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Most of us are I-pad people. Even many of us who don’t own these devices. They were among the most popular Christmas gifts of 2011, along with Kindles, and smart phones and game playing devices. These things have something in common. Think about it. While you are thinking about that answer this question: What do you do for fun? Most will say: Watch tv. Go to a movie. Go out to eat. Watch a sporting event. All of these things have something in common as well. It’s what makes us a generation of what I call I-pad people. Here’s the common thread: We are observers and absorbers. That’s what the popular gifts and popular activities have in common. They are all designed for passive activity. We take in information. We read. We watch. We listen. Sure you can put stuff out there on these devices. But what do you really do most of the time. If you’re honest you’ll say: Check my email. Check my Facebook page. Watch a video. Read a book. Play a game.  These tendencies are true of younger folks with jobs. When they come home at night, they believe they deserve to sit back and just vegetate. […]

Yesterday when discussing making 2012 better than 2011, we decided that one way we need to do that is by changing our world. We do that by being salt and light. Here is some more thoughts on just how do we do that.  These thoughts are borrowed from the Teal Trust. Tomorrow we will look at an example of someone who is living as Salt and Light.  Being Salt and Light in the world. There are two broad approaches to seeking to shape values in society. At times the Christian community may feel it needs to confront a particular value, decision or priority adopted by the community.  But the Christian community is also able to influence values day in, day out through bringing a distinctively Christian approach to the people we come across as we go about our daily lives. This is what we mean by being “salt and light” in the world (Mt 5:13,14), where by living distinctively Christian lifestyles we seek to influence those around us, and through this the values, decisions and priorities adopted by our communities.     Pause for Thought :  Start off by thinking for a moment where your influencing opportunities are.  There will […]

Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.Ephesians 4:25 Back in 1940, only 20 percent of college students admitted to cheating. Today, that number has increased to 75%-98%. Worse yet, two-thirds of parents think cheating is no big deal and that all students do it, according to statistics from National Public Radio. What has happened to integrity? If 2012 is going to be better than 2011 there will have to be more integrity in our world and we will have to provide it.  We face a constant struggle being in the world but not being overwhelmed by it. For most of us I think we need to be in it more. We are comfortable surrounding ourselves with Christians, trying to create a Christian environment in which to live our lives. But we need to be bolder and more fearless and begin to operate more out there where the battle is.  Christians sometimes treat unbelievers as untouchables. They appear as though they are avoiding all contact with them. I can understand not wanting to be influenced in a bad way. But how about influencing others in a good way? Jesus said that as Christians, we are to be salt and […]

27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14 I have been considering making 2012 better than 2011. Yesterday  I looked at making sure I have a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy in my life. Today, I focus on making His peace the theme of my life.  Jesus talked more about peace and the absence of fear than anything else. He spoke the above words hours before His crucifixion. If our lives are going to mean anything, if we are going to accomplish anything for Christ, we are going to have to get past fear and on to peace.  If I can make certain truths real in my life, I can have that peace.  God is in control of everything. Without this assurance, the world is a scary place. Everything seems so chaotic, only because we forget He’s in control.  Relax. He’s got this.  He loves me and will see me through every circumstance, no matter how difficult or painful it may be. Most of our misery comes from believing we are not loved and the crazy things we do to get that love.  Forget it.  The God of the universe loves […]

As we approach the new year, we review the past and plan for a better future.   Let’s consider our relationships.  One of the legacies of the Promise Keeper movement is the concept that we should all have a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy. Paul was a missionary to many regions of Greece, and eventually to Rome. Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement” was one of his partners in the missionary work.   Paul also trained Timothy to take over from him.  Paul was Timothy’s mentor.  In order to live an effective life, we need to learn from someone wiser than we are, have one or more friends who can encourage and work with us, and to pass on our wisdom to someone else who can continue our life’s work long after we’re gone. So who’s your Paul, your Barnabas, your Timothy? Before this year ends, identify these key folks in your life and commit to developing those relationships in 2012. These things don’t happen by accident. Be intentional and be blessed.  Nick 

It was a good Christmas. Lots of family time, good food and fellowship, memorable moments, and some fun gifts. We ended the day around a fire with good conversation and some expressions of exhaustion, even a couple saying  “glad it’s over.” That’s kind of sad.  It seems to me we approach Christmas much as we do Christ. We can’t seem to accept either as a free gift. We have to make both a project. For Christmas, it’s like we are trying to recreate some ancient memory from our youth, or a scene from a favorite Christmas movie, maybe a picture from a magazine or a recipe from the Food Network. We exhaust ourselves for something that just needs to be treated for what it is, a free gift.  We do the same with Jesus. With our universal type A personalities, we believe that it is all about us and what we do. We make salvation into a project. And, like our Christmas fantasy, we doom ourselves to failure.  Next year we have another chance to just relax and enjoy the free gift of Christmas. With Christ, we don’t have to wait a year. We can decide today to accept Him […]

A couple of days ago I brought tears to many of my family by considering how our parents got Christmas right. Our family gathered last night. A good time was had and I got another opportunity to consider my parents. I was unhappy in my failure to nail down how they were able to get Christmas right.  So there is no confusion, although I grew up in the 50s, my family wasn’t Father Knows Best, or Leave It To Beaver, or even The Waltons.  My parents were real people with faults and “issues.” They were sinners, if you will.  We had many of the problems that haunt modern families. After much thought I realize that the difference was that my parents stayed together. Through poverty and drug addiction and even crime, I don’t remember one time thinking my parents might separate. It was beyond the realm of possibility. Through all that happened to us, and much did, that truth produced a stable and assured generation.  Split Christmas was unknown to us. Today too many kids will spend Christmas in two different places. Because of divorce, or no marriage, their parents don’t live together. Christmas Eve isn’t the time to […]

Christmas is a big deal. It is strange how big a deal we make of it. Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead, but that was years later.  At his birth, he just lies there, doing nothing. He is a baby. That’s the big deal.  Jesus did it all during His life. He saved us. But in this season, we don’t even get to that, the marvel of all He did.  We stop and marvel at who He is.  And He is the eternal Son of God, who took on our human nature in order to save us.  “Come, let us adore him.” “What child is this?” All we can do is kneel in awe, then celebrate, gather with loved ones, and exchange gifts and gratefulness. We will have plenty of time to marvel at what He did.  For now, let’s just marvel at who He is.  That’s a really big deal.  Have a blessed Christmas.  Nick