e r i c . s p a n g l e r

I'm Not A Hypocrite! How Can I Show You?

Check this out:

"A majority of adults who don’t attend church say they believe in God, but they have other feelings about the institution of church.

A recent U.S. survey of adults who don’t attend church, not even on holidays, found that 72 percent thought the church ‘is full of hypocrites,’ but that 78 percent would ‘be willing to listen’ to someone who wanted to share their beliefs about Christianity. At the same time, 72 percent of respondents also said they believe God exists."

MORE HERE.

Seems like this gets to the heart's cry of our nation today.  People are hungry for something authentic, something REAL.  In a class I'm taking, a recent assignment suggested that we explore 'rebranding' Christianity.  What would be necessary in order to communicate that not EVERYONE is hypocritical in today's church?  How can we communicate that the Jesus we love and follow is not just about cold, lifeless, irrelevant religiosity?

Ben Stein: Expelled!

A friend from Lakeside suggested I watch the trailer of this new documentary coming out this spring.  The Super Trailer is longer than most trailers, but probably worth your time watching.

Why is free speech not only tolerated but fought for in every other area but this one?

Watch the trailer to learn more... Click either photo...

Self-Indulgence

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me." - Psalm 139:1 (NLT)

Here's a LINK to a POST at Christian Today in which Erwin McManus suggests that a main reason churches don't grow is that American Christians are primarily self-indulgent:

“My primary assessment would be because American Christians tend to be incredibly self-indulgent so they see the church as a place there for them to meet their needs and to express faith in a way that is meaningful for them,” said cultural architect Erwin McManus, lead pastor at Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, to The Christian Post on Monday.

“There is almost no genuine compassion or urgency about serving and reaching people who don’t know Christ,” he added."

Do you agree?  What is the solution?

Foundational Cultivation

Last of 4 parts of my edited postscript to Watson's "Others May, You Cannot.

"Most people and nations are not turned off by Jesus; they are turned off by us and sometimes our methodology.  If we could ever understand that and make Jesus the focus and let our methods be relative, the world could and would look radically different."  Bob Roberts

Others may ignore the basics of the faith, choosing to waste time in pursuits that have little or no eternal consequence.  …BUT, you cannot.  You must make every effort count for the Savior, for life is a vapor, and the call to come home can come at any moment. 

Others may choose to disregard the coming storm; others may consider the attention to the details of keeping short accounts with God a wasted effort…BUT, you cannot.  You know that what may seem trivial to the world may mean a great deal to your Father in Heaven.  You know the importance of roots that anchor deep within the soil, and stretch out for great distances to draw from the refreshment of the waters. 

You must remember that  “A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.”  Proverbs 12:3 (NIV)

Selective Elimination

What do I need to get rid of?  What is holding me back?

"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" - Heb 12:1-3 (The Message)

The trail that leads heavenward is littered with things jettisoned in order to make the journey more purposeful and direct.  The more we sense the urgency of the call upward, the more we are willing to let go of the things that we cling to that hold us back.

Others may grab and consume far more even than they want, BUT you cannot.  You must understand the importance of stewardship, knowing that you possess nothing, and are only responsible to use what you need, and to carefully manage the rest as it all belongs to the King. 

Others may poison their minds and hearts without any discretion, depositing dark stains and inflicting deep scars by what they watch and listen to with mindless abandon…BUT, you cannot.  You must guard carefully what passes into your being.  You are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  You must critically think and measure by the standard of truth all that you see and hear. 

You must guard what is placed in your heart, “…for it is the wellspring of life.  (You must) put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.  You must let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.  Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.  (You must not) swerve to the right or the left….”  Proverbs 4:23b-27 (NIV)

Constant Assessment

A little self evaluation is good from time to time, wouldn't you say?  Part 2 of 4 of my addendum to "Others May, You Cannot."

Mahatma Gandhi said: "First, I would suggest that all of you Christians, missionaries and all, must begin to live more like Jesus Christ.  Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down.  Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity.  Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them, in order to have a more sympathetic approach to the people."

Others may spend their resources on things that will not last, BUT you cannot.  You must invest in heavenly treasure.  You must spend and be spent for the eternal.  Others may give no attention to tending the well of their soul, BUT you cannot.  You must stay before the throne, humbly seeking His strength, mercy and grace.  Others may hide in the darkness, giving power to their secret sins and forbidden, corrupting passions and lusts, BUT you cannot.  You must remain in the light.  You must step forward boldly, willing to allow the pure, white-hot fire of the Holy Spirit to burn away the uncleanness and contamination.  Others may reject the call, preferring not to bow their knee and turn in repentance.  BUT you cannot.  For your life is not your own.  You’ve been bought with a terrible price.  And you must not forfeit the opportunity to stay right before God, so that you will always know the joy, peace, and comfort of forgiveness and wholeness.

