the guidelines for dating should be.

Parents, take those guidelines and take all your kids will give you! IF they’ve done a thorough job and love the Lord, they’ll give you the grounds to form an agreeable standard. This could be a HUGE win for your family.

Equippers Newsletter -- Reassessing the Value of the American Dream

Al Jackson, a great missional pastor at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, AL, recently asked the question, 'Will we follow a great commission resurgence, or the American dream?'

What a poignant, profound question. We would all like to think the two are not mutually exclusive, that we can have the American dream and be totally surrendered to living the great commission. But his very question suggests otherwise, and I believe he is right.

First all, ask yourselves, 'What is the American Dream?' My answer: to get all we want on our terms.

You might think, 'That sounds harsh, selfish.' It is. The American dream -- from which I have benefited greatly and to which I am highly drawn! -- is about getting more. Simple as that. Yes, that more is 'for our families' or 'for our kids,' but is more always better? More what?

'Getting more' stands in conflict with reaching 2.7 billion people who have not heard the Gospel, with sacrificing energy, time and money to raise homeless children, and on and on and on.

So what will your family do? If you are in the midst of living the American Dream, what kind of coure correction can you make? How much will you have to abandon? What will you need to know to hear His voice?

Those are hard questions worthy of prayerfully searching out, discussing, and acting on. No one can answer them precisely for you. But as Peter Lord once said, "We do what we believe. All the rest is just religious talk."


The Halloween Issue . . .
      Halloween is coming, and it is a controversial time. Some balance is needed to have a proper perspective, but also some enlightenment. While I'm willing to stand boldly for truth, I think it is extreme when families say to other families, "Halloween is totally harmless," OR, "You should have nothing to do with Halloween." Respect for a families' position is important. I recall many happy Halloween's in various costumes, romping through neighborhoods collecting candy. And I don't recall any particular demonization from the effort! HOWEVER, I understand that was 40-ish years ago (really? wow), and I understand Halloween's 'roots.' Check out this read from Randy Alcorn, whom I respect greatly, and - when your through with this blog entry, look at the second entry down on my blog (overall, not within this entry) and find my column that ran on Crosswalk.com a few years ago on Halloween and Hell.
 http://randyalcorn.blogspot.com/2009/10/perspective-on-halloween.html

On Teen Disrespect of Parents
(Yeah, nobody will hit this link, LOL)
http://www.christianpost.com/blogs/parenting/2009/10/all-due-respect-from-your-teenager-07/index.html

White Board Material or Conversation Starters

• "When you ignore the impulse to do good, it's like embezzling a blessing. Be a good steward of God's intentions today."
• "When you die, you wont' regret your unfulfilled dreams, just your unattempted ones. The first is reality; the second is tragedy." -- Rick Warren
• "The world's poor feel we ate the appetizers, entrees and dessert, then asked them to tea and said, 'Let's split the bill.' " -- Rick Warren
• "Can they tell you value Jesus by the way you rep His name?" -- Lecrae
• "Sex is far more than a physical connection. You give yourself. Tell teens they don't make a condom to protect your heart." -- Rick Warren

Halloween, Hell and the Holiday Controversy

About 15 years ago, Dr. Hal Lindsay visited West Palm Beach, where I lived. My friend Brad and I went to the Palm Beach Roundtable, where Lindsay would be speaking. His fascinating presentation ended with a Q&A session. A woman of the Palm Beach blue-hair variety stood, in all her finery, and with clipped accent posed this question: “Do you really believe, Dr. Lindsay, that a tender, loving, merciful God, whose beauty and love are seen throughout the world, would send someone to hell.”

She sat down to await his answer. Brad and I looked at each other with broad, knowing smiles, anticipating Lindsey’s deep, biblically-sound explanation of the doctrine of hell. Lindsey paused a little while, perhaps for dramatic effect. You could feel the anticipation in the room. Finally, he answered, fooling Brad and I with his simplicity:

“In a word, ‘Yes.’ Next question.”

So why do I bring up the subject of hell? It is Halloween season, and there is no more appropriate topic. This is the most important of four holidays for witches, as well as time of intensified Satanic activity. Those of you who think this is a friendly, soft, get-some-candy kind of holiday are being fooled; demonic activity is rampant. Hell’s demons are alive and well. You won’t find them behind ‘Spiderman’ masks, but they want to devour the tikes who wear them. Yet most of the country doesn’t want to talk about hell. They’re kind of like that Palm Beach lady – seriously doubting whether our loving God actually allowed for such a place.

At this season, many Christian churches take advantage of the Halloween culture to warn people about hell. A walk-through drama called ‘Judgement House,’ or any of several take-offs, is presented to the community. A few years ago ‘Judgement House’ depicted a house fire, which cost two members of a family their lives and showed the eternal destiny of each. Some Christian churches – of the much softer, ‘cultural Christian’ variety – took offense at the presentation. They protest because it was scary, frightening, disconcerting, deeply troubling.

So is hell. That’s the point.
Tell me, those of you who are parents, exactly why do you pull your toddler’s hand away when he reaches for the stove? Because it is hot!

Exactly why do bible-believing Christians (I should not have to quality the term Christian with ‘bible-believing,’ but in this culture, I must) tell their spiritually lost friends about Hell? Because it is hot! It is a place of eternal torment. We don’t want anyone to go there . . . do we?

What kind of parent would NOT tell their toddler that the stove is hot?

What kind of pastor would NOT tell his congregation that the result of failing to repent and follow Jesus Christ is to spend eternity in hell? A soft, wimpy, perhaps intellectually un-prepared and certainly culturally over-sensitive one. (And perhaps a ‘lost’ one). One who has bought into the evil of excessive tolerance, who doesn’t want to ‘offend’ anybody. Yet, the greatest offense is to never tell someone the eternal danger they face, then have them go head-long into it. As my friend and mentor (as he was to so many), the late Dr. Cal Guy, preached, “I don’t like the doctrine of hell, but it’s not mine to change!”

When I was part of First Baptist Church of Indian Trail (NC) about 10 years ago, they presented a ‘Judgement House.’ The youth pastor received many condemning letters and phone calls from area pastors. An excerpt from one read: “are you telling children and young people that if they die without recognizing Christ as part of their life – according to your standards – that they will be damned? I find that a very narrow and graceless view of God.”

God’s way is narrow. He is full of grace, however, having made salvation – thus heaven for eternity – available to all who receive Him. But not all receive, and for them the alternative is eternity in hell. It doesn’t matter whether we like it; that’s the way God says it is.

The issue is the bible – do you believe it? The doctrine of hell is plainly spelled out in the bible (Rev. 20:10-15, and other places). If you don’t believe it, then which parts of the bible do you believe? Do you pick and choose? And if you pick and choose, who does that make god . . . God, or you? The bible says not to add or subtract from it. If you don’t believe it, then you might as well trash the whole thing and join the witches and Satanist – they’re having great fun this time of year.

But if you have a realistic view, then have a 'Fall Festival,' put on some innocent costumes, have fun wisely and with the right focus. This isn't about extremism, but you also can't be naive. The enemy loves naive Christians.

Slave, or Superstar?

Two great quotes from Rick Warren that speak to the greatest danger facing any leader, at any level: "Never waste energy trying to be well-known.Today’s hero is tomorrow’s zero. You work on character and leave reputation to Him." And, "Speakers like travel because it feeds the ego. Always being in the spotlight blinds you."

You may lead a church, a Sunday School class, a small group, or just your house, but if front-and-center feeds your ego and that is the core of your satisfaction, you need to repent or quit! Hey, I'm harping at the man in the mirror today (as always), but you can listen.

There's a fine line between being willing and able to be in the spotlight (no matter the audience size) and needing the spotlight to be validated.  But there's a hundred mile's difference between being a slave and being a superstar. Slaves of Christ build a reputation for genuineness. They last. They spur multiplication, not addition. They simply do what Jesus asks, and people notice Jesus when they do it. They transfer life, from Jesus to those whom they serve in His name.

Superstars - and I continue to remind you these come with big and little audiences -- may speak the truth, but after a little while everyone can see who (little 'w') it is about. They are pimping Jesus for their sole satisfaction.

It is Warren's quotes via Twitter tonight (Monday) that spurred this line of thought in me. It is a bit more personalized because I was once in on an 'insiders' meeting with Pastor Warren. Now, I am NO Warren insider -- it's a strange occurrence how I was asked into that meeting. Pastor Warren probably doesn't remember my name, I just wrote some profiles of Purpose Driven Churches for his ministry 9 or 10 years ago. But there I was in a meeting with the key leaders he'd trained up (minus me), and here's what I saw: that Rick Warren understood that everything He was given was from Christ; and that Rick Warren desired to give away everything he had been given to other pastors/leaders who would give it away.

That left an indelible imprint. The heart of the man moving His mouth will determine whether His work lasts. The heart of that same man may will be revealed -- likely to men, but always to our Father.

 Do what you do the same way before 1 or 1,000. It is hard for you. It is hard for me. I pray I am found to be a slave!

Equippers Newsletter

Fellow Parents, you are awesome!! Keep believing the best for your children. Keep surrendering. Keep speaking the Word over them. Press on in His power!

If your walk is not strong, your child's walk won't be strong. That's hardly an insightful comment, yet it is a truth many parents ignore. If you haven't already, I urge you to review my notes from Sunday's teaching on 'Marks of Spiritual Growth.' It is the third item down my blog as of today's posting.
Here are some serious diagnostics to help you gauge your progress and needed adjustments in leading your family. These parenting questions come @BruceWesley on twitter.
1. What if God did in your kids life ONLY what you prayed for?
2. Would you feel successful if your kids imitated your walk with God?
3. How equipped would your kids be based ONLY on your day-to-day conversations about God?
• On whether your child is ‘over scheduled’: http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Your_Child_Overscheduled/
• "Treasuring life above Christ is a tragedy." - John Piper. Victor: Always think ‘application, application, application.’ In the context of our missional emphasis and in the context of Christ suffering and many around the world suffering for Christ, ask your family to personalize and contextualize this quote.
• From my seminary colleague and now mega-church pastor @pastorjdgreaer: “Parents say, 'my kids can't be involved with the mission because they're at soccer, etc. Why not make that the mission?' “ Victor: In other words, in your normal life traffic pattern, what difference are you making? How are you impacting the world? You have Christ in you, so you are power and healing to the world!
• When a child is allowed to do absolutely as he pleases, it will not be long until nothing pleases him. –Anonymous
• My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. -Clarence Budinton Kelland. (this and above via @blendedfamily4u on twitter)
• "Less than 2% of 13 year olds (in the church) have a biblical worldview." -George Barna. I wonder why?
• From NFL great and strong Christian @shaunalexander: “Personality is like a lazor gun. Attitude is the power of the lazor. Attitude is a choice and you control it. Success connects with Attitude.”
• From Casting Crowns Mark Hall (@markhallcc, who also Youth Minister @ Eagles Landing Baptist Church near Atlanta): “I say Obedience to God's leading is a win no matter how much fruit we see. God brings the harvest not us. We just plant & water.” per 1cor3:6-9. Victor: This is an important principle to teach our kids! America is awash in a church culture that measures success in some strange ways (mostly bottoms in seats, regardless of growth). The WORK of ministry is up to our obedience. The FRUIT of ministry is up to Him. You CAN lead a horse to water . . .

What Are You Watching For?

"O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." -- Psalm 5:3

Every other time that I've read this I've focused on 'in the morning,' but the Holy Spirit allowed it to strike me differently today. Note "I prepare a sacrifice for you and wait."

To prepare a sacrifice means to the sacrifice of praise, the surrender of self, prayers, the encounter with God where we give up ourselves and give Him our best.

Then, "and watch." Two very powerful words. The man who walks with Christ surrenders self, praises God, lifts up prayers, "and watch(es)"

Are you watching for what God is doing in your life, and around you? We should live in profound, eager, excited anticipation of what He is doing, because we've gone to Him, summoned Him, cried out to Him, given up self and taken in renewal of His Spirit, so He will be moving, and it should be the most exciting thing to "to watch."

Prayer is the real work. After we have been with Him, He moves, and we will know what to do next, we will have clear indication. Or if we don't, He'll intercede. He'll just plain take over as needed.

That's what I watch for: Him to take over my attitudes, my circumstances, my daily encounters with others.

God wants to do something powerful in and through you this week. Let's make sure He hears our voices and receives our sacrifices -- and let's watch.

Markers of Spiritual Growth

Colossians 1:3-15

“For this reason” . . .
What reason? Hope. See 1:5-7. This hope has been promised, delivered by Christ, introduced and elaborated on by those whom God sent (such as Epaphras in the Colossians case).

Since we have this hope, we grow!
Markers of Spiritual Growth

1 -- Be Filled with the Knowledge of His Will

How? Study. Ask. Do the Obvious
People often talk to me about their struggle to understand God’s will. I have that struggle too, sometimes. Usually when I am in the way.

The diagnostic question→ What does the Word of God say (or the principles of the Bibnle indicate) about that subject? Is there a compelling reason you would not respond as the Word says?

2 -- (so that) You May Walk Worthy of the Lord

He who walks with Christ does His will, i.e., does His work, is is slave. Period. That’s the DEFINTION OF WALKING WITH CHRIST.

It’s NOT about Cultural Christian Comfort

I wonder often if we are merely comfortable with the trappings of Christianity?
• The ‘safer’ friend base
• The nice church builder
• The entertaining, intellectually stimulating preaching and teaching
• The great music
• The social and sometime academic ‘center’ of activity

Is it the CHURCH CULTURE we love, or CHRIST?!

3 -- (Those who Walk Worthy of the Lord) Will Bear Fruit
What does it mean to bear fruit?
Victor’s simple definition of bearing Christ-ian fruit↓
Life-change will come in others because you obeyed and ministered

4-- You Will Grow in Knowledge of God as you minister

Why ‘as you’ minister? A common misconception - and a dangerous one – is that we must know all about God, have this great intimate, perfect relationship with Him, before we are of any use to Him. He didn’t function with the disciples that way!

It is in the midst of obedience TO Him, you are dependent ON Him, and thus you come to KNOW Him better.

We grow as we go! But to grow, you must go!

5 --You Will be Strengthened in All Power

Why? Because you know Him, and because you are doing things that you could never do on your own! You MUST have His power or you will fail!

If you aren’t doing anything that needs His power, anything where you feel the constant pull toward Him SO THAT YOU CAN SIMPLY KEEP ON DOING IT, then you probably aren’t doing anything He particularly told you to do!

Christians are utterly dependent on Christ! But so many are so prideful, so literally hell-bent on not being dependent on anything, that we miss Christ.

Many are drawn in by the ‘good’ of Churchianity and thus miss Christianity

↓Tally Hilgis writes↓

:What keeps us from reaching our potential? The lure of the lackluster.
Lackluster is the word I use for the life not challenged. A lackluster life is one that returns to the same behavior as the day before. Usually the lackluster life is one that becomes routine and predictable. The lackluster life does not challenge assumptions, does not work through difficult circumstances, it worships comfortable and often wakes up fighting the same battles and noticing little change over long periods of time. That's a lackluster life."
http://tallywilgis.blogspot.com/

One way of self-examination might me to ask, “Are you loving in ‘survival,’ ‘safety,’ or ‘sanctification’?”

It All Comes Back to Christ