Focused Determination

In follow up (and with apologies to G.D. Watson), I've edited my own continuation of "Others May, You Cannot," and shared with our gatherings this past Sunday.

Others may give themselves to any whim, any emotion, any desire, any distraction…BUT you cannot.  You must discipline yourself, and stay on target. 

Others may live for the moment, may seem as if they have no care, may speak and act as if tomorrow is promised to them forever…they may put off until tomorrow what they should do today…BUT you cannot.  You must make the most of the time, for the days are evil, the time is short, and every breath of life is precious. 

Others may set aside spiritual priorities, may ignore the importance of weekly worship, …they may go for weeks without reading the scriptures…BUT, you cannot.  You must continuously seek the things above, where Christ is.  You must make worship and spiritual service a top priority, for you know that the things that make for the building up of yourself and others is dependant upon your commitment. 

You must read God’s Word regularly, for it is food for your hungry spirit.  You must be determined.  You must be focused.

Others May, You Cannot

I've posted this before (a long time ago); but since I used it this past Sunday morning, I'm posting it again today ... particularly for my Lakeside friends:

Others May, You Cannot by G.D. Watson (1845-1924)

If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life
of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience,
that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by
other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do
things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may
push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans,
but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such
failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of
their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such
thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification
that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy
left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants
you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence
upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by
day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden
in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for
His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.  He may let
others be great, but keep you small.  He may let others do a work for Him
and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without
knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more
precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done,
and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER WHEN JESUS COMES.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and
will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time,
which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind
that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He
pleases with His own.  He may not explain to you a thousand things which
puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell
yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and
bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the
inner circle.

Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or
chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem
to use with others.  Now, when you are so possessed with the living God
that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this
PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule
of Heaven.

Junior High?

Hey, I saw this over at my new friend Tamara's blog (tamaradull.com).  I navigated over to the blog readability test site and input my URL, and it said that Junior Highers should be able to read my blog.  I don't know whether to be insulted or to use harder words from now on.  However, I shall never prevaricate, nor seek to bedeck my postings with embellished verbiage ...

Transformation

I'm just starting to read "Transformation" by Bob Roberts.  I'm definitely behind the curve on this one (as far as getting to this book) as the 'sequel' is already out.  However, a couple of friends (thanks Max and Kevin) recommended that I jump into this good read.  Right away I was captured by Roberts' realizations about the western church.  What do you think?

• We have learned relevance and communication, but not transformation.
• We have learned purpose and functionality, but not essence and core DNA.
• We know so much of how, but so little of why.
• We want to change the world, and we become manages of organizations.
• We make people more religious, but no different spiritually or culturally.
• We know what we believe, but we cannot live it.
• We think we are respectable, but we have lost credibility.
• we have become mass media market, not a movement to shake the world.

Here's the Amazon link to the book.

Would you add anything to the list?  Do you disagree with any portion of the list?

21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader

From Maxwell's book ...

1. Character: Be a Piece of the Rock
2. Charisma: The First Impression Can Seal the Deal
3. Commitment: It Separates Doers from Dreamers
4. Communication: Without It You Travel Alone
5. Competence: If You Build It, They Will Come
6. Courage: One Person with Courage Is a Majority
7. Discernment: Put an End to Unsolved Mysteries
8. Focus: The Sharper It Is, the Sharper You Are
9. Generosity: Your Candle Loses Nothing When It Lights Another
10. Initiative: You Won't Leave Home Without It
11. Listening: To Connect With Their Hearts, Use Your Ears
12. Passion: Take This Life and Love It
13. Positive Attitude: If You Believe You Can, You Can
14. Problem Solving: You Can't Let Your Problems Be a Problem
15. Relationships: If You Get Along, They'll Go Along
16. Responsibility: If You Won't Carry the Ball, You Can't Lead the Team
17. Security: Competence Never Compensates for Insecurity
18. Self-Discipline: The First Person You Lead Is You
19. Servanthood: To Get Ahead, Put Others First
20. Teachability: To Keep Leading, Keep Learning
21. Vision: You Can Seize Only What You Can See

Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, pt 3

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God' s; agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.

44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. January 12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye: and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as providence orders it. I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty, and then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, to do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man:‹knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.Š June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. January 14 and July 13, 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those ‹groanings which cannot be utteredŠ (Romans 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those‹breakings of soul for the longing it hath,Š of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness, of which I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton' s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